Advantages of learning English with mobile applications
The use of educational apps radically changed the way we study languages. These platforms offer benefits that surpass traditional methods:
- Total flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, adapting to your personal routine.
- Access to interactive materials such as exercises, games, audios, videos, and multimedia resources, which enhance retention, motivation, and facilitate learning in different styles.
- Personalized progress based on your pace, level, and thematic interests, with automatic adjustments and progress tracking.
- Balanced speaking, writing, listening, and reading practice, including interaction with native speakers and speech recognition to improve pronunciation.
- Constantly updated content, integrating the latest trends in language teaching and innovative technologies.
Thanks to these advantages, learn english for free It has never been so accessible, dynamic and attractive, allowing anyone to start from scratch or improve without investing in traditional classes.
How to choose the best app to learn English?
Before you begin, keep these points in mind to select the ideal application based on your profile and goals:
- define your initial level: Beginner, intermediate or advanced?
- Set your specific objectives: improve grammar, vocabulary, speaking, pronunciation, listening comprehension or a combination of these aspects.
- Determine how much time you can dedicate each day and what modality you prefer: interactive exercises, live classes, videos, lectures, or practice with native speakers.
- Review user ratings, reviews, and ratings, choosing well-known apps with full free versions or trial periods, and, if necessary, long-term payment options.
The 5 best free English learning apps in 2025
Below, we present a complete and updated comparison of the leading apps in 2025, compatible with Android and many also with iOS and web platforms, to learn English from home, work, or even while traveling. The selection is based on effectiveness, popularity, and content quality:
- Duolingo
Duolingo is the most popular and downloaded language learning app worldwide. Its success lies in its gamification method, which turns learning into a game. The lessons are short, highly visual, and fun, covering vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, and pronunciation.
- Methodology: Short exercises, translations, sentence completion, listening and repeating, word and picture association, daily challenges, and constant progress review.
- Advantages: More than 40 languages, completely free, daily goals, notifications to stay motivated, a community of users, and the ability to practice with a microphone to improve pronunciation.
- Levels: from basic to advanced, with a personalized route and initial level test.
- Who is it ideal for: beginners, self-taught, people with little time, those looking for a daily habit or to complement other methods.
Tip: Take advantage of its daily "streak" system and reminders. For better retention, do 2-3 short sessions a day. Combine it with another app if you want to practice real conversation or more advanced grammar.
- Busuu
Busuu defines itself as a global community for language learning, with more than 100 million users. Its English courses integrate structured lessons by levels, grammar and vocabulary exercises, and, most importantly, the collaborative correction by native speakers of the community.
- Methodology: Thematic units with grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and conversation content. Includes audio, dialogues, and practical exercises. Offers placement tests and a personalized study plan.
- Advantages: The ability to receive real feedback from native speakers, specific pronunciation exercises, a language exchange forum, offline access with the premium version, and progress tracking.
- Levels: basic to advanced, adapted as you progress and according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
- Ideal for: Those who want real interaction with other users, improve their written expression, practice messages, get corrections, and progress in a structured way.
- Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is one of the oldest apps and its method is based on the total immersion: learn English without translation, only with images, audio and phrases in real context. Use advanced speech recognition (TruAccent) to correct and perfect pronunciation.
- Methodology: Lessons on everyday topics, word, phrase and situation association, listening exercises and speaking practice, with a focus on practical communication and accurate pronunciation.
- Advantages: Access to more than 20 languages, live group sessions with tutors, student forums, and the ability to use the premium version offline, plus progress tracking.
- Levels: from introductory courses with “greetings and introductions” to advanced topics such as travel, business, and culture.
- Ideal for: Those who want a visual method, need to practice pronunciation and are looking for an alternative that simulates immersion in an English-speaking country.
