How to Choose the Best Language Learning App for Your Next Trip

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Summer travel season is here, and you might be tempted to download a language-learning app before your next trip. But which ones actually help? Wirecutter writer Matthew Guay tested 15 different language apps to figure out how they can (and can’t) help you learn a foreign language.

This episode covers

  • Why language learning apps are better for travel confidence than fluency. Matthew explains that most apps won’t make you conversational, but they can help you recognize words, order food, ask basic questions, and feel less intimidated traveling abroad.
  • How to choose the right language app for your learning style. Rather than naming one universally “best” app, Matthew breaks down which apps work best for different types of learners—whether you prefer grammar explanations, TikTok-style video lessons, addictive streaks and rewards, or long-form audio lessons you can listen to during a commute.
  • Why practicing with real people matters more than endless app lessons. Matthew says the sweet spot for language apps is learning enough to start trying small real-world interactions, like ordering at a restaurant or introducing yourself. That’s the point where language learning starts to feel rewarding and where you can decide whether you want to pursue it more seriously.

Products we recommend

This app’s interactive lessons, plus pronunciation, usage tips, and grammar guides, make it the best way to learn the why and how behind a language.

Detailed, five-minute interactive video lessons in which you can practice talking with a free-form chatbot are what make this app the best way to start speaking quickly. However, it supports only six languages.

This app’s spaced repetition makes language learning feel more like a game than homework, which is why we think it’s the best way to practice vocabulary for free. Plus, it supports more languages than any other app we tested.

For the best daily classroom-style instruction in more than 40 languages, try this app’s 30-minute audio lessons and transcription-powered practice.



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