Education · Ranked by price to features
9 Best Free Language Learning Apps of 2026
By the Rankozo research desk · Updated November 9, 2026 · Next review December 24, 2026
Duolingo is the best free language learning app for beginners who want full courses at no cost in 2026; Anki suits self-directed learners who want free spaced repetition flashcards, and HelloTalk suits people who want free conversation practice with native speakers. The cheapest subscription upgrade we verified is Memrise Pro at $61.99 a year in the US App Store, while AnkiMobile for iPhone is a one-time $24.99.
- Tools ranked
- 9
- With free plan
- 9
- Cheapest paid plan
- Memrise, $5.17
- per month, billed $61.99 yearly
By the numbers
- $2.6 billionGlobal edtech venture funding totaled $2.6 billion in 2025, and workforce companies captured nearly half of it, according to HolonIQ.HolonIQ by QS
- $1 billionGlobal edtech venture funding reached about $1 billion in the first half of 2026, according to HolonIQ.HolonIQ by QS
- $309.0 millionDuolingo's revenue grew 14% year over year to $309.0 million in Q3 2026.Duolingo
- 13.1 millionDuolingo had 13.1 million paid subscribers at the end of Q3 2026, up 14% from 11.5 million a year earlier.Duolingo
- 7.7%US subscription spending rose 7.7% year over year in July 2026, faster than overall card spending, based on Bank of America payments data.Bank of America Institute
Comparison table
| Tool | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | 01 | 9.1 | 9.4 | Free plan | Yes |
| Anki | 02 | 8.7 | 9.8 | $24.99one-time, iPhone and iPad only | Yes |
| HelloTalk | 03 | 8.7 | 9.2 | $6.67per month, billed $79.99 yearly | Yes |
| Tandem | 04 | 8.5 | 9.0 | Free plan | Yes |
| Memrise | 05 | 8.2 | 8.0 | $5.17per month, billed $61.99 yearly | Yes |
| Clozemaster | 06 | 8.1 | 8.6 | $6.67per month, billed $79.99 yearly | Yes |
| Busuu | 07 | 8.0 | 7.4 | Free plan | Yes |
| Drops | 08 | 7.6 | 7.2 | $5.83per month, billed $69.99 yearly | Yes |
| LingQ | 09 | 7.4 | 6.6 | $10per month, billed $119.99 yearly | Yes |
Click a column to sort. Prices are the cheapest paid plan quoted from each vendor's US pricing page; "Check price" means the US price check is pending.
How this ranking works
One method for every tool. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run hands-on tests. Value carries the most weight.
Full methodThis list is for people who want to study a language without paying and need to know where each free tier stops and what the paid plan adds. We compared documented features and published prices on each vendor's own pages and US App Store listings in November 2026. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%; on a free list, value mostly reflects how much you can learn before a paywall. Paid prices are shown in USD as listed for US users. Three vendors only showed local currency or several conflicting in-app prices from our location, so their prices are marked pending.
The verdict
Start with Duolingo. Every course is free, and Super Duolingo mainly removes ads and the limit on mistakes rather than adding lessons. Add Anki if you want to drill vocabulary you choose yourself: the desktop, web and Android apps are free, and only the iPhone app costs a one-time $24.99. For speaking practice, HelloTalk and Tandem both give free unlimited chats and calls with native speakers; their paid tiers lift translation caps and add search filters. Memrise, Busuu and Clozemaster are useful second apps with real free tiers. Drops and LingQ work best as trials, because their free versions cap session time or saved words.
- 01Top value
Duolingo
9.1/10Game-style language app with free courses in dozens of languages, plus math, music and chess.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7 days
- Value (40%)
- 9.4
- Features (35%)
- 8.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.5
Best forBeginners who want a complete structured course without paying anything.
Duolingo is the easiest recommendation for anyone who wants to learn for free, because the course itself is not behind a paywall. Its App Store listing says every course is free, and the catalog runs from Spanish and Japanese to Welsh, Hawaiian and High Valyrian. Lessons are short and game-like, with streaks and leaderboards that reward a daily habit. The Super Duolingo page compares the tiers directly: both include the same learning content, while Super removes ads and lifts the limit on mistakes, which the app calls unlimited energy, and adds personalized practice and monthly streak repair. Super Family extends this to up to 6 accounts. The free version's main cost is friction: ads between lessons and a cap on mistakes that can stop a long session. The US App Store lists several Super prices at once, so we left the price pending rather than pick one.
