By
Last updated:
December 22, 2022
English vocabulary is arguably the most important aspect of learning English.
Nowadays, just looking up “English vocabulary” in the App Store or on Google Play will give you infinite results. So how do you choose the best one for you?
Thankfully, we have combed through tons of great apps to learn English and picked out the very best that help with word acquisition.
In this article, we’ll help you find the resources to study English words for each unique type of learner.
Contents
- 1. Best for Busy Learners: Word of the Day
- 2. Best for Learning in Context: FluentU
- 3. Best for Serious Learners: Voxy
- 4. Best for Conversational Phrases: Memrise
- 5. Best for Visual Learners: English Vocabulary by Picture
- 6. Best All-in-one App: Busuu
- 7. Best for Flashcards: VocApp English Flashcards
- 8. Best for Beginners: English Vocabulary Builder
- 9. Best for Intermediate Vocabulary: Galvanize Test Prep Ultimate Vocabulary Builder
- 10. Best for Offline Practice: Fortitude Vocabulary Builder
- 11. Best for TOEFL Takers: TOEFL English Vocabulary Cards
- 12. Best for Proficiency Tests: Test Your English Vocabulary
- 13. Best for Spelling Practice: Catena
- 14. Best for Word Picture Association: 4 Pics 1 Word
- 15. Best for Advanced Learners: Words with Friends
- 16. Best for Puzzle Lovers: Alphabear
- 17. Best for Casual Learners: Words of Wonders
- How Do Vocabulary Apps Help You Learn English Words Faster?
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. Best for Busy Learners: Word of the Day
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free
The best way to learn new words is to make them a daily habit. Learning one or two new words each day will help you in the long run. If you’re already busy with jobs and other work and therefore can’t devote much time to learning, there’s a very simple app to help you out.
With Word of the Day, you’ll learn a new word each day, remember your favorite words and even browse and find out what other people like. They also have a number of pronunciation options, so you’ll know exactly where to put the accents and the stresses!
2. Best for Learning in Context: FluentU
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Monthly subscription, Free trial available
FluentU uses authentic videos such as music, news, politics and more to can grow your English vocabulary and build your English cultural knowledge at the same time. The videos are targeted toward native speakers, so you will be learning with authentic and relevant content.
You can start by watching any video in the extensive library that interests you—they’re easily organized by topic and difficulty (beginner to advanced). As you watch, you can click on the interactive subtitles for an instant definition of any word, as well as its pronunciation and example sentences.
FluentU also works as a video dictionary, letting you look up any word and discover all clips in the library that feature your search.
After you finish a video, you can review new vocabulary through quizzes and multimedia flashcards to make sure you remember all the new words.
3. Best for Serious Learners: Voxy
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Monthly subscription, Free trial available
Voxy is focused on providing English training for employees of companies and corporations.
Voxy adapts to your needs and gives you personalized lessons. So whether you need English words to ace an exam or meet a client, Voxy ensures that you pick up the relevant vocabulary.
It does so by analyzing your learning needs and providing audio and visual content. You can take your lessons anywhere with the app and even get fun practice options, like karaoke-style music lessons.
You can schedule a one-on-one live tutoring session and receive feedback. If you’re learning with others—for example, a team of employees—Voxy is specially designed to help with that.
4. Best for Conversational Phrases: Memrise
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free, Premium subscription available
Memrise is essentially a flashcard app. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s simple. The app uses SRS, or a Spaced Repetition System, which is a unique algorithm proven to help you remember words and phrases faster.
The app uses video examples of language being used in real life, so you will be listening to real native speakers use their language in a natural way while you learn. The gamified method of learning will also keep you entertained and motivated to continue learning.
Memrise also has courses created by the company and other users, which gives you tons of options to choose from while you learn. If you want a more methodical approach, you can go through their courses that start from beginner and move on to advanced.
See our full review of Memrise here.
5. Best for Visual Learners: English Vocabulary by Picture
Available on: iOS
Price: Free
Are you a visual learner? Lots of people are! You can definitely learn English vocabulary words through pictures and this app from oCoder proves it.
With this app, you can access thousands of vocabulary words divided into 100 topics. Each word is accompanied by a clear image and audio clip. You can browse different words and use the test function to quiz yourself.
This app also has a translation feature that allows you to look up and translate English words into your mother language. If you’re not used to Latin lettering, you can also test your typing skills for different vocabulary words. This app really is packed with a lot of features that all levels of learners can enjoy.
6. Best All-in-one App: Busuu
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free, Premium subscription available
Busuu is a great app for connecting with one of the largest online learning communities. According to its website, tens of millions of language lovers are part of its worldwide network. The features are focused on community-based learning including its own video chat platform.
The app boasts that it covers all areas of language acquisition, which means it can be used as a comprehensive learning approach. Not only will you pick up English vocabulary in their lessons, but you will also be able to practice writing, speaking and reading every word you learn.
And once you have the basics down, you can connect with native speakers and learners from all over the world to help you with tricky vocab.
See our full review of Busuu here.
7. Best for Flashcards: VocApp English Flashcards
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free
Flashcards are still popular for a reason—they really do work at teaching vocabulary words!
This little flashcard tool from VocApp is perfect for English learners at any level. You can select your preferred difficulty within the app.
This flashcard vocabulary app is unique in that it uses more complex elements to teach you every aspect of a vocabulary word, from the pronunciation to example sentences to definitions.
You can even create your own flashcards in the app for a more customized experience.
8. Best for Beginners: English Vocabulary Builder
Available on: Android
Price: Free
This vocabulary builder app is a must-have for English learners of any level.
The interface is simple and it’s very user-friendly. Select a word theme (such as “Important Words” or “Antonyms”) and take the test to see how well you know that particular word set. Afterward, you can review the words that you incorrectly defined and save them to a custom list to study later.
It’s really a simple app, but sometimes simple is good! All levels of learners can use this handy vocabulary builder, but beginners will benefit the most from the vocabulary words provided.
9. Best for Intermediate Vocabulary: Galvanize Test Prep Ultimate Vocabulary Builder
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free
This app is one of the most popular English vocabulary apps in the Google Play store, and for good reason. Not only is it great for learning English words, but the design and game-like functions also make it a bit addictive.
For every word you correctly define, you earn points. With these points you can unlock more words as you improve your fluency. The challenge aspect is really fun!
If you’re studying for the GRE—the test that graduate school candidates take in North America—you’re also in luck. This app teaches you the small nuances and details of different English words, which is necessary to pass the GRE.
This app would best suit intermediate and advanced learners, but beginners who want a challenge can certainly try it out.
10. Best for Offline Practice: Fortitude Vocabulary Builder
Available on: Android
Price: Free
Don’t want to use up your data plan? Don’t worry, this vocabulary app from Fortitude works offline.
This app boasts a vocabulary bank of over 1,400 words, complete with accurate and simple definitions, plenty of real-world examples and crystal-clear audio pronunciation. There are pictures to help you understand and remember the words, so even absolute beginners can use this app to power through vocabulary words in English.
You can select beginner, intermediate or advanced and get live updates on how well you’re doing at each level.
If you love a simple and clean design and also want something that can teach you vocabulary offline, this app is for you.
11. Best for TOEFL Takers: TOEFL English Vocabulary Cards
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free
While this is yet another English flashcard vocabulary app, it’s perfect for any English learner who’s currently cramming for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in order to enroll in an English-speaking university.
The TOEFL is a big deal for students who want to study abroad in English-speaking countries and this app can be a real lifesaver during the study process. You can access hundreds of vocabulary words that’ve been selected by a professional TOEFL tutor and quiz yourself on their meaning through digital flashcards.
It’s simple, accurate and perfect for intermediate and advanced learners.
