Ella VerbsThe best apps for learning Spanish
We've reviewed 19 of the best apps to help you learn Spanish. Below you will find a no nonsense analysis and review of each. This is the most detailed analysis of any app review or "best apps" lists we have found, and will continue updating this list to ensure it is up-to-date. We go into great detail, and hope you find it useful.
| Name | Rating |
|---|---|
4.89 of 5 | |
4.89 of 5 | |
4.83 of 5 | |
4.80 of 5 | |
4.72 of 5 | |
4.67 of 5 | |
4.67 of 5 | |
4.64 of 5 | |
4.64 of 5 | |
4.57 of 5 | |
4.56 of 5 | |
4.53 of 5 | |
4.53 of 5 | |
4.53 of 5 | |
4.52 of 5 | |
4.49 of 5 | |
4.35 of 5 | |
4.32 of 5 | |
4.16 of 5 |
Methodology
Ranking
The apps in this list are ordered by their average rating out of 5, from highest to lowest. We felt this was the fairest way to do so, especially since we have our own app in this list (more on that in the Background section below). The rating is based on the App Store and Google Play Store app listings, for the United States. There are some intricacies to this, explained further in footnote 4 below.
Criteria for listing
For an app to be included here, it must meet the following criteria:
- It must be available on both the App Store and Google Play Store, in the United States.
- It must be dedicated to learning Spanish (additional languages are ok).
- It must have at least 2500 ratings, and at least 500 ratings on each store (iOS and Android).
- It must have at least an average rating of 3.5 or more.
Are we missing an app? See the submit an app section to let us know!
Sections
We've divided each individual app review into 6 sections. These are:
- 🧑🎓 Overview:
- 💰 Cost and Pricing Options:
- 🧐 Pros and Cons:
- ⭐️ Ratings and Reviews:
- 📱 Platforms:
- 📸 Screenshots:
Want to see something added? Use our contact form to send feedback!
Updates
We will be updating this list a few times per year, or more often if needed in the case of errors. If you have an app you'd like us to review, see the submit an app section below.
Errors and Disclaimer
We have made every effort to ensure there are no errors in this list. However, we are human, and mistakes can happen. If you notice any errors, please let us know – more in the disclaimer and error section below.
Regarding text within each app section (e.g. the summary, pros and cons, etc.), we have tried to be as objective as possible, using real app reviews to build them. However, we are human, and ultimately our opinions (and review texts) are subjective. We have tried to be as fair as possible, but we are not perfect. If there is a blatant error, please let us know as mentioned above.
This was last updated in 17 January 2023.
Background
Why another "best apps" list? Two reasons: (1) we wanted to create a list ranked based on actual ratings, and therefore more "fair". We have found a lot of best apps lists out there have affiliate links or paid postings, and feel that this can lead to bias in placements, given there are financial incentives at play. (2) We are Spanish learners ourselves, and while we use our own app (see paragraph below), we still want to find other great resources for learning Spanish and share them with the community.
Full disclaimer – our app is in this list. We are the team behind Ella Verbs, an app to help you master conjugation in Spanish. We make sure to note this below (in case people don't read this section!), and have not changed our ranking or our listing in any way.
We believe everything below to be correct as of 17 January 2023. We visit the App Store and Play Store pages for each app and for subjective pieces (e.g. the pros and cons), we use real reviews. That said, there may be errors, and for that we are sorry. If you have noticed an issue, please report it here and we will update it as timely as possible. Equally, if there is one you feel is missing, you can see how to submit an app here (as long as it meets our criteria).
Finally, you're likely here because you are learning Spanish. We wish you the best in your journey – you picked a great language 🙂
All the best,
Jane & Brian
(From Ireland 🇮🇪, but living with baby Leo in Spain 🇪🇸)
Side-by-side Analysis
Here are each of the above apps, side-by-side to show the distribution of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 stars. They are sorted by the average rating, which is also listed on top of each bar. You can click on an individual bar or app to be brought to the in-depth review.
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
App Reviews
Below, you will find detailed reviews on each app. Missing something? Let us know!
Language Transfer
🧑🎓 Overview: Unique, Natural, Audio
Language Transfer is a free mobile app that provides audio courses to learn Spanish (and 7+ other languages). The app is free with no sign-up required.