- ✓Full courses are free, not just the first units
- ✓Very wide language choice, including Irish, Welsh, Hawaiian and Navajo
- ✓Paid tier adds convenience, not core content
- ✕Free plan shows ads and limits how many mistakes you can make
- ✕US App Store lists several Super prices, so the exact cost depends on the offer you see
- ✕Lessons favor short exercises over long reading or listening
- Free courses:
- All courses
- Paid tier:
- Super Duolingo, Super Family for up to 6 accounts
- Free trial:
- 1 week on the web offer
- Platforms:
- iPhone, Android, web
Bottom line: The best free option for most learners because the full course costs nothing. Pay for Super only if ads or the mistake limit get in the way of longer sessions.
- 02
Anki
8.7/10Open-source spaced repetition flashcard program with free desktop, web and Android apps and a paid iPhone app.
Price
$24.99one-time, iPhone and iPad only
Free on Windows, macOS, Linux, web and Android; AnkiMobile for iPhone and iPad is a one-time $24.99
“Smart & powerful flashcards $24.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.8
- Features (35%)
- 8.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 6.8
Best forSelf-directed learners who want to drill their own vocabulary with spaced repetition for free.
Anki is not a course, it is a flashcard engine, and that is why serious learners keep it next to whatever app they use for lessons. It schedules each card just before you are likely to forget it, and the AnkiMobile listing says it uses the same SM-2 and FSRS scheduling as the desktop app. Almost everything is free: the computer version runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, AnkiWeb sync costs nothing, and AnkiDroid for Android is free and maintained by contributors. The only paid piece is AnkiMobile for iPhone and iPad at a one-time $24.99, with no subscription and Family Sharing support. The tradeoff is effort. You create cards or download shared decks, choose your own settings and plan your own study, and the interface takes time to learn. For vocabulary that comes from your own reading or classes, nothing here is cheaper over a year.
- ✓No subscription and no sync fees
- ✓Handles decks of 100,000+ cards
- ✓Open source, with free shared decks for many languages
- ✕You build or import decks yourself; there is no guided course
- ✕iPhone and iPad app costs $24.99
- ✕Add-ons are not supported on mobile yet
- Free platforms:
- Windows, macOS, Linux, web, Android
- Paid app:
- AnkiMobile, $24.99 one-time
- Sync:
- Free AnkiWeb sync
- Family Sharing:
- Supported on AnkiMobile
Bottom line: The best value for learners who want free spaced repetition and are happy to build their own decks. iPhone users pay $24.99 once; everyone else pays nothing.
- 03
HelloTalk
8.7/10Language exchange app that matches you with native speakers for free text, voice and video practice.
Price
$6.67per month, billed $79.99 yearly
Free plan; VIP Membership Yearly $79.99 in the US App Store, about $6.67 per month
“VIP Membership Yearly $79.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.2
- Features (35%)
- 8.2
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.4
Best forLearners who want free conversation practice and corrections from native speakers.
HelloTalk fills the gap that course apps leave: talking to real people. Its own blog says the free tier lets you find native-speaker partners, hold unlimited voice and text conversations, post on Moments for corrections and join Voicerooms without a credit card. The limits sit on the helper tools. Translation, AI correction and voice-to-text in chat have daily caps on the free plan, and those reset each day. HelloTalk's help center lists what VIP adds: no ads, unlimited translations, transliteration and transcription, contact with 25 new partners per day, learning multiple languages, nearby search and filters by gender, plus livestream captions. The US App Store lists VIP Membership Yearly at $79.99. The main risk is not the price but the partners: practice is only as good as the people you match with, and you need to manage your own safety settings and boundaries.
- ✓Core conversation practice is free with no time limit
- ✓Covers a very wide range of languages
- ✓Daily caps reset each day instead of ending a trial
- ✕Free plan shows ads
- ✕Learning more than one language and nearby search require VIP
- ✕Quality of practice depends on the partners you find
- Free conversations:
- Unlimited voice and text
- Free caps:
- Daily limits on translation, AI correction and voice-to-text
- VIP partner contacts:
- 25 new partners per day
- Paid upgrade:
- $79.99 per year in the US App Store
Bottom line: The best free speaking practice in this list, with no cap on conversations. Upgrade to VIP only if daily translation caps or the single-language limit slow you down.
