Best English Learning Apps: Tested Top Picks That Actually Work

Yabla

Yabla’s English language platform uses immersive videos with interactive subtitles and engaging games to support learners. Accessible on the web and iOS, with an Android app on the way, Yabla provides content at various difficulty levels, using either internet-sourced or original videos—all featuring native English speakers.

See our Super-Detailed Yabla Review

Pimsleur

Compared to most of the apps on this list, Pimsleur has been around for a very long time. Its tried-and-true method uses audio lessons to teach listeners their target language. You’ll hear native English speakers right away and will be asked to start speaking right away as well. Especially for aural learners, this app can give you a head start with spoken English.

As a tradeoff for the mostly-audio content, learners won’t acquire much in the way of reading or writing skills here. There aren’t really any grammar explanations either. The idea is that you’ll pick up all the grammar you need while actively listening to and producing the language. Courses are available for speakers of fourteen different languages.

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See our Super-Detailed Pimsleur Review

Magoosh

English proficiency is a valuable skill in both the professional and academic worlds. In both of these contexts, English ability is often measured by way of standardized tests, whether it’s for admission to an English-speaking university or for a position at a company that requires skills in the language.

Magoosh helps learners prepare for nine important exams, ranging from IELTS to LSAT. The platform allows users to progress at their own pace and includes video lessons, timed practice questions, vocab flashcards, progress tracking, a competitive feature, and more. It’s one of the most popular solutions for learners looking to leverage their English ability in the professional world.

See our Super-Detailed Magoosh Review

Babbel

This is a widely used language-learning platform, offering English courses in over a dozen different languages through a combination of clear explanations and interactive exercises. Its main strength lies in the structure of its courses, where lessons build naturally on each other for effective learning. Users are introduced to everyday vocabulary, short dialogues, and native speaker audio, all with helpful explanations and practice exercises. While the app’s design is simple and not particularly flashy, its straightforward approach is effective and appreciated by many learners.

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See our Super-Detailed Babbel Review

Rocket English

The Rocket English course is quite popular and is recognized for offering solid language lessons with plenty of exercises and explanations, though it doesn’t stand out as exceptional. The English course is taught entirely in English, meaning you’ll need some of the basics to actually get started.

Yabla

For those learning English, Yabla provides authentic videos with interactive subtitles and games to enhance learning. The videos come from diverse sources and cover multiple levels, all featuring native Italian speakers. Compared to FluentU, Yabla is less expensive, though English is the only language you’ll be able to study if you sign up for a subscription. The course also offers a greater variety of exercises and lessons to accompany the videos than FluentU.

See our Super-Detailed Yabla Review

EnglishClass101

EnglishClass101 is brought to you by Innovative Languages, a language instruction company with courses in a range of different languages. Their courses are known for being full of useful material and for the energetic native-speaking hosts, and the English lessons are no different.

There are podcasts available for all levels, starting with some solid beginner lessons. In addition to teaching the language, these podcasts offer valuable cultural insights and some extra features like quizzes and vocabulary practice. You’ll also get exposure to both American and British English.

Beelinguapp

Beelinguapp is a solid tool for reading practice, offering a side-by-side translation of the original text that can be toggled on or off, allowing learners to easily reference the meaning as they read. It also includes a “karaoke” mode that highlights the text as it’s read aloud, enhancing listening comprehension.

The app features a wide range of content, from stories to news articles, with new material added regularly. Currently, Beelinguapp supports 13 different languages, providing learners with ample options for practice.

LingQ

LingQ and Readlang are resources that work really well for getting interesting reading practice. LingQ is an app that makes translating unknown words as you read very easy. It also keeps track of which words you know and which words you have to look up, using this information to color-code the text you’re reading. It’s cool to be able to visualize how difficult a given piece of reading will be.

One of the reasons LingQ offers such diverse content is its user-friendly feature for uploading your own material, making it easy to practice with articles, books, or other texts you find interesting.

