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Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone and other Apps

In addition to the most famous apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone or Babbel, we will also look at other English learning apps, some of which are just as good or even better (and cheaper).

American Travel Posters from the 1960's

English learning apps range from professional software language courses for computers to inexpensive apps for smartphones.

There are large differences between the English learning apps, especially regarding grammar explanations and exercises.

On the other hand, almost all English learning apps and programs have a vocabulary trainer which you can use to learn new words.

A compact overview of all the learning apps tested here can be found below.


Mondly English App

The Best Alternative to Duolingo

The Mondly App lets you learn the English language in a playful way with a series of interactive exercises.

There are over 1000 lessons in total and 5000 English words spoken by native speakers in the vocabulary trainer.

You can freely choose which of the 40 topics you want to learn and in what order, including English grammar and verb conjugations.

In addition, there is an English conversation trainer (speech recognition) for the most common types of conversations in everyday life.

Mondly has around 45 million users worldwide. This language course has the advantage of having 41 source languages and 41 target languages.

Summary: Mondly is very similar to the Babbel and Duolingo apps and even better in terms of quality. The cost-benefit ratio for the lifetime access to all 41 languages is unbeatable.

Link: Mondly English App and Online Course


English Basic Course

From 17 Minute Languages

Systems: Online Access (PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS)

Suitable for: Beginners and Advanced Learners, Students, Professionals

Content: 1300 words (basic course), 5200 words (complete course), grammar, verb conjugations, exercises

Prices: USD 29,95 (Basic Course), USD 97 (Complete Course)

Overall Value:

The English Basic Course contains a vocabulary trainer for the basic English vocabulary (1300 words) with native-speaker audio, as well as grammar explanations and various exercises.

The vocabulary trainer works with a long-term memory method, in which the new vocabulary is checked at increasing intervals.

You can choose between text input, multiple choice or simply confirming whether you knew a word or not.

The exercises include text comprehension questions, filling in word gaps or just vocabulary lists where one side is covered.

The basic course corresponds to the official language levels A1 and A2 (explanation of CEFR language levels).

The Complete Course contains:

  • Basic course for beginners (basic vocabulary with 1300 words)
  • Intermediate course (1800 more words)
  • Advanced course for experts (2100 words)
  • Additional specialized vocabulary
  • Covers the official CEFR language levels A1 to C2
There are 17 different course languages you can use to learn English as a second language.

Summary: Much cheaper and even better than the famous Rosetta Stone. There is a free demo version available and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Link: English Basic Course and Complete Course


Rosetta Stone: English

Most Famous Language Learning App

Systems: PC, Mac, Android, iOS Apps

Suitable for: Beginners, intermediate, experts, professionals, business

Content: English lessons with native speaker audio and speech recognition

Prices:
USD   36 (3 months)
USD 145 (12 months)
USD 299 (Lifetime access)
USD 349 (Lifetime access for 24 languages)

Overall Value:

How does English learning with Rosetta Stone work?

Rosetta Stone has a different approach to language learning than many other online courses or language apps such as Duolingo, Memrise and others.

The idea behind Rosetta Stone is to learn a language like you did as a child - by using pictures in combination with listening, speaking, and reading.

Each Rosetta Stone lesson includes the following exercises:

  • Pronounce the words or phrases correctly (speech recognition)
  • When reading or hearing a word, click on the correct picture
  • When looking at a picture, click on the correct word
  • Type in a spoken word correctly, etc.
A possible disadvantage of Rosetta Stone is that there are no grammar explanations or translations of the English vocabulary.

Instead, you are supposed to learn the grammar and the meaning of words from the context or recognize the meaning from the pictures.

Rosetta Stone Apps and Online Version:

The Rosetta Stone English learning software can be used online with a subscription for 3 or 12 months or with a Lifetime Access.

In addition to the online version, there are now also Rosetta Stone apps for iPhones and Android smartphones.