The approach is very unique, but needs dedication from the user (for example, to pause and actually answer in Spanish yourself). You can download tracks in advance, save progress, and listen with your phone locked.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
Language Transfer is free to download and use.🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Unique, natural approach
- ✅ Great for pronunciation
- ✅ Free
Cons
- ❌Only audio content
- ❌No native Spanish accents
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Language Transfer has an average rating of 4.9 based on 7161 total ratings, which equates to 98%4.
974 out of every 1,000 people using Language Transfer would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 9 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 57 five star ratings, Language Transfer has one 1 star rating. This is above the average of the 19 apps we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 95%
4 star: 2%
3 star: 1%
2 star: 0%
1 star: 2%
📱 Platforms
Language Transfer is available on iOS (iPhone, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Language Transfer
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Ella Verbs
ℹ️ Full disclosure, this is our app. We (Jane & Brian) developer this Ella Verbs, and also wrote this article. That said, we have provided a summary below in line with our methodology detailed above. As mentioned earlier, we want this to be as fair and unbiased review as possible.
🧑🎓 Overview: Conjugation, Verbs, Personalized
App Size1 26MB
Platforms
Ella Verbs is an interactive mobile app focused on mastering Spanish verbs and conjugations, something that the founders (Jane and Brian), argue is one of the most difficult parts of the language.
The app guides you through 30+ levels of bite-sized lessons and interactive quizzes, and includes 8 milestones that test your in-context knowledge. You can also track your progress, customize the app to your needs, and use personalized Smart Quizzes to help you master verb conjugation quickly.
The app has 2100+ verbs (with full verb tables), covers all Spanish tenses in a structured way, and is available for both European and Latin American Spanish.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $4.49 - $7.49 per month.
- Annual subscription: Between $19.99 - $34.99 per year.
- Lifetime access: Between $74.99 - $94.99 one time.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
Free access via Give Back: Ella Verbs also offers a Give Back program, whereby people who can't afford the app for whatever reason, can choose to get Pro access for free. This is made possible by others purchasing Pro access, and you can find more information within the app.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Structured approach to learning Spanish conjugation and tenses
- ✅ Easily customized and personalized to your level
- ✅ Make fast progress
- ✅ Excellent support
Cons
- ❌Structured approach is not for everyone
- ❌Only focused on verbs and conjugation
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Ella Verbs has an average rating of 4.9 based on 4137 total ratings, which equates to 98%4.
984 out of every 1,000 people using Ella Verbs would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 12 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 269 five star ratings, Ella Verbs has one 1 star rating. This is the best across the 19 apps we looked at. The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 91%
4 star: 7%
3 star: 1%
2 star: 0%
1 star: 0%
📱 Platforms
Ella Verbs is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Ella Verbs
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SpanishDict
🧑🎓 Overview: Translation, Dictionary, Conjugation
App Size1 469MB
Platforms
SpanishDict is a free mobile app for learning Spanish. It includes a Spanish-English dictionary, translation, conjugation of verbs, pronunciation videos, vocabulary practice and more.
Most of the app can be accessed with ads, or you can upgrade to remove ads and access more features. Reviews of the app praise its ease of use and comprehensive content.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: $12.99 per month (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Biannual subscription: $39.99 every 6 months (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Annual subscription: $59.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ High-quality translations
- ✅ Quizzes for practicing vocabulary and conjugations
- ✅ Great verb tables
Cons
- ❌Some users complained about intrusive ads
- ❌Premium version described as expensive by some users
- ❌Large app size (469 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
SpanishDict has an average rating of 4.8 based on 408.139 total ratings, which equates to 96%4.
971 out of every 1,000 people using SpanishDict would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 21 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 104 five star ratings, SpanishDict has one 1 star rating. This is above the average of the 19 apps we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 88%
4 star: 9%
3 star: 2%
2 star: 0%
1 star: 1%
📱 Platforms
SpanishDict is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for SpanishDict
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Conjugato
🧑🎓 Overview: Conjugation, Verbs, Flexible
App Size1 43MB
Platforms
Conjugato is a mobile app for learning Spanish verbs and conjugations. It includes flexible settings allowing you to practice verbs based on endings, popularity, or more.