12. Best for Proficiency Tests: Test Your English Vocabulary
Available on: Android
Price: Free
If you’re preparing for an English proficiency test and want to get caught up on more complex English vocabulary words, this is the perfect app to use.
Search through thousands of words that you’ll need for English proficiency exams that are popular around the globe. Test your knowledge of these words by matching them with their definitions or vice-versa. You can also play word games for a little bit of entertainment.
This app is also handy because it allows you to define English words in your mother tongue, so beginners can really benefit from this one.
13. Best for Spelling Practice: Catena
Available on: iOS
Price: Free
Catena is a very unique word game that’s especially suited for those who make frequent spelling mistakes or are exceptionally eager to learn moderate or difficult words.
The game is rather simple—you have to use the last or last few letters of the opponent’s word to form a new word. In this way, you’ll build a word chain. So if your opponent had spelled “mostly” you can begin a new word with “lying.”
There are a number of difficulty modes, and you can even challenge other players to a battle of words! With online opponents, both of you will take turns forming new words, building a word chain and earning points accordingly.
This vocabulary app will force you to think on your feet, come up with the right word at the right time and help you pick up words you wouldn’t have encountered in an average class.
14. Best for Word Picture Association: 4 Pics 1 Word
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free
If you love riddles and prefer a visual learning approach, then 4 Pics 1 Word is the app for you. It’ll not only help you sharpen your mental skills, but also help you build a vocabulary for everyday objects and other commonly-used words.
The premise is simple. You’ll be provided with four pictures that share a common quality or element. You must guess the word that connects them together.
New puzzles are always being added and there are many levels to explore, so you’re not likely to run out of material anytime soon.
15. Best for Advanced Learners: Words with Friends
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free
Many of us loved the board game Scrabble as kids. We have fond memories of just how much fun it was putting random letters together to create the highest-scoring words.
Well, Words with Friends provides a similar experience and much more.
Even if you haven’t played Scrabble, it’s pretty easy to learn. There’s a grid and certain areas offer a certain number of points. You have to select letters and form words in the right parts of the grid to earn maximum points. Your opponent may use some of your letters to form new words and score points.
Not only can you challenge your Facebook friends to a match, but you can also match up with other opponents with similar skills. There’s also a “hindsight” option that shows you the best word you could’ve played in the previous turn, an offline mode and weekly challenges to make you play more often.
By playing regularly, you’ll better remember the new words you encounter and expand your vocabulary further.
16. Best for Puzzle Lovers: Alphabear
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free, VIP subscription available
For those who love puzzle games, Alphabear is an extremely fun game to kick-start your vocabulary learning. You have to spell new words and when you select letters that are adjacent to each other, cartoon bears will appear. These bears may increase the points, extend the timer or help you out in some other way.
The game’s design is cute and fun to ensure that you have a good time while you play. There’s even a built-in dictionary for English learners. If you’re bored of memorizing new words, this game will help you pick up where you left off.
17. Best for Casual Learners: Words of Wonders
Available on: iOS | Android
Price: Free
Solving crosswords is an enjoyable way to pass the time in transit or while you’re waiting for something. If you like crosswords and you’re keen to improve your general knowledge about this world, then Words of Wonders is the game that will test your English vocabulary to its limits.
You’ll be provided with a few letters as clues. You’ll use them to create new words and connect them to figure out the final solution to a crossword. With every right answer, you’ll virtually travel to different cities and visit new wonders.
Not only will you be learning new words, but you’ll also discover new and interesting things about this planet. At the same time, you’ll sharpen problem-solving skills that will benefit you in real life.
How Do Vocabulary Apps Help You Learn English Words Faster?
Many vocabulary apps are designed to help you learn words faster and remember them better, compared to traditional teaching methods. Here are some of the reasons why.
- They usually have the relevant vocabulary to suit your needs: English learners have diverse needs. A student of business English won’t benefit much from studying engineering or medical vocabulary—while a general English learner doesn’t need to know academic terms.
Therefore choosing resources to cater to your needs is very important.
- They’re often in the form of interesting and engaging games that make it more fun: You’re not likely to remember much if you memorize a bunch of words from a list. But if you encounter those same words in a game, you’re bound to remember them and their meanings.
- They encourage you to use them daily: Practice makes perfect and unless you devote time every day to learning something, you won’t get very far. These apps come with daily reminders and motivational messages so that you become enthusiastic about learning and getting your English vocabulary exercises on the regular.
- They constantly give you new words to learn. Many of these apps have enormous dictionary banks of vocabulary words. Whether you’re a beginner learner, an intermediate learner or an advanced learner, most of these apps are worth having on hand for their vocabulary banks alone.
- They often have multiplayer options, so you can learn and compete in a study group: Learning on your own isn’t as fun as being part of a study circle. Many of these apps allow you to compete with your friends or have a scoreboard where you can compete with other players. This will make you more invested in the game and help you learn faster.
- They let you practice English on the go and on your own time since you can take apps anywhere on your device. When you’re on the bus or on a work break, you can easily learn a couple of new words with these apps on hand.
If you’re serious about improving your English vocabulary, using apps such as the ones mentioned above is a must. Try to pick up English phrases and words that are relevant to you and review them periodically.
Look for opportunities to use these newly-learned words often, and even if you make mistakes, learn from them and keep at it.
As long as you remain passionate and disciplined about your learning, you’re sure to be successful in growing a beautiful English word garden!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
For Teachers
For Parents
These apps will grow your vocabulary in a minute or two a day. And they’re fun.
Looking to find the best vocabulary app to help improve your lexicon? We’ve curated a list highlighting the best vocabulary apps for smartphones and tablets and resources, along with handful of research-based strategies for remembering what you learn.
Vocabulary app make learning new words painless or even fun. Vocabulary apps can help you to expand your mastery of any language, thus building your own confidence. Some of these apps includes playing games to improve your vocabulary, and explore language.
Below is a list of the best vocabulary apps that can provide you with vocabulary games, activities, and quizzes.
Wozzol is a flashcard app designed to teach you vocabulary in a pleasant and efficient way. Wozzol is an app that has been developed to learn any combination of facts, mainly targeted to learn vocabulary in a different language.
There are ready made vocabulary list that you can add but most times you have to create your own. Wozzol app helps to improve your vocabulary knowledge in another language. Wozzol app also allows users to improve their reading comprehension, their spelling and their understanding of the English language in general.
Utilizing the flashcard technique, you will be able to easily approach new words and language with the added bonus of the app acting as a coach to personalize your learning.
Devices: iOS, Android
If we missed any of the Best Vocabulary Apps to Learn Words, tell us about them!
Looking for the best vocabulary app? Word of the Day is one of the most comprehensive vocabulary apps available that aims at helping young people, with a good understanding of the English language, the ability to continue to improve your vocabulary.
The app uses a wide variety of learning experiences to help users maximise the content and opportunities for learning through games and tests. It provides a word of the day, browsing, and quiz-type features to let learners develop the variety of words at their disposal. The app helps its users to grow their vocabulary using its built-in dictionary and any custom words they decide to add. Words and their definitions are stored within the app, and it can help with pronunciation by reading the words aloud.
Devices: iOS, Android
Vocabulary.com mobile app is the quickest, easiest way to learn vocabulary. This is the vocabulary app that grows with you and also helps you memorize words. Users move through a series of quick questions to determine their level, and Vocabulary.com can cater a list to fit their abilities. You can also choose from over 50,000 pre-made lists. With the incentive to earn points and badges, you can be motivated and start building your vocabulary by competing with world-wide users.
This combined learning tool and game helps you learn over 12,000 words more effectively. This vocabulary app includes clever usage tips and thousands of real-world example sentences that’ll show you how words live in the wild and will make you more confident about using them yourself.