- 04
Tandem
8.5/10Language exchange community where you trade conversation practice with native speakers by chat, audio and video.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.0
- Features (35%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.5
Best forLearners who want free calls with exchange partners and group audio rooms.
Tandem covers the same need as HelloTalk with a slightly different shape. Tandem's own overview describes the free version: a Community tab that suggests partners who speak the language you want, text chat, audio messages, audio and video calls, inline corrections and 3 free translations a day. Language Parties are live audio rooms where you can join as a listener before speaking, which suits learners who are nervous about one-to-one calls. Tandem Pro, sold as a monthly or yearly subscription, adds unlimited translations, freedom from ads, profile boosts, a list of who visited your profile, an online filter, nearby and city search, and the ability to add up to 10 languages instead of 1. The US App Store listing shows many different Tandem Pro prices, including intro offers, so we left pricing pending. As with any exchange app, the experience depends on finding reliable partners.
- ✓Calls and chats are free
- ✓Group audio rooms help shy learners listen first
- ✓Web app for practice on a computer
- ✕Free plan includes only 3 translations a day
- ✕Free profile lists only 1 learning language
- ✕US App Store shows several Pro prices, so we could not confirm one
- Free calls:
- Audio and video
- Free translations:
- 3 per day
- Pro languages:
- Up to 10, versus 1 on free
- Platforms:
- iPhone, Android, web
Bottom line: A strong free speaking app with free video calls and listener-friendly audio rooms. Pro is worth it mainly if you learn several languages or want local meetups.
- 05
Memrise
8.2/10Language app built around real-life scenarios, native speaker videos and AI conversation practice.
Price
$5.17per month, billed $61.99 yearly
Free plan; Annual Language Learning Plan $61.99 in the US App Store, about $5.17 per month; Lifetime Plan $329.99
“Annual Language Learning Plan $61.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.0
- Features (35%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.8
Best forLearners who want listening practice with native speaker videos alongside vocabulary.
Memrise is a good second app for people who already have a course and want more listening and speaking. Its App Store listing describes hundreds of real-life scenarios, native speaker videos to practice listening, and AI Buddies for speaking practice. The free plan is a real one but a narrow one: Memrise's own comparison lists limited vocab lessons, limited videos and conversations, and ads. Memrise Pro opens all vocab lessons and native speaker videos, adds unlimited speaking practice and removes ads. On price it is the cheapest subscription we verified here, with an Annual Language Learning Plan at $61.99 in the US App Store, or about $5.17 a month. Avoid the monthly plan, listed at $24.99, unless you need only a few weeks. Learners who plan to stay for years can buy the $329.99 Lifetime Plan instead. Memrise also hosts Community Word Lists made by learners.
- ✓Native speaker videos are rare among free apps
- ✓Cheapest annual subscription we verified in this list
- ✓Lifetime plan available for long-term learners
- ✕Free plan limits lessons, videos and conversations
- ✕Free plan shows ads
- ✕Monthly plan is listed at $24.99, far more per month than the annual plan
- Free plan limits:
- Limited vocab lessons, videos and conversations, with ads
- Annual plan:
- $61.99 in the US App Store
- Lifetime plan:
- $329.99
- Learners:
- 80+ million, per Memrise
Bottom line: A useful free sampler of native speaker video and AI chat, with the cheapest verified annual upgrade here. Choose the annual plan, not monthly, if you subscribe.
- 06
Clozemaster
8.1/10Vocabulary game that teaches words in context by filling gaps in thousands of real sentences.
Price
$6.67per month, billed $79.99 yearly
Free to play; Clozemaster Pro Annual $79.99 in the US App Store, about $6.67 per month
“Clozemaster Pro Annual $79.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.6
- Features (35%)
- 7.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.0
Best forIntermediate learners who want lots of reading practice in context after finishing a beginner course.
Clozemaster solves a common problem: you finish a beginner course and still cannot read real sentences. Each round shows a sentence with a missing word that you fill in, so every word is learned in context. The App Store listing says essential features are free to all users, so you can keep practicing without paying. Clozemaster's Pro page lists what the upgrade adds: unlimited access to thousands of sentences in over 50 languages, unlimited listening practice for over 30 languages in selected collections, custom round sizes and review intervals, automatic translations, advanced stats on the web and offline play in the mobile app. Pro carries a 30-day money back guarantee. In the US App Store, Clozemaster Pro Annual is listed at $79.99, about $6.67 a month, though the listing also shows other Pro prices. It is not for absolute beginners; it works best after Duolingo or a class has given you the basics.
