What language do you want to learn? Have you already learned a little, or are you starting from scratch? Those two questions are the most important ones to answer before you commit to any language learning software. The good news is that the most appropriate app might not cost you anything at all. PCMag has been testing language learning services for more than a decade, so you can trust that our no-cost picks here can actually help you develop your linguistic skills. Duolingo is our Editors' Choice winner for free language apps because of its friendly design and excellent grammar and vocabulary lessons. That said, you should still explore the other entries on our list to see if they click with you more, followed by everything you need to know before choosing the best free language learning app for your needs.
Overview
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![Duolingo]()
Best OverallDuolingo
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![Quizlet]()
Best for Specialized Flash CardsQuizlet
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![Busuu]()
Best for Structured LearningBusuu
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Credit: Duolingo
![Duolingo]()
Best OverallDuolingo
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Duolingo is simply the best free language learning app. In the more than 14 years since its debut, Duolingo has matured steadily, adding more languages, expanding its courses, enhancing its accuracy, and refining its interface. Simply put, every language student should use Duolingo to some extent to study or review their vocabulary and grammar.
Who It's For
Beginners: The app always makes you feel good about your progress, which is important when you are just starting out with a new language. Your language program should challenge you as you progress, but Duolingo helps you get to that point.
Unmotivated learners: Duolingo is especially good if you need a little motivation to stick with your studies. It's highly addictive and masterful at knowing exactly when to offer you bonus points or a special quiz if you keep using the app just a little longer.
Specs & Configurations
Android App Average Duration of Lesson (Mins) 4 iPhone App No. of Languages Offered (Not Incl. English) 37 Number of Languages 37 Price Includes All Languages, All Levels Style of Program Self-Paced Drills Web App Learn More Duolingo Review -
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![Quizlet]()
Best for Specialized Flash CardsQuizlet
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Quizlet is the most versatile free option for language learning. It isn't a program, but rather an app you use to study flash cards that you or someone else has made. Since you can construct custom study sets, you can focus on learning the exact phrases and vocabulary you need.
Who It's For
Flash card creators: If you learn best by creating and reviewing flash cards, Quizlet is your best option for memorizing key phrases and words. You can share your sets of cards and even work with those from other people.
Skilled workers: Quizlet is most appropriate if you are studying for proficiency—think along the lines of aid, law, or medical work. The language you need for, say, volunteering at a prosthetics clinic is quite different from that for getting around a city.
Specs & Configurations
Android App iPhone App Number of Languages 100+ Some Courses Free Style of Program Flashcards and Games User Created Classes Web App Learn More Quizlet Review -
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Credit: Busuu
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Best for Structured LearningBusuu
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Busuu offers both free and paid options and teaches 13 languages, excluding English (which it also teaches). It uses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which enables you to determine exactly what level of speaker you are if you decide to add another language app to your course of study, hire a tutor, or enroll in a class. Busuu is also as effective as Duolingo at teaching languages with non-Roman scripts, such as Japanese and Korean.
Who It's For
Multilinguists: Even with a free account, you can study as many of Busuu's languages as you want. Its adherence to CEFR means you will know exactly how proficient you are in each one.
Traditional learners: Whereas Duolingo emphasizes gamification features, Busuu adopts a more traditional approach to teaching a language. It works best if you can sit down, dedicate time to learning, and take notes as you go.
Specs & Configurations
Android App iPhone App Number of Languages 12 Style of Program Interactive Activities Web App Learn More Busuu Review -
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Best For | Best Overall | Best for Specialized Flash Cards | Best for Structured Learning | Best Overall | Best for Specialized Flash Cards | Best for Structured Learning |
Number of Languages | 37 | 100+ | 12 | 37 | 100+ | 12 |
Style of Program | Self-Paced Drills | Flashcards and Games | Interactive Activities | Self-Paced Drills | Flashcards and Games | Interactive Activities |
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Buying Guide: The Best Free Language Learning Apps for 2026
How We Choose the Best Free Language Learning Apps
Hundreds of apps specialize in teaching just one language, but we limit our list to those that teach multiple. Our contributors test these apps by exploring content for one language they know and one they don't. They weigh their learning experiences not just with other software, but also in formal settings, such as at the School of Language Studies at the Foreign Service Institute, in university classes, and with private tutors. We consider criteria such as accuracy, difficulty, ease of use, program structure, and value. We also time how long it takes to complete an exercise or daily session, as well as evaluate any supplemental content, such as games, podcasts, readings, and videos.
