education
Best AI Language Learning Apps
The best AI language learning apps ranked: Duolingo, Babbel, Speak, Memrise and Pimsleur compared on expert reviews, app ratings, AI conversation practice, languages and price, plus ELSA Speak, Busuu, Rosetta Stone, Praktika and the free chatbot options.
Quick answer: The best AI language learning app for most people is Duolingo, because it has the strongest independent record of any language app (Editors’ Choice at PCMag, best overall at TechRadar, 4.7 from about 5.5 million App Store ratings), covers 40+ languages, and the full course is free, with AI Video Call conversation practice now moving into its Super plan. For the most structured course, Babbel is the pick, rated best overall by Reviewed and holding 4.7 from about 757,000 App Store ratings. For speaking practice with an AI tutor, Speak is the pick, at 4.8 from about 65,000 App Store ratings. The one caveat: no app gets you to fluency alone, so pair whichever you choose with real conversation.
This page covers apps for learning a language: courses, AI conversation partners, pronunciation feedback and vocabulary review. For translating text or speech, see best AI for translation; for a tutor across school subjects, see best AI tutors; for building your own flashcard decks, see best AI flashcard generators.
Which one should you pick?
| If you want | Pick | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| The best all-round app, free to start | Duolingo | Free; Super from $9.99 on the App Store | Best-reviewed and most-rated language app; 40+ languages; AI Video Call moving into Super |
| A structured course that teaches grammar properly | Babbel | $17.99 a month or $107.99 a year on the App Store | Reviewed’s best overall; 4.7 from about 757,000 App Store ratings |
| To practise speaking out loud with an AI tutor | Speak | $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year | 4.8 from about 65,000 App Store ratings; built around AI conversation |
| Real native-speaker video plus AI chat practice | Memrise | $24.99 a month or $61.99 a year | 4.8 from about 215,000 App Store ratings; TechRadar’s best for immersion |
| To learn by listening, hands-free | Pimsleur | All Access $20.99 a month or $164.99 a year | 51 languages; Reviewed’s best audio app |
What “AI language learning app” means now
Three kinds of app now use AI to teach languages, and they suit different learners:
| Type | What it does | Strength | Weakness | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course apps with AI added | A full curriculum of lessons, with AI conversation and speech feedback on top | Structure, progress tracking, beginner-friendly | AI practice is often limited to higher tiers | Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, Busuu, Pimsleur |
| AI conversation tutors | Talk out loud with an AI character that corrects you | Speaking confidence, pronunciation, real-world scenarios | Thinner grammar teaching; few languages; no free plan | Speak, Praktika, Talkpal, Langua, Univerbal |
| General AI chatbots | Use voice mode in ChatGPT or Gemini as a free conversation partner | Any language, any topic, free to start | No curriculum, no progress tracking; you set the agenda | ChatGPT, Gemini Live, Google Translate Practice |
The big change is that live AI conversation has become cheap enough to give away. Duolingo launched Video Call as a Max-only feature because it was expensive to run; on its Q2 2026 earnings call on 5 August 2026, chief executive Luis von Ahn said a video call now costs Duolingo under $0.01, most new Super subscribers get it, and existing Super users will get it over the following months. Babbel added Babbel Speak, an AI voice trainer for real-life scenarios, on 16 September 2025.
The research on AI conversation practice is encouraging. A 2025 meta-analysis of 41 studies with 3,515 participants found a medium positive effect of generative AI chatbots on second-language learning (Li, Wang and Yang), and a 2026 meta-analysis of 67 studies presented at EUROCALL found similar gains, with vocabulary gains holding up at delayed tests (Wang, Bibauw, Noreillie and Desmet). These studies test chatbot practice in general, mostly in classrooms, not any one app.
How we ranked
An app is ranked when independent evidence about it points clearly one way: hands-on expert reviews (Reviewed, PCMag, TechRadar, BGR), app store ratings with real volume behind them, and independent research where it exists. Vendor claims are labelled as such. For “most people”, breadth across languages and skills counts most, and free access breaks ties. Most “best AI language app” lists online are written by competing apps, so we leave those out of the evidence.
Best AI language learning apps ranked
| # | App | Best for | Languages | Free plan | Paid from | App Store rating | Expert verdicts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duolingo | Most people | 40+ | Yes, full course with ads | $9.99 (Super) | 4.7 from 5.5M | PCMag Editors’ Choice; TechRadar best overall; Reviewed best value |
| 2 | Babbel | Structured courses | 14 | No, sample lessons | $17.99 a month; $107.99 a year | 4.7 from 757,000 | Reviewed best overall |
| 3 | Speak | AI speaking practice | 6 for English speakers, plus English | No, 7-day trial | $17.99 a month | 4.8 from 65,000 | Listed by BGR for speaking practice |
| 4 | Memrise | Native-speaker video and AI chat | About two dozen | Limited | $24.99 a month | 4.8 from 215,000 | TechRadar best for immersion |
| 5 | Pimsleur | Audio learning | 51 | No, 7-day trial | $19.99 a month (one language) | 4.7 from 31,000 | Reviewed best audio app |
App Store ratings are US store figures from Apple’s listings for each app.
The top picks, reviewed
Duolingo: best AI language learning app overall
Duolingo wins on breadth, evidence and price. It covers 40+ languages, the whole course is free with ads and an energy limit, and it has more independent backing than any rival: PCMag gave it Editors’ Choice as the most full-featured free app, TechRadar named it best overall, and Reviewed named it best value. It has 4.7 stars from about 5.5 million ratings on the US App Store.
The AI is now in the everyday plans. Video Call, a face-to-face AI conversation with one of the app’s characters, is moving from Max into Super, and free users can now answer speaking exercises out loud (Q2 2026 call). Von Ahn said on that call that Duolingo “may actually sunset Max”, so check what your plan includes before paying for the top tier. US App Store prices for Super start at $9.99, with annual plans from $83.99.
The trade-off is the game layer. BGR said the streak system can be a source of stress, and that Duolingo’s 2025 switch to AI-generated lessons made some content feel less natural.
It was close with Babbel. Babbel teaches grammar more thoroughly, but Duolingo covers three times as many languages, is free to use in full, and has far more reviews behind it.
Babbel: best for a structured course
Babbel is the pick if you want to understand the grammar, not just collect streaks. Reviewed named it best overall, for its structured, conversation-first lessons. It holds 4.7 stars from about 757,000 ratings on the US App Store.
Its AI is speaking practice: speech recognition in lessons, scripted Everyday Conversations, and Babbel Speak, an AI voice trainer in English, Spanish, French, Italian and German. In the US App Store, a language costs $17.99 a month or $45.99 for three months, and an all-languages plan is $107.99 a year. There is no free plan, only sample lessons.
Speak: best for AI speaking practice
Speak is built around talking out loud to an AI tutor that corrects your pronunciation and phrasing as you go. It holds 4.8 stars from about 65,000 ratings on the US App Store, and BGR picked it for speaking practice, while noting its AI pronunciation checks aren’t always right. It raised $78 million at a $1 billion valuation in December 2024, with the OpenAI Startup Fund among its backers (TechCrunch).
The catch is range: English speakers can learn Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian or Mandarin, which arrived in June 2026, and everyone else learns English. Premium is $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year; Premium Plus is $39.99 a month or $164.99 a year. There is a 7-day trial but no free plan.
Memrise: best for native-speaker video and AI chat
Memrise mixes short clips of native speakers with MemBot, an AI chatbot for text or voice conversation, and AI role-play scenarios. TechRadar named it best for immersion, and it holds 4.8 stars from about 215,000 ratings on the US App Store. It is $24.99 a month or $61.99 a year in the App Store, which makes the annual plan one of the cheapest here. The free plan runs out of AI conversations quickly.
Pimsleur: best for audio learning
Pimsleur is the pick for learning on a commute or a walk. Its audio-first method is Reviewed’s best audio app, and it covers 51 languages, more than any other ranked app. The app adds an AI Voice Coach for pronunciation and AI role-play conversations. It holds 4.7 stars from about 31,000 ratings on the US App Store, where one language is $19.99 a month and All Access is $20.99 a month or $164.99 a year. It is among the dearest options over a year, and there is a 7-day trial rather than a free plan.
Other tools worth knowing (not ranked)
These are real, working products that either have thinner independent coverage or use AI only lightly, so they aren’t ranked.
Established course apps
| App | What it does | Price | Why it’s here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busuu | 14-language course with community feedback from native speakers; AI Conversations and pronunciation feedback on Premium Plus | Premium $12.49 a month or $72.99 a year; Premium Plus $14.90 a month or $87.90 a year | About 100,000 App Store ratings; the AI sits on the top tier |
| Rosetta Stone | Immersion course in 25 languages with TruAccent speech recognition and Chat Missions conversation games | Subscription; all languages included | Reviewed’s best for immersion, but AI is not the point of the product |
| Mondly | Pearson-owned course in 41 languages with chatbot conversation practice on Premium | Subscription and lifetime plans | Broad language list; AI chat is on Premium |
| Drops | Five-minute visual vocabulary sessions | Premium $13 a month or $70 a year (BGR) | Grammar games added in early 2026 (BGR); good vocabulary add-on, light on AI |
AI conversation tutors
| App | What it does | Price | Why it’s here |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELSA Speak | English pronunciation scored sound by sound, plus an AI tutor for conversation; English only | Free version; Premium $19.99 a month | 4.8 from about 114,000 App Store ratings; no expert reviews from major outlets |
| Praktika | AI avatar tutors for conversation practice, mainly for English | About $8 a month (company figure) | 4.7 from about 167,000 App Store ratings (Unstar), but Trustpilot reviews (3.6 from 1,345) repeatedly complain about charges after cancelling |
| Pingo AI | AI conversation practice with pronunciation and grammar feedback in more than 25 languages | Free download; Pingo Pro from $14.99 a month or $83.99 to $99.99 a year (App Store) | 4.6 from about 16,000 App Store ratings; few expert reviews |
| Talkpal | AI conversation partner with role-play, debates and grammar correction | $19.99 a month or $119.99 a year (App Store) | 4.7 from about 3,800 App Store ratings; few expert reviews |
| Langua | AI conversation with call mode, corrections, feedback reports, flashcards and generated stories in 22 languages | Standard and Unlimited plans; 5- or 7-day trial | Broad language list; few independent reviews |
| Univerbal | AI speaking partner in 20+ languages, from the team formerly called Quazel | $14.99 to $19.99 a month or $119.99 a year (App Store) | 4.6 from about 560 App Store ratings; early days |
Free options from the big AI companies
- Google Translate Practice is a free, Gemini-powered practice mode inside the Translate app, with listening and speaking drills. Google added pronunciation practice for English, Spanish and Hindi on Android in the US and India on 28 April 2026, and says nearly half of weekly Practice users do speaking activities (PPC Land).
- Gemini Live lists language immersion as a use for its voice mode (Google). It works as a free conversation partner in any language Gemini speaks, with no course or progress tracking.
- ChatGPT voice mode does the same job; tell it your level and ask it to correct you. OpenAI also launched a free standalone ChatGPT Translate page on 15 January 2026 (SiliconANGLE).
- Little Language Lessons is a Google Labs experiment with three tools: Tiny Lesson, Slang Hang and Word Cam. It is an experiment, not a product.
For live lessons with a human, Preply and italki match you with tutors who set their own prices.
Pricing compared
| App | Free plan | Monthly | Yearly | Lifetime | Languages included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | Yes | Super from $9.99 | From $83.99 | No | All |
| Babbel | No | $17.99 | $107.99 (all languages) | Not listed | One, or all on the yearly plan |
| Speak | No | $17.99 (Premium Plus $39.99) | $83.99 (Premium Plus $164.99) | No | All |
| Memrise | Limited | $24.99 | $61.99 | Yes | All |
| Pimsleur | No | $19.99 (one language); $20.99 (All Access) | $164.99 (All Access) | Yes | One or all |
| ELSA Speak | Yes, limited | $19.99 | Varies | Not listed | English only |
| Busuu | Yes | $12.49 (Premium Plus $14.90) | $72.99 (Premium Plus $87.90) | No | All |
| Talkpal | Data not available | $19.99 | $119.99 | No | All |
| Google Translate Practice | Yes, free | Free | Free | Not applicable | Limited set |
Prices are US list prices from each vendor’s site or the US App Store; in-app prices can differ from web prices, and all of these apps run frequent discounts.