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See our Super-Detailed LingQ Review

Readlang

Readlang supports language learning by enabling instant translations as you read, allowing you to look up unfamiliar words with a simple click, making comprehension easier. It also collects vocabulary into flashcards with audio pronunciation and contextual sentences, helping reinforce what you learn. Readlang’s utility as a Google Chrome extension allows users to receive translations for words or sentences in over 45 languages, effectively helping you learn a foreign language as you surf the web. With its spaced repetition system for vocabulary retention and compatibility with offline use, Readlang is a practical tool for learners.

Pimsleur

Pimsleur has been around for quite a while, making it one of the most established language-learning resources available. Its proven method primarily uses audio lessons to help learners acquire their target language. From the start, you’ll hear native speakers and be prompted to speak right alongside them, making it particularly effective for developing spoken language skills. This approach works especially well for auditory learners, as it helps you get a jumpstart on speaking fluently. However, the tradeoff is that you won’t gain much in terms of reading or writing skills, and there are no grammar explanations. The goal is for learners to internalize grammar naturally through active listening and speaking. Pimsleur offers courses in several languages, tailored for speakers of different native tongues.

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See our Super-Detailed Pimsleur Review

ELSA Speak

Good pronunciation is one of the most important aspects of speaking a language — all the vocabulary and grammar in the world won’t help you if no one can understand what you’re saying. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the hardest to perfect.

Getting personalized instruction from an instructor may be the most effective way to practice, but apps like Elsa Speak are leveraging technology to make practice more accessible. The basic version of Elsa Speak is free, and it uses voice recognition technology to provide detailed feedback on your pronunciation. Record yourself reading example sentences to see what individual sounds you need more practice with and take focused practice lessons. 

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See our Super-Detailed ELSA Speak Review

Speechling

Like Elsa Speak, this app’s focus is helping learners improve their English pronunciation. They both provide detailed feedback but take a different approach. Speechling provides even more personalized instruction by involving real teachers. Record yourself speaking English and submit the recording for a native English speaker to evaluate and provide feedback. Practice happens through mimicking exercises, and you can send a limited number of recordings to be evaluated each month for free. A subscription to the platform allows you to submit an unlimited number of recordings. Save 10% on a Speechling subscription with the coupon code ‘ALR123’.

See our Super-Detailed Speechling Review

italki

This well-known platform is famous for its extensive directory of English tutors, but it also offers some handy community features, like the Exercise function, which is free to use in the italki app. It’s perfect for getting writing feedback from native English speakers. To use it, you just write and post something for others to review — anything you want, or you can choose from the provided prompts to help you get started. Native speakers or proficient English speakers can then offer feedback and corrections. It’s a simple system, and responses often come quickly. New italki users can also get a $10 credit on their first purchase.

See our Super-Detailed italki Review

Memrise

Gamified flashcards and SRS are part of what makes this app so popular. It’s also popular for the fact that there are tons of courses available for free, including English. The official Memrise courses for English require a paid subscription for full access, but they come with videos of native speakers and high-quality audio.

The free user-created courses are of varying quality, but there are certainly some good ones available. There are so many that you should be able to find one to suit just about any difficulty level. You’ll also be able to study specific language related to certain grammar points or categories and be able to choose between US and British English.

See our Super-Detailed Memrise Review

Clozemaster

Both Clozemaster and Lingvist use SRS flashcards to teach English, presenting new vocabulary within context sentences. This approach is especially helpful for understanding how words naturally appear in English, allowing learners to get a sense of the language’s rhythm and flow.

Clozemaster is mostly free and has a more game-like design, featuring points, leaderboards, and levels that add an arcade feel. With translations in over ten languages, it’s a fun option but better suited for learners with some foundational knowledge of English rather than absolute beginners.

