No app replaces speaking with real people, but the right app speeds up the start considerably. Duolingo is the most widespread option and not the most effective; Falou and Heylama rely on AI conversation and train what…
No app replaces speaking with real people, but the right app speeds up the start considerably. Duolingo is the most widespread option and not the most effective; Falou and Heylama rely on AI conversation and train what matters most — speaking. Anyone aiming for real proficiency eventually needs Tandem or real conversation partners. Apps differ by learning style: gamification and short sessions, flashcards and repetition, or genuine exchanges with native speakers. As of March 2026, AI language partners such as Heylama and EF Hello are gaining users fast, while classic flashcard learning with Anki stays relevant for serious learners. The comparison weighs whether the focus is vocabulary, grammar or spoken expression; whether AI conversation practice exists or only exercises; the range of languages; short gamified sessions versus deep courses; offline capability for travel; and whether the model is a subscription, a one-time purchase or genuinely free.
Our verdict
For a quick start and daily motivation, Duolingo is unbeatable. Anyone serious about learning a language does better with Babbel: structured progression, real conversations and a German company. Drops is the perfect supplement for vocabulary, and anyone looking for direct contact should try Tandem.
Falou teaches languages in short units built around AI conversation in everyday situations, training the spoken, in-context side that grammar-heavy apps neglect, and the source notes it has been recognized by Apple. It is built for learning effectively on the go in short sessions.
The app is free and ad-free in the source's data, with no commercial data exploitation; the trade-off is a deliberately limited language selection, so anyone expecting a very broad catalogue should look at Mondly or Drops.
EF Hello is an English-only AI tutor, focused on relaxed conversation practice without the barrier of talking to a native speaker, with real-time feedback on speech. The source calls it excellent for learners of English and a natural way past the fear of speaking.
It is free in the source data, with no value for anyone learning a language other than English; that single-language focus is the whole point of the app and its main limitation at once.
Mondly offers 41 languages including less commonly taught ones, with AR-based immersive learning and short daily lessons rather than long units. Its VR and AR integration is the distinguishing feature in a crowded field.
The source calls the user experience dated and considers the app below average as the primary learning tool despite its breadth; advanced learners wanting depth, and anyone expecting all lessons after the free start, should look elsewhere.
Innovative Language Learning is a podcast-style, audio-first system for 34 languages, built around lesson recordings with a companion app for notes and review, which suits listeners who learn like absorbing a podcast and anyone seeking rare languages other apps do not cover.
Starter lessons are free; a Premium subscription at roughly €5 to €8 per month unlocks all courses. The source flags the app itself as weaker than the web offering, and modern gamification is not part of the approach.
Drops teaches vocabulary visually in five-minute sessions through mini-games rather than dry flashcards, covering more than 50 languages, and works as a polished way to build a basic word base a few minutes a day.
The free tier caps learning at five minutes per day, and there is no grammar, sentence-building or conversation training; the source positions it as a supplement — paired with Babbel or a speaking app — rather than a standalone course.
Memrise builds around video clips of real native speakers, so vocabulary and phrasing arrive with authentic pronunciation and listening practice; the source credits it with helping listening comprehension and a grounded, spaced-repetition approach.
The free version is deliberately limited, so learning fully without paying does not work, and the source calls the course somewhat incomplete on its own — a strong complement to a main course rather than the spine of one.
AnkiMobile is the flashcard app for serious learners, built on the spaced-repetition method the source calls scientifically the most effective, with ready community decks for languages, medicine and law as well as your own cards. It costs around €25 once (the store card lists €29.99) and is open source, with no subscription.
The price is high for an iOS app, and complete beginners may want something simpler to start; it rewards learners who already organize study around flashcards and long-term retention.
Tandem connects you with real native speakers for language exchange: you offer your own language, typically German, in return for practice in your target language, through text, voice and video in a community rather than a course. The base app is free.
Premium costs around €5 per month for verified partners and an expanded search. The source calls it an indispensable complement to app-based learning; anyone wanting structured lessons or no social-network element should not use it.
Duolingo is the gamification leader: short daily lessons, streaks and rewards keep beginners practicing, with more than 40 languages to choose from and a free tier that is enough to start. The source calls it unbeatable for quick entry and daily motivation.
It is weak on deep grammar and real conversation, so effectiveness for actual proficiency trails Babbel; the free app carries ads and energy limits, removable with Super Duolingo at around €7 per month.
Babbel is the structured, subscription-based course in the list, built by a German company with linguists behind it: clear grammar explanations, a planned curriculum and native-speaker dialogue aimed at real proficiency rather than streak-driven practice.
The source considers it better than Duolingo for actually learning a language, if less entertaining, covering more than 14 languages; anyone insisting on free or one-time learning, or preferring playful practice, will not be happy, and the source quotes two different starting prices.
Download price only. In-app purchases and subscriptions may cost extra.
Questions & answers
Which language-learning app is best for beginners?
Duolingo makes starting easiest with short lessons, gamification and a gentle rise in difficulty. Babbel offers the more structured approach, with real dialogue from the very beginning.
Can you really learn a language with an app?
Apps are a very good way in and keep the learning routine alive. Real language proficiency additionally requires speaking and listening in everyday life. Tandem and Falou help with exactly that part.
Which app works completely free of charge?
Duolingo offers the largest free feature set. Drops includes one free five-minute session per day. AnkiMobile costs once up front but has no subscription afterwards.
More related apps
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