The Best English Learning Apps in 2026
Duolingo leads this directory with brief activities spanning speech, writing, reading, and listening, while review adapts to each learner’s progress and mistakes. It is the best free option, offering placement testing, speech practice, mobile access, and some offline lessons, although advertising supports the free tier. The cheapest paid option is Lingo7 at $5 a month, a reading-centered app that pairs translated text with narration and vocabulary review; it can also import personal books for study. For learners seeking live instruction, EF English Live offers private or small-group classes with teachers plus personalized plans covering business, travel, general English, and exams, with exercises and flashcards. Those prioritizing pronunciation and spoken fluency should consider ELSA Speak, whose real-time speech analysis and AI role-play conversations provide detailed feedback. Its assessment results also tailor a study path to the learner. Monthly-billed starting prices run from $5 (Lingo7) to $14.99 (LingoDeer); ELSA Speak's Premium plan is billed at $59.99 a quarter.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Duolingo#1 of 659.3/10A motivating free language app with broad practice, review, and mobile access.
Free plan · 14-day trial
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Runner-up
Busuu#2 of 659.1/10Structured language courses pair review tools and speaking practice with community corrections.
Free plan
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Top-ranked free plan
VOA Learning English#8 of 658.5/10A free, web-based mix of structured lessons and learner-focused news and audio.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 65 tools, best first · page 1 of 2
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Best forLearners wanting a free, motivating all-round app
A motivating free language app with broad practice, review, and mobile access.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Duolingo verdict → Visit DuolingoFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.3/10★★★★★Visit Duolingo -
Best forLearners seeking structured courses and feedback
Structured language courses pair review tools and speaking practice with community corrections.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Busuu -
Best forLearners who prefer structured conversation lessons
Practical conversation lessons pair pronunciation feedback with personalized review.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Babbel -
Best forLearners who want live teacher-led English classes
Teacher-led English classes paired with personalized plans and self-study tools.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
8.9/10★★★★☆Try EF English Live -
Best forLearners seeking immersive study or school integrations
A broad language-learning subscription with lessons, tutoring, and school integrations.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Rosetta Stone -
Best forLearners focused on conversational speaking practice
A speaking-centered language app with role-play, pronunciation feedback, and offline lessons.
- Offline lessons
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Pimsleur -
Best forLearners wanting broad course and institutional coverage
A broad language-learning toolkit with offline lessons and options for institutions.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
8.6/10★★★★☆Try Mango Languages -
Best forLearners seeking free news, audio, and structured lessons
A free, web-based mix of structured lessons and learner-focused news and audio.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forA2–B1 learners improving listening comprehension
A focused listening resource for A2–B1 learners, with transcripts and offline episodes.
- Offline lessons
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit LearnEnglish -
Best forChildren learning English through songs and stories
A child-focused English app pairing animated content with games and speaking practice.
- Offline lessons
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forLearners who want extensive grammar drills
A free grammar-practice app with broad drills, but no speaking practice.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forLearners who want guided English study with teachers
Structured A1–C1 study combines short films, grammar lessons and teacher guidance.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit ABA English -
Best forVocabulary learners who value native-speaker videos
A vocabulary-led language app with video, speaking practice and interactive listening.
- Placement test
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Memrise -
Best forLearners who want to study with authentic online content
A content-led language app for reading, listening, and building vocabulary.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit LingQ -
Best forLearners prioritizing pronunciation and spoken fluency
A speaking-focused English app with detailed pronunciation feedback and AI conversations.
- Placement test
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit ELSA Speak -
Best forVideo-first learners building vocabulary and listening
A video-led English learning app with interactive vocabulary review and AI speaking practice.
- Offline lessons
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit FluentU -
Best forBudget-conscious learners who prefer audio and video lessons
A lesson-led English course with offline study and optional teacher feedback.