It also includes verb tables for 1,000 verbs, flashcards, and is very affordable when compared to other apps reviewed here.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Lifetime access: $5.99 one time.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Conjugato has an average rating of 4.8 based on 3889 total ratings, which equates to 96%4.
968 out of every 1,000 people using Conjugato would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 22 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 86 five star ratings, Conjugato has one 1 star rating. This is above the average of the 19 apps we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 86%
4 star: 11%
3 star: 1%
2 star: 1%
1 star: 1%
📱 Platforms
Conjugato is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Conjugato
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Rosetta Stone
🧑🎓 Overview: Variety, Visual, Audio
Rosetta Stone is a mobile app for learning Spanish (and 24+ other languages). It boasts a personalized language learning plan, immersion method, and instantaneous pronunciation feedback.
The app is strong on vocabulary, and includes a variety of content, including audio, stories, and lessons. It also includes a speech recognition feature to help with pronunciation.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Quarterly subscription: Between $44.99 - $54.99 every 3 months.
- Annual subscription: Between $109.99 - $119.99 per year (potentially with a 3 day free trial).
- Lifetime access: $199.99 one time.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Great variety of content and mediums
- ✅ Good for beginners
- ✅ Lots of vocabulary
Cons
- ❌Some users reported the app can be slow and buggy
- ❌Expensive compared to other apps
- ❌Not as strong on grammar
- ❌Large app size (199 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Rosetta Stone has an average rating of 4.7 based on 779.837 total ratings, which equates to 94%4.
948 out of every 1,000 people using Rosetta Stone would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 31 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 39 five star ratings, Rosetta Stone has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 82%
4 star: 13%
3 star: 2%
2 star: 1%
1 star: 2%
📱 Platforms
Rosetta Stone is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Rosetta Stone
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Pimsleur
🧑🎓 Overview: Conversational, Established, Varied
Pimsleur is a language learning app that focuses on teaching conversational language skills. Besides Spanish, you can learn 50+ other languages.
The app has varied content, including lessons, reading, speaking, flashcards, and more. It comes from an established brand, which has been around for over 50 years.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $19.99 - $20.99 per month (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Not required to look at the screen (hands-free learning)
- ✅ Great for beginners
- ✅ Good for conversation and pronunciation
Cons
- ❌Some users described the content as repetitive and uninteresting at times
- ❌Expensive compared to other apps
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Pimsleur has an average rating of 4.7 based on 29.812 total ratings, which equates to 94%4.
923 out of every 1,000 people using Pimsleur would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 34 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 20 five star ratings, Pimsleur has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 85%
4 star: 7%
3 star: 2%
2 star: 2%
1 star: 4%
📱 Platforms
Pimsleur is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Pimsleur
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Babbel
🧑🎓 Overview: Variety, Real-life, Professional
App Size1 99MB
Platforms
Babbel is a mobile app for learning Spanish (and 13 other languages). It has efficacy backed by researchers at Yale University and Michigan State University, and offers short and effective lessons, with the aim of building a daily habit.
It has a wide variety of content, with voice-recognition, real-life dialogues, audio and more.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: $17.99 per month.
- Quarterly subscription: $45.99 every 3 months.
- Annual subscription: $89.99 per year.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Short, effective lessons
- ✅ Real-life dialogues
- ✅ Native speakers and voices
Cons
- ❌Some users complained about poor voice recognition
- ❌Better for beginners than advanced
- ❌Some mentioned not getting responses to support tickets
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Babbel has an average rating of 4.7 based on 1.799.253 total ratings, which equates to 94%4.
931 out of every 1,000 people using Babbel would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 48 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 37 five star ratings, Babbel has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 79%
4 star: 14%
3 star: 4%
2 star: 1%
1 star: 2%
📱 Platforms
Babbel is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Babbel
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ITalki
🧑🎓 Overview: Speak, Immersion, Real-life
App Size1 281MB
Platforms
ITalki is a mobile app for connecting with language teachers from around the world, in Spanish and 150+ other languages. It offers 1-on-1 online language lessons with native speakers and experienced language teachers, for which you pay by lesson.
