Mondly Tagalog App
Best Alternative to Duolingo
Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online Version (PC and Mac)
Suitable for: Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Learners, Students, Travel
Content: Tagalog vocabulary trainer (5000 words), playful exercises, grammar
Prices: Free (initial lessons), USD 9.99 (1 month and 1 language), USD 47.99 (12 months and access to all 41 languages)
Discount offer: USD 99 (Lifetime Access to all 41 Languages)
Overall Value: 
The Mondly App lets you learn the Tagalog language in a playful way with a series of interactive exercises.
There are over 1000 lessons in total and 5000 Filipino 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 Tagalog grammar and verb conjugations.
In addition, there is a Tagalog 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 is just as good in terms of quality (Babbel does not have a Tagalog course).
Link:
Mondly Tagalog App and Online Course
Tagalog 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 Tagalog Basic Course contains a vocabulary trainer for the basic Tagalog 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 languages you can use to learn Tagalog with this app.
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: Tagalog Basic Course and Complete Course
Rosetta Stone: Tagalog
Most Famous Language Learning App
Systems: PC, Mac, Android, iOS Apps
Suitable for: Beginners, intermediate, experts, professionals, business
Content: Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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
Ling Tagalog App
Playful Tagalog Learning
Systems: Android App, iPhone App, Online Version (PC and Mac)
Content: Tagalog lessons with native speaker audio
Prices: USD 8.99 (1 month), USD 79 (12 months),
USD 149 (unlimited)
Overall Value:
The Ling language learning app offers lessons for 60 languages and is quite similar to Duolingo or Babbel, which do not offer Tagalog courses.
Ling uses "gamified learning", which means learning the Tagalog language in a playful way.
There are mini-games, levels, experience points, as well as tests and exercises at the end of each lesson.
The vocabulary covers about 1000 Tagalog words and phrases, all with native speaker audio and pictures. Grammar is not included.
This app offers a test to determine your proficiency level in Tagalog.
Summary: Good ideas that make learning Tagalog more fun.
Link: Ling Tagalog Language Course App
Glossika Flipino App
Tagalog for Advanced Learners
Systems: iPhone App, Online Version
Suitable for: Intermediate and advanced learners
Content: Tagalog advanced exercises
Prices: USD 17 (1 month and 1 language), USD 31 (1 month and all 64 languages)
Overall Value:
The Glossika app is for people who already have some basic proficiency in Tagalog or already know a similar language.
The app has an entry test to determine your Tagalog proficiency level. You can start from A1 to B2 (beginners and intermediate).
Glossika works with whole sentences instead of single Tagalog words. You can choose which topics you want to learn.
This app has intentionally no "gamification". The only exercises are reading, listening, typing the sentences and speaking into the microphone.
There are also no grammar explanations. You are supposed to understand Tagalog grammar from the context, like in Rosetta Stone.
You can try the complete app with all 64 languages for 7 days for free (without providing payment information).
Summary: Effective exercises for advanced learners, but somewhat higher price and not much variety.
Link: Glossika Tagalog Language Course App
Bluebird Tagalog App
Tagalog Lessons and Exercises
Systems: Android and iPhone apps, online version (PC and Mac)
Content: Tagalog 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 Tagalog.
The Tagalog language course in this app includes the following:
-
Daily video lessons in three difficulty levels
-
Basic Tagalog vocabulary on several dozen topics
-
Common Tagalog 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 Tagalog, each 5 to 60 minutes long. For languages with other scripts, the words can also be displayed transliterated in the Latin 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.
Mango Tagalog App
Includes Grammar
Systems: Android and iOS Apps, Online Version
Content: Tagalog lessons with native speaker audio, grammar, culture
Prices: USD 7.99 (1 month), USD 80 (1 year),
USD 18 (1 month and 70 languages), USD 180
(1 year and 70 languages)
Overall Value:
The Mango Languages App offers 70 languages, including Tagalog.
This app also has some grammar lessons and cultural explanations. The explanations in English are all recorded and well done.
However, the number of lessons for learning Tagalog is quite small, which means that this app is only suitable for absolute beginners.
There are no exercises, except for the repeated vocabulary tests.
You can also record your own pronunciation in the app and compare it with the recording of a native speaker.
Summary: Good quality, but not much vocabulary. Only for absolute Tagalog beginners.
Memrise Tagalog App
App with User-Generated Lessons
Systems: Android App, iPhone App, Online-Version (PC and Mac)
Content: Tagalog 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.
Drops Tagalog App
Alternative to Babbel and Duolingo
Systems: Android App, iPhone App, Online-Version (PC and Mac)
Content: Tagalog lessons and exercises with native-speaker audio
Prices: USD 13.30 (1 month), USD 72 (12 months), USD 164 (unlimited)
Overall Value: 
The Language Drops App is most notable for having 47 target languages and 40 source languages, similar to Mondly.
You can learn about 3000 Tagalog words and phrases with this app. However, there are hardly any exercises, except for introducing a new word and matching the word to a picture.
You can choose from which topics you want to learn new words and at what skill level you want to learn (whether you know the language somewhat).
