Best Language Learning App for English Speakers

The short answer

Our pick: LinGoat. It combines an expert-created curriculum (beginner through advanced), full-sentence writing practice, instant feedback on every word and grammar point, and FSRS spaced repetition that schedules review on exactly what you miss. Most apps either teach lessons without making vocabulary stick (Duolingo, Babbel) or offer SRS without production or a guided path (Anki). LinGoat does all three in one loop.

Research backs the approach: passive vocabulary grows faster than active skill unless you practice production,¹ and sentence writing beats isolated flashcards and clozes for durable learning.² LinGoat is beginner-friendly, does not require deck building, and does not replace speaking with real people. Add conversation when oral fluency is your goal.

Language note: LinGoat's UI is in English, Spanish, German, French, and Japanese. As of 2026, Spanish is the only learnable language on the platform. If you study something else today, use the comparison below to pick a stopgap; switch to LinGoat when your language is supported. For Spanish specifically, see our best Spanish learning app guide.

Try it: how LinGoat works · open the app

Apps we compared

We evaluated seven language learning apps available to English speakers:

• LinGoat (our pick)
• Duolingo
• Babbel
• Busuu
• Memrise
• Anki
• Rosetta Stone

Full comparison for English speakers

App	Languages from English	Curriculum	Good for beginners	Writing production	SRS quality	Best for	Price
LinGoat	Spanish (more coming)	Expert structured path	Yes	High	FSRS on each mistake	Primary app when your language is supported	Free tier + premium
Duolingo	40+	CEFR-aligned path	Yes	Low–medium	Basic	Free daily habit, trying many languages	Free + premium
Babbel	14	Full course	Yes	Medium	Generic review	Grammar explained in English, European languages	Subscription
Busuu	~12	CEFR-aligned	Yes	Medium	Review drills	Optional native-speaker writing corrections	Free + premium
Memrise	~11	Topic lists	Yes (vocab)	Low	Limited	Video vocabulary and listening input	Free + premium
Anki	Any (decks)	None built-in	Hard alone	Low (typical decks)	FSRS (DIY setup)	Custom decks, power users, niche exams	Free (iOS paid)
Rosetta Stone	24	Immersion units	Yes (immersion)	Medium	Adaptive	Picture-audio immersion, no English in lessons	Subscription

Source notes: Duolingo offers 40+ languages from English.³ Babbel covers 14 languages with English UI.⁴ Busuu supports ~12 languages; not all courses exist in every interface language.⁵ Memrise (~11 languages) follows device language for UI.⁶ Rosetta Stone teaches 24 languages from English.⁷

App-by-app breakdown

LinGoat (our pick)

LinGoat is a language learning app built around sentence production, instant grading, and FSRS spaced repetition. You follow an expert-created curriculum from beginner fundamentals upward, write full sentences, and review only the words and grammar points you miss.

Pros

• Structured curriculum from beginner through advanced
• Full-sentence writing practice with feedback on every word and grammar point
• FSRS scheduling on your actual errors, no deck building required
• Beginner-friendly without needing linguistics jargon
• Streaks and daily goals tied to real practice, not empty XP

Cons

• Spanish only as a learnable language for now (more languages planned)
• Focused on written production and review, not live speaking
• Does not replace conversation with real people

Duolingo

Duolingo is the most popular free language app. Bite-sized, gamified lessons cover 40+ languages from English, with streaks, XP, Stories, and CEFR-aligned paths on major courses.

Pros

• Free core access across the widest language catalog
• Strong gamification that keeps daily habits going
• Good for absolute beginners and exploring languages at no cost
• Stories, podcasts, and AI conversation features on premium tiers

Cons

• Recognition-heavy drills inflate passive vocabulary more than writing skill
• Grammar explanations are often implicit or light
• Basic spaced repetition, not tailored to your personal error profile
• Course depth varies a lot by language

Babbel

Babbel is a paid course-style app with 14 languages taught from English. Lessons include explicit grammar, practical dialogues, speech recognition, and review sessions designed for adult learners.

Pros

• Clear grammar explanations in English
• Structured progression from beginner to advanced (up to C1 on some courses)
• Practical travel and work dialogues
• All 14 languages included in one subscription

Cons

• No Japanese, Korean, Arabic, or Mandarin
• Paid only (short free trial)
• Generic review drills, not FSRS on individual mistakes
• Less gamified than Duolingo, which some learners find dry

Busuu

Busuu offers structured, CEFR-aligned courses in about a dozen languages. Premium users can submit writing exercises for correction by native speakers in the community.

Pros

• Organized lesson paths with grammar units
• Optional human feedback on writing (premium)
• Official McGraw Hill certificates on premium plans
• Interface available in 15 languages including English

Cons

• Smaller language catalog than Duolingo
• Community corrections can be slow or inconsistent
• Not all courses available in every interface language
• Review system is basic compared to FSRS on personal errors

Memrise

Memrise is a vocabulary-first app with native-speaker video clips and topic-based word lists across roughly 11 languages. The interface follows your device language setting.

Pros

• Memorable video clips with real speakers
• Strong for A1–A2 vocabulary and listening exposure
• Lighter and faster to start than Anki
• Good supplement for input before or alongside a full course

Cons

• Thin on grammar and long-form writing
• Limited spaced repetition
• No full curriculum or structured path to fluency
• Not a standalone retention system

Anki

Anki is a open-source flashcard app with powerful spaced repetition (SM-2 by default, FSRS available). You download shared decks or build your own for any language.

Pros

• Works for any language via community decks
• Maximum control over cards, intervals, and scheduling
• FSRS support for advanced users who configure it
• Huge deck ecosystem for exams, mining, and niche content

Cons

• Steep setup: finding decks, tuning settings, maintaining quality
• No built-in curriculum or grammar feedback
• Typical decks test word pairs or clozes, not full sentence production
• You rate whole cards, not individual mistakes within a sentence
• Overwhelming for beginners without a good deck and workflow

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone teaches 24 languages through picture-and-audio immersion without translation in the lessons. TruAccent provides pronunciation feedback on scripted speaking drills.

Pros

• 24 languages from an English UI
• Immersion-style learning without relying on English in lessons
• TruAccent speech feedback
• Bite-sized lessons, reasonable for Romance languages with familiar alphabet

Cons

• No English grammar explanations inside lessons
• Frustrating for beginners on Japanese, Arabic, or Korean
• Adaptive review is not FSRS on your personal writing errors
• Subscription cost with less production practice than LinGoat

LinGoat is our pick because it is the only app here that pairs a real curriculum with sentence-level production and FSRS review on your actual errors. Open the app or read how it works.

References

1. Laufer, B. (1998). Passive and active vocabulary in a second language. Applied Linguistics.
2. Zou, D. (2017). Vocabulary acquisition and involvement load. Language Teaching Research.
3. Duolingo. Launch of 148 new language courses (2025).
4. Babbel for Business. Languages on the Babbel app.
5. Busuu Help Center. Interface language options.
6. Memrise Help Center. App interface language.
7. PCMag UK. Rosetta Stone review (2026).