The app also hosts a community whereby you can chat with others, post in your target language and more.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
With ITalki, you pay as you go, for each lesson you take. Prices vary depending on the teacher you choose, but you can expect to pay anywhere between $5 and $40 per hour.🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Great way to practice talking with native speakers
- ✅ Good alternative to full immersion
- ✅ High quality teachers
Cons
- ❌Some users complained about sessions freezing
- ❌Experience dependent on teachers you find
- ❌Large app size (281 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
ITalki has an average rating of 4.6 based on 15.254 total ratings, which equates to 92%4.
897 out of every 1,000 people using ITalki would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 45 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 15 five star ratings, ITalki has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 87%
4 star: 2%
3 star: 4%
2 star: 1%
1 star: 6%
📱 Platforms
ITalki is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for ITalki
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Memrise
🧑🎓 Overview: Pronounciation, Video, Real-Life
App Size1 207MB
Platforms
Memrise is a popular app for learning Spanish and 20+ other languages. It offers a user-friendly interface, with multiple courses that you can choose from based on your level.
It uses a variety of mediums, including many audio and video clips to help you master real-life scenarios, and allow you to practice speaking and improve your pronunciation. The app has received a lot of praise, for focusing on getting you speaking as quickly as possible.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Weekly subscription: $2.99 per week.
- Monthly subscription: $8.99 per month.
- Quarterly subscription: $24.99 every 3 months.
- Annual subscription: Between $44.99 - $89.99 per year.
- Lifetime access: $119.99 one time.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Variety of content and learning methods
- ✅ Focus on pronunciation
- ✅ Video and audio clips
Cons
- ❌Many users mentioned you need to subscribe
- ❌Better for beginners than advanced
- ❌Some users mentioned limited vocabulary
- ❌Large app size (207 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Memrise has an average rating of 4.6 based on 1.925.419 total ratings, which equates to 92%4.
928 out of every 1,000 people using Memrise would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 41 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 25 five star ratings, Memrise has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 78%
4 star: 15%
3 star: 3%
2 star: 1%
1 star: 3%
📱 Platforms
Memrise is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Memrise
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Duolingo
🧑🎓 Overview: Fun, Beginner, Free
App Size1 287MB
Platforms
Duolingo is probably the best known mobile app for learning languages, including Spanish and 40+ more. It is designed by language experts and used by millions of learners worldwide, who use the fun, game-like quizzes to learn vocabulary and more. Duolingo helps you build speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills, and claims a science-based methodology to help aid retention.
You can track your progress, compete with others on leaderboards, and use rewards and achievements to stay motivated. The app is free with ads, or you can upgrade to Super Duolingo which includes extra features. The app has received a lot of praise (including from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and TIME Magazine), and has millions of ratings.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $9.99 - $12.99 per month (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Annual subscription: Between $59.99 - $83.99 per year (potentially with a 2 week free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Fun, engaging and gamified
- ✅ Great for beginners
- ✅ Free (with ads)
- ✅ Wide variety of content (stories, vocabulary, grammar, etc.)
- ✅ Multiple languages
Cons
- ❌No explanations of why something is the way it is
- ❌Can be repetitive
- ❌Some users complained about "non-realistic" content
- ❌Ads can be intrusive (upgrading removes them)
- ❌Large app size (287 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Duolingo has an average rating of 4.6 based on 18.144.860 total ratings, which equates to 92%4.
904 out of every 1,000 people using Duolingo would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 47 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 16 five star ratings, Duolingo has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 78%
4 star: 13%
3 star: 3%
2 star: 2%
1 star: 5%
📱 Platforms
Duolingo is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Duolingo
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Ling App
🧑🎓 Overview: Fun, Interactive, Beginner
App Size1 57MB
Platforms
Ling App is a mobile app for learning Spanish and 10+ other languages. It offers bite-sized lessons, activities (such as flashcards and dialogues), and real-life audio from native speakers.
Users can access varied content, as well as grammar notes with practical examples. It has been featured in Yahoo, VOGUE, and Forbes
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $10.99 - $14.99 per month.
- Biannual subscription: Between $31.99 - $39.99 every 6 months.
- Annual subscription: Between $48.99 - $79.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Lifetime access: Between $74.99 - $149.99 one time.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Fun and interactive
- ✅ Great for beginners
- ✅ Great for vocabulary
Cons
- ❌Free version is limited
- ❌Some users reported issues with voice recognition
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Ling App has an average rating of 4.6 based on 16.246 total ratings, which equates to 92%4.