- ✓Free tier is usable for ongoing practice
- ✓Large sentence library suits learners past the basics
- ✓Works on the web and mobile
- ✕Not a course; it assumes some prior knowledge
- ✕Listening practice and offline play need Pro
- ✕US App Store lists several Pro prices for the same plan length
- Languages:
- Over 50
- Free tier:
- Essential features for all users
- Pro listening:
- Unlimited, over 30 languages
- Refund policy:
- 30-day money back guarantee on Pro
Bottom line: A strong free next step for learners past the beginner stage. Pay for Pro if you want listening practice or offline play.
- 07
Busuu
8.0/10Course-based language app with expert-built lessons in 14 languages and a community of native speakers.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 7.4
- Features (35%)
- 8.2
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.6
Best forLearners who want structured lessons and may later pay for review tools and certificates.
Busuu sits between Duolingo and a paid course. It offers complete courses in 14 languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Polish, written by language experts and split into short lessons. Its community of native speakers can review your exercises, which adds a human element most course apps lack. Busuu's App Store listing says a lot of the features are free but a subscription is needed for all features, and its Premium page shows what you pay for. Premium adds grammar review, vocabulary review, speaking assessments, no ads and Busuu certificates. Premium Plus adds AI conversations, pronunciation practice, exclusive content, streak protection and communication skills courses. The US App Store lists several different prices for 12 months of Premium, and the web page showed local currency from our location, so we marked pricing pending. Free users get a solid start, but the review tools that make lessons stick are paid.
- ✓Clear, structured courses
- ✓Native speaker community feedback
- ✓Official certificates on Premium
- ✕Busuu says a subscription is needed for all features
- ✕Review tools and speaking assessments need Premium
- ✕US App Store lists several prices for 12 months of Premium, so we could not confirm one
- Languages:
- 14
- Paid tiers:
- Premium, Premium Plus
- Premium extras:
- Grammar and vocabulary review, speaking assessments, certificates
- Premium Plus extras:
- AI conversations, pronunciation practice
Bottom line: A good structured course to start for free, with the clearest description of what each paid tier adds. Expect to pay if you want review tools or certificates.
- 08
Drops
7.6/10Visual vocabulary game with illustrated words and native audio in 55+ languages.
Price
$5.83per month, billed $69.99 yearly
Free version with limited session time; Premium yearly $69.99, about $5.83 per month; monthly $11; one-time $150
“YEARLY $69.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7 days
- Value (40%)
- 7.2
- Features (35%)
- 7.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.0
Best forBeginners who want quick, picture-based vocabulary practice in short sessions.
Drops teaches vocabulary through pictures and swipes rather than translation, which makes it one of the easiest apps here to pick up. Its App Store listing describes a curated list of more than 3,000 words and phrases, voiced by professional voice artists, across a long list of languages that includes Basque, Greenlandic, Ainu and American Sign Language. The free version is meant for short daily sessions. Drops' Premium page sells the upgrade on unlimited time, no ads, offline learning, access to all content and exclusive audio gameplay, which tells you what the free version lacks. Prices on the Premium page are in USD: $11 a month, $69.99 a year with a 7-day free trial, or a one-time $150. Drops is a vocabulary tool, not a full course, so it works best alongside Duolingo or Busuu.
- ✓Very easy to start, with no typing needed
- ✓Wide choice of languages
- ✓One-time purchase option at $150
- ✕Free sessions are time-limited
- ✕Vocabulary only, with little grammar
- ✕Free version shows ads
- Languages:
- 55+
- Word list:
- More than 3,000 words and phrases
- Premium options:
- $11 monthly, $69.99 yearly, $150 one-time
- Free trial:
- 7 days on the yearly plan
Bottom line: The easiest vocabulary app here, but the free version is limited by session time. Use it as a short daily extra, and consider the one-time purchase if you stay.
- 09
LingQ
7.4/10Reading and listening platform that teaches through real content, with saved words reviewed by spaced repetition.