This word learning app reinforces word skills until mastery is achieved. With the integration of topic lists, personalized lists, and user selected words, this app really is an all-inclusive vocabulary study companion. Vocabulary.com can also be accessed from the web.
PowerVocab is not only a fun word game – it also has a built-in dictionary that you can use everyday making it one of the best vocabulary apps on the market. PowerVocab is a free word game for Android which is not available anymore in the Google Play Store.
Devices: Android
Vocabulary Builder: Daily Word is an app to help people who are already proficient in English to expand their vocabulary. It provides a word of the day, browsing, and quiz-type features to let learners develop the variety of words at their disposal.
The app helps its users grow their vocabulary using its built-in dictionary and any custom words they add. Words and their definitions are stored within the app, and it can help with pronunciation by reading the words aloud.
There are various options in the app to learn and revise words.
Devices: Android
Vocab Victor can support English Language Learners who are building their language proficiency. The app can help English speakers improve their vocabulary too, but is particularly useful for students learning the language. With Vocab Victor, students can explore intermediate-level vocabulary to increase competence across four language skills.
This is a game based app that follows the story of Victor who, living in a castle, has had all of his words taken away by a dragon. It is up to the user to move through the game completing the word exercises in a bit to retrieve them and to help Victor recover all his words.
This word learning app is designed to supplement classroom instruction. Assign this fun app in lieu of vocabulary lists, flashcards, and worksheets to give students focused instruction that will hold their attention. Victor teaches intermediate-level vocabulary, increasing competence across all four language skills, and helps students build native-like word association networks making it one of the best vocabulary apps on the market!
Vocabulary knowledge builds up over time, and studies show that students know more about words than they think they do.
Devices: Android, iPad and iPhone
Download Vocab Victor
Word of the Day is a simple vocabulary app that every day select a word for you to know and memorize and deemed by many as the best vocabulary app on the market. Read the definition and expand your vocabulary in an easy way. This word learning app also allows you to save your favorite words.
Word of the Day is a vocabulary app that will help you to expand your vocabulary in an easy way. Get a new word every day, remember your favorite words, know what other people like and share words with your friends. This knowledge app is also designed to provide vocabulary trivia and learn words daily. It features quizzes for a more fun vocabulary learning.
Using a word a day calendar, or subscribe to a website to receive Word of the Day email every day, or install widget on the home screen of your devices and you will get a new word every day with its definition or develop your own list of words to learn.
It is a well-known fact that ‘A word a day’ method is highly effective when mastering a language. Here are some of our favorites:
- Merriam-Webster Word of the Day (Web, Email)
- Dictionary.com Word of the Day (Web, Email, iOS, Android)
- Wordsmith.org: A.Word.A.Day (Email, Web)
Devices: Android, iPad and iPhone
Download Word of the Day
Like all other vocabulary apps, Vocabulary Builder aims to expand your grasp of words. The app provides a word, its definition, and examples of its use within real sentences. Vocabulary Builder spans difficulty levels so you can focus on words that are the right difficulty for you, no matter what your verbal skills are which is one of the reasons we think it is one of the best vocabulary apps.
Magoosh, known to some as the best vocabulary app, offers not just one but many English flashcard apps to choose from, depending on the kind of vocabulary you need to learn. Magoosh Vocabulary builder (available for Android and iOS) is just one of their vocabulary apps aimed at students preparing for their GRE, GMAT, TOEFL and SAT tests. Magoosh’s vocabulary app is ideal for students on the go that may have just a few minutes at a time to learn new words.
Devices: Android, iPad and iPhone
Download Magoosh Vocabulary Builder
The insanely popular game from Zynga will help you learn and master English with crosswords, spelling bees and word search, among many other games making it a great improve vocabulary app. While you are playing, you will learn vocabulary, and you will be able to challenge your friends to beat your score.
The updated social dictionary contains 50,000 new words suggested by players on top of the existing words that were in Words With Friends. Players could already use the social dictionary in Words With Friends, but now it comes with usage stats that let you see how your creativity in using the new words stacks up against other players’.
The classic one-on-one gameplay you love is here too with additional themed challenges and personalized daily goals to keep you engaged and learning. If you like crosswords and you’re keen to improve your general knowledge about this world, then Words with Friends (available on both iOS and Android smartphones) is the game that will test your English vocabulary to its limits.
Devices: Android, iPad and iPhone
Download Words With Friends
Learn English vocabulary by using flashcards, then by seeing the words twice and using your different senses (seeing and hearing), you’ll be making it easier to remember the words. Quizlet, with more than 50 million users is much more than just a vocabulary app.
Quizlet’s app has more than just flashcards.This improve vocabulary app also has a “learn” mode with word pronunciations from native speakers, a fast-paced vocabulary matching game, the ability to share your words with others and much more.
You can choose from flashcard lists made by other users or make your own. After you’ve studied your word list and feel confident, you can test yourself with customizable quizzes. The simple and smooth design of this learning vocabulary app means no distractions.
Flashcards are an incredibly simple and effective way to memorize new words. Flashcard apps make learning even more effective by adding many different features and options to reinforce your learning.
Devices: Android, iPad and iPhone
Download Quizlet
Memrise is a free vocabulary app dedicated to help people learn languages and vocabulary quick and effectively. It offers an app for Android and iOS devices to allow you to follow the courses wherever you are. It uses audio, images, and fun, creative activities to help you learn and remember words and their meanings.
Memrise also utilises what is called “spaced repetition” to regularly review your progress. It does so with frequent easier tests in the beginning as you’re starting to learn new words, and then less frequently, but with harder tests, as the new words are committed to long-term memory making this one of the best vocabulary apps on the market.
Devices: Android, iPad and iPhone
Download Memrise
There are so many good vocabulary apps available on the app stores. By using one of the following vocabulary-building apps, you are guaranteed to develop a strong vocabulary and keep improving it every day.
Read More:
Apps for Learning English
Spelling Games for Adults
Trending Topics
Most Popular
In this article, we will take a look at the best apps to learn English vocabulary that can help you improve your English language communication skills. We will provide an overview of each app and the most important features.
Let’s get started.
Best Apps to Learn English Vocabulary
Why Use Apps to Improve Your English Vocabulary?
People who are becoming proficient in English, whether native or non-native speakers, will often find themselves in situations where they need to use English in a specific context. Because of this, learning vocabulary in English is an essential aspect of the language.
There are many different apps that you can use to learn these types of words. Some apps are better than others, but they all have one thing in common: they are all beneficial for learning English vocabulary.
There are many reasons why you should use apps to learn English vocabulary. These apps can be a lot of fun.
Learn new words quickly: Many people learn English vocabulary because they want to learn the language and learn new words. They do not want just to memorize a bunch of words but instead want to understand the meaning of the words. These apps are a great way to do this.
Flexibility: They can be used in many different ways to help you learn the meaning of words. They can be used in your free time, during work, or at school.
Apps are effective: Technological advances have allowed people to do things that were once very difficult. These advances will enable you to learn English vocabulary in a fun and effective way.
Proven data: One study conducted by the Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia, found a significant correlation between the use of apps and improved English vocabulary. The study showed that students who used an app to learn English vocabulary had a higher vocabulary test score than students who did not use an app.
Using the quasi-experimental method, the study compared the test scores of students who used an app to learn English vocabulary with those who did not use an app.
The results of the study found that the students who did not use an app scored an average of 73.13, and the students who used an app scored an average of 87.66.
Another study conducted by the Multimedia University, Malaysia, found that using mobile applications helped enhance the learning of vocabulary, confidence, class participation, and task completion.
According to this study, mobile apps affect second language acquisition in intermediate-level English learners by giving them a better understanding of English and the vocabulary, giving them a better idea of how to communicate, and helping them develop self-confidence.