Summary: Time-tested method, but the lack of grammar explanations and translations may make Rosetta Stone not suitable for everyone.

Link: Rosetta Stone App and Online Course


Babbel English App

Better than Rosetta Stone

Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Suitable for: Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced, Students, Business English

Content: Vocabulary trainer with native speaker audio and speech recognition, grammar, exercises

Prices: Free (initial lessons), USD 12.95 (1 month), USD 84 (12 months)

Overall Value:

The Babbel English Learning App is quite similar to Rosetta Stone.

Babbel also focuses on combining pictures, listening, reading, writing and speaking. For this, Babbel has native speaker audio of all the words and speech recognition just like Rosetta Stone.

The Babbel App also offers improvements over Rosetta Stone:

  • Classical explanation of grammar (Rosetta Stone has none)
  • You are shown translations of words (unlike in Rosetta Stone)
  • Traditional vocabulary trainer is included in the Babbel App
  • The pricing of the Babbel app is much lower
Babbel is one of the oldest language learning apps and has over 10 million subscribed users world-wide.

Summary: Babbel includes most of the advantages of Rosetta Stone and even eliminates its disadvantages. Highly recommended!

Link: Babbel English App and Online Course


Duolingo English App

Well-Known Language Learning App

Systems: Android App, iOS App, PC and Mac

Content: Exercises with native-speaker audio

Prices: Free (with ads), USD 12.99 (1 month), USD 60 (12 months)

Overall Value:

The Duolingo App offers beginner language courses for 36 languages, including English. Duolingo covers mostly the basics as well as some intermediate level English vocabulary.

The major drawback of Duolingo (just like Rosetta Stone) is that there are no grammar explanations.

The vocabulary learning with Duolingo is "gamified", which means it is structured like a game with levels, experience points, achievements, etc.

The interface is relatively similar to the apps from Babbel and Mondly.

Summary: The vocabulary trainer and the exercises of the program are okay. However, it is not possible to learn English grammar with this app.


Bluebird English App

English Lessons and Exercises

Systems: Android and iPhone apps, online version (PC and Mac)

Content: English exercises with native speaker audio and speech recognition

Prices: USD 9.99 (1 month), USD 100 (12 months), USD 200 (unlimited), USD 400 (163 languages)

Overall Value:

The Bluebird App offers 146 source languages and 163 target languages and dialects, including English.

The English language course in this app includes the following:

  • Daily video lessons in three difficulty levels
  • Basic English vocabulary on several dozen topics
  • Common English verbs with conjugations
  • Analysis of your own pronunciation (with speech recognition)
  • Tests: listening comprehension, filling in word gaps, vocabulary quizzes

There are about 500 video lessons for learning English, each 5 to 60 minutes long. For languages with other scripts, the words can also be displayed transliterated in the English script.

The Bluebird app has no grammar lessons. Instead, you are supposed to understand the grammar "implicitly" from the examples, like in Rosetta Stone.

Summary: The video lessons and the interface take some getting used to, but the exercises are quite varied. Especially for smaller languages, this app is a viable alternative.


Lingodeer English App

Includes Grammar and Speech Recognition

Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Suitable for: Beginners, intermediate, students, travel vocabulary

Content: Exercises with native-speaker audio and speech recognition, grammar

Prices: USD 12 (1 month), USD 60 (12 months), USD 99 (unlimited)

Overall Value:

The Lingodeer App is somewhat similar to Duolingo or Babbel, but has a more extensive list of features:

  • English native-speaker audio for each word and speech recognition to practice the correct pronunciation.
  • You can even choose between different speakers.
  • 200+ lessons, vocabulary trainer, exercises, quizzes.
  • Very good grammar explanations, significantly better than in many other apps such as Duolingo or Rosetta Stone.
  • Suitable for beginners and intermediate level learners (A1-B1).
  • User community (native speakers) can give pronunciation feedback.
  • You can download the app and use it offline.
The use of playful exercises and "achievements" ("gamification") is supposed to make English learning more interesting and motivating.

