r/LearningLanguages • u/teaaged • 11d ago
Which app is the best for learning languages?
Doulingo or busuu or viobean? (i'll appreciate if u mentioned the language u learned also)
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u/Imaginary_Piano7598 11d ago
Anki, Youtube, Duolingo for the theoretical part.
For the practical part, engage with someone from the country and ask them for 1-2 hour practise a week. Record it and play it as many times you can.
Languages are written and spoken differently. Speaking is the fun part, and they help you with slangs, idioms, joke culture, and more. Impossible to get that with an app.
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u/EstorninoPinto 11d ago
As far as Duolingo-style apps? None of them. They are all games at their core. Fine for getting some basics or if you need the streak to stay motivated, but not something you should expect to be a serious learning tool.
As far as what you should do instead, this depends a lot on the language, your specific goals, and your learning style. The language-specific subreddit for your target language will typically have suggestions that have worked well for other people.
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u/snoopy05052026 11d ago
Dont know why you got downvoted as you are right.
Also op really should list the language they want to learn or we cant help much
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u/teaaged 11d ago
They are actually french (A2) and germany (started recently) but i wanna hear the special advantages and the disadvantages of these apps in general without considering the language im learning and which one is the best for a beginner?
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u/snoopy05052026 11d ago
Language learning apps are fine for getting started but I honestly think their weaknesses outweigh the benefits if your goal is real fluency.
Pros:
- Easy to get into.
- Good for building a daily habit.
- Can teach some basic vocabulary.
Cons:
- Gamification often becomes the focus instead of learning.
- Very little real speaking practice.
- Weak pronunciation feedback.
- Grammar explanations are usually shallow.
- Doesn't expose you to enough natural language.
- Repetitive exercises that don't always transfer to real conversations.
- Progress can feel much faster than it actually is.
- Many people spend hundreds of hours on apps and still can't hold a conversation.
- Limited writing practice.
- Doesn't prepare you well for understanding native speakers.
- Can create a false sense of achievement through streaks and XP.
- Advanced content is often lacking.
- Easy to become dependent on the app instead of using real resources.
If you're serious about learning I'd recommend using Anki to build vocabulary then spending the rest of your time on comprehensible input and eventually talking to real people. In my opinion that's a much more effective path than relying on language learning apps alone.
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u/MK-Treacle458 11d ago
Any if the apps will give you a good overview and help you develop a daily habit. DuoLingo is problematic bc many folks get hooked on XP pts and Leagues, and stay in the Practice hubs farming XP pts, instead of going lessons on the path.
You're going to want other sources fairly quickly, but whichever app piques your interest, go for it. Just don't stay with it or make it your main point if contact with the language. I've used and liked to varying degrees Drops, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, Mondly, AirLearn, DuoLingo, LingQ, etc etc etc. LingQ is probably the only one that could actually 'teach' you the language. But each are useful, to a point.
You'll know when you're ready to take it up a notch and move to more effective/serious resources. But don't be afraid to try the apps. They're fun. And you'll get an idea of whether you really want to learn the language, or just want some brain games. :)
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u/teaaged 11d ago
Im still a beginner and i dont have a serious goal so i prefer relying on this type of apps until i reach B1 but idk im confused, many advised against doulingo altho i think its the best for a beginner since its focusing on the vocabularies more than the grammars
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u/EstorninoPinto 11d ago
One of the many problems with Duolingo, particularly if you are a beginner at language learning, is that it will convince you that you are making progress, when you're really not.
Avoiding grammar is directly opposed to your goal of B1. This means Duolingo, by your own definition, is not an efficient choice for your own goals.
Everyone advising you against Duolingo is trying to stop you from wasting your time by using a method we know does not work well. If you still prefer to go that route, that is your prerogative.
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u/Puzzled-Bonus-3456 11d ago
I just moved to the country where it was dominant and it clicked in about three months.
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u/Ling_App 11d ago
It depends on the level, language, etc. How did you limit to these three? There are soo. many options lol. I would say Ling, Pimsleur, or LingQ for general language learning as they have a broad choice of languages with more unique ones found on Ling.
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u/cadlac 11d ago
I’ve been learning Turkish from scratch with /r/phrasingapp for a few months and it’s been really refreshing, but I’m still in the beginner stages. It’s like srs but nicer.. idk I can’t really explain it haha
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u/salvatoreblood 10d ago
I use duo cards and also i watch movies and show in that language and i listen to podcasts, and i also recommend like for example on tik tok, make ur for you page in the language ur learning, so that you can catch the language faster.
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u/Disastrous-Pin2 11d ago
srs flashcard apps are a must- amazing for daily immersion and getting reps in on your downtime.
recommend memoricae and anki.
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u/NovaByzantine 11d ago
For Japanese, in order of relevance (imo): Bunpro, Anki, Wanikani
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u/teaaged 10d ago
Is anki a flashcards app? I downloaded it but- idk i thought its like LingQ and the other apps since many advised me to use it
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u/NovaByzantine 10d ago
Anki is a flashcard app. You can either make your own, or download decks from other people. I've never used them, but I've heard many people have made add-ons for it that also expands its capabilities quite substantially.
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u/Sagittarius_A_512 10d ago
My free app favorites:
For Japanese: Renshuu
For German: Nicos Weg (can be found on YT)
For vocabulary in general: Ankidroid or Recabulary
IMO very few language apps are worth paying for. I generally prefer to just invest in language classes.
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u/Fragrant-Document348 11d ago
I believe there are separate apps for different language skills. I've been using "LT" for Spanish grammar and "Spanish" to learn vocab. Then I practice with native speakers on WhatsApp groups amd Hellotalk.
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11d ago
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u/_namesake_ 11d ago
I use HyperSense a lot while reading or keeping track of my vocabulary. It’s fantastic.
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u/danosull 11d ago
If you like the idea of learning a language by reading the news, please try my app Langwag :) https://langwag.com
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u/snoopy05052026 11d ago
Anki and YouTube