The 9 Best Apps to Learn Spanish in 2023

Best Audio-Based App: Pimsleur Learn Spanish

The Pimsleur app offers an audio-based methodology for learning foreign languages. They offer more than 50 languages, but Spanish is their top language. They have both Latin American and Castilian Spanish, and their program consists of core lessons, reading lessons, role-play speaking challenges, digital flashcards, practice activities, games, as well as cultural and historical facts. The Pimsleur system claims you’ll learn the language in just 30 minutes a day without boring grammar lessons or mindless repetition. You can stream their content or download for offline use. Another perk is that it works well with the Amazon Alexa if you want to work on your Spanish at home. You can try a free seven-day trial, but after that, you’ll have to subscribe for $19.95 a month.

Best Conversational-Based App: Babbel

Babbel is a popular language-learning app that is based on conversational skills. They offer 13 different languages, of which Spanish is one of the most popular. Their program consists of 10-15 minute lessons that can fit into any busy schedule. Since their method is based on conversation skills, Babbel wants to get you speaking from the very beginning. Their program is based on real-life conversations about useful topics, and they use speech recognition technology to help you improve your pronunciation. They give you grammar tips and lots of review activities, and they also track your learning progress so you can see how you are improving. They claim that after three weeks, they will have you conversing about basic, practical topics. You can try the first lesson for free. After that, you’ll need to buy a subscription for $14.95 a month (but prices are lower if you subscribe for several months at a time).

Best Video-Based App: FluentU

FluentU is a video-based language-learning app. They offer 10 different languages, of course including Spanish. Their methodology uses real-world videos that have been subtitled and translated to create an immersive language-learning program. Depending on your level, you’ll get to see music videos, news, movie trailers, and all kinds of other interesting videos. The goal is to learn from real content, where grammar and vocabulary are always contextualized. They also have personalized quizzes as well as lots of vocabulary and grammar tips. You can try it for free for 14 days. After that, their monthly subscription is about $30, or you can subscribe for a whole year for about $360.

Best Game-Based App: Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps on the market, offering 40 languages. Many people use Duolingo to work on their Spanish. Their program is made to be game-like to make it fun and interactive. They claim to adapt to your own learning style so that you can have lessons that are tailored to your specific needs. They also give rewards to keep you motivated. Duolingo includes reading, writing, speaking, listening, and conversation practice. People enjoy this method because they feel like they are playing a game instead of working. Duolingo is a totally free app, but you can pay $9.99 a month for Super Duolingo if you want to skip the ads and have some extra features.

Best Immersion-Based App: Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is one of the best-known language learning systems, offering 25 different languages, and now you can find it on an app for your mobile phone. Rosetta Stone uses an immersive method when it comes to learning Spanish and it's based on real-world conversations, where you have to use your instincts to learn new words and concepts, instead of having everything translated for you. They claim this is a more natural way of learning, using phrases instead of vocabulary drills. They use speech recognition technology so you can improve your pronunciation and they give you instant feedback. The app also includes structured lessons to keep you actively learning. You can sync the Rosetta Stone content to all your devices and download content so you can use it while offline. You can try it for free, then you have to subscribe. Subscriptions range between three months ($11.99/month) and a $299 lifetime subscription for access to unlimited languages.

Best Memory-Based App: Memrise

Memrise is a language learning app where you can choose from 23 languages. They have two varieties of Spanish: Spanish from Spain and Spanish from Mexico. They claim to make learning fun by mixing technology and science with real-life language content. They use audio, imagery, and memory techniques, including flashcards. Their methodology involves making connections or associations between words and concepts to help you learn new concepts.

They also use tests and quiz-type games to help you review what you’ve been learning. Quiz-type games include Speed Review, Listening Skills, Difficult Words, and Classic Review. In addition, they have Learn with Locals video clips, where you can learn from real native speakers. You can also record your pronunciation and compare it with that of native speakers. Membership costs $8.49 per month for a monthly subscription. You can also buy a twelve-month subscription for $60, or a lifetime subscription for $119.99.

Best Repetition-Based App: MosaLingua

MosaLingua is a language learning program that has separate apps for learning different languages. They have an app for the nine languages offered. One of their apps is specifically designed for learning Spanish. It uses the Spaced Repetition System, which involves lots of reviews to promote long-term memorization. It constantly adapts to your needs and includes both visual and audio memorization. You will learn vocabulary, phrases, and verb conjugations.

The app includes thousands of flashcards with audio pronunciation by native speakers, an online Spanish dictionary, grammar essentials, pre-recorded dialogues about everyday situations, and learning tips. They also have bonus content that you can unlock as you advance, in order to keep you motivated. All their content is available on the app. Subscriptions are $4.99 a month when you sign up for a year.

Best Interactive App: Busuu

Busuu is a language learning system that offers 14 different languages. Their Spanish course includes hundreds of lessons that include grammar, vocabulary, speaking, writing, reading, and conversations. Also, you can choose from the topics that interest you the most. They use machine-learning technology to create personalized lesson plans and practice using speech recognition.

Something that makes Busuu unique is that it has a social feature, and you can get instant feedback from people in their community. Their program includes writing and conversation exercises that you can send off to obtain feedback. There is also review and repetition, as well as offline learning with downloaded content. Although a lot of the Busuu content is free, some features can only be accessed if you buy a premium subscription (around $13.95 for one month or around $6.95 per month, billed annually, for one year).

Best Augmented Reality App: Mondly

Mondly is an app that has versions for learning 41 different languages, although Spanish is one of their most popular ones. It uses a conversation-focused method, speech recognition, and augmented reality to create a fun language-learning program. They have exercises to practice reading, listening, writing, and speaking. The app also includes a dictionary and verb conjugator. Some of the strategies they use are focusing on phrases and not words, learning from conversations while listening to native speakers, and using a repetition system. Using augmented reality and speech recognition, you can have conversations to practice your Spanish. Much of the app’s content is free, but to access all of their features you need a subscription ($9.99 a month or $47.99 a year).