894 out of every 1,000 people using Ling App would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 54 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 15 five star ratings, Ling App has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 78%
4 star: 11%
3 star: 4%
2 star: 1%
1 star: 5%
📱 Platforms
Ling App is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Ling App
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Busuu
🧑🎓 Overview: Real-life, Vocabulary, Community
App Size1 184MB
Platforms
Busuu is a mobile app for learning Spanish and 10+ other languages. The app connects users with native speakers and provides bite-sized lessons, personalized study plans, and flashcards.
Subscriptions are available to unlock all features, and the app has been highly rated by PC Mag and The Independent.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $6.99 - $12.99 per month.
- Annual subscription: Between $34.99 - $89.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Great for learning vocabulary
- ✅ Good mix of content mediums (audio, video, text)
- ✅ Chat with native Spanish speakers
Cons
- ❌Some users complained about audio issues
- ❌Large app size (184 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Busuu has an average rating of 4.5 based on 675.825 total ratings, which equates to 90%4.
889 out of every 1,000 people using Busuu would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 61 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 15 five star ratings, Busuu has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 76%
4 star: 13%
3 star: 4%
2 star: 2%
1 star: 5%
📱 Platforms
Busuu is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Busuu
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Clozemaster
🧑🎓 Overview: Context, Vocabulary, Real-life
App Size1 22MB
Platforms
Clozemaster is a mobile app that helps users learn Spanish and other languages through sentences and words in-context, by filling in the missing word in a sentence.
It has a decent free experience, while users can upgrade to access additional features such as "radio" listening mode practice, and more. It's great for learning vocabulary and grammar in context.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: $8.99 per month.
- Annual subscription: $69.99 per year.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Real-life sentences
- ✅ Great for vocabulary
- ✅ Good for intermediate learners
- ✅ Great customer service
Cons
- ❌Described as expensive by some users
- ❌Not for absolute beginners
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Clozemaster has an average rating of 4.5 based on 2883 total ratings, which equates to 90%4.
881 out of every 1,000 people using Clozemaster would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 29 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 9 five star ratings, Clozemaster has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 84%
4 star: 4%
3 star: 1%
2 star: 1%
1 star: 9%
📱 Platforms
Clozemaster is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Clozemaster
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Drops
🧑🎓 Overview: Illustrations, Vocabulary, Fun
App Size1 211MB
Platforms
Drops is a mobile app focused on learning vocabulary in Spanish. With the app, users can build a knowledge using illustrated pictures and quick mini-games.
The app features native pronounciations of words, and covers many other languages too.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $7.99 - $22.99 per month.
- Annual subscription: Between $39.99 - $89.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Visual based learning for vocabulary
- ✅ Great pronounciations and audio
- ✅ Fun, engaging and gamified
Cons
- ❌Free version is limited
- ❌Not strong on grammar
- ❌Not as compelling for intermediate learners
- ❌Large app size (211 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Drops has an average rating of 4.5 based on 387.450 total ratings, which equates to 90%4.
888 out of every 1,000 people using Drops would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 71 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 18 five star ratings, Drops has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 74%
4 star: 15%
3 star: 5%
2 star: 2%
1 star: 4%
📱 Platforms
Drops is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Drops
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LingoDeer
🧑🎓 Overview: Structured, Vocabulary, Variety
App Size1 223MB
Platforms
LingoDeer is an app for learning Spanish and 11 other languages. It offers structured lessons created by language teachers and a clear learning path.
It includes audio from native speakers, real-life conversations, flashcards, quizzes and more.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $12.99 - $14.99 per month.
- Quarterly subscription: Between $32.99 - $34.99 every 3 months.
- Annual subscription: Between $76.99 - $79.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Lifetime access: $119.99 one time.
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Structured learning approach
- ✅ Fun and various activities
- ✅ Grammar explanations
Cons
- ❌Free option is quite limited
- ❌Some users mentioned bugs and lagging issues
- ❌Large app size (223 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
LingoDeer has an average rating of 4.5 based on 477.262 total ratings, which equates to 90%4.
