The Best English Learning Apps (According to an English Teacher)
The Best English Learning Apps (According to an English Teacher)
English learning apps seem to be a dime a dozen these days. So I get asked a lot which ones I recommend for people learning English. Here are my favorites, with the pros and cons laid out so you can find the one(s) that work best for you and your language goals.
Maybe you’ve tried some of these before, which language learning app is your favorite for English? Let me know in the comments below to help your fellow English learners.
1. LingQ: Best for Casual English
LingQ is a desktop and mobile language learning platform that helps you learn through uploaded videos, podcasts, songs, and more. The emphasis is on learning through interacting with actual content created in those languages. Learn more in our LingQ review.
Pro Tip: Don’t use up all of your free LingQs on the free account. Once you do the dictionary function stops working, which makes the free version much worse.
Pros:
- Access to thousands of podcasts, books, and articles you can learn from.
- Upload the content you love (on the paid version).
- Interact with an engaged community of like-minded language learners.
Cons:
- UI can be clunky
- Much better if you’re willing to pay about $10 a month.
Price: Freemium (But still lots of content for free)
Devices: iOS and Android
2. Duolingo: Best for Beginners
Duolingo is the biggest name right now in the English learning apps business. Chances are you’ve tried it yourself. For serious learners, Duolingo leaves a lot to be desired. However, for kids and beginners, it’s quick, easy, and pretty intuitive for learning basic grammar and vocabulary.
Pros:
- Couldn’t be easier to use and navigate.
- Gives you lots of repetition for the most important words and phrases.
Cons:
- Advanced learners almost always get stuck practicing stuff they already know.
- Repetition and memorization only get you so far.
Price: Freemium
Devices: iOS and Android
3. Memrise: Best Flashcard App
Memrise is a spaced-repetition flashcard app that aims to help you memorize your way to language learning. Although this app won’t make you fluent, vocabulary is definitely important. So Memrise might just be a key tool for getting yourself moving towards better English
Pros:
- Great free version, with no real need to pay for Premium.
- Good for practicing vocabulary.
Cons:
- Won’t help you with grammar.
Price: Free version, $59.98 for Pro.
Devices: iOS and Android
4. Busuu: Best for Self-Motivated Learners
Busuu is probably the best directed English learning app right now for serious learners. Between its AI-powered vocab builder, community support, and professional lessons, people who want to learn English have everything they need to do it right here.
Pros:
- Let’s you pick your language level and reason for learning English.
- Customizes lessons based on how much time you have in a day.
- Premium members get feedback from native speakers.
- Better for actually learning to use a language than competitors like Duolingo or Memrise.
Cons:
- Best features including the native English speakers require you to buy Premium.
- Not very exciting for the less motivated learners.
Price: Free for basic or $70 a year for Pro (comes with a one-week free trial)
Devices: iOS and Android
5. Drops: Best for Visual Learners
Drops is undeniably a pretty app. Each new piece of vocabulary you learn comes with a gorgeous image. Drops also gets rid of boring typing drills and instead encourages users to swipe, connecting words with the images they represent. You’re not going to become a master of English with drops, but it’s a fun way to start building your English vocabulary.
Pros:
- Presents learners with a unique way of learning with images instead of typing.
- Timer and daily reminders keep you motivated to practice every day.
- Free version is pretty much all you need.
Cons:
- Won’t help you with grammar.
- Some words don’t feel relevant.
Price: Free version, Premium is $69.99
Devices: iOS and Android
6. Cambly: Best for Speaking (If You’ve Got the Cash)
Cambly connects learners with actual native English speakers who can tutor them in English conversation. Lessons are 30 minutes long and you can do a lesson or just chat about your lives. Regardless, it’s one of the best ways to get actual talking time, one of the most effective ways of learning a language.
Read our Cambly review and Cambly Kids review to learn more.
Pros:
- Actual speaking practice with native English speakers.
- Lessons help guide your conversations across different topics, including those you might see on an IELTS exam.
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not all tutors on Cambly are actually English teachers.
Price: Starts at about $67 a month.
Devices: iOS and Android
8. Hellotalk: Best Free Speaking Practice
HelloTalk is a language exchange community where you and other people around the world can practice languages together. The best part is it’s all free. You share your language, and they share their language. This is a great way to get speaking time in with native English speakers without paying a dime.
Pros:
- Completely free.
- Meet people from around the world.
- Practice with native speakers.
Cons:
- Some partners will be flakey or not so good at teaching, you’ll need to find someone that works for you.
- If you speak a rare language, it might be hard to find an exchange partner.
Price: Free
Devices: iOS and Android
9. FluentU: Best for People Who Love Videos
FluentU doubles down on videos as the best way to learn a language. What’s great about this platform is that it’s just more entertaining watching videos than reading courses or doing flashcards. as well, since it’s video, you practice vocabulary, reading, and listening all at once.
Pros:
- Really nice for practicing sentence structure, something other apps struggle with.
- Videos help you practice multiple skills at once.
Cons:
- More expensive than other options on this list.
Price: $19.99 a month with a 14-day free trial.
Devices: iOS and Android
10. Clozemaster: Best for Gamification and Review
And now for something a little different. Clozemaster wraps itself in an arcade-style look that hints at its many gamification features like streaks, goals, and challenges. Clozemaster is perfect for intermediate to advanced users who need to review what they’ve already learned. For beginners, it doesn’t offer much and you should look elsewhere.
Pros:
- Great for more involved vocabulary reviewing in context.
- Perfect for keeping skills sharp over time.
- Free version is perfectly good.
Cons:
- Difficult to impossible for beginners.
- Can get very boring, very quickly.
Price: Free version, Pro is $60
Devices: iOS and Android
Going Beyond English Learning Apps
Ultimately a single app isn’t the only thing you’ll need to complete your English fluency journey. Here are some other resources you might find useful: