There are hundreds of languages on the earth, and acquiring one other than your home tongue is a difficult endeavor. Having said that, the internet era has made it feasible to study a foreign language by putting language learning tools in our fingertips. You may study your preferred language at home thanks to linguistic applications like Duolingo. While Duolingo is the most popular language learning program, it is far from the only one. Furthermore, its predominantly text-based language instruction method is not for everyone. So, if Duolingo isn’t working for you and you want to learn a new language, here are the top 10 best Duolingo alternatives you may utilize in 2023.
1. Drops
Drops is a one-of-a-kind software that aims to revolutionize the way foreign languages are taught. It offers a feature called a 5-minute learning sprint, which allows you to take a session for only 5 minutes. That’s all there is to it. The program purposely included the constraint so that the user remains totally focused for a brief period of time, which would gradually increase memorization. That’s quite awesome, isn’t it? Aside from that, Drops focuses on visual learning, as opposed to Duolingo, which includes largely text-based sessions, which I find uninteresting.
In Drops, you may learn a new language by playing entertaining games, listening to audio generated by voice actors, connecting words to make drawings, and more. But that’s not all. All of your progress is available at the end of each day, which is far superior to Duolingo’s weekly evaluation. Drops, in my opinion, is the finest Duolingo alternative in terms of user involvement and overall advancement.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
2. LingoDeer
LingoDeer is the greatest alternative to Duolingo for learning Asian or European languages such as Japanese, Korean, Chinese, French, and German. I mention this because LingoDeer teaches you not just a few travel phrases but also the entire grammar of a language. In essence, you may learn a new language with greater depth and knowledge than only for travel purposes. LingoDeer also teaches your reading, speaking, and writing abilities with a 10-minute session every day.
What I like best about this program is that it starts with the basics: alphabets, words, sentences, phrases, grammar, and everything else. To put it simply, if you are interested in academics or want to learn a language from the ground up, LingoDeer is the greatest option, even better than Duolingo. So just go for it, and you will not be disappointed.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
3. Lingvist
If you want to use science in all aspects of your life (like Batman), you will undoubtedly enjoy Lingvist. The app’s creator attempted a scientific approach to language acquisition, and we believe he was successful. Unlike Duolingo or any other software on our list, Lingvist educates you with vocabulary from actual conversations in your chosen language. You will learn and utilize phrases that will be useful to you in everyday situations. The software records your learning curve and displays your course information in a way that will help you learn.
The material is given to you in the form of flashcards, which are visually appealing. The one area where it falls short of Duolingo is the amount of languages available, which is only four compared to Duolingo’s fair 35. However, if your chosen language is included in this software, give it a shot.
Install: Android, iOS (Free, in-app purhcases)
4. Memrise
Memrise is a popular free-to-download program that offers a large selection of over 100 languages to learn. In comparison to Duolingo, it offers game-style language learning in the form of training you as an undercover agent preparing to visit a world and practice your desired language. Aside from this strange premise, Memrise offers an advanced level of language education with video recordings of locals speaking to you, which is unquestionably superior to Duolingo’s beginning level.
You may also continue studying your favorite language even if you lose internet access, however this would need purchasing the app’s premium edition. However, with over 100 languages to learn in incredibly intriguing ways, you won’t mind paying a decent amount, especially with incredible offers sweeping your phone screen on a regular basis.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
5. Babbel
If you want your digital language trainer to include interactive and organized information on the same screen, you’ve come to the correct place. Babbel is an excellent alternative to Duolingo, with high levels of engagement and a wide range of alternatives for all types of learners. Unlike Duolingo’s 35 language library, this features a significantly smaller 14 language selection, with not all of the important ones covered. The course information is given in a systematic manner, broken into 10-15 minute bite-sized sessions, helping you to gain a better understanding of the subject matter. You are put in chat-style scenarios where you must respond in the most natural way possible. During the process, you will also understand the cultural meaning of specific words and phrases in your favourite language.