45 Best Apps to Learn and Improve Your English Vocabulary
There are just so many different apps that you can use to learn English vocabulary.
The apps that are available to you will depend on what you are looking for.
Some apps are focused on one group of vocabulary, while others are more general.
Some apps are free, while others are paid.
Here, we have compiled a list of the best apps for learning English vocabulary. We’ve done the research and the hard work, so you don’t have to. This extensive list will help you understand the apps, some features, and pricing model.
Each of these apps has the key features that make it the best choice for learning English vocabulary. These apps are great for all people, but they are great for some people, depending on what they are looking for.
So, let’s look at each of these apps and find out what makes them so great.
1. Vocab
Vocab is a premium app that helps you learn vocabulary by assisting you with your memory and writing skills. It has a cloud-based system that allows you to access your entire vocabulary history.
Vocab has a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to record your words and grammar easily and to record your words and grammar and study your progress and analyze your progress. The app is available for Windows and Mac OS tablets or laptops.
- Price: USD 67.00
- Available on: Mac OS | Windows
2. Memrise
Memrise is a very popular app that many people have used to learn English vocabulary. There are many different types of lessons that you can use to learn vocabulary. There are short ones, long ones, and even special topics.
This app has an excellent rating, scoring 4.6 out of 5 with over 10,000,000 downloads. With Memrise, you can learn and improve your vocabulary to a much greater extent than you could with any other type of app. Memrise can learn words and understand them when you see them in a sentence.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 2.99 to USD 139.99 per plan.
- Available on: iOS | Android
3. Duolingo
Duolingo is a free language learning app designed to help you learn English vocabulary. The app has over 100,000,000 downloads and is rated 4.7 out of 5 with over 11,000,000 reviews.
This app provides you with fun lessons created by experts in the field of language learning. The lessons are very interactive, and the sentences are easy to understand.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 125.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
4. LinGo Play
With a simple, clean, and easy-to-use interface, LinGo Play is one of the best apps for learning English vocabulary while playing games. It has an interactive design and lots of activities that you can do to learn new words.
The app has a rating of 4.4 in the Play Store, but the potential of this app is much higher than that. This app provides you with the perfect learning environment where you can learn English vocabulary and have fun at the same time.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 2.75 to USD 29.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
5. Alphabear 2
Alphabear 2 is a great app for children and adults alike with cute characters and a funny story. It is a dynamic dictionary with puzzle-based learning.
Alphabear 2 has a rating of 4.6 out of 5, with over 500,000 downloads and almost 9,000 reviews. It has a great mix of story and puzzle-based learning that makes your learning fun.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 4.99 to USD 19.99 per bundle.
- Available on: iOS | Android
6. WordReference
If you need a free, reliable app that will help you learn English vocabulary, then WordReference is the one for you. WordReference is an online dictionary that you can use from anywhere in the world.
It is a powerful dictionary with many definitions for words and phrases. It also includes many audio pronunciations. The app is very useful if you are planning to study abroad or for those who need to know the pronunciation of the English language.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases of around USD 4.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
7. 7 Little Words
For fans of puzzles, word finds, anagrams, or trivia quizzes, 7 Little Words is a fun and interactive app perfect for all ages. The app has over 1,000,000 downloads and is rated 4.5 out of 5 with over 130,000 reviews.
The best part about this app is that it is very simple, and you don’t need to be an expert in English to use it. You can have fun with it even if you are just starting.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 39.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
8. WordUp
WordUp is a free app that teaches you English vocabulary through movie references, music, books, etc. It provides you with English words chosen from a wide range of different topics.
The app has a rating of 4.7 out of 5, with over 1,000,000 downloads and mostly positive reviews. This app can also learn IELTS, TOEFL, and TOEIC vocabulary.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 2.99 to USD 124.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
9. Magoosh Vocabulary App
Building vocabulary is one of the most important skills that you can learn to improve your English skills. The Magoosh Vocabulary App is designed to help you learn new words every day.
This app has over 1,200 unique words and has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 with over 5,000,000 downloads. Magoosh Vocabulary App is also very interactive and includes quizzes, flashcards, games, and more.
- Price: Free
- Available on: iOS | Android
10. Busuu
Busuu is a free language learning app available for Android and iOS devices. It has over 10,000,000 downloads and is rated 4.4 out of 5 with over 450,000 reviews.
This app offers an excellent interface that makes it easy to learn new words. You can also socialize, make friends, and chat with other app users. The best part about this app is that it allows you to practice your new words and phrases with native speakers.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 6.99 to USD 89.99 per plan.
- Available on: iOS | Android
11. Volt – Vocabulary Learning
For students preparing for the TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, and the like, Volt is a great app to use. It provides various courses and learning techniques designed to help you learn vocabulary.
This app has a rating of 4.4 out of 5, with over 500,000 downloads and mostly positive reviews. The best part about this app is that it provides you with various exercises designed to help you learn new words in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Price: Free
- Available on: Android
12. Word Games by Knudge
Knudge’s Word Games app is a free English vocabulary learning app that helps you learn words by playing mini-games, quizzes, and puzzles.
With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 with over 52,000 reviews and 1,000,000 downloads, the app also provides you with courses that will help you learn specific English vocabulary words. The courses are very easy to follow, and the app makes it easy for you to track your progress.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around INR 89 to INR 1,799 per plan (or approximately USD 1 to USD 25)
- Available on: iOS | Android
13. Quizlet
With an AI learning assistant designed to help you learn vocabulary, Quizlet is an excellent app for students and adults alike. You can learn with flashcards, online games, and various other options.
The app has over 10,000,000 downloads and is rated 4.7 out of 5 with over 400,000 reviews. The best part about this app is that it allows you to share your progress with other users. This is a great way to help you learn more about the language and expand your vocabulary.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 1.99 to USD 47.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
14. Vocabulary.com
Vocabulary.com is a comprehensive program for lifelong learning of vocabulary, in which each activity is specially chosen for you.
With more than 15,000 words to teach, Vocabulary.com offers a personalized approach to learning vocabulary that allows you to go beyond just memorizing words. You can play games and quizzes to expand your vocabulary. The app has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 in the App Store, but it is currently under development in the Play Store.
- Price: Free
- Available on: iOS | Android
15. Anki
Anki is a free app that helps you learn new words by creating flashcards for you. The app has over 5,000,000 downloads and is rated 4.8 out of 5, with over 87,000 reviews.
The app is especially great for those who are looking to learn vocabulary on the go. You can also use the app to review your vocabulary before taking a test.
- Price: Free
- Available on: Windows | Mac OS | Linux | Android | iOS
16. The Vocabulary Builder App
The Vocabulary Builder App is a very simple app that offers more than 4000 words and phrases. You can easily create your own word lists, look up new words, or learn the meaning of new words.
The app is rated 4.4 out of 5 in the Play Store, but with so much potential, the rating can be much higher in the future. This app is very useful for those looking to build their vocabulary.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases of around USD 3.99 per item.
- Available on: Android
17. Vocab Genius
Applying the latest cognitive science techniques, Brainscape helps you efficiently learn over 1,300 dynamic flashcards covering both vocabulary words and their roots.
Brainscape’s Vocab Genius is a flashcard app that features brain-training exercises. The app provides users with a series of vocab flashcards on various topics and exercises them in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, and reading. Vocab Genius is rated 4.5 out of 5 with over 360 reviews.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases of around USD 4.99 to unlock all features.
- Available on: iOS
18. Ultimate Vocabulary Prep for English; GRE
Ultimate Vocabulary Prep for English; GRE is an excellent app for students and adults, especially those preparing for the TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, and the like. It has a wide range of topics that you can choose from.