See our Super-Detailed Clozemaster Review

Lingvist

Lingvist is like Clozemaster’s grown-up cousin, although much less of it is available for free. The interface is slick, and there are actually some language explanations to go along with the material. You’ll also be able to get some extra practice in the form of challenges that test various language skills. Instructions are available in nine languages.

See our Super-Detailed Lingvist Review

Lingokids

This app is aimed at teaching kids aged 2-8 years old, but parents can certainly learn along with their children. The curriculum focuses on building vocabulary through engaging games that will catch the attention of kids. The app also aims to teach skills beyond English, such as critical thinking and collaboration.

The basic version of this app is completely free and includes three games, songs, or videos each day. With a paid subscription, you’ll have access to the full library of content as well as a progress tracker and offline capability.

Preply

Preply is another popular tutor directory that offers a wide range of English tutors online. While tutors receive small commissions and are not paid for trial lessons, the platform boasts a large pool of over 25,000 English tutors, including experienced professionals and newcomers. Preply’s extensive selection allows students to find a tutor who meets their price, availability, and learning goals with ease.

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See our Super-Detailed Preply Review

italki

italki is an excellent platform for finding an English tutor online, offering a wide selection of over 4,000 teachers. Each tutor sets their own schedule and pricing, so you have incredible flexibility to choose someone who fits your learning style, availability, and budget. You can easily filter your search by class type, the teacher’s country of origin, or the additional languages they speak. Beyond tutoring, italki offers great community features that are free to use. You can ask questions about English, get your writing corrected, and connect with other learners for language exchange. It’s a great way to get extra practice without the pressure of formal lessons. Your first purchase comes with a $10 credit.

See our Super-Detailed italki Review

Cambly

If longer lessons aren’t what you’re after, or if you want the ability to pick up your phone and start talking with a native English speaker at a moment’s notice, Cambly might be more your speed. The app also lets users schedule classes with their favorite teachers once they’ve found some favorites.

The flexibility is the main draw here, along with inexpensive one-on-one tutor time and loads of authentic speaking practice. Classes can take pretty much any form depending on your level and whether you’re looking for more structure or general conversation practice; you can even study for IELTS or TOEFL exams.

Busuu

Busuu is known for its quality language courses (except those teaching Asian languages), practice exercises, an intuitive interface, and an innovative community feature that enhances learning through free user interactions. Its English course is accessible in 15 different languages, ensuring that learners from various backgrounds can benefit from its content.

See our Super-Detailed Busuu Review

Lingodeer

Lingodeer is something like a more mature Duolingo. They both offer language practice through gamification and interactive activities, but Lingodeer’s courses tend to be a bit more thorough and have better audio. The English course on Lingodeer is available in Chinese.

See our Super-Detailed Lingodeer Review

Hello English

Another one we haven’t tried extensively, Hello English offers convenient bite-sized lessons with instructions in 24 different languages. The app excels in design and providing a variety of interactive activities.

Rosetta Stone

Known for teaching 25 languages, Rosetta Stone is among the more popular language-learning programs. The program’s repetitive exercises are ideal for those who find repetition helpful in their learning process.

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See our Super-Detailed Rosetta Stone Review

Xeropan

This platform focus on fun and engagement in learning a language. Xeropan combines videos, audio tracks, and interactive exercises to teach English, and it includes current events and daily phrases for an immersive setting. Users can choose from instructions in 14 languages, enhancing accessibility.

Mango Languages

One of Mango Languages’ subscription plans gives users access to over 70 languages, including English, which is taught in more than 20 languages. They even offer courses in Shakespearean English if you’re interested in historical language study.You can also pay less if you only need access to one language. The app is easy to use and has a slick design, but it’s really only useful for learners below an intermediate level.

See our Super-Detailed Mango Languages Review

Mondly

Mondly offers English lessons in over 25 languages, but we think that there are more effective apps available. Its design and content fall short of what we’ve seen in other language learning platforms, and there’s limited opportunity to practice actively producing the language. Still, it’s an affordable option that could work well as an introductory tool for beginners.