The program also tries to enhance your pronunciation by teaching you how to speak flawlessly with the use of speech-recognition technology. It also syncs your progress across different devices, making it an excellent language learning software for any scenario.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
6. Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is the most established computer-assisted language study service, and it is also accessible for Android and iOS. Unlike Duolingo, Rosetta Stone provides a platter of 24 main languages written by professionals and professors. It provides extensive study materials to help you get the most out of your chosen language. All of this, along with a clean and appealing user interface, results in a pleasurable learning experience on your smartphone.
It includes pronunciation lessons through your smartphone’s built-in speech recognition technology to assist you in spelling your newly learned vocabulary correctly. And, because it’s cloud-based, you can start your lesson on your tablet and finish it on your phone while commuting. If you want professional language training, this is the greatest Duolingo alternative you should attempt.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
7. HelloTalk Learn Languages Free
HelloTalk will be able to gain a space on your smartphone if you are the type of person who is not interested in serious study sessions. Who said you couldn’t learn through talking to people instead than just reading books? This language learning service allows you to learn your preferred language by conversing with multilingual people from all around the world. Before requesting an encounter with someone, you may review his profile, including his areas of expertise and hobbies. You can connect with individuals for a variety of reasons, such as learning a language while traveling, being interested in the cultural value of another language, and so on.
The chat-based system also has a video call capability, which allows you to communicate with the individual and discuss things that are difficult to describe, such as pronunciations. Because it is chat-based, the learning may be reciprocal; for example, you can teach your French buddy good German and vice versa. Consider it a combination of Facebook and WhatsApp for those interested in learning a language.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
8. busuu
Busuu is for those who wish to start with the basics and then go to highly advanced levels of a language, something Duolingo does not yet provide. The program features a clean appearance and an engaging approach to teaching you a new language. The information has been created by specialists and professors, so you can be certain that you are in good hands. Simple fill-in-the-blank phrases allow you to acquire sophisticated terminology. You will not only study vocabulary, but you will also be given grammar suggestions and detailed examples to help you get started with your new language. You also get to converse with natives, which will help you learn your newly chosen language with a local flavor. You may also track your progress in a thorough report that includes your changes.
Downsides? It only offers 12 languages to pick from, and several of the most important ones are missing. However, if your chosen language is on busuu’s list, you should give it a go because of its participatory yet professional approach to learning a new language.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
9. Mondly
Mondly is a wonderful choice if you want an advanced language learning software with voice-recognition technology. It, like Duolingo, includes a variety of daily courses ranging from memorizing fundamental words to creating sentences and learning phrases. You may also use the built-in speech recognition tool to verify your pronunciation. It will boost your confidence in your speaking abilities, which is fantastic. Aside from that, the software supports 33 languages, which is comparable to Duolingo, but it has a unique function called verb conjugator for each language.
It allows you to quickly discover the conjugated verb in another language, which is incredibly useful during chats. You will learn quicker than a dictionary this way. Taking everything into consideration, Mondly is a fairly good tool for learning a new language, and it’s also less expensive than Duolingo. So, if you’re looking for a replacement for Duolingo, give Mondly a try.
Install: Android, iOS (Free with in-app purchases)
10. Clozemaster
Clozemaster is the only name on our list that purports to be a game as opposed to a language learning tool. It outperforms Duolingo by providing more than 100 language combinations. And, because the maker says this is a game, your “mobile lingual learning class” will be clothed in “16-bit game” visuals. You’ll be asked interactive fill-in-the-blank questions, with audio versions accessible simultaneously. However, we found the content to be at a level that is comparable to Duolingo’s introductory levels. And the greatest part is that it is completely free. Try it out, and we bet you’ll forget about Duolingo.
Alternatives to Duolingo for Learning Your Dream Language
There are plenty additional applications that work similarly to the ones we’ve discussed. You may believe that there are superior app-based services with more features available on the Play Store. However, each of these 10 Duolingo alternatives offers the finest language learning experience in their own unique way. And if you have a better app to recommend, please leave it in the comments area below. Begin your language learning adventure right away.