How to get the most out of an AI language app
- Speak out loud every session. The AI conversation features are where these apps have improved most, and the research gains are largest for active practice and vocabulary.
- Ask for corrections explicitly. In a general chatbot, say your level (“I’m an A2 Spanish learner”) and ask it to correct every mistake and explain it in English.
- Use one course app plus one conversation tool. A course (Duolingo, Babbel) gives structure; a conversation tutor (Speak, Gemini Live) gives practice.
- Don’t trust pronunciation scores blindly. BGR found Speak’s checks are not always accurate, and every app’s speech recognition is more lenient than a native speaker.
- Check the plan before you pay. AI features move between tiers often; Duolingo’s Video Call moved from Max to Super during 2026.
- Add spaced repetition for vocabulary. Anki is free on desktop and Android, and our AI flashcard generators page covers tools that build decks for you.
Best AI language learning app for each need
Best overall: Duolingo
Duolingo is the best choice for most people, because it is free, covers 40+ languages and has the most independent backing of any language app.
Best structured course: Babbel
Babbel is the best choice for learning grammar properly, because Reviewed rated it best overall and it holds 4.7 from about 757,000 App Store ratings.
Best for speaking practice: Speak
Speak is the best choice for practising conversation out loud, because the whole app is built around an AI tutor and it holds 4.8 stars from about 65,000 App Store ratings.
Best for listening: Pimsleur
Pimsleur is the best choice for hands-free learning, because Reviewed named it the best audio app and it covers 51 languages.
Best free option: Duolingo, plus Gemini Live for conversation
Duolingo gives you a full free course, and Gemini Live or ChatGPT voice mode gives you free conversation practice on top.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI language learning app?
Duolingo is the best AI language learning app for most people, because it covers 40+ languages, its full course is free, and it has the strongest independent reviews of any language app: PCMag Editors’ Choice, TechRadar’s best overall and 4.7 stars from about 5.5 million App Store ratings. Babbel is the better choice for a structured grammar course, and Speak is the better choice for AI speaking practice.
Is there a free AI language learning app?
Duolingo is the best free AI language learning app, because the whole course is free with ads, and free users can answer speaking exercises out loud. Google Translate Practice is also free and uses Gemini for listening and speaking drills, and the voice modes in Gemini and ChatGPT work as free conversation partners in most languages.
Can AI teach you a language?
AI can teach you a large part of a language, and research backs it up: a 2025 meta-analysis of 41 studies found a medium positive effect of generative AI chatbots on second-language learning. AI apps are strongest for vocabulary, pronunciation and speaking confidence; real conversation with people is still the best way to reach fluency.
Is Duolingo better than Babbel?
Duolingo is better for most people, because it is free, covers 40+ languages and has far more reviews behind it. Babbel is better if you want grammar explained properly and will pay for it, at $17.99 a month or $107.99 a year on the App Store. A 2023 study of Turkish learners found no significant difference in learning gains between the two apps (Kessler, Loewen and Gönülal).
Does Duolingo have AI conversation practice?
Duolingo has Video Call, a face-to-face AI conversation with one of its characters, which started on the Max plan and is moving into Super during 2026. On 5 August 2026, Duolingo said most new Super subscribers already get it and existing Super users will over the following months.
What is the best app for practising speaking a language with AI?
Speak is the best app for practising speaking with AI, because the whole app is built around an AI conversation tutor and it holds 4.8 stars from about 65,000 App Store ratings. It teaches six languages to English speakers (Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Mandarin) and costs $17.99 a month or $83.99 a year.
Can I use ChatGPT to learn a language?
ChatGPT works well as a free conversation partner: use voice mode, tell it your level, and ask it to correct every mistake. It has no course, lesson plan or progress tracking, so it works best alongside a course app such as Duolingo or Babbel.
What is the best AI app for learning English?
Speak and Duolingo both teach English, and Speak is built around AI conversation practice. ELSA Speak scores English pronunciation sound by sound and holds 4.8 stars from about 114,000 App Store ratings, and Praktika is an AI tutor built mainly for English learners.
What is the difference between an AI language app and an AI translator?
An AI language app teaches you to speak and understand a language yourself; an AI translator converts text or speech for you. For translation tools, see best AI for translation.