More essential apps for learning English for free (and some paid ones)
The universe of applications is increasingly broad and diverse. Here we explore other options highly recommended for their innovative approach, specialized approaches, or those with specific features that complement the main methods:
- Memory: Its strong point is vocabulary learning, using flashcards, spaced repetition, videos of native speakers, and cultural content. Ideal for memorizing useful phrases and improving listening skills with a real accent, it also includes games and challenges to stay motivated.
- Beelinguapp: Specialized in bilingual reading. It allows you to read stories, articles, or books in English with parallel translation while listening to audio recorded by native speakers. It's perfect for improving vocabulary, pronunciation, and comprehension in real-life and entertaining contexts.
- Mondly: Focused on the oral practice and pronunciation. It uses voice recognition, chatbots, and short, 5- to 10-minute thematic lessons. It includes augmented reality and virtual reality in its premium version for more immersive learning.
- language: Learn English and other languages with personalized content and artificial intelligence technology, optimizing your learning and motivation.
- Tandem: One of the best platforms of language exchangeYou can chat in real time, via chat, audio, or video call, with native speakers who want to learn your language, and you want to learn theirs. It encourages pronunciation, spontaneity, and cultural learning.
- FluentU: It offers thousands of real-life videos (news, talks, music clips, series) with interactive subtitles. You learn English in a real-life context and can save words to review. Its community is very active at intermediate and advanced levels, and it promotes contextualized learning through authentic content.
How to combine apps to enhance your English learning
The key to progress faster And more effectively, you can combine several applications, taking advantage of the strengths of each according to your needs and preferences:
- Use Duolingo or Drops for everyday vocabulary, busuu or Lingualia for grammar and structure, and Tandem or Preply for real conversational practice with native speakers.
- Complement your speaking and listening practice with videos on FluentU, Cake, Lingopie, movies, TV shows, or podcasts to improve comprehension in real-life contexts.
- If you're short on time, prioritize apps with short sessions of 5-10 minutes per day and establish daily routines to ensure consistent progress.
- Strengthen grammar and vocabulary with specialized platforms like the British Council or Grow Grammar, and complete weekly self-assessments to measure progress.
- For children and young people, opt for visual, fun, and motivating apps like Beelinguapp, Lingualia, or Xeropan, which combine fun with effective learning.
Tips for getting the most out of English apps
- Set a fixed daily schedule: Consistency is the key to success in language learning.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Take advantage of automatic correction, feedback, and review systems to learn from mistakes.
- Actively participates in the community: exchange messages, doubts and experiences with other learners and natives, acquiring communicative competence.
- Add challenges and obtain certificates in official courses or tests to keep you motivated and certify your level.
- Complement the study with other resources such as videos, books, podcasts, online private classes, and participation in specialized forums.
Frequently asked questions about English learning apps
- Are free apps really effective? Yes, they allow you to acquire vocabulary, practice listening and writing, consolidate grammar, establish study habits, and expand your vocabulary. However, to achieve fluency in conversation and pronunciation, it's recommended to combine them with classes, exchanges, or real language immersion.
- Can official certificates be obtained? Apps like ABA English, busuu, British Council, LinguaSkill, and others offer certificates after completing their internal tests, which can be useful for resumes, job interviews, or professional profiles.
- Can you learn English from scratch using apps alone? Yes, especially if you're consistent and complement it with resources like podcasts, videos, reading, and speaking practice. The key is to maintain a daily routine and vary your activities.
- Which app is best for preparing for exams like IELTS or TOEFL? Look for apps with structured lessons, a focus on official exams, listening, reading, writing, and speaking practice, and that offer real-life or tutored feedback. Some recommended apps are busuu, Preply, British Council, ABA English, and Papora.
Adopting the habit of learning English with mobile apps is one of the most practical, effective, and motivating ways to master the language today. The variety of free and paid options, adapted to different ages, levels, and goals, allows you to customize your learning. The key is to combine several apps, maintain a daily routine, and take advantage of all available resources. Your bilingual future starts from your phone and can be much closer than you imagine!