The app has a rating of 4.7 out of 5, with over 500,000 downloads and mostly positive reviews. The best part about this app is that it awards you points in dollars for every new word that you learn. This helps you keep track of how much you have learned and keeps you motivated to learn more.
- Price: Free
- Available on: iOS | Android
19. Vocabador
Play, learn, and study vocabulary in an immersive, highly visual environment. Vocabador features high-quality sound, warm graphics, and a unique theme to help you learn vocabulary.
With over 400 words and hundreds of images, Vocabador is a great tool for improving your vocabulary. It is also suitable for SAT and GRE vocabulary practice.
- Price: USD 1.99
- Available on: iOS
20. Learn English Vocabulary
If you have problems memorizing new words, this app is perfect for you. The app helps you memorize new words by providing words and pictures. The flashcard system will help you learn all of the words you need to know.
The app has over 1,000,000 downloads and is rated 4.6 out of 5, with over 14,000 reviews.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 2.49 per item
- Available on: Android
21. Word of the Day
Word of the Day provides you with over 8,000 different English words and phrases to learn every day. The app allows you to record your progress and even know what other people think about the words you have learned.
Learn new words daily, track your progress, and build your vocabulary. The app is free to download and has a very nice interface. The app is rated 4.5 out of 5, with over 3,000 reviews and 500,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 1.99 to USD 19.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
22. Daily Word
Giving you in-depth English vocabulary words that you can learn through a simple to use interface, Daily Word is a free app that is made for both students and teachers.
This app has lots of word lists, definitions, and grammar information for you to use to learn English vocabulary every day. It also comes with a widget that can be added to your home screen to quickly access the words you need to learn daily. The app is rated 4.6 out of 5 with over 10,000 installs.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 9.99 per item.
- Available on: Android
23. Word to Word
Do you like puzzle games? If so, then Word to Word is a great app for you. This app is an offline word association game that helps you learn new words.
The game is easy to play and can be played anywhere. It is free to download and comes with many trivia facts, idioms, riddles, popular sayings, history, movies, and many other categories. The app is rated 4.4 out of 5, with over 100,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 49.99 per item
- Available on: iOS | Android
24. Words with Friends
Words with Friends is a classic game of strategy and quick thinking. The game is great for learning vocabulary because you are required to make words to earn points.
Words with Friends is also a great way to improve your English grammar. The app is rated 4.2 out of 5, but the potential that the game has to help you learn English is incredible. Over 50,000,000 users have downloaded the app.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 149.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
25. Advanced English & Thesaurus
Advanced English & Thesaurus is a must-have for any language learner with colorful themes and hundreds of advanced features.
The interface is very easy to use, and you can choose between many different categories of vocabulary, including general English, scientific, technical, legal, medical, and many others. This pocket dictionary is rated 4.4 out of 5 with over 5,000,000 installs.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 2.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
26. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a must-have app for anyone learning English vocabulary, especially university students and people learning English as a second language.
The app contains all the definitions from the official Merriam-Webster company’s dictionary, trusted by millions of students, educators, and language learners worldwide. The app is rated 4.5 out of 5, with over 10,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 2.99 to USD 5.99 per plan.
- Available on: iOS | Android
27. uVocab – Vocabulary Trainer
If you are looking for a good English vocabulary app that is also very affordable, then uVocab is the perfect choice for you. This app has been designed to help you learn English vocabulary and improve your pronunciation.
You can also prepare for various tests that are commonly used in the English language, such as the TOEFL and TOEIC. The app is rated 4.4 out of 5, with over 100,000 downloads.
- Price: Free
- Available on: Android
28. Voxy
The app provides a library of courses that expert language teachers and certified trainers have personally developed. The courses cover a wide range of topics and can be selected by the user to learn daily. The app is rated 4.5 out of 5, with over 1,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 19.99 to USD 299.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
29. Penny Dell Crosswords
Penny Dell Crosswords provides daily challenges and games to help you learn and retain new vocabulary. The app is rated 4.5 out of 5, with over 100,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 69.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
30. Crosswords
Remember those puzzle books that you used to read as a kid? They were full of vocabulary words that you had to figure out, and Crosswords is a classic game of word-finding, just like those books.
The app provides daily word puzzles, quizzes, clues, and crosswords that cover a wide range of topics. The app is rated 4.5 out of 5 with over 500 ratings in the App Store.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 1.99 to USD 9.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS
31. IELTS Vocabulary Flashcards
IELTS Vocabulary Flashcards is the app for you. This app contains thousands of high-quality words for you to learn. You can test your English vocabulary by quizzing yourself with these flashcards and preparing for the IELTS exam with the app. The app is rated 4.6 out of 5, with over 10,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases of around USD 4.99 per item.
- Available on: Android
32. Learn English – 6000 Essential Words
For visual learners, Learn English – 6000 Essential Words is the best app to learn English vocabulary with flashcards and learn new words every day. The app provides the user with many flashcards to learn words, with a colorful and neat user interface.
It also includes a dictionary that will help you find the exact word you are looking for. This app is rated 4.7 out of 5 with mostly positive reviews and has been downloaded over 1,000,000 times.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 4.99 to USD 29.00 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
33. Learn English Words Free
With over 10,000 words, Learn English Words Free is a great app for people who want to learn new words quickly. The app provides definitions, examples, and audio pronunciations for each word.
The app is also great for anyone learning English as a second language from beginner to advanced levels. Learn English Words Free is rated 4.7 out of 5 with over 5,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free
- Available on: Android
34. English Vocabulary – 90,000 Words with Pictures
English Vocabulary – 90,000 Words with Pictures is an English vocabulary app that uses pictures to teach vocabulary. It is available for free with in-app purchases. The app is rated 4.3 out of 5, with over 1,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases of around USD 8.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
35. Words Booster: Learn Languages
Words Booster is a free vocabulary learning app that teaches students words that are important in their language of choice. The app has a lot of different words and phrases for learners to choose from. You can learn new words and enjoy a colorful, simple, and fun learning experience.
The app is rated 4.3 out of 5 with over 1,000,000 downloads, but this app has a massive number of users and maybe the right choice for some users.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 5.42 to USD 48.59 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
36. Sentence Master Pro
Language experts have carefully selected over 10,000 sentences to help students learn grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in Sentence Master Pro. The app lets you form sentences by adding words to the bottom of the screen and learn vocabulary and grammar at the same time.
Sentence Master Pro has over 100,000 downloads with a 4.4 out of 5 rating in the Play Store. The app is perfect for beginners who want to learn grammar and vocabulary.
- Price: USD 10.99.
- Available on: iOS | Android
37. Learn English with Babbel
Learn English with Babbel is a platform that has been built from the ground up to make learning language fun and effective. It offers lots of lessons and quizzes for learning vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Learn English with Babbel also has a feedback system where users can check whether they have pronounced a word correctly or not. This helps them to improve their pronunciation and also allows them to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again. The app is rated 4.6 out of 5, with over 10,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 15.99 to USD 84.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
38. Learn Languages: Rosetta Stone
Learn Languages: Rosetta Stone is a fun and effective way to learn a new language with a colorful user interface. The app includes courses in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Chinese.
The courses are structured with bite-sized chunks of learning, with games and exercises to make learning easier. The app is rated 4.6 out of 5, with over 10,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 44.99 to USD 199.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
39. WordPower
WordPower is a program that offers many language learning options. The programs are very user-friendly and can be customized to fit any learning style.
The app is an excellent option for people who want to learn new words and improve vocabulary. WordPower is rated 4.3 out of 5 with over 10,000 downloads, but its potential to help you with your vocabulary learning is enormous.
- Price: Free
- Available on: Android
40. Bravolol
Bravolol is a pocket dictionary and online translator that will help you learn foreign languages. The app provides thousands of words, phrases, and translations to help you learn a new language quickly.