If you want to try the app for free for two weeks you have to provide your payment information and then cancel it.
The "deal" you get when you sign up for the free trial is more than 3 times as expensive as when you click "Get Premium" on the website (USD 38 per month instead of USD 13.30 per month).
Summary: No variety, no grammar and only 3000 words. Does not justify the higher price, even though you get access to all languages.
uTalk Tagalog App
Bland and Uninspired
Systems: Android App, iPhone App
Content: Tagalog lessons and exercises
Prices: 10,99 USD (1 month and 140 languages), USD 40 (1 language unlimited)
Overall Value:
The uTalk Tagalog Learning App for Android and iOS teaches about 2000 words (no grammar) and relies exclusively on playful exercises.
The 6 exercises are always the same: Memory games with pictures, matching the heard Tagalog word to a picture, etc.
Difficult Filipino words or phrases can be stored in a phrasebook.
This app contains words and example sentences on 60 topics for 140 languages (with native speaker audio).
The monthly subscription provides access to all languages. Alternatively, this Tagalog app lets you buy unlimited access for individual languages.
Summary: 140 languages on offer sounds impressive, but the content is very limited. There is no grammar and the 6 exercises are rather repetitive.
Simya Tagalog App
Not really recommended
Systems: Android App, iPhone App
Content: Vocabulary trainer for Tagalog learning
Prices: USD 9,99 (1000 words), USD 59 (1000 words in 50 languages)
Overall Value:
The Simya App for Android and iOS is purely a vocabulary trainer for 50 languages, including Tagalog.
The free version contains 300 words and has very frequent "ad breaks". The paid version (without ads) also contains only 1000 words and phrases.
All the words have native speaker audio and you can use the app offline too.
Tagalog grammar and verb conjugations are not included in this app.
Summary: Not really worth it, as there are much better alternatives like Mondly, Rosetta Stone or even Duolingo.
Pimsleur Tagalog Course
Beginner course similar to Rosetta Stone
Systems: PC and Mac (incl. Mobile App)
Suitabe for: Beginners, advanced, students, travel vocabulary
Content: Tagalog lessons with native-speaker audio and speech recognition
Price: USD 150 (basic course), USD 300 (complete course)
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 Tagalog language intuitively, just like your native language - by combining pictures, reading and speaking (speech recognition).
This Tagalog learning course for PCs and Macs also includes a mobile app for Android and iOS systems.
Pimsleur offers only initial Filipino lessons for beginners and has no intermediate or advanced lessons.
Summary: The most expensive Tagalog beginners course, even though it is unlikely that learning with it is much better than with the cheaper apps.
Linguashop: Tagalog
Educational Software for Download
Systems: PC (Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP)
Content: Tagalog lessons with native speaker audio and speech recognition, grammar
Prices: USD 35 (second language for free)
Overall Value: 
The Linguashop educational software ("TeachMe") is available for over 90 languages, including Tagalog. It also includes an audio CD.
The native speaker audio and speech recognition are relatively good.
However, the interface of the learning software is quite chaotic and there are no exercises — only lessons where new vocabulary is presented.
It is also unclear how many words are included in this Tagalog learning program. There is no information about this on the website.
Some grammar lessons are included — however, these are basically just images with short texts.
Summary: Poor quality for a relatively low price. You get language courses for two languages when you buy, one as a free bonus.
Additional Ways To Learn Tagalog Online:
Colanguage: Find Skype teachers
Overall Value:
At Colanguage you can arrange face-to-face language lessons online via Skype with language teachers around the world (from $5-10 per hour).
In addition to using apps, it is definitely a good idea to also practice with native speakers in order to learn Tagalog properly.
Tandem: Find a language exchange partner
Overall Value:
Instead of hiring teachers, you can also find people who are interested in a free language exchange online via Skype.
It is completely free of charge, but you have to act as a language teacher for the other person half of the time.
Overview of the Tagalog (Filipino) 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 |
|
| 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 | |
| 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 |
|
| Ling |
No |
$149 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
| Ling |
Yes
(1 month) |
$9 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
| Ling |
Yes
(12 months) |
$79 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
Glossika
(only Tagalog) |
Yes
(1 month) |
$17 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
Glossika
(64 languages) |
Yes
(1 month) |
$31 |
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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| Mango |
Yes
(1 month) |
$8 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
| Mango |
Yes
(12 months) |
$80 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
| uTalk |
No |
$40 |
Android, iOS |
|
| uTalk | Yes
(1 month) | $11 |
Android, iOS |
|
| Drops |
No |
$164 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
| Drops |
Yes
(1 month) |
$13 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
| Drops |
Yes
(12 months) |
$72 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
Simya
(1 language) |
No |
$10 |
Android, iOS |
|
Simya
(50 languages) |
No |
$59 |
Android, iOS |
|
Pimsleur
(Basics) |
No |
$150 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
Pimsleur
(Complete) |
No |
$300 |
PC, Mac, Android, iOS |
|
| Linguashop | No | $35 |
PC |
|
