Top 10 Best Language Learning Apps in the UK 2021 (Duolingo, Memrise and More)

With so many language learning apps available, there really is an option for everyone, regardless of your learning style or budget. There are, however, a few key things you’ll need to consider in order to find your perfect study partner. Here are the most pertinent. 

First things first – what language are you looking to learn? As these apps develop, the selection of available languages grows, but there’s no guarantee that a given app will offer lessons on your chosen language. Naturally, those looking to read widely spoken languages will have more choice than those wanting to speak Finnish, so it makes sense to check before you hand your money over. 

Perhaps you’re not yet set on which language you’d like to learn or you’re feeling particularly ambitious and would like to learn more than one. Those in this situation may benefit from an app that offers a large selection of languages, with some even allowing you to pick from over 50.

If that’s still not enough choice or your chosen language is especially esoteric, many apps feature user-made courses. They won’t be curated in the same way that more popular languages are, but courses are usually made by native speakers and you’re bound to find enough information to get your learning off the ground. 

Tread carefully, however, because while some apps will let you learn multiple languages, others will not or will require an increased subscription price for you to be able to do so. You’ll need the pricier ‘premium plus subscription’ to learn multiple languages with Busuu, for example, while Mondly only allows you to subscribe to one language at a time.

Those preparing for a meeting with the galactic commander need not feel excluded and neither do those looking to party like it’s the 8th century BC. Duolingo is the place to go if you want to perfect your Klingon and, owing to popular demand, Latin was also recently added to the app. 

If you wish, there are also places to learn other fictional languages, such as the Game of Thrones series’ High Valyrian, or focus on specific iterations of a language like ‘Oktoberfest German’ or Shakespearean English – “I charge thee, speak!”

English is spoken by 98% of the UK population, so chances are you have at least a working knowledge of the language. But that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t prefer your lessons to be carried out in another language, especially if English isn’t your mother tongue. 

Because this list caters primarily to the UK market, every app included teaches in English, but those wishing to learn in another language need not be disappointed as some apps do enable this. A few only offer lessons in English, however, so it’s wise to check first if you would prefer this option. 

Alternatively, perhaps you’d like to do away with a mediating language of any sort and would instead like to immerse yourself completely in your target language. If so, Rosetta Stone’s ‘immersion’ method of language learning might be for you.

Not for the faint-hearted, it aims to teach you a new language without any help at all from your native tongue – it’s an experience akin to being dropped in the middle of a foreign country without any tools to aid you, but it’s a sure-fire way to develop an extraordinary grasp of your new language.

The next step is to find an app that utilises a learning style that works for you. There are several proven effective methods of language learning, each of which has staunch advocates that cite scientific evidence to explain why their method is the best. The best option, however, is always the one that would make learning a new language easiest – and the most fun! – for you. 

The first learning style is the most traditional – courses consisting of lessons that gradually progress in difficulty. Many of these apps utilise algorithms to adjust this difficulty in accordance with your current knowledge. This means the learning process is achievable enough to keep you motivated while remaining challenging enough to offer a sense of achievement.

Unlike traditional methods of language learning, modern apps utilise a number of approaches, such as images and gamification, to make this learning process as fun as it was always meant to be. This makes them highly popular, particularly with those who appreciate a structured approach or who like to track their progress.

That doesn’t mean that they’re the best option for everyone, however, and, particularly if the word ‘lesson’ or the sight of an abundance of lessons yet to be completed is enough to make you want to run and hide in the store cupboard, you may benefit more from another learning style.

If you’re a visual learner, you’ll likely benefit from learning a language with flashcards. Flashcards consist of only two elements: the word or phrase to be learned and an accompanying image. By stripping away everything but the most necessary information, flashcards make memorising new words much easier.

This is particularly true when paired with repetition, which is why many language apps utilise an SRS or ‘spaced repetition system’. With this, you're encouraged to learn and then recall information at intervals, the idea being that the new information can solidify in these intermittent spaces. Words you're unable to recall are then prioritised over those which have been successfully memorised. 