Bravolol is rated 4.6 out of 5 with over 1,000,000 downloads, and it is one of the most popular foreign language learning apps.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 4.99 to USD 19.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
41. SpeakingPal
SpeakingPal’s Learn English, Speak English is an English learning app that focuses on pronunciation and English vocabulary. The app is designed to help students improve their English language skills by looking at real English words and images.
This app provides regular exercises meant to improve students’ vocabulary and listening skills. The app is rated 4.4 out of 5, with over 1,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 8.99 to USD 28.99
- Available on: iOS | Android
42. Daily Vocabulary
Daily Vocabulary provides daily practice in thousands of words and phrases with colorful cartoon graphics. Each day, students receive a new word to practice from idioms, slang, grammar, and more.
This app is rated 4.5 out of 5 with over 10,000 downloads and is an excellent app for beginners.
- Price: Free
- Available on: Android
43. Word Store
Word Store is designed to help users learn the language of their choice by giving them access to all kinds of content in a simple and easy-to-use interface. The app also offers flashcards, quizzes, and games to keep users on track. The app is rated 4.4 out of 5, with over 50,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 1.99 to USD 4.99 per item.
- Available on: Android
44. Oxford Dictionary
Oxford Dictionary is the leading English dictionary for learners of all ages. It offers both audio pronunciations and real-life examples for over 300,000 words.
The app also includes a full search function to help users find the meaning of a word. It’s rated 4.1 out of 5 with over 50,000,000 downloads.
- Price: Free with in-app purchases around USD 0.99 to USD 29.99 per item.
- Available on: iOS | Android
45. Master Vocabulary
Master Vocabulary helps students and English learners master important English words and improve their vocabulary. The app is very user-friendly and has an attractive interface. Master Vocabulary is entirely free, with over 5,000 downloads.
- Price: Free
- Available on: Android
Summary Table – Best Apps to Improve Your English Vocabulary
| App Name | Key Features | Free Version (Y or N) |
Price (per month) |
App Store Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocab | Assists in enhancing memory and writing skills with cloud-based systems and recording features. | N | USD 67.00 |
|
| Memrise | Many courses and lessons to learn from | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Duolingo | Interactive lessons, popular courses made by experts | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| LinGo Play | Neat interface with interactive design and fun games to play and learn at the same time | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Alphabear 2 | Cute cartoon character and challenging puzzle game | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| WordReference | Simple dictionary with audio pronunciations and other basic features | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| 7 Little Words | Many puzzles, games, and trivia quizzes to play, suitable for all ages | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| WordUp | Uses movie, music, and books as reference, suitable for teenagers and young adults | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Magoosh Vocabulary App | Excellent rating, many quizzes, flashcards, and games to play | Y | Free |
|
| Busuu | Has social features to make friends online and learn with native speakers | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Volt – Vocabulary Learning | Various courses to learn from and focused on TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS preparations | Y | Free |
|
| Word Games by Knudge | Many games and puzzles to play, plus courses to help the learning process | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Quizlet | Smart AI to assist users’ learning process, plus flashcards and games to play every day | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Vocabulary.com | Focused on understanding vocabulary through games and quizzes, not only remembering new words | Y | Free |
|
| Anki | Uses flashcards as the main feature, great for language learning especially English and Japanese | Y | Free |
|
| The Vocabulary Builder App | Many words to learn, users’ can list and write the words to re-read later | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Vocab Genius | Uses flashcards as the main feature, combining English language learning, grammar, and reading comprehension with cognitive science. | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Ultimate Vocabulary Prep for English; GRE | Focused on tests preparations with many common and complex topics to learn | Y | Free |
|
| Vocabador | The unique concept of using wrestling-themed cartoons with colorful graphics to learn and play at the same time | N | USD 1.99 |
|
| Learn English Vocabulary | Uses flashcards and focused on assisting users in learning and remembering new vocabulary easily | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Word of the Day | Provides new different words daily, one word a day to help users’ learn consistently | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Daily Word | It has a widget feature to add to the home screen, providing new words to learn each day | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Word to Word | Offline puzzle game with lots of trivia facts and movie reference | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Words with Friends | A good strategy game to learn vocabulary and challenge yourself with others | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Advanced English & Thesaurus | Simple pocket dictionary and thesaurus with a colorful interface, providing many topics and vocabulary to learn | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Merriam-Webster Dictionary | Trusted, official dictionary with the simple interface used by beginners and professionals alike | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| uVocab – Vocabulary Trainer | Focused on tests preparation and English pronunciation | Y | Free |
|
| Voxy | Many courses created by experts and certified trainers to learn from | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Penny Dell Crosswords | Interactive crosswords puzzle with daily challenges to learn and play every day | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Crosswords | It brings back the classic crosswords puzzle with many topics to learn | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| IELTS Vocabulary Flashcards | Focused on IELTS preparations with the help of flashcards and quizzes | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Learn English – 6000 Essential Words | Provides 6000 most important words to learn and flashcards to help the learning process | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Learn English Words Free | Many words to learn, with examples and audio pronunciations | Y | Free |
|
| English Vocabulary – 90,000 Words with Pictures | Provides 90.000 most common and important words with pictures to help the visualization | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Words Booster: Learn Languages | Cute illustrations and simple interface to assist users’ learning process | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Sentence Master Pro | Words especially selected by experts, users can play, challenge themselves, and learn at the same time | N | USD 10.99 |
|
| Learn English with Babbel | Has a feedback system, so users know whether the words they pronounced are correct or not | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Learn Languages: Rosetta Stone | Colorful illustrations and design interface to assist the learning process | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| WordPower | Focused on last-minute tests preparations, users can learn new words and understand the meaning of the words easily | Y | Free |
|
| Bravolol | A pocket dictionary and online translator to learn from | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| SpeakingPal | Focused on users’ vocabulary and listening skills, using real-life images as illustrations | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Daily Vocabulary | Many idioms, slang, and vocabulary to learn every day | Y | Free |
|
| Word Store | Focused on specific topics, users can learn vocabulary with the help of flashcards and quizzes | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Oxford Dictionary | Trusted, official dictionary with audio pronunciations and real-life examples | Y | Free with in-app purchases |
|
| Master Vocabulary | Focused on the most common and important words to learn | Y | Free |
|
Final Thoughts
The key to any of these apps is to choose the best app to learn English vocabulary for you. Some people will prefer one app over another, while others will prefer a different app. The best way to find out which app is best for you is to try each one and see which one you like the best.
Keep in mind that it is essential to learn vocabulary with a plan. So, take some time to think about what you want to learn and how you will learn it. You will find that learning vocabulary is much easier than you thought it would be!
Additional Reading — Resources for Learning English
We are all eternal learners and we always keep our eyes open for new apps, platforms and methods of learning foreign languages.
We thought we’d make the search easier for you by compiling a list of our ten favourite language learning mobile apps. Some of them you are probably familiar with, but you may also find some new gems!
Like this infographic? Here is another one with top kanji learning tools!
Best language learning apps
1.Memrise
Memrise is your go to place for fun vocabulary practice. There is no shortage of courses on almost every language you can imagine—or invent, as there are also several devoted to constructed languages—created by the vibrant community of users. You can find standardised courses based on popular textbooks or vocabulary frequency lists. There are also less expected vocabulary collections such as “Japanese naughty words” or words from the Japanese translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The fun of Memrise lies in two things: memes and gamification. The app follows a learning method that relies on creating funny or bizarre associations with the studied words. Courses are often coupled with memes designed to playfully help remember the vocabulary. The memes are created by the community and everyone can add their own! Both earning, revising and creating memes is a source of points that help you advance in the Memrise hierarchy of users (from Membryo to Overlord).
