The Best and Worst Language Learning Apps in 2026
theideasmithy.com
What are the best language learning apps? And which ones should you definitely skip? Let’s talk about it...
-Best All-Around Language Learning App:
👍Preply (50% off): http://preply.sjv.io/nXKmex
-Best App for Building Vocabulary:
👍Anki: https://apps.ankiweb.net/
-Best App for Daily Progress:
👍Pimsleur (7 days free): http://imp.i271380.net/BrianWiles
👍Language Transfer: https://www.languagetransfer.org/
-Best AI Conversation App:
👍 Langua: http://languatalk.com/?via=brian
-Best App for Building Reading Skills:
👍(Multi-language) BeeLingua: http://https://beelinguapp.com/
👍(Japanese) Satori Reader: https://www.satorireader.com/
👍(Mandarin) TCB: https://www.thechairmansbao.com/
Whether you want to build your vocabulary, improve your speaking skills, or master reading in a new language- keep watching to find out which apps can help you become fluent faster.
Is there another app you think should be on this list? Please leave a comment and let me know.
And as always, thanks for watching!
00:00- 5 Languages
00:26- Best App for Absolute Beginners
01:38- Best All-Around Language App
03:40- Best App for Building Vocabulary
04:15- Best App for Daily Progress
06:07- Best App for Reading Comprehension
06:43- Best App for Becoming Fluent
07:40- The Worst Apps
source
I learned 5 languages with Preply- use this link for 50% off your first lesson: http://preply.sjv.io/nXKmex
Do This Lingo is another option if you wanna pick up more casual expressions and slang that locals actually use in everyday conversations 😊
Sooo,for learning a language wihouth duolingo,what steps should i take following the apps you suggested?
Hallo Brian,
danke für deine unterhaltsame Übersicht.
Interessehalber habe ich in den letzten Jahren ca. 40 Apps zum Erlernen einer Fremdsprache getestet.
Aus meiner Sicht, 70% der Apps sind ihr Geld es nicht wert.
Als Einstieg zum Erlernen einer neuen Framdsprache sind zwar etliche Apps akzeptabel,
spätestens aber ab Niveau B1 leider selten aus meiner Sicht empfehlenswert, oft rausgeschmissenes Geld.
Brain, ich kann dir nur zustimmen:
Anki ist auch für mich der absolute Favorit!
Mein zweiter Favorit ist Flaschcards, von dir leider nicht erwähnt.
Flaschcards gibt es in zwei Versionen, Flashcards ligth, kostenlose, und
Flashcards de Lux, einmalig ca. 7 Euro. Aus meiner Sicht lohnt sich die Investition von 7 Euro.
Kleiner Nachteil:
Erstellen eigener Lektionen ist zeitaufwendig; trotzdem eine sehr empfehlenswerte App, weil extrem powerfull.
Was ich in deiner Auflistung ebenfalls vermisse:
Quizlet, eine kostenlose App, gibt es auch als Bezahlversion.
Hunderte Lektionen, oft bebildert sind verfügbar.
Jede, jeder kann seine eigenen Lektionen hochladen.
Kleiner Nachteil: die hochgeladenen Lektionen werden nicht überprüft, ob sie korrekt sind.
Unabhängig davon, unbedingt zu beachten:
Empfehlungen für Lern-Apps hängen stark vom Lerntypen ab.
Beispiel:
Wenn auch meine Top-Favoriten:
weder Anki, noch Flashcards sind aus meiner Sicht für „Jugendliche“, Kinder geeignet, weil zu „trocken“,
Anderseit: beide Apps sich nicht nur zum Erlernen von Sprachen hervorragend geeignet.
Wichtig zu wissen:
Kleiner Nachteil von z. B. Anki, Flashcard und Quizlet:
Vokabel, Texte werden nicht durch Muttersprachler vorgetragen, sondern mit Hilfe von TTS.
TTS, Text-to-Speech, künstlich erzeugt Aussprache.
Was Aussprache betrifft aus meiner Sicht für etliche Sprachen wie z. B. Englisch, Spanisch etc. absolut akzeptabel, beim Deutschen noch verbesserungswürdig.
Ein weiterer Nachteil von Anki, Flashcard, Quizlet und Co sind, dass frau / man sich die Lektionen selbst zusammenstellen muss.
Wer keine Ahnung davon hat, wie ich sinnvoll, systematisch eine neue Fremdsprache erlerne, ist etwas „aufgeschmissen“, auch wenn Anki oder Quizlet Tausende von herunterzuladende Lektionen bietet.
Lektionen bei Flashcards muss frau / man sich selber erstellen.
Von daher mein Rat für Einsteiger: Innen:
die ersten Monate zum Erlernen einer neuen Fremdsprache durchaus Apps wie Babble, Duolingo nutzen.
Achtung!
Es gibt keine App von Anki für iOS (iPhone), nur für Android System.
Trotzdem kein Problem, weil Anki über die Webseite aufgerufen werden kann.
Es wird zwar eine Anki App für iPhone angeboten, die ist aber nicht identisch mit der eigentlichen Anki-App,
diese App kann ich aus meiner Sicht nicht empfehlen.
Ein weiterer Tipp:
für Menschen, die bereits ein Abo bei Spotify besitzen, aus meiner Sicht empfehlenswert, sich auch dort umschauen.
