If you’re looking to learn a new language this year, there are several options to help you achieve this goal. There are a lot of reasons why you might be interested in learning a new language, whether it’s in preparation for an international vacation, to bolster your education or just for fun. But once you decide to start, it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin. That’s where a language-learning app can come in handy.
Language apps or other online services can help you build a solid foundation of vocabulary and grammar to help you learn to speak and read in another language. CNET has tested many different apps, comparing their lesson structures, features, the number of languages offered, pricing tiers and the different learning methods they use. There are a lot of different options, but no matter what language you want to pick up or how you want to be taught, there’s an app that is right for you.
Here are the best language learning apps for any and all avid linguists.
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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, but it offers lessons in over 40 languages. Most new learners use Duolingo to support their education, according to its 2024 report.
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. This is great for building a solid foundation.
I like Duolingo’s user-friendly layout, and the “streak” feature, which motivates you to keep going by tracking the number of days you’ve reached your point goal. In the app, you can access resources such as Duolingo Stories, which are short audio stories that allow you to check your comprehension skills as you go.
While the functionality of Duolingo is great, the service could be more transparent with prices and improve its FAQ help pages to more accurately reflect all the service’s costs and features. Super Duolingo, the ad-free premium version of the app, costs $13 a month (or $60 annually) and includes progress quizzes, monthly streak repairs and more. If your love of languages is a family trait, you can link up to six accounts under a Family Super Duolingo account for $120 a year. Select users might have access to Duolingo’s newest tier Duolingo Max, but that’s only for people in specific countries, learning Spanish or French on iOS devices — and it’s $30 per month. The Max rollout includes everything in Super Duolingo and adds two AI-powered features, Explain My Answer and Roleplay.