You can follow fellow learners and compete with them for points as well as see how well you’re doing in a ranking for a particular course. It’s very motivating to outscore others!
The power of Memrise also lies in two things: spaced repetition and mnemonics. The spaced repetition algorithm calculates when and how often you should review each word. And the app will send you reminders when it’s time to review. The addition of memes is helpful in memorising the vocabulary. If you’re new to it, it may take some time to adjust to, but after that you’ll quickly start coming up with your own creative combinations.
2. LinguaLift
This is a language app that is geared towards determined learners who want a complete language program with the guidance of a tutor. Yes they have a good app, but it’s the extra help from the professional teachers that makes the difference.
The tutors are available to answer any questions you might have. They can help with grammar, suggest extra resources, and will even assign and correct homework for those interested.
If you sign up for this app, remember, USE THE TUTORS they are there to help.
“That’s probably the best part about LinguaLift: having access to real people who want to help and are invested in your learning.”
Kimberly, Seattle, USA
The app itself, is great for a beginner or intermediate, with clear grammar explanations, vocabulary & script learning tools. There are also a lot of cool cultural insights that you don’t get with most language programs. And of course, the professional tutors that know the material.
You can try out the program for free, and if you decide to subscribe, here is a discount code that will give you 15% off. SUPERLEARNER
Your subscription includes their Language Learning Secrets book (which they are currently offering for free on their homepage). And your customized study plan called, A Road Map to Fluency. To receive a road map, you first fill out a questionnaire, telling their tutors about your goals, study habits, daily schedule, etc.
The tutors then take this information and create your road map. It guides you every step of the way. Showing you the most effective study routines, telling you what additional resources to use, how much material to cover, and what stage in your language learning to use each resource. You just follow the map!
The courses are broken down into small 10 to 15 minute sections to keep things interesting and to ensure you have enough time to study a little every day. They also use an algorithm that tracks your progress through the course, so your review topics are geared specifically to your needs.
Also unique to LinguaLift, they give you access to ALL their languages with your subscription. They currently offer Spanish, French, Japanese, and Russian language courses. If your language of choice is not on this list, you should still check out their recently released e-book entitled Language Learning Secrets. This is a must have for any language learner.
If you are serious about learning a new language, LinguaLift offers a complete program that’s definitely worth checking out. But if you have even the slightest interest in languages, be sure to get a free copy of their Language Learning Secrets book. LinguaLift
3. Rosetta Stone
No list of top language learning apps would be complete without Rosetta Stone. Unfortunately, the only reason we’ve include it is because it’s the most widely recognized language learning program on the planet.
Their whole philosophy of language learning is to ‘learn like a baby’. But there is a major flaw with this school of thought. There are much more effective and faster ways to learn a language as an adult.
Rosetta Stone does a great job of teaching you individual words, but without context. And without context, you have no idea how to use these words in the real world. The truth is, you may be studying with Rosetta Stone for a month or two before you are able to introduce yourself, or ask a simple question in your target language.
Many people are drawn to Rosetta Stone because of their “State of the art” Speech Recognition software. But anyone whose tried it knows, this software simply does not work.
And one final issue is the cookie cutter template used for all languages. They’ve basically created one language course, and translated the content into all other languages. You cannot take a Spanish language course, translate it into Chinese and expect it to be a high quality language program.
The truth is, Rosetta Stone is so well known because it was the first language program on the market. But these days, there are much more effective programs out there.
4. Duolingo
When you try to describe any other learning app how often have you heard the question “is it like Duolingo?” There is no list of best apps that doesn’t mention it. Luis von Ahn successfully merged gamification and learning, addicting people to languages and producing an app with over 100 million users. The app has become a staple example of mobile language learning.
Many Duolingo courses are created by native speakers themselves which gave rise to perhaps less expected courses such as Guarani or Klingon. Another feature that makes Duolingo special to me is that it is not aimed solely at an English native speaker. For each language there are specific courses that aim at those with different first languages, which to date produces 81 courses.
The main problem with Duolingo is (like Rosetta Stone), many students use the app and expect to learn to speak a languange. (Crazy right!) Unfortunately, it’s not a complete language program, but it will help you improve your vocabulary and introduce you to a new language in a fun way.
5. HelloTalk
An app aimed to facilitate speaking practice and eliminate the potential stress of real time conversation. Learners can find native speakers and converse with them using a whatsapp-like chat with voice and text messages.
The best feeling is when you come across a native speaker of your target language who also wants to learn your mother tongue—it’s like you hit the language jackpot!
Users can correct each other’s messages with an in-built correction tool, which transforms the language exchanges into tiny tutoring sessions. The app also has an integrated translation system. This helps in those moments when you really want to communicate something but just lack the one word that gives the sentence it’s proper meaning.
Tips and tricks on using HelloTalk
You can mark your top conversations or messages, so your favourite phrases will not get lost. And the text-to-voice option will make sure you always know how to pronounce the messages you receive. To help you with conversation motivation you can also arranged language exchanges by different parameters like time, number of exchanged messages or characters.
Extra perk? With HelloTalk you can also exchange doodles. So if you really run out of vocab, you can unleash your inner artist.
6. Mindsnacks
Did I say Duolingo gamified language learning? Mindsnacks takes gamification to a whole different level.
Each of the seven languages they teach comes with eight or nine tiny games that are designed to help you learn vocabulary, grammar, and practice your listening. There are short simple lessons outlining concepts that then get practiced or tested in the games before they achieve the status of being mastered.
Mindsnacks monitors your progress so you can clearly see how much more learning you need to achieve proficiency in every skill. It’s such a fun app though, that even if you do master a skill it is still fun to go back and play more games to practice it!
The design is very charming (I would have just said cute, but that may discourage some of you from trying it 😉 ) which helps to stay involved with the learning. Being timed, the games keep you engaged and often on the edge of your seat. And on top of that MindSnacks also assigns you quests so you can really feel like a language explorer.
The basic download is free, but it comes only with a restricted number of games. If you pay a little bit you can access more lessons and widen your game options.
7. Busuu
Busuu offers full courses in 12 languages. The app is free but to unlock most of the features and course materials you have to invest $17 a month. The app takes you through learning individual words to simple dialogues and questions about the dialogues. All of which include audio where you can listen to native pronunciation.
The lessons are organised in topical themes where we learn skills and expressions connected to tasks. Each course also comes with a separate mini “travel course” for those who need to quickly get the basics before a trip abroad—pretty handy!
The special aspect of Busuu is that you can engage native speakers in your personal learning process. Busuu learners contribute their native speaking skills to the platform by correcting texts created by those who study their language. The desktop version even allows you to chat to native speakers real time.
Both studying and contributing to the platform as a teacher allows you to collect “berries”, points used to rank students based on their activity. So if you’re one of the points and badges addict, it’s a good place for you!
8. Babbel
A paid cousin of Duolingo with more free material than busuu? The free version comes with 40 classes, so even without investing money the app allows you to learn a fair amount of phrases in one of the 13 languages it teaches.
Each class starts from step-by-step teaching of vocabulary with the aid of pictures. Then the words are being used in related phrases and short dialogues adjusted to the student’s level to help quickly build conversation skills.
The app has speech recognition exercises, so you can surely scare your fellow bus commuters by shouting in Dutch to your phone! 😉 But unfortunately, like Rosetta Stones speech recognition software, it doesn’t really work. This technology is just not effective in correcting your pronunciation.
Handy pop-ups with the app explain most important grammatical points related to the learned material and the desktop version includes short cultural notes.
Apart from the general beginner’s courses Babbel also has separate packages devoted to improving specific skills such as grammar or vocabulary. If you already have some experience with a particular language and know where your weaknesses lie you can focus on improving those chosen skills. Babbel’s classes can be downloaded for later offline study and the app will send you convenient reminders so you don’t miss your daily session.
