Best apps by goal

Best free language-learning apps and free tiers

‘Free’ can mean a permanent limited tier, a sample lesson, a time-limited trial or a money-back window. Those are different commitments and should not be compared as one category.

No pay-to-rank scoringLast verified: Sep 3, 2026

Best for

  • Learners testing a format
  • People with no current software budget
  • Users avoiding annual commitments

Watch for

  • Card-required trials auto-renew
  • Free limits can block the core workflow
  • A money-back guarantee is not a free trial

Documented shortlist

Affiliate disclosure. Links to LingQ in this decision area are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them. This does not affect our recommendations. How we fund the Lab

Busuu

Documented

A structured course platform with short lessons, study plans and corrections from a learner community.

Best fit: Learners who want a CEFR-oriented course sequence

Watch: Language coverage and level ceilings differ

Explore Busuu Standard link · no affiliate trackingRead evidence review

Mondly

Documented

A broad language catalogue with short thematic lessons, daily challenges and speech-recognition activities.

Best fit: Beginners building a short daily habit

Watch: Advanced depth is not documented uniformly

Explore Mondly Standard link · no affiliate trackingRead evidence review

LingQ

Documented

A self-directed reading and listening environment built around authentic content, saved words and imported material.

Best fit: Learners who want large amounts of reading and listening input

Watch: The open library is not a mandatory linear course

Explore LingQ Read evidence review

Babbel

Documented

A structured lesson platform with short dialogues, grammar explanations, speaking practice and review.

Best fit: Learners who want a guided course rather than an open content library

Watch: Course depth is not equal across languages

Explore Babbel Standard link · no affiliate trackingRead evidence review

LingoPie

Documented

A video-first platform using shows, films and short-form media with interactive subtitles and playback tools.

Best fit: Visual learners who stay engaged with series and films

Watch: It is not a conventional linear CEFR course

Explore LingoPie Standard link · no affiliate trackingRead evidence review
Evidence desk

Side-by-side evidence

Product facts use the documented vendor records; pricing has its own verification date below. Regional offers may change.

Scroll across to compare product details. Prices and billing terms should be confirmed on the official site.

Current public vendor information; no pay-to-rank score
CriterionBusuuMondlyLingQBabbelLingoPie
Learning formatstructure, speaking, listening, vocabularyvocabulary, speaking, listening, structurereading, listening, vocabulary, structurestructure, speaking, listening, vocabularyvideo, listening, vocabulary, reading
Languages14 languages; the published course ceiling ranges from A2 to C141 languages and many source-language combinationsMore than 50 languages; the verified selector contained 5213 target languages from English; course depth differs substantially by language17 published target languages; catalogue availability can vary by interface language and region
Level contextStrongest where the chosen language has a complete A1–C1 pathBeginner to advanced is marketed, but level depth is not published consistently by languageAll levels are marketed; the open content model is often easiest after the earliest beginner stageFrom beginner upward; the published ceiling ranges from A1 to C1 depending on languagePersonalised level selection, without a published universal CEFR pathway
Access modelPermanent free tierPermanent free tierPermanent free tierFree sampleTime-limited trial
Free access / trialBasic course access, community feedback and basic progress trackingDaily lessons and recurring challenges are available freeFree account with audio and transcripts, up to 20 saved terms, five imported lessons and one playlistRegistration and the first lesson of each course are free; no universal timed trial was confirmedEligible web and US iOS card purchases have a seven-day trial; the monthly mobile plan has no trial
Pricing contextCurrent numeric pricing was not reliably exposed in public vendor HTML; verify at checkoutAn official Mondly comparison page displayed $14.90 per month on 7 September 2026; checkout and promotions can differUSD web Premium snapshot: $14.99 monthly, $119.99 for 12 months or $215.76 for 24 months; terms are prepaid and locale/channel can change the offerNo stable universal public number; price varies by location, term, promotion and direct, Apple, Google or partner purchase channelNo universal numeric quote: check the current regional checkout for term, language access, full charge, trial eligibility and renewal
Pricing checkedSep 3, 2026Sep 7, 2026Sep 13, 2026Sep 3, 2026Sep 9, 2026
Billing / renewal contextOne- to 12-month terms are paid upfront and auto-renew; the first Premium payment has a published 14-day guarantee, excluding renewalsRegional and promotional pricing can change materiallyRecurring prepaid plans; first-time Premium purchases have a published 30-day refund window, while later charges are generally non-refundableCancel through the original purchase channel before its stated renewal deadline; regional withdrawal and refund rights differThe seven-day trial auto-renews; current-month and post-trial annual charges are described as non-refundable
PlatformsWeb, iOS and Android; offline access requires PremiumWeb, iOS and AndroidWeb, iOS and Android; offline access is a Premium featureWeb, iOS and Android with synced progressWeb, iOS, Android and selected TV platforms; iOS supports limited offline downloads

Choose the learning job before the app

Evaluate the free version against one real weekly task. If the limit prevents that task, treat the free tier as a demo rather than a long-term solution.

A useful shortlist separates the core learning activity from supporting features. A product can be excellent for one job and still be the wrong centre of a weekly plan.

Build a repeatable week

Choose a session length you can repeat, then assign a clear action to each session. Track completed minutes and meaningful outputs—lessons finished, pages understood, conversations held—not streaks alone.

Use the finder for an initial shortlist and the planners to test whether the time commitment fits your real week before paying for a long term.

What this comparison can and cannot prove

The facts below come from current vendor documentation and published plan pages. Language Choice Lab has not awarded points for commission and does not claim hands-on testing where none occurred.

Prices, catalogues and trials can change by location and sales channel. Recheck the official checkout before buying.

Decision criteria

01Permanent access
02Core feature limits
03Payment card required
04Auto-renewal
05Content depth
06Export path

Primary sources

Material claims link to primary or authoritative sources. A link is not an endorsement.