See our Super-Detailed Mondly Review

LearnEnglish Grammar

This app from the British Council aims to provide you with accessible and comprehensive grammar practice. The app is supported by ads, meaning it’s otherwise free to use, and there are both US and UK versions.

You should be able to find relevant grammar practice no matter what your level of English — there are over 1000 practice questions covering CEFR levels from A1 to C2. Practice happens in the form of interactive activities like multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and matching. You’ll also be able to find your grammar level by taking tests.

The complete app is available in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese, though there is also supporting material available in Italian and Arabic.

Language Transfer

This one’s for Spanish speakers looking to learn English. The app is totally free (there aren’t even ads) and provides thorough instruction via 40 audio lessons. The lessons take a close look at the similarities between Spanish and English, using the relationship between them to outline a unique way of thinking about English.

There are no games, pictures, or videos with this app, but some may really appreciate how straightforward the app is. For Spanish speakers looking to develop a solid foundation in English, this free app is a fantastic place to start.

See our Super-Detailed Language Transfer Review

Duolingo

The gamified approach to teaching and the fact that it’s totally free make it incredibly appealing. The app is easy to use, and the exercises are all short enough to pick up whenever you’ve got a spare moment. Duolingo also excels at motivating users with frequent reminders to practice. That said, while it’s excellent for getting started, it likely won’t take you to fluency on its own.

The grammar explanations are there but brief, and you’ll occasionally encounter odd sentences. Plus, it offers minimal speaking or pronunciation practice. Nonetheless, it’s a convenient way to start learning English vocabulary and some basics. The platform currently offers courses in over 20 languages.

See our Super-Detailed Duolingo Review

Anki

Anki is an SRS flashcard app that’s lightweight, powerful, and totally customizable. You can create English flashcards with pictures, audio, example sentences, and tags, as well as program how many new items you’d like to learn each day. There is a bit of a learning curve with Anki — its design definitely puts function over form. For those that aren’t interested in taking the time to create their own decks, there are also plenty of premade decks for studying English. Anki is free most places but costs $25 in the Apple App Store. While you won’t fully grasp Pride and Prejudice or Hamlet with Anki, you’ll understand commonly used English vocabulary. This app can do just about anything you want it to when it comes to memorization practice.

BBC Learning English

The BBC has been producing content for learners of English for over 75 years! This app acts as a portal for accessing a wide range of BBC English learning material. You’ll find audio series covering things like topical events as well as favorites like the 6-Minute English audio programs.

The app also comes with transcripts and quizzes for added value, and it’s free to download for Android or iOS. This is an especially good option for learners interested in British English.

Improve English: Word Games

With activities like Space Pursuit, Jelly Fizz, Panda’s Trail, and Fly High, this app takes gamification to a new level. Participate in bite-sized activities to get enjoyable English practice whenever it’s convenient for you.

Though the focus here may be on making English practice fun, the app doesn’t fall short on educational value. There’s a Vocabulary Builder feature available for learners at different levels, idiom practice, grammar exercises, IELTS test-prep, and even games for practicing math. There’s a reason this one’s got over three million downloads and a high rating in app stores.

HiNative

In your journey learning English, you’ll inevitably come across some hard-to-answer questions. While there’s no shortage of quality online resources to answer most questions learners have, there are some things you simply can’t look up in a dictionary or conjugation table.

Maybe you’re interested in the subtleties of Australian slang, or you’ve got a question about daily life in the southern United States. HiNative aims to be the place to go for all of these questions, and it makes for a pretty convenient solution. The app is mostly free to use and lets you post questions for native speakers to see and respond to. The HiNative community is active and usually quick to respond.

See our Super-Detailed HiNative Review

Wlingua

We haven’t tried this app, but it’s got a stellar rating in the Google Play store. It teaches a variety of English courses with instructions in six different languages and uses both British and American accents. The basic version of the app is free, and the premium version unlocks all of the content.