- Offline lessons
7.6/10★★★★☆Try EnglishClass101 -
Best forIndependent learners seeking broad, low-cost study tools
MosaLingua combines vocabulary review, practical lessons, media, and AI speaking practice.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit MosaLingua -
Best forLearners who want personalized daily lessons
Personalized daily lessons combine stories, speaking practice, corrections, and adaptive revision.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Gymglish -
Best forVideo learners who also want tutor lessons
Video lessons pair vocabulary and speaking practice with AI and live tutors.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit EnglishCentral -
Best forLearners seeking structured practice and placement
A structured learning app that combines vocabulary, speaking and multi-skill practice.
- Placement test
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Speakly -
Best forLearners who practice English with short videos
A video-centered English app combining bilingual subtitles, vocabulary review, and AI speaking practice.
- Speech recognition
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit VoiceTube -
Best forLearners who want grammar-focused structured courses
A structured language-learning app with grammar explanations and offline lessons.
- Offline lessons
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit LingoDeer -
Best forIntermediate learners practicing vocabulary in context
A sentence-based practice app for learners who want vocabulary review in context.
- Offline lessons
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Clozemaster -
Best forLearners who improve through authentic video and dictation
A video-centered language app with subtitles, dictation, and pronunciation practice.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Yabla -
Best forLearners building vocabulary in short daily sessions
Drops makes bite-sized vocabulary practice accessible, with deeper review and offline access in Premium.
- Offline lessons
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Drops -
Best forLearners who like bilingual reading and audiobooks
A mobile reading-and-listening app for learners who want parallel texts and narrated content.
- Offline lessons
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Beelinguapp -
Best forMobile learners practicing everyday English expressions
A mobile English-learning app pairing short video lessons with speaking practice and AI feedback.
- Speech recognition
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Cake -
Best forLearners wanting flexible AI conversation practice
Flexible AI practice pairs role-play and voice modes with scored pronunciation feedback.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Talkpal -
Best forMobile learners focused on AI-led conversation
Mobile English practice with AI conversation, role-play, and real-time corrections.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Praktika -
Best forFree learners focused on spoken English basics
A free, speaking-focused English resource with audio practice but no speech recognition.
- Offline lessons
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit TalkEnglish -
Best forLearners seeking free vocabulary and grammar practice
A free-to-start study app for structured vocabulary, grammar, listening and pronunciation practice.
- Offline lessons
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Wlingua -
Best forVocabulary learners who want personalized word review
A focused English vocabulary app with personalized word review and AI conversation practice.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit WordUp -
Best forSelf-directed learners wanting an open-source toolkit
An open-source toolkit that turns imported material into multi-skill English practice.
- Speech recognition
- Placement test
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit EchoType -
Best forLearners who want gamified, AI-supported English practice
A flexible English-learning app with interactive lessons, speech practice, and AI chat.
- Placement test
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Xeropan -
Best forLearners focused on AI speaking and IELTS practice
AI speaking practice with IELTS mock tests, feedback and level-based activities.
- Speech recognition
- Placement test
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit TalkSmart -
Best forMobile learners focused on English conversation
A focused speaking app with varied lessons, pronunciation feedback, and subscription access.
- Placement test
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Loora -
Best forOrganizations seeking workplace-focused English training
Adaptive English training pairs self-study with certified-teacher classes and tutoring.
- Placement test
5.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Voxy -
Best forLearners seeking broad language choice and practice modes
A flexible language-learning app with broad course choice and varied practice modes.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Mondly -
Best forLearners seeking structured AI speaking practice
Structured speaking lessons pair AI conversations with pronunciation feedback and personalized review.
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Speak -
Best forLearners seeking affordable AI speaking practice
A mobile speaking coach with AI feedback, mock tests, and a 5,000+ lesson library.
- Speech recognition
- Offline lessons
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Stimuler -
Best forLearners wanting free, quick grammar and vocabulary quizzes
Free, quick mobile quizzes for learners practicing everyday English.
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forLearners improving English listening with videos
A free mobile app for building English listening skills through video episodes and exercises.
- Offline lessons
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit site -
Best forTravelers learning everyday vocabulary across many languages
A vocabulary-focused app for practicing everyday words and pronunciation across devices.
- Offline lessons
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Visit uTalk -
Best forLearners using videos for vocabulary and shadowing
Turns YouTube and TED videos into bilingual lessons with vocabulary review and shadowing.
