Duolingo was one of the first learning apps to make picking up a new language a more accessible experience. While it can be a useful springboard for exploring elementary phrases and vocabulary, many learners are looking to go beyond the basics to build lasting fluency.
In this article, we've rounded up the eight best Duolingo alternatives - from free apps to online platforms with real, qualified tutors - so you can find the right fit for your language learning journey, your goals, and your learning style.
In a hurry? Skip ahead to our quick comparison table to find the right language app for you!
Let's take a look at some of the top app options for language learning!
Best for: Students seeking personalised online tutoring for for official language exams
Free to download, the GoStudent app offers access to a combination of educational technology with human expertise through one-to-one online tutoring with qualified, Enhanced DBS-Checked private teachers.
While other study apps rely on purely on algorithms or pre-set courses, the platform's matching model ensures that every session is tailored to the individual student, ensuring that academic support is relevant and targeted for the greatest impact. GoStudent provides expert tutors for including English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese and Chinese, in addition to other languages.
GoStudent tutors have extensive experience with UK curriculum and exam board requirements, allowing them to provide dedicated, indepth support for student preparing for modern language GCSE and A-Level assessments.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|
Personalised learning: every session is tailored to the individual student's needs |
Requires a regular time commitment, which may not be suitable for students seeking casual revision options |
|
Qualified, expert tutors across all GCSE subjects provide instant feedback |
|
|
Flexible and accessible - book sessions to suit your schedule |
|
|
Recorded online classes can be revisited at any time, for 24/7 reviews |
|
|
AI-powered lesson summaries create instant revision notes |
|
|
Free trial lesson available |
|
Price
Subscriptions cost between £24.99 – £32.00 depending on the lesson package selected.
Best for: Learners looking for flexible language lessons with private tutors
The FindTutors app connects students with private tutors in over 350 subjects, including a wide variety of languages. A flexible platform, learners can search for support with official exams, languages skills for business, or pre-travel conversation coaching.
Findtutors lets you browse tutor profiles, compare experience and rates, and contact private teachers at no cost. Both in-person lessons and online language lessons are available, so you can choose the format that suits you without changing your schedule. The platform also allows you to post a student ad outlining your learning goals so that tutors with the right skillskets to reach out directly.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|---|---|
|
Browse and contact unlimited tutors for free |
Not a self-study tool — requires booking sessions with a tutor |
|
In-person lessons and online language lessons both available |
Session quality depends on the tutor you choose |
|
Tutors can teach grammar, exam technique, and conversational skills |
|
|
Post a student ad and let tutors come to you |
Price: Free to download; tutor rates typically range from £12–£40/hour
Best for: Intermediate learners with busy schedules
Babbel offers lessons built around around the structures of real-life conversations, with indepth grammar explanations suited to language students looking to challenge themselves. The app's bite-sized lessons run to around 15 minutes and are designed to fit around a busy routine.
Unlike apps with a gamified approach to language learning, Babbel's lessons focus on complete sentences and natural dialogue from the start, making it a popular choice for for intermediate-level learners who have some knowledge of their target language. The platform uses speech recognition technology to give pronunciation feedback in real time.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|---|---|
|
Bite-sized lessons with integrated grammar explanations |
Limited to 14 European languages |
|
Speech recognition for pronunciation practice |
May not be suitable for complete beginners |
|
Higher course completion rate than Duolingo |
No live tutor or human feedback |
|
Structured lessons built around real conversations |
Price: From ~£7/month
Best for: Visual learners who want to improve their speaking and listening skills
Memrise provides immersive approach to language learning. The app features short video clips of real native speakers speaking your target language in everyday contexts, helping you to absorb vocabulary, intonation, pronunciation, and the phrases and idioms that you'll encounter out in the world.
Memrise uses spaced repetition to help you commit new words to long-term memory, with the free version of the app allowing access to a considerable amount of content without committing to a long-term language course.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|---|---|
|
Audio and video recordings of real native speakers |
Grammar explanations are somewhat limited |
|
Spaced repetition supports long-term vocabulary retention |
Premium purchase required to access all content |
|
Comprehensive free content |
Price: Free version available; Premium subscription available for ~£25/month
Best for: Students seeking speaking practice with native speakers
italki is an international marketplace that connects learners with language tutors and teachers for online lessons.
