Learning English in 2024 offers an abundance of tools, with language learning apps providing flexibility and interactive features that fit around busy schedules. However, apps alone may not be enough to build a strong foundation. Online English courses allow you to work closely with a teacher who can offer personalized lessons, accountability, and guidance that apps often lack. Ideally, learners can use apps to complement formal lessons, creating a well-rounded learning experience. Let’s explore this further by asking the question:
With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this useful guide to help you make the best choice based on your specific needs. We have tried to provide you with an idea of what each app offers, and which level they are most appropriate for. What we’ve found is that no one app can single handedly teach you how to speak a new language. However, they can definitely help you to learn it faster and smarter than if you were trying to learn completely on your own. Each app has its own advantages and drawbacks. You will most likely need to use a combination of apps in order to cover all the aspects of learning English i.e. listening, reading, speaking and writing. The ideal strategy would be to use these apps to complement and extend your learning outside of lessons. However, if you are unable to take classes, but are determined to learn the language, these apps will certainly help motivate and support you in your language learning journey. Below are some of the best language learning apps, what level they are most appropriate for, and some other important information that will help you to determine what’s best for you.
The Duolingo language app is a great place to start mainly because it will help you to answer some important questions about yourself before you go and spend money on teacher- led lessons or paid apps. Firstly, it will help you to discover whether you actually enjoy learning English (or any other language available on the app), and whether you are ready to commit long term to the process. It takes time and consistent practice to learn a new language. You should aim for between 20- 40 min per day. As a beginner, you need to put in the time required to build a solid foundation in the language by learning vocab and basic language structures. One of the reasons Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps, especially for beginners is because it provides bite-sized lessons that are game-like, making learning fun and engaging. The app focuses on vocabulary building, basic sentence structures, and pronunciation, using repetition and spaced recall to help learners retain new information. We recommend trying it out for at least 2 weeks to see whether learning English, or any other language is something you want to spend your time doing.
Why it works: Duolingo's gamified format keeps beginners motivated and helps them build a solid foundation in vocabulary and basic grammar. The free version is not as limited as other apps’ free versions, and you can easily use it long term without having to purchase the premium version.
Potential drawbacks: Duolingo, like the majority of language learning apps, is visually based. This means that you have to continuously engage with the screen. Over time, it can get somewhat repetitive and boring. In addition, you will find that as you progress from a beginner to intermediate level, you may find that you outgrow the app and will need to find more dynamic and challenging ways of engaging with your target language.
The Babbel app offers a more structured approach compared to Duolingo, with lessons focused on real-life conversations and practical vocabulary. They have a variety of different lesson activities and styles that help keep you engaged and avoid being too repetitive. The app adjusts to your learning speed and is particularly helpful in reinforcing new words through spaced repetition.
Why it works: Babbel offers a variety of lesson styles, diverse language drills, and short digestible lessons. It contains lots of helpful visuals. It features practical vocabulary, interactive dialogues, and even offers personalized review sessions. The focus on grammar basics, sentence formation, and listening is great for beginner and intermediate learners.
Potential drawbacks: Babble is subscription based. You can try out the first lesson of each course for free, but after that you will need to pay for a subscription if you want to continue learning on the app. Like Duolingo, it is visually based which means that you have to continuously engage directly with content on the screen.
Pairing visually based apps like Duolingo and Babbel with an audio- based app can help add variety to your language learning program, and give you a break from constant visual engagement. Audio- based apps are great because they allow you to learn while doing other things like mindless chores, or moderate exercise.
Research has also shown that remaining relaxed while learning something new allows you to understand new topics more easily, and retain new information more effectively over time. A great way to remain relaxed while learning a new language is to listen to an audio-based app or even a podcast (for intermediate and advanced learners) while taking a walk in the park, or doing some other form of low-impact exercise.
However, it is important that you do something that helps you to remain physically and mentally relaxed while also allowing you to focus on the audio you’re learning from. Don’t try to multitask by doing activities that distract you from what you’re listening to.
Language Transfer is an audio-based app that is completely free. It is perfect for language learners of all levels, as it features courses from the beginner level, to advanced. The app contains pre-recorded lessons that feature both teachers and learners. It is a bit like listening in on a private lesson, but is designed to allow you to pause and respond to the teacher’s questions before hearing the learner’s responses. You can download the audio files and listen to the course in your own time, or use an online version that will save your progress so you can pick up wherever you left off.
Why it works: The audio-based format allows learners to listen and practice the target language at their own pace. The lessons are systematic and structured in a way that mirrors real language learning progression. The approach does not rely on memorisation, and is designed to help learners draw comparisons between their own language and the target language by focusing on how the same ideas are communicated in different languages.