887 out of every 1,000 people using LingoDeer would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 60 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 15 five star ratings, LingoDeer has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 77%
4 star: 12%
3 star: 3%
2 star: 3%
1 star: 5%
📱 Platforms
LingoDeer is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for LingoDeer
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LingQ
🧑🎓 Overview: Audio, Vocabulary, Retention
App Size1 87MB
Platforms
LingQ is a mobile app for learning Spanish that includes 1,000s of hours of audio lessons, podcasts, audiobooks, interviews and more, along with matching transcripts and a look up and save feature for new words and phrases.
The app uses a Spaced Repetition System system to help you review and retain vocabulary.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: $12.99 per month (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Biannual subscription: $71.99 every 6 months (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Annual subscription: $107.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Lots of audio and video content
- ✅ Great for vocabulary
- ✅ Personalize material
Cons
- ❌Some users reported the app being buggy
- ❌Expensive when compared to other apps
- ❌Limited free content
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
LingQ has an average rating of 4.5 based on 29.818 total ratings, which equates to 90%4.
877 out of every 1,000 people using LingQ would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 62 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 13 five star ratings, LingQ has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 77%
4 star: 11%
3 star: 3%
2 star: 3%
1 star: 6%
📱 Platforms
LingQ is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for LingQ
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Beelinguapp
🧑🎓 Overview: Stories, Audio, Fun
App Size1 97MB
Platforms
Beelinguapp is a mobile app that helps you learn Spanish (and other languages) by reading and listening to bilingual audiobooks.
The app includes both audio (narrated by native speakers) and text, so you can easily follow the stories, and quizzes at the end to test your knowledge. The app covers different levels, from beginner to expert.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $5.99 - $7.49 per month (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Annual subscription: Between $17.99 - $41.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Wide variety of content and stories
- ✅ Fun way to learn Spanish
- ✅ Includes flashcards
Cons
- ❌Some users reported bugs and issues with the app
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Beelinguapp has an average rating of 4.3 based on 74.374 total ratings, which equates to 86%4.
820 out of every 1,000 people using Beelinguapp would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 91 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 8 five star ratings, Beelinguapp has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 75%
4 star: 7%
3 star: 4%
2 star: 5%
1 star: 9%
📱 Platforms
Beelinguapp is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Beelinguapp
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Lingvist
🧑🎓 Overview: Vocabulary, Motivating, Memorize
Lingvist is a mobile app for learning Spanish (and 10 other languages). It has a unique approach to learning vocabulary, with a focus on memorization and retention.
Learners can personalize their learning by creating custom decks, or select from the many already available. Spaced repetition aids with memorization.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $9.99 - $19.99 per month (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Annual subscription: Between $55.99 - $79.99 per year (potentially with a 2 week free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Great for expanding vocabulary
- ✅ Motivating, with great progress tracking
- ✅ Good for beginners
- ✅ Explains grammar
Cons
- ❌Some users complained about the lack of variety in content
- ❌Not as strong for pronounciation or audio
- ❌No free version
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
Lingvist has an average rating of 4.3 based on 60.180 total ratings, which equates to 86%4.
830 out of every 1,000 people using Lingvist would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 95 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 9 five star ratings, Lingvist has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 67%
4 star: 16%
3 star: 6%
2 star: 3%
1 star: 8%
📱 Platforms
Lingvist is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for Lingvist
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MosaLingua
🧑🎓 Overview: Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Personalized
App Size1 139MB
Platforms
MosaLingua is a mobile app designed to help users get up to speed quickly in Spanish, learning the core vocabulary for 80% of situations. It has over 3,500 vocabulary flashcards, audio recordings by native speakers, and more.
The app uses a Spaced Repetition System to aid retention. Beyond Spanish, you can learn 8+ other languages, including French and German.
💰 Cost and Pricing Options
- Monthly subscription: Between $7.49 - $9.49 per month (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
- Annual subscription: Between $43.99 - $57.99 per year (potentially with a 7 day free trial).
Prices are correct as of 17 January 2023, and are based on iOS pricing2.
🧐 Pros and Cons3
Pros
- ✅ Great for expanding vocabulary with lots of categories
- ✅ Good pronounciations and audio
- ✅ Offers business Spanish
Cons
- ❌Users complained about it being slow and buggy at times
- ❌The UI design is not as modern or snappy as other apps
- ❌Large app size (139 megabytes)
Please remember that although these are based on real reviews, they are still subjective (and just opinions), so we recommend you try the app for yourself to see if it is right for you.