Summary: The Lingodeer App impresses with excellent grammar lessons and speech recognition. However, this app has lessons only for beginners and intermediate level learners.

Link: Lingodeer English App and Online Course


Memrise English App

App with User-Generated Lessons

Systems: Android App, iPhone App, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Content: English lessons and vocabulary trainer with native speaker audio, grammar

Prices: USD 8,99 (1 month), USD 60 (12 months), USD 110 (unlimited)

Overall Value:

With the Memrise App you can learn over 90 languages.

This includes even very small languages - however, in such cases the language courses are often limited to just a few lessons.

One special feature of the Memrise learning app is the large number of lessons created by users (native speakers).

The quality of these lessons varies greatly though. For example, only the basic forms of verbs are usually taught, without the conjugations. Some languages also do not have an audio recording of the words at all.

Another good idea of the Memrise app are the user-generated tips and mnemonics for each word to help you memorize them.

Summary: User-generated lessons are a good idea. In practice, the quality of the lessons leaves a lot be desired.


LingQ English App

Innovative Approach to Learn English

Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Suitable for: Beginners, intermediate, advanced learners, students, professionals

Content: Video and text lessons, browser extension to import any English texts, vocabulary trainer

Price: USD 10 (1 month subscription)

Overall Value:

The LingQ English App is basically a translation program that is combined with a personalized vocabulary trainer.

In addition to the lessons and texts that are included in this app, any English text can be imported. LingQ has its own browser extension for Firefox, Safari and Chrome to import texts (including ebooks).

You can click on any word in the texts to see a translation and this adds the word to your personal vocabulary trainer.

LingQ also has many videos and podcasts, the content of which appears as a text next to the video or podcast — so that any word there can be clicked on and saved as well.

Unfortunately, there are no grammar lessons, meaning that this app will not suffice on its own to learn English.

Summary: Very interesting way to learn English vocabulary on any subject. However, you need other apps for English grammar and conjugations.


MosaLingua English

App like Babbel, Mondly or Duolingo

Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Suitable for: Beginners, intermediate learners, pupils, students, travel vocabulary

Content: English vocabulary trainer and most important grammar

Prices: USD 5 (Vocabulary Trainer App), USD 59 (12 months subscription to the full online version)

Overall Value:

The English App from Mosalingua can teach over 3000 words, which include native speaker audio and pictures.

The grammar explanations in this app are limited to the 20% that are most frequently used in practice according to statistics.

The online version for computers contains the entire grammar.

As far as the exercises are concerned, there are classic vocabulary quizzes and also fun exercises like anagrams and word puzzles.

This English learning app also has a "Hands Free Mode" that allows you to learn words while driving or jogging.

Summary: For beginners, the Mosalingua vocabulary trainer app offers great value for the money. The full subscription version is comparable to Babbel or Duolingo and has a similar price.


Busuu English App

Not really recommended

Systems: Android App, iPhone App, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Suitable for: Beginners, intermediate, high school students, college students, travelers

Content: Lessons and vocabulary trainer with native speaker audio, grammar

Prices: USD 9,99 (1 month), USD 69 (12 months)

Overall Value:

The Busuu App is a language learning app for 12 languages in total, including English of course.

  • With this app you can learn English up to beginner or intermediate levels (A1-B2). The expert levels C1-C2 are not included.

  • The Busuu app has English lessons with native speaker audio and pictures (no speech recognition), as well as a vocabulary trainer.

  • The app can be used in offline mode.

  • A unique feature of the Busuu app is a kind of internal social network where users can give feedback and correct each other.
Unfortunately, the grammar explanations here are not that good and the lessons are also structured strangely (difficult words before easier ones).

Summary: Definitely the weakest of the tested English learning apps in terms of quality.