Potential drawbacks: It doesn’t have that many lessons. Even their most complete courses only have up to 12 hours of content, so the extent to which you can progress is limited.
If you like Language Transfer, you’ll most likely enjoy Pimsleur. Both apps are audio-based and function in similar ways. However, Pimsleur has more languages to choose from, a lot more content, and supplementary tools like vocab quizzes and flashcards that can help you progress faster.
Why it works: Pimsleur is particularly good at helping you develop your listening and speaking skills because of the focus on audio and authentic conversations. The lessons are also very interactive which means that you get to actually participate in the conversations you listen to. The slightly longer format of their lessons means that they are comprehensive, engaging and challenging. Some learners find the longer format of the lessons more valuable than short, bite-size activities that feel bitsy and aren’t as challenging.
Potential drawbacks: Pimsleur is subscription- based. There are no free options. We recommend trying out Language Transfer first, and then if you find that the audio-based method works well for you, and you’re willing to invest a little more time and money in the process, you can try out Pimsleur. Compared to apps like Duolingo, and Babbel, Pimsleur’s lessons take much longer to complete and there is less diversity in terms of the supportive drills and activities.
FluentU is perfect for advanced learners looking to immerse themselves in English as it’s used in real-life contexts. The app uses authentic English-language videos (like movie clips, music videos, and news segments) to teach advanced grammar and vocabulary. Each video comes with interactive subtitles, allowing users to click on unfamiliar words for instant definitions and usage examples
Why it works: FluentU’s focus on real-world content allows learners to see how the language is used in different cultural contexts, perfect for those aiming to perfect their listening and comprehension skills.
Potential drawbacks: It is subscription based. You can sign up for a free trial, but will need to pay after the trial is complete. Although they have some great content, and supportive features, there is little else more beneficial for advanced learners than conversation with a native speaker. It will help you improve your listening comprehension, but not your speaking skills.
Tandem connects learners with native English speakers for language exchange. It’s a great option for learners at any level, but particularly useful for intermediate and advanced students who want to practice speaking and listening skills in real-time conversations.
Why it works: Language exchanges are a great way to practice speaking and listening. Conversations with native speakers are one of the best ways for upper-intermediate and advanced learners to maintain and improve their English competency and fluency. Meeting with someone else to practice your speaking skills is both a valuable social experience, and will help keep you accountable to your practice.
Potential drawbacks: Tandem and other language exchange platforms work on a skill share model. This means that you will need to teach someone else your own language in exchange for them helping you with English. The other thing to keep in mind is that the people on the app are not necessarily qualified teachers, so the quality of exchange and support can vary greatly depending on who you are matched with.
Anki allows you to create your own flash cards, or download decks created by other users. It is a great way to practice and remember vocab and basic sentences and/or expressions. It is open source and free to use.
Beelinguapp provides users with stories that appear in both the target language and the users’ native language. Each story also comes with an audio in the target language. It’s a great resource for practicing reading and listening skills, and the fact that stories appear in both languages means that you can directly translate any words or expressions that you don’t know.
This app gives you access to all the different BBC learning podcasts. From grammar tutorials, to news recordings and much more.
British Council: General lesson topics with related activities
6 Minute English: English conversations on a range of topics. Includes transcripts and focus vocab
Breaking News English: Level specific texts adapted from news articles and current events
Advanced English Lessons: Grammar explanations and related activities
Finding the right app for learning English depends on your current level, learning goals, and personal preferences. Beginners may benefit from gamified apps like Duolingo, while intermediate learners will benefit from apps that offer more structured and challenging lessons like Babbel or Pimsleur. Some learners may find visual apps more effective, while others might prefer an audio app or a combination of both. For advanced learners, immersion tools like FluentU, or free language exchanges like Tandem are most beneficial. The beauty of these apps is that they allow flexibility—you can learn at your own pace, anywhere, anytime. The one drawback of using apps over taking lessons is that all the responsibility lies with you, the learner. When you take lessons with an online English teacher, this responsibility is shared. Teachers help keep you accountable. They have an incentive to prioritize your needs, and they can adapt lessons to meet those needs.
While language apps help build foundational skills, learning with Foreign Friend ensures a deeper, more personalized experience. Our online English courses are designed to help you master real-life conversations, cultural nuances, and idiomatic expressions—things apps simply can’t provide. With our dedicated teachers, you won’t just memorize vocabulary; you’ll learn how to communicate effectively and confidently in English. We focus on your unique goals, keeping you engaged and progressing.
If you’re interested in taking lessons with an experienced and reliable teacher, check out our classes and services OR contact us for more information.
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