Best Free Language Learning Apps
Only the language learning apps that fit "best free language learning apps", scored on our public rubric from published specifications, dated prices and independent reviews.
Busuu - CEFR-structured courses with your writing and speaking corrected by native speakers in the community Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Courses follow CEFR levels A1–B2 with certificates
- Native speakers correct your exercises, usually within hours
- Study plan sets a target date and schedules review
Duolingo - The habit-forming free app with 40+ languages; great for daily practice, thin on grammar Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Free tier covers the whole course
- Streaks and leagues built a daily habit better than any other app
- 40+ languages including Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi
Memrise - Vocabulary from thousands of video clips of native speakers, with spaced repetition that actually sticks Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Native-speaker video for every phrase — the best listening practice here
- Spaced repetition that scheduled reviews we remembered
- AI conversation partner (MemBot) on Pro
More to consider
These 9 come from retailer catalogs. We have not scored them, so they carry no score and sit below the scored picks.
Language Learning with ChatGPT: Language Learning with AI
A course that uses ChatGPT prompts and role plays to practice vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, writing and reading in a new language. View at Udemy →
Upgrading Language Learning
A course for learners who feel words don't stick and want help choosing materials and methods for learning a language. View at Udemy →
Persian Language Learning
A Persian language course for students and employees who need vocabulary and sentence translations for school and workplace use. View at Udemy →
Hindi language learning course
A Hindi language course for new learners covering vocabulary and language development. View at Udemy →
Early Foreign Language Learning
A course on the basic methods, objectives and criteria of early foreign language learning. View at Udemy →
Language Learning For Absolute Beginners
A course that teaches mindset and strategies for absolute beginners starting to learn a new language. View at Udemy →
AI for English Language Learning
A course on using artificial intelligence to acquire and improve English language skills. View at Udemy →
![Learning From Scatch! [Korean Language]](https://www.rankingright.com/storage/extras/66/878bf9a1ff69.jpg)
Learning From Scatch! [Korean Language]
A Korean language course for learners starting from scratch with a tutor available for questions. View at Udemy →
Bangla (Bengali) Language Learning Course
A Bangla language course introducing learners to the language, culture and heritage. View at Udemy →
What separates the best free language learning apps?
Three apps sit at the top of this page, and the scores are close: Busuu at 7.9, Duolingo at 7.8, Memrise at 7.2. The gap is not about polish. It is about what each one does with your time.
Busuu costs $6.95 and follows CEFR levels A1–B2 with certificates. Its standout feature is community correction: native speakers fix your writing and speaking, usually within hours. The catch is that correction quality varies, and the course covers 14 languages.
Duolingo is the free option. The free tier covers the whole course, and its streaks and leagues built a daily habit better than any other app here. It carries 40+ languages including Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Hindi. But grammar is rarely explained, it has the lowest A1 score of the mainstream apps, and ads and the hearts system interrupt free users. Super runs $6.99/mo.
Memrise costs $8.49 and leans on vocabulary from thousands of video clips of native speakers, with spaced repetition that scheduled reviews we remembered. It has the best listening practice here, plus an AI conversation partner (MemBot) on Pro. It teaches no grammar at all, and community courses were removed from the app.
What should you check before buying a language app?
The rubric behind these scores weights teaching method at 30, measured result at 25, languages and depth at 15, value at 20 and experience at 10. That ordering matters when you compare the picks.
- Teaching method: Busuu structures courses by CEFR level; Duolingo and Memrise leave grammar mostly unexplained.
- Measured result: Duolingo has the lowest A1 score of the mainstream apps, so decide whether you want a habit or a syllabus.
- Languages and depth: Duolingo covers 40+ languages; Busuu covers 14; Memrise dropped community courses.
- Value: Duolingo's free tier covers the whole course; Busuu is $6.95 and Memrise is $8.49.
- Experience: ads and the hearts system interrupt free Duolingo users; Busuu's community correction quality varies.
Busuu
Pick Busuu if you want CEFR-structured courses with certificates and you value native speakers correcting your exercises, usually within hours.
Duolingo
Pick Duolingo if you want a free tier that covers the whole course and a streak system that keeps you showing up daily across 40+ languages.
Memrise
Pick Memrise if vocabulary and listening are your priority: native-speaker video for every phrase and spaced repetition that scheduled reviews you remembered.
Busuu suits learners who want CEFR-structured courses and native-speaker corrections, while Duolingo suits anyone who needs a free daily habit across 40+ languages. Memrise fits vocabulary and listening work best, with native-speaker video and spaced repetition. Match the pick to the skill you are actually trying to build.
Related guides
Questions about best free language learning apps
*Scores: Teaching method 30 · Measured result 25 · Languages & depth 15 · Value 20 · Experience 10; score = Σ ÷ 10. Prices shown were checked on the date beside each and may change. Affiliate links are added only after a score is locked and can never change it. How we rank.