LinguaTV English App

Learning English with Videos

Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online-Version (PC and Mac)

Suitable for: Beginners, advanced learners, students, travelers

Content: English vocabulary trainer, videos with texts, various exercises

Prices: USD 89 (3 months & 2 courses), USD 149 (6 months & 4 courses)

Overall Value:

The LinguaTV App teaches English primarily with videos. The texts and vocabulary also appear next to each video, including translations.

The English courses at LinguaTV include the following exercises:

  • Vocabulary trainer to learn Egnlish words
  • Finding word pairs, filling in gaps, etc.
  • Making a sentence out of text blocks.
  • Text comprehension quiz
  • A kind of Tetris with English words

This app offers English courses for language proficiency levels A1 to C1.

Summary: Learning English with videos works well, but it doesn't justify the relatively high subscription price of this app.


Pimsleur English Course

Most Expensive Software to Learn English

Systems: PC and Mac (incl. Mobile App)

Suitabe for: Beginners, advanced, students, travel vocabulary

Content: English vocabulary, lessons with native-speaker audio and speech recognition

Price: USD 350 (complete download)

Overall Value:

The Pimsleur App is very similar to Rosetta Stone in that it does not give grammar explanations, verb conjugation tables, etc.

Instead, the Pimsleur method is supposed to let you learn the English language intuitively, just like your native language - by combining pictures, reading and speaking (speech recognition).

This English learning course for PCs and Macs also includes a mobile app for Android and iOS systems.

Pimsleur offers 14 course languages you can use to learn English as a second language.

Summary: The most expensive English course, even though it is unlikely that learning with it is much better than with the cheaper apps.


American Travel Posters from the 1960's
Additional Ways to Learn English Online:

  • Watching English movies with subtitles

    One of the best ways to improve your language skills is to watch English movies online with subtitles.

    It is quite easy to find the English original versions of many movies and TV series with English subtitles.

  • Colanguage: Find Skype teachers

    At Colanguage you can arrange face-to-face language lessons online via Skype with language teachers around the world.

    In addition to using apps, it is definitely a good idea to also practice with native speakers in order to learn English properly.

    Prices: from USD 5-10 per hour

  • Tandem: Find a language exchange partner

    Instead of hiring teachers, you can also find people who are interested in a free language exchange online via Skype. In such exchanges the participants teach each other.

American Travel Posters from the 1960's


Overview of the English Learning Apps:

Learning App Subscrip-
tion?
Price Systems Value
17 Minutes
(Basics)
No
$29
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
17 Minutes
(Complete)
No
$97
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Rosetta Stone
No
$299
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Rosetta Stone
Yes
(3 months)
$36
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Rosetta Stone
Yes
(12 months)
$145
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Mondly
No
$99
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Mondly
Yes
(1 month)
$10
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Mondly
Yes
(12 months)
$48
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Babbel
Yes
(1 month)
$13
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Babbel
Yes
(12 months)
$84
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Lingodeer
No
$99
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Lingodeer
Yes
(1 month)
$12
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Lingodeer
Yes
(12 months)
$60
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
LingQ
Yes
(1 month)
$10
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Duolingo
Yes
(1 month)
$13
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Duolingo
Yes
(12 months)
$60
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Bluebird
No
$200
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Bluebird
Yes
(1 month)
$10
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Bluebird
Yes
(12 months)
$100
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Mosalingua
(Basic App)
No
$5
Android, iOS
Mosalingua
(Complete)
Yes
(12 months)
$59
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Memrise
No
$110
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Memrise
Yes
(1 month)
$9
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Memrise
Yes
(12 months)
$60
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Busuu
Yes
(1 month)
$10
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Busuu
Yes
(12 months)
$69
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
LinguaTV
Yes
(3 months)
$89
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
LinguaTV
Yes
(6 months)
$149
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
Pimsleur
(Complete)
No
$350
PC, Mac, Android, iOS
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