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit LingoTube -
Best forLearners building vocabulary with adaptive review
A vocabulary-focused app with adaptive review, custom decks and listening practice.
- Placement test
- Offline lessons
4.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit Lingvist -
Best forLearners targeting English pronunciation and fluency
Guided speaking practice with speech analysis, role-plays, and offline mode.
- Offline lessons
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit Speakerly -
Best forLearners seeking short AI-guided speaking practice
Short speaking prompts and AI feedback suit learners who want practical conversation practice.
4.5/10★★☆☆☆Visit Spoken -
Best forLearners wanting AI conversation and role-play practice
A speaking-focused language app with role-play, feedback, and a limited free plan.
4.4/10★★☆☆☆Visit Gliglish -
Best forLearners wanting adaptive spoken-English practice
Adaptive speaking practice with pronunciation feedback and lessons from your own materials.
4.3/10★★☆☆☆Visit LingLang
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Offline lessons | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duolingo | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 2 | Busuu | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Babbel | No | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | EF English Live | No | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Rosetta Stone | No | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 6 | Pimsleur | No | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 7 | Mango Languages | No | $10/user/mo | Yes | 8.6 |
| 8 | VOA Learning English | Yes | Free | 8.5 | |
| 9 | LearnEnglish Podcasts | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 10 | LearnEnglish Kids: Playtime | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 11 | LearnEnglish Grammar | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 12 | ABA English | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 13 | Memrise | Yes | €69.99/yr | No | 8.0 |
| 14 | LingQ | Yes | $119.99/yr | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | ELSA Speak | Yes | $159.99/yr | No | 7.8 |
| 16 | FluentU | Yes | $11.99/user/mo | Yes | 7.7 |
| 17 | EnglishClass101 | Yes | $4/mo | Yes | 7.6 |
| 18 | MosaLingua | No | $71.88/yr | Yes | 7.5 |
| 19 | Gymglish | No | 7.4 | ||
| 20 | EnglishCentral | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 21 | Speakly | Yes | No | 7.2 | |
| 22 | VoiceTube | Yes | No | 7.1 | |
| 23 | LingoDeer | Yes | $14.99/mo | Yes | 7.0 |
| 24 | Clozemaster | Yes | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 25 | Yabla | No | 6.8 | ||
| 26 | Drops | Yes | $69.99/yr | Yes | 6.7 |
| 27 | Beelinguapp | Yes | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 28 | Cake | Yes | No | 6.5 | |
| 29 | Talkpal | Yes | No | 6.4 | |
| 30 | Praktika | 6.3 | |||
| 31 | TalkEnglish | Yes | Yes | 6.2 | |
| 32 | Wlingua | Yes | Yes | 6.1 | |
| 33 | WordUp | Yes | Yes | 6.0 | |
| 34 | EchoType | Yes | Free | 5.9 | |
| 35 | Xeropan | Yes | No | 5.8 | |
| 36 | TalkSmart | Yes | $5.19/mo | 5.7 | |
| 37 | Loora | No | 5.6 | ||
| 38 | Voxy | 5.5 | |||
| 39 | Mondly | Yes | Yes | 5.4 | |
| 40 | Speak | No | 5.3 | ||
| 41 | Stimuler | Yes | ₹999/yr | Yes | 5.2 |
| 42 | Johnny Grammar's Word Challenge | Yes | Free | 5.1 | |
| 43 | LearnEnglish Videos | Yes | Free | Yes | 5.0 |
| 44 | uTalk | Yes | Yes | 4.9 | |
| 45 | LingoTube | Yes | $79.99/yr | 4.8 | |
| 46 | Lingvist | No | Yes | 4.7 | |
| 47 | Speakerly | Yes | Yes | 4.6 | |
| 48 | Spoken | 4.5 | |||
| 49 | Gliglish | Yes | 4.4 | ||
| 50 | LingLang | No | 4.3 |
Head-to-head All 13 comparisons →
- Duolingo vs EF English Live
- Duolingo vs VOA Learning English
- Busuu vs EF English Live
- Busuu vs VOA Learning English
- Babbel vs EF English Live
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How we rank english learning apps
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update