Learning a foreign language can feel overwhelming, especially if you live somewhere without a lot of native speakers.
But fortunately, language learners have access to more resources than ever before, including tons of language apps that allow you to teach yourself at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.
There’s quite a few different options out there right now, and the best language learning apps will help you work on your vocabulary, pronunciation and comprehension so you’ll be fluent in no time.
Duolingo
As a regular Duolingo user, I enjoy the app’s colorful interface and short, game-like exercises.
The app doesn’t restrict how many languages you can try to learn at the same time (personally, I think two is a good maximum if you want to retain anything). I use Duolingo to practice Spanish and German.
To make sure you don’t get rusty on the basics, even if you’ve “mastered” a skill by reaching a higher level, the skill can still “crack” if you don’t review it consistently. Practice the skill again and it’ll repair itself.
Babbel
I found Babbel to be the most like a foreign language course you’d see in an online school curriculum.
The minimalist layout of the Babbel app helps prevent a new language (French for me) from seeming overwhelming, without making it boring.
Each lesson takes you through translations, and includes variations of the word or phrase, pictures and whether it’s formal or informal.
If it asks you to spell a phrase, the letters are included.
You also get to see the new words you’re learning used in common conversations, listen to them (if you choose to have audio on), repeat the phrases, and learn more about verb groups.
The 15-minute language lessons are easy to work into your day — whether it’s on your commute, before bed or on your lunch break. The My Activity module lets you track all your progress.
Mondly
Similar to Drops, Mondly is a fun, colorful app that has multiple features to take advantage of even if you don’t subscribe to premium.
I tried beginner Hungarian on this app, and I liked how it offered to show you different conjugations if you tapped on verbs.
The app packs images, translations and auditory aids to help your specific learning style.
The instructor also speaks the words and phrases in a rather melodic way. That made it easier for me to recall them (even after trying different languages on different apps).
Memrise
One of my favorite parts of Memrise is the app’s use of short videos to show how real locals express different phrases in conversation.
I tried the French course, and the first lesson alone let me listen to the tone of voice and casual pronunciation, as well as showing me the phrase’s literal translation and explained its gendered usage.
The app also helps you spot patterns in the language to make it easier to improve your skills. If you’re brushing up on a language you’re familiar with, you have the option to skip phrases you already know.