Ob Langenscheidt, Ponds usw., bei Spotify werden Hunderte von Lektionen angeboten, wenn es um Erweiterung des Fremdsprachen-Vokabulars geht, einschließlich Erklärung zur Grammatik; viele Lektionen sind auch für Anfänger: Innen geeignet.
Vorteil: Vokabeln, Sätze werden von Muttersprachlern vorgetragen.
Viel Spaß beim Erlernen einer Fremdsprache, Pedito, El Salvador
I, let's say, continue learning English not by language learning apps, cause when I hit 8 section in Duolingo and just try to pass lessons from this section I don't understand or understand very small, but I decided one day that I want to upgrade my English knowledge level and just turned everything my digital environment in English (phone, PC, social media, apps, OS languages, etc). And then, when I started consuming English-speaking content, mostly in TikTok I see that I can more understand what to say and try to watch without subtitles that basically have in a video itself. After this I try to pass a few lessons in 8 section in the Duolingo English course I see that my knowledge is improving by my method of learning English, like increasingly. Also I tried practicing in English speaking with Gemini by text and yes, I made mistakes and was unsure about grammatically correct constructions in English, in sentences which I write, used parasite-words such as: "like", "you know", etc. I mean I used it nearly all the time, when I can't write something that I want to say. But, with practice a few times I see how I improve this skill now and I wanted to speak with someone who native in English, etc. So, I found a Discord server about one game, that I finished recently at that time and my first feedback was with Gemini help, but the second comment I wrote by myself was just using my words from my native language and translating in English how it was directly.
Also, when I write comments on Youtube English videos - I am thankful for auto-correct in English and my comments sound more correctly, than I am writing.
Now, I just translate specific words, that I don't know or it's a new word for me, reading the context when it's word be used, etc.
Also, recently I passed English-level knowledge test by previous video on this channel and according to this test (basically I see this on TikTok, but later I wanted to know how really my English is) I got C1 level, that for me it's great, cause I wanted to know which my English level not by boring, grammatically hard questions, which using in academical tests in schools, universities, etc., but how I know English by understanding context, etc.
UPD:
And in this test I hit 31 correct answers, only stuck in a few questions in C1-C2 section.
honestly depends on your goals, but dothislingo is worth checking out if you want to learn how people actually talk instead of just memorizing words
Muchas gracias Brian
Duolingo is great but not as the only thing you do its just great to have in the rotation and to do everyday
I think WordBridge is better to upgrade your fluency
Pls pls i beg u try hyperlingua and language transfer and if u do ill love if u try arabic if not its okay but i would be sad anyway the best apps by far and they are free thats why no one talks about them
I honestly don’t find it fair to put Rosetta Stone on the worst app list. I really believe in their full emersion method and images. Having English in other apps really makes you reliant on translating in your head where Rosetta Stone tries to get you away from that. Yes it can be slow and I definitely don’t recommend just following how they laid out their modules. The audio companion is really good better than their actual lessons. I will follow these first by watching the pictures the first time and then just listening the next time. So easy to control as each phrase is treated like a song. Can click next or back or pause, so great with Bluetooth controls.
Their stories are very well thought out for each unit you are on. Being able to read, hear and then speak is great.
I have mainly focused on the audio companion, core lessons and stories. The other modules I use as refreshers later if I need a break from learning newer phrases. The app is good just needs to be reorganized I think.
For those struggling with the app, focus more on the audio companion and watching/just listening to the phrases. It really made a difference for me.
Si, what do you think about Langua AI?
The Praktika AI app is a scam. Do not spend money on it. The voice recognition and pronunciation checker do not work as advertised. Without this feature working reliably it is useless.
1:15 how do i learn high valyrian?
Which app for English intermediate level to get more fluent?
Busy is less stupid then Duolingo,at least you should think to answer
Duolingo super bad when i downloaded i want to speak japan or south korea but the only give me sushi like and wine water rice and that's so not cool
Surely chatgpt can be a 1 on 1 ?!
Isn’t there a language app has everything language related?? Why use other apps to accommodate for each others lackings💀 just make a good one tf
Get to the point!!
What a great video! I just downloaded the language transfer app, and it's absolutely amazing, especially for Spanish
Qlango?
How is busuu? my dad bought the premium for me
There’s a kid transferring to my school and he ONLY speaks Mandarin. Nobody at our school speaks Mandarin, and I’ve decided to learn basic phrases in the language so I can communicate with him without relying entirely on Google Translate. I have 3 days to cram as much Mandarin into my head as possible. Any advice? Any suggestions help 👍
I agree with Drops in the Hall of Shame, but definitely not Rosetta Stone. It's one of the only ones, if the THE only one, that offers an immersion-only path, which I personally like. Is it boring? Yes, but if you really want to learn, that doesn't matter
My teen has to be able to have a 10 minute conversation in French by the end of next school year. He is in French 1. He was given links to Quizlet and podcasts. Any recommendations? Thanks
Neuro divergent version?
If they recommend Duo then I just can’t believe them.
What the hell were you even tryna say in Japanese
Im Arab and I didn't understand the world
No mention of the ai apps ?
That partnership with Preply must be worth it
Finally found language transfer... i was looking for it everywhere but i had forgotten the name
I found memrise to be a good replacement for anki for those who find anki to dry but still want flash cards
6:58 - no it isn't because you don't learn via osmosis. Certainly not in Japanese. You can listen to input for 5 years 24h a day, if you don't try to speak, forget it.
LingQ plus lingodeer/lingodeer plus plus YouTube
Sounds like a mega sponsored video 😂