Flashcards will also be an ideal method of learning if you benefit from keeping things simple. For other learners, however, the simplicity of flashcards and their repetitive method can become tedious. Learners who find that context and extra information enriches their learning experience will be better suited to traditional courses.

There’s nothing wrong with learning languages in the classroom, but sometimes the country where people speak the language you are trying to learn can feel a million miles away. In our new digital age this is no longer the case, and we are now able to communicate with people all around the world in real time.

Many apps now use this to their advantage, providing platforms through which people can interact and aid each other in their language learning. Several also allow you to engage in voice conversations with native speakers – you’ll get advice on how to sound more like a native speaker and less like someone who learned from a textbook, and you’ll perhaps even learn a bit of slang!

This method of learning will work very well for aural learners or those who find they absorb their new language through actually using it. Learners who may not suit this method so well are those who prefer to learn independently rather than through interaction with others, or those who appreciate the structure of a course.

Gamification – the use of game-like elements in non-game settings – is now an extremely popular learning mechanic and most language apps will utilise it in some way. Some, however, take things a step further and make dedicated language learning games. 

Through a combination of word games, colourful interfaces and badges and achievements, this style aims to make the learning process as fun as possible. This is ideal if you want to keep your language learning as casual as possible. Play for just a few minutes a day, and you’ll gradually build up a repertoire of new words. 

Those who prefer a more structured learning method or who are looking to learn more than individual words many want to steer clear of game-style apps, but for the most part they’re so simple and fun to play that they may work as a great companion to another language learning app.

As always, price is an important factor to consider when deciding upon a language learning app and while many of these apps are free to download, you’ll be required to pay a little more for full access to all of their resources. Read on, where we explain how much bang you can get for your buck.

In any discussion regarding price, it makes sense to start with what you can get for free, particularly if you’re only a casual learner. Though there are usually limitations, many apps will offer pretty decent resources without you needing to hand over a single penny, and if you combine a few apps, you might find you’re able to get off to a good start for nothing. 

Memrise offers plenty of resources for nothing but when it comes to free stuff, there’s a clear winner – Duolingo’s founders created their app with a commitment to allowing as many people as possible to learn a language for free. 

For the sake of sustainability, they now offer a ‘plus’ option that gives you benefits such as offline mode and ad removal, but otherwise, you’ll find everything you need in the free version to begin getting a good grasp of your new language.

If free options such as Duolingo don’t quite cut it, don’t fear because there are plenty of apps available with relatively inexpensive subscription options. With Busuu, you can get a personalised study plan, the ability to interact with native speakers and access to 12 languages for the equivalent of just £8.99 a month. 

Meanwhile, a £8.49 monthly subscription with Drops will give you access to word games in every one of their 31 languages. Other apps offering subscriptions for less than £10 a month include Mango, HelloTalk and Mondly.

Though most subscriptions are fairly cheap, there are a few apps that transcend the £10 a month mark. Generally speaking, these are the apps whose structure more closely resembles a formal, ‘beginning to end’ language course. 

Rosetta Stone are one of the biggest names in language learning – they’ve been around for nearly thirty years and originally sold CD-ROM courses with the end goal of fluency. Nowadays, things aren’t too different, except you’ll pay £39.99 for 3 months' access to a full language course. 

Pimsleur is similar, with £19.49 giving you access to a well-structured and comprehensive language course with tons of resources and learning options.

We hope you now know a little more about the language learning apps that are currently available and how they differ from each other. You may even have your eye set on one that you feel would be perfect for you. But first, read on to discover our pick of the best language learning apps available in the UK.

All this talk of improving your language skills with a simple app might have you hungry for more. You might also be looking for other ways to get stuck in that don't add to your screen time! Luckily, we’ve got some great articles to help you find these additional resources. Check out the links below to learn more.

It’s been a tough job to narrow down all the language learning apps out there, but we believe we’ve managed to come up with a list of fantastic options that showcase the impressive number of ways in which you can learn a new language this year. Bonne chance! 

Author: Ben Willimett