Over more than a decade of testing, we've evaluated about 30 language learning apps, and another handful if you include ASL apps. They include Beelinguapp, Drops, HelloTalk, Lingodeer, Memrise, Mondly, Tandem, and Umi, among others. A few don't make this list because they contain egregious errors, don't teach in a useful manner, or are otherwise lackluster. Some are no longer available. Others used to be good but are now buggy because their developers haven't kept up with them. Finally, many demand a high price for their best content.
What Do Free Language Learning Apps Offer?
Every free language learning app on this list is an excellent study aid. We highly recommend viewing them in this manner. They work best in combination with a class, tutor, or other learning program.
Duolingo and Busuu are especially excellent for learning the basics of a new language before you start a class or more intensive program. They're also wonderful review tools. Quizlet is a little different because it allows you to create your own study sets or use those created by others. As such, Quizlet lets you focus on learning the words or phrases that matter most to you. It's ideal if you're studying a language for a specific purpose, such as to work in a particular industry or with a specific population.
How Do Free Language Apps Work?
Busuu, Duolingo, and Quizlet are all freemium services. People who pay for a premium account and ads (in some cases) support their free versions.
When Duolingo started, its business model involved a community of language learners working on translating content for websites—research shows that even novice speakers can translate effectively when they work in large groups. The websites would then pay for the translation. That profit model didn't pan out, so Duolingo pivoted to a paid version, in which Duolingo Super members get unlimited hearts and some bonus content. Use the free version of Duolingo for even a day, and you will quickly see the benefits of a paid account. That said, the free version is still the best you'll find.
Can You Really Learn a Language for Free?
Yes, to a point. Free apps can get you started, be your study aids, and help you get daily practice. If you want to be fluent or even proficient in a language, however, you will reach your goal faster and more effectively by mixing in tutoring or small classes.
Tutoring and live classes require you to speak without translating in your head, which is necessary for becoming proficient. You don't have to leave your home to get it, though. Lingoda offers excellent small online classes and one-on-one tutoring for very reasonable prices. You pick the time and date for every lesson, making it really convenient. And they push you well beyond your comfort zone, which is exactly what you need to advance.
Another invaluable resource for language learning is the public library system. You can often access expensive language learning software, such as Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur, for free through public libraries in the US and Canada. If you don't have a budget for learning, use all the free resources you can find, and then look for live language meet-ups in your area or online to get real-life practice, too.
Which Languages Can You Learn With Free Apps?
With free apps, you can easily learn the top 20 most in-demand languages for English speakers. You'll have an impossible time learning many of the so-called "boutique languages," like anything in the Bantu family, Mongolian, or even Tamil, even though more than 80 million people speak it natively!
Here are the languages you can learn with the best free language apps (as of publishing).
Duolingo: Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Esperanto, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Navajo, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Romanian, Russian, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Welsh, Yiddish, and Zulu. Duolingo also has Klingon, High Valyrian, and intermediate English for English speakers.
Busuu: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish (European and Latin American, not strictly separated), and Turkish. English is also available.
Quizlet: Since Quizlet lets you make custom study cards, it technically supports any language you can type. Quizlet officially supports 20 languages for English speakers: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. It also has English.
What Do You Get With Paid Language Learning Apps?
Some language apps are freemium, while others are paid only. The freemium ones typically restrict which lessons you get, though that's not the case with Duolingo. Typically, having a paid account grants you access to all the material, and sometimes all languages as well. (Even the free versions of Busuu and Duolingo give you access to all their languages.)
Paid apps usually accommodate longer and more frequent study sessions. Fluenz, Pimsleur, and Rosetta Stone, for example, all require you to study for 30 minutes per day, every day. They are comprehensive programs that teach you about the language and incorporate daily, engaging exercises to support your learning. Many freemium apps, by contrast, give you little more than practice exercises. Busuu and Duolingo are much closer to paid programs than free ones, however.
Is Duolingo the Best Free Language Learning App?
Yes, you really can't do better than Duolingo. We could nitpick that some languages use robotic voices (such as Romanian and Polish) or weigh the pros and cons of the app's addictive nature. However, that's not particularly productive, since nothing else we've tested beats it.