The seven best apps for learning foreign languages

Are you planning to learn a new language? Thanks to technology, there has never been a better time to do it. Gone are the days of signing up for a course or buying textbooks. Now all you need is your smartphone.

There are dozens of great language learning apps to choose from. But the hardest part is choosing the one that’s right for you. The editorial staff at ZDNet have reviewed all of the best language learning apps on the market to see which offer the best features for their price, and we’ve picked our seven favorites. Whatever your language goals or learning style, there is an app here that meets your needs.

Babbel, the essential

Babbel quickly became one of the most popular language learning apps, with over 10 million subscriptions sold. The program is designed by linguists and combines traditional learning with innovative and interactive lessons. The app uses proven and evidence-based teaching methods, and offers learning in different formats.

Babbel offers several different pricing structures. First of all, the monthly subscription allows you to pay every month, three months, six months or a year. The longer the subscription, the less you pay per month. You also get a 20-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re not happy with your subscription. Babbel enjoys excellent reviews. With over 257,000 ratings, the app gets an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars. The developer does everything possible to respond to customer feedback, whether positive or negative.

Benefits :

• interactive dialogue to help with pronunciation;
• lessons of 10 to 15 minutes, to suit your schedule;
• a unique and immersive teaching style.

Disadvantages:

• few features to keep you motivated;
• a format similar to traditional learning, which is not suitable for everyone;
• less content for less popular languages.

Go to the Babbel website

Duolingo, the accessible

Duolingo has become the most popular language learning app today, and for good reason. The app offers lessons in the form of games to help you learn more than 35 different languages. The app uses scientific teaching methods to help you learn. Lessons are personalized to suit your learning style, and you tackle a variety of language skills.

The lessons are progressive, which means that each of them builds on the previous one. You cannot advance until you have unlocked each level by answering a sufficient number of correct answers. And if you spend too much time away from the app, it will make you repeat some lessons to make sure your skills haven’t rusted away. Duolingo’s reviews speak for themselves. The app has over 1.2 million reviews on the App Store, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Duolingo regularly wins the Editor’s Choice award from the App Store.

Benefits :

• free language learning;
• well-organized and progressive lessons;
• features designed to keep you motivated;
• lessons can be completed in just a few minutes.

Disadvantages:

• less content for less popular languages;
• an obligation to learn the subjects in a certain order;
• few practical possibilities in the real world.

Go to the Duolingo website

Rosetta Stone, the traditional

Rosetta Stone has been a leader in language learning for 25 years. So it’s no surprise that it’s on our list of the best language learning apps today.

The app lets you choose from dozens of different languages, and build the lesson plan that best suits your learning style. You can practice speaking the language with audio recognition, to see if you are on the right track. You can also use audio learning when you are on the go. The “stories” function also allows you to learn by reading with native speakers.

Rosetta Stone has modernized its pricing structure to make it more competitive with other language learning apps. Rather than paying a fixed price for each language, you can now pay for a subscription offer. Subscriptions range from 4.98 euros per month to 84 euros per year. But for the diligent learner, you can afford lifetime access to an unlimited number of languages.

The Rosetta Stone app enjoys excellent reviews. With around 160,000 reviews on the App Store, the app has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, making it one of the top rated language learning apps on the market.

Benefits :

• different price options;
• a personalized course offer;
• a proven teaching method.

Disadvantages:

• limited instructions or explanations;
• sometimes repetitive lessons;
• does not prepare for conversational use.

Go to Rosetta Stone’s website

Memrise, practice

Have you ever used a language learning app feeling like the sentences you were practicing were the ones you would never use in real life? Memrise solves this problem by designing lessons filled with real world sentences. It allows you to learn from native speakers who express themselves in real situations. You can learn new words, watch native speaker videos, and practice using real world phrases.

The Memrise app enjoys excellent user reviews. With over 175,000 reviews, the app has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. It also received the Editor’s Choice award for being one of the best language learning apps.

Benefits :

• designed to help you learn real world phrases;
• game elements to make learning more fun;
• lots of content for each language.

Disadvantages:

• exercises can be repetitive;
• the quality of the content created by users varies;
• the emphasis is on vocabulary, not grammar.

Go to the Memrise website

Busuu, the motivator

Busuu takes a goal-oriented approach to language learning, allowing you to create study goals and a study plan to help you achieve those goals. The app uses themed lessons to help you learn vocabulary and gradually improve your conversational skills. Each lesson builds on the previous one to strengthen your memory, helping you achieve fluency faster.

While Busuu doesn’t have the same number of users as some of the more popular language learning apps, it enjoys great reviews from those who have used it. The app has around 63,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Benefits :

• interaction with native speakers;
• a goal-oriented approach;
• well-structured courses.

Disadvantages:

• limited pronunciation, reading and listening exercises;
• sometimes monotonous exercises;
• a small choice of languages.

Go to the Busuu website

Pimsleur, the nomad

Unlike other language learning apps that feature interactive onscreen games, Pimsleur is specially designed to help you learn by listening. Pimsleur uses an audio format, which means it’s easy to learn on the go. And because you listen to native speakers, you quickly learn vocabulary and listening comprehension. Note that the application is only available in English.

The Pimsleur app does not yet have a large number of users, but those who use it give it great reviews. With approximately 4,400 reviews on the app store, the app has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Benefits :

• easy to learn on the go;
• learn with native speakers;
• 50 languages ​​to choose from.

Disadvantages:

• an expensive subscription;
• limited visual learning;
• does not help with reading or writing.

Go to the Pimsleur website

Drops, the visual

Drops has a unique approach to language learning, which is perfect for visual learners. Drops is specially designed to help you build your vocabulary. To do this, she combines images and association games with teaching methods.

The audio in the app helps you learn pronunciation as you read the words. Drops has an interesting technique, which limits your learning to five minutes per day. Depending on the app, this prevents you from overloading yourself or trying to learn too many things at once. And yes, that five-minute limit applies even with a paid subscription. Drops received an Editor’s Choice award on the App Store, and great reviews from its users. With over 50,000 reviews, the app has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Benefits :

• good for visual learners;
• learn in a fun way;
• lots of languages ​​and subjects to choose from.

Disadvantages:

• focuses only on vocabulary;
• limited to five minutes per day;
• does not prepare you for real world use.

Go to Drops website

Source: ZDNet.com