9. TripLingo
As the name suggests the app is aimed at travellers who need to brush up on their language skills before that dream holiday in Mauritius or a business trip to Mexico.
The app is aimed to get you to speak and be understood so you don’t feel lost in a foreign environment making your stay not only much richer culturally, but also less stressful. In addition, the creators took care so you at least attempt to sound like a local and use the current expressions rather than the textbook formulas.
A feature called the slang slider displays different levels of formal or casualty of each phrase so you can adjust it to the specific context you’re in. The lessons are divided into handy sections such as “safety phrases” or “business phrases”.
TripLingo is also your emergency resource. It has an inbuilt voice translator rendering your English in the foreign language, and when you are really at a loss for words you can even call a real translator (that’s when you really desperately need to ask for that extra mayo).
With the free version of the app you get access to about 15% of the resources and no audio, but it’s still a great and fun resource.
I had a little chuckle looking at the vocab categories in the Word Bank for Russian: accommodation, alcohol & arguing — a good summary of your initial experience in a Russian speaking country!
10. MosaLingua
MosaLingua is a fully rounded resource for a number of languages including French, Spanish and Italian. You can choose to go through the standard lesson program starting from simple phrases and numerals, or you can opt to go for one of the specific topical packs, for example people, time or tourism.
This means that if you already went through the basics and are looking to fill in specific gaps in your knowledge you can do it instantly. You can support your learning with dialogues illustrating real life situations.
I have to admit, it’s very handy to listen to a “in a hotel” dialogue just before opening your mouth at a reception desk!
Learning is based on a self-assessed flashcard system which will drill you on the words in a number of ways, asking you to record, speak out, and spell them, so all your “memory channels” are activated.
Of course, not all the resources of the apps are unlocked without paying, and you have to pay for each language separately. But even the free version has ample resources — definitely enough for a quick 5-day learning spree before that weekend in Tuscany! 😉
11. HiNative
HiNative is like a bite-size language exchange. You get the benefits of contact with native speakers without the hassle of searching for an exchange partner or scheduling a chat.
The basic premise is to bring native speakers together with learners to help each other resolve little (or not so little…) language struggles. No question is stupid or too simple: you can ask for translations, input on pronunciation, or advice on cultural norms.
Free bite-size language exchange.
Another cool point: it’s not only the native speakers who can answer the questions, but also other learners. Those who went through the same struggles as you could have a better idea of how to approach them as a learner!
If all that doesn’t convince you, let me say that all this awesomeness is neatly designed, has a desktop version, and… is free.
**One bonus app! **
12. (How to) Pronounce
You may already have some grasp of the language or decided to just go wild and rely on a paper phrasebook. Yes you will still encounter words or phrases that you are not sure how to pronounce to be understood.
Perhaps you had this experience in a restaurant: when asking for the simplest meal and had to repeat the so-diligently-learned Italian phrase three times. Still the only thing you achieved was the look of bewilderment and confusion on the waiter’s face. They said the phrase back to you and the only thing that you had wrong was the stress.
You can prevent these embarrassing and frustrating moments with (How to) Pronounce. It supports only a few basic languages now, but in a very clever move it offers four of them in two varieties, so you have two options for: English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, plus Russian and Italian.
If you feel bored and are a language geek (like all of our blog readers) you can just listen and marvel at the differences between language varieties.
Also, check out our blog post Social Media – the new language learning app, explaining how to turn your social media accounts into your own personal language program.
Have you come across any cool language learning apps? Let us know on Twitter
There are roughly 170,000 words in use in the English language. Thankfully, most native English speakers only have a vocabulary of around 35,000 words. Still, that’s a lot of language for you to study!
The good news is, with the right app in your pocket, it has never been easier – or more fun – to learn vocabulary in your free time.
We’ve put together a list of our 7 top apps to learn new vocabulary. Read on to find out what they are!
1. Busuu – The best all-rounder
Does learning vocabulary sometimes feel like a chore? Try Busuu. Just like Duolingo, Busuu uses gamification to make learning English a lot more enjoyable. However, unlike Duolingo, Busuu is actually useful for learning real-world language.
Busuu teaches you how a word sounds and gives an example sentence for each one. Topics cover everything from business, to travel, to language from The Economist. It also tests you with gap-fills and true or false questions, and includes a section for weak words to show you where you need to improve.
Download Busuu here
2. Memrise – The best for user-generated content
If you’re part of the TikTok generation, and you love memes, Memrise might be the app for you. It uses short clips, from real-life local people, to demonstrate how words and phrases are used in natural conversation.
An added bonus is that it offers a translation in your native language as well. There’s also the Immerse videos. These work a bit like Instagram Reels, featuring short, funny video dialogues with captions. Just listen for the tone and pronunciation – then copy it just like the person in the video!
Download Memrise here
3. LinGo Play – The best for basics
Ahh. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a simple picture flashcard. That’s why beginner learners of English might enjoy the app LinGo Play. You’ll find a range of basic vocabulary on topics such as Fruits and vegetables, Clothing and Furniture.
First learn the word with the flashcard, and listen to the pronunciation. Then, test yourself on what you’ve learnt with one of the in-built, spelling or listening activities. When you’re feeling really confident, have a go at playing a game against a genuine opponent!
Download LinGo Play here
4. Quizlet – The best for exam prep
Have you got an English test coming up? Need to memorise a list of new words quickly? Consider downloading Quizlet. This is by far the best app for English exam preparation on our list. With matching games, memory tests, and quizzes, it offers more than flashcards. There are a huge number of study sets, which means you’re sure to find the topic you’re looking for. And if you can’t find it, why not create your own?
Download Quizlet here
For more ways to use Quizlet check out our article: 5 tips to get the best out of Quizlet.
5. Alphabear 2 – The best for word puzzles
This Scrabble-style app must be the cutest word app on the planet. Players have to spell out words by selecting letters from a grid. When they spell a word correctly, bears appear! The longer the word the bigger the bear.
There’s also a dictionary function which makes it great for language learners. Kids will love it too. Get them to create their own bear character, follow the story and navigate the map on their mission to build new words.
Download Alphabear 2 here
6. WordReference – The best dictionary translation
Looking for a good, reliable, dictionary translation app? Look no further. This classroom favourite comes highly recommended by teachers and students alike. What makes it stand out from the crowd? WordReference offers multiple accurate translations of a word, and gives you an example sentence for each in both languages. It’s also an excellent tool for learning colloquial words, slang, synonyms and collocations on the go.
Download WordReference here
7. Word of the Day – the best for daily vocabulary
Do you know what procrastinate means? We’ll tell you later.
Advanced English learners looking for more challenging and clever words to add their vocabulary might appreciate Word of the Day.
Not only does it give you a daily word complete with definition, there’s also an option to search the whole database for more popular vocabulary. And, if you’re bored on the bus, have a go at the word search function. Look up any words you don’t know the meaning of on the list, or click on the word to see the definition!
Download Word of the Day here
Do you have a favourite app for learning English vocabulary? We’d love to know! Leave us a comment in the box below.
If you haven’t already, check out our hugely popular post 8 of the best apps for learning English.
Glossary for Language Learners
Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.
Chore (n): a routine task e.g. housework.
Captions (n): subtitles.
Range (n): variety.
Cute (adj): sweet or adorable.
Stand out from the crowd (exp): to be more noticeable than other people or things.
Clever (adj): intelligent.
Key
n = noun
adj = adjective
exp = expression
Study English at Oxford House Barcelona
Interested in taking an English course at Oxford House Barcelona? Check all the different English classes we can offer you or contact us for more information.
Study English at Oxford House Barcelona
Interested in taking an English course at Oxford House Barcelona? Check all the different English classes we can offer you or contact us for more information.