Price
$10per month, billed $119.99 yearly
Free plan limited to 20 saved words; LingQ Premium for 12 months $119.99 in the US App Store, about $10 per month
“LingQ Premium (12 Months) $119.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 9, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 6.6
- Features (35%)
- 8.4
- Ease of use (25%)
- 7.4
Best forLearners who want to read and listen to native content and track the words they know.
LingQ is built on learning through large amounts of reading and listening. You open a lesson from its library or import your own article, video or podcast transcript, and every new word you save becomes a LingQ that you review later. The free plan works as a trial rather than a long-term option. LingQ's support page says free accounts can create only 20 LingQs, and its own comparison lists 5 imported lessons and 1 audio playlist, though free users can still read and listen to the full library in 50+ languages. Premium removes those caps and adds full sentence translations, auto-generated audio for imports, flashcard quizzes, statistics and offline access. The US App Store lists LingQ Premium for 12 months at $119.99, about $10 a month, the highest annual price we verified here. It is a strong tool for intermediate learners who will use it daily, and an expensive one for casual users.
- ✓Free users can read and listen to the full library
- ✓Learn from content you actually want to read
- ✓Tracks known words across a language
- ✕20 saved word limit is reached within the first lesson or two
- ✕Most expensive annual upgrade we verified in this list
- ✕Interface takes time to learn
- Free saved words:
- 20 total
- Free imports:
- 5 lessons
- Languages:
- 50+
- Paid upgrade:
- $119.99 for 12 months in the US App Store
Bottom line: Worth trying free to see if the reading method suits you, but the 20 word cap makes it a demo. Pay only if you will read in your target language most days.
What to check before you pay
Decide what kind of free you need
Some apps give away the whole course and charge for convenience: Duolingo says every course is free, and Anki's desktop app is free on all major platforms. Others give a taste and charge for the rest: Memrise limits vocab lessons and videos on its free plan, LingQ caps saved words at 20, and Drops Premium is sold on unlimited time, which means free sessions are time-limited.
Pair a course app with a speaking app
Course apps teach structure, but none of them replace conversation. HelloTalk and Tandem match you with native speakers for free text, voice and video practice. Their paid tiers do not gate conversations; they add unlimited translations, location filters and the ability to add more languages to your profile.
Read what the paid tier actually adds
Super Duolingo removes ads and adds unlimited energy and monthly streak repair. Busuu Premium adds grammar and vocabulary review, speaking assessments and certificates, and Premium Plus adds AI conversations. HelloTalk VIP adds unlimited translation, transliteration and transcription. Clozemaster Pro adds unlimited sentences, listening practice and offline play.
Check the platform before you pay
Anki is free everywhere except iPhone and iPad, where AnkiMobile is a one-time purchase that also supports Family Sharing. App Store prices can differ from web prices, and several apps list more than one price for the same plan length, so confirm the price on the screen where you subscribe.
Price the upgrade by the year
Annual plans are far cheaper per month than monthly ones. In the US App Store, Memrise lists an annual plan at $61.99, HelloTalk VIP Yearly at $79.99, Clozemaster Pro Annual at $79.99 and LingQ Premium for 12 months at $119.99. Drops lists its yearly plan at $69.99 on its own site.
FAQ
What is the best free language learning app?
Duolingo, because its App Store listing says every course is free and Super Duolingo mainly removes ads and the mistake limit. Anki is the best free choice for flashcards, and HelloTalk for free conversation practice with native speakers.
Can you learn a language for free?
You can get far. Duolingo gives free full courses, Anki gives free spaced repetition on desktop, web and Android, and HelloTalk and Tandem give free conversations with native speakers. Combining a course app with a speaking app covers more skills than any single paid app.
What does Super Duolingo add over the free version?
Duolingo's Super page shows the same learning content on both tiers. Super removes ads and the limit on mistakes, adds personalized practice and monthly streak repair, and Super Family covers up to 6 accounts.
Which language app has the cheapest paid upgrade?
Among subscriptions we verified in USD, Memrise's Annual Language Learning Plan is cheapest at $61.99 a year in the US App Store. Anki's iPhone app costs a one-time $24.99, and Anki is free on other platforms.
Are language exchange apps free?
Yes, the core features are. HelloTalk offers unlimited free voice and text exchanges with daily caps on translation, and Tandem offers free chats and audio and video calls with 3 free translations a day. Their paid tiers add unlimited translations and more search filters.
Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.
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