⭐️ Ratings and Reviews
MosaLingua has an average rating of 4.2 based on 13.033 total ratings, which equates to 84%4.
785 out of every 1,000 people using MosaLingua would recommend it (that is, they gave it a rating of 4 or 5 stars). Conversely, 71 out of every 1,000 people would not recommend the app.
Distribution of star ratings:
For every 5 five star ratings, MosaLingua has one 1 star rating. This is worse than the average of the 19 we looked at (41 five stars for every one star rating). The higher this number, the better5.
5 star: 69%
4 star: 10%
3 star: 5%
2 star: 3%
1 star: 14%
📱 Platforms
MosaLingua is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, Mac (Silicon)) & Android.
📸 Screenshots
Image credit: App Store listing for MosaLingua
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Footnotes
1: App Size
The app size is taken as the Universal size when installed on iOS. We recognise this can differ from platform to platform, but we wanted to keep it simple.
2: Pricing
Prices are only listed as a guide, and the prices offered on iOS in the USA. The range is given where multiple prices are found on the App Store. It may be the case that all of these prices are not available to you within the app – for example, some apps may have different pricing depending upon the time of year (e.g. sales), or some pricing may be redundant. Furthermore, you may see different prices on Android, or on the web if the app has a web platform. We recommend you download and check the prices yourself.
3: Pros and Cons
Pros and cons are very subjective, and being app developers ourselves we understand how unfair it can be to simply. Therefore, to come up with these, we took a snapshot of reviews of each app, excluding overly negative (e.g. "1 star, I hate this app because of the color of the icon") or overly positive (e.g. "5 stars, I love this app because I just do") reviews. We then reviewed this list and compiled the most common pros and cons.
4: Number of Ratings
The number of ratings is the total number of ratings from the Google Play profile page, plus the total number of ratings from the Apple App Store profile page for the USA only. We don't include ratings from other countries for the App Store, only due to time – it has taken us a long time to do the research for this page.
However, for Google Play ratings, even though they show the total number of ratings across all countries, they vary the average rating and 1 to 5 star distributions depending on your location. We visit and use the rating breakdown from the USA only. However, because this is still distributed over the total number of ratings (instead of just ratings from the USA like Apple does), we recognise that this will be outweighted. We have 2X the number of ratings of the USA store in total, so therefore, we apply that as a multiplier for the App Store ratings.
We believe this is the fairest representation of the overall rating, given our time constraints. The alternative would be to visit every single country page for both the App Store and Play Store (almost 400 pages per app or 7600 total!), gather all ratings and calculate the averages, which just isn't feasible for us at this point.
The number of ratings are correct as of 17 January 2023. We aim to update the ratings a few times per year.
5: Five to One Ratio
The Five to One ratio tells you how many five stars the app has for every one star. The higher this number the better, as it shows less people are very dissatisfied with the app. We feel it is a useful measure, because it shows any extreme variance in ratings.
The higher this number is, the better. For example, the average of the apps we looked at was 41. This means that for every one star an app had, they had 41 five star ratings.
How to Submit an App
For an app to be included here, it must meet the following criteria:
- It must be available on both the App Store and Google Play Store, in the United States.
- It must be dedicated to learning Spanish (additional languages are ok).
- It must have at least 2500 ratings, and at least 500 ratings on each store (iOS and Android).
- It must have at least an average rating of 3.5 or more.
Please note:
- We will add apps that meet criteria when we update this page, a few times per year. It takes us a long time to add an app, so we will prioritise apps based on number submissions (but please do not spam us).
- If you are submitting an app that you work for / on behalf of / have developed yourself, and have your own Spanish app lists, we will ask for a similar listing on your website. We will not use this to influence rankings in any way, but we have our own app and want to gain exposure for it too.
Disclaimer and Reporting Errors
We have made every effort to ensure there are no errors in this list. However, we are human, and mistakes can happen. We will not be held responsible for any errors, but if you notice any errors, please let us know below and we will update them as soon as possible.
Regarding text within each app section (e.g. the summary, pros and cons, etc.), we have tried to be as objective as possible, using real app reviews to build them. However, we are human, and ultimately our opinions (and review texts) are subjective. We have tried to be as fair as possible, but we are not perfect. Again, if there is a blatant error, please let us know below.