The platform works with both certified professional language teachers and community tutors, the latter typically offering less formal, more affordable classes. Flexible lesson scheduling is available, in addition to supplementary learning tools such as digital flashcards.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|---|---|
|
Popular and niche languages available |
Primarily focused on speaking - fewer opportunities to practice writing skills |
|
Pricing options to suit a range of budgets |
May not be suitable for students seeking exam prep |
|
Real conversations with native speakers |
|
|
Audio lessons and speaking exercises available |
Price: Free registration. Classes start from ~£10/lesson
Best for: Learning looking to meet language-learning peers for mutual feedback
Busuu is a community-focused language app that offers a group learning experience.
Learners can complete written exercises and record audio messages, submitting them to other students for feedback and corrections. Set courses, designed in accordance with the Common European Framework (CEFR) from levels A1 to B2, are also available.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|---|---|
|
Written and audio feedback from real native speakers |
Community feedback can be slow or inaccurate |
|
Aligned to the Common European Framework (CEFR) |
Free version has limited features |
|
Works offline - good for daily practice on the go |
|
|
Structured lessons at every level |
Price: Free to download; Premium version available for ~£5/month, Premium Plus costs ~£10/month
Best for: Students looking for casual language exchanges
Tandem is a language exchange app that lets you text, make voice calls, or exchange audio recordings in your target language. While not a formal teaching platform, it's a useful space to pick up realistic language and slang terms that many apps leave out of the curriculum.
Due to the app's informal design, Tandem works best as a complement to structured lessons rather than a standalone tool for serious language learners.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|---|---|
|
Real conversations with native speakers - not simulated |
Exchange quality varies depending on your partner |
|
Broadest language selection of any app on this list |
Not a structured learning tool - no grammar lessons or lessons focus |
|
Text, audio, and video calls all available |
Requires commitment from both sides |
|
Strong, active community |
Price: Free version available; Pro version costs ~£12/month
Best for: Audio-focused learners who want a structured, self-paced course
Rocket Languages combines audio lessons, voice recognition, and grammar explanations into a course structure than resembles a traditional language programme. Lessons focus on speaking from the start, with audio recordings of native speakers used throughout, while the speech recognition tool gives users real-time pronunciation feedback.
The app functions on a lifetime access payment basis, rather than subscription renewals. While this may not be suitable for all learners, it can benefit committed students in search of a long-term independent learning tool.
|
✓ Pros |
✗ Cons |
|---|---|
|
Lifetime access - no ongoing subscription |
Higher upfront cost than monthly subscription apps |
|
Detailed audio lessons with native speaker recordings |
Steeper learning curve comapred to some language apps |
|
Voice recognition and pronunciation feedback built in |
Limited to 14 languages |
|
Thorough grammar explanations alongside speaking practice |
Price: Lifetime access from ~£70 (one-off payment)
Take a look at the table below for a concise overview of each language app:
|
Platform |
Type |
Languages |
Price |
Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GoStudent |
Online tuition platform |
15+ languages |
App free to download; subscriptions cost between £24.99 – £32.00 |
Language students preparing for GCSE, A-Level and other official exams |
|
FindTutors |
Tutor marketplace |
Wide range of languages |
App free to download; lessons from ~£12/hour |
Flexible in-person and online lessons |
|
Babbel |
Self-study app |
14 languages |
From ~£7/month |
Structured learners who want grammar explanations |
|
Memrise |
Immersive app |
20+ languages |
Free/Premium: ~£25/month |
Learning with real native speakers on video |
|
italki |
Online marketplace |
150+ languages |
From ~£10/lesson |
Conversation practice with native speakers |
|
Busuu |
App + community |
12 languages |
Free/Premium: ~£5/month; Premium Plus costs ~£10/month |
Learners on a budget who want human feedback |
|
Tandem |
Language exchange app |
300+ languages |
Free/Pro: ~£12/month |
Casual language learners |
|
Rocket Languages |
Structured course |
14 languages |
Lifetime access from ~£70 |
Audio-focused learners who want structured lessons |
Duolingo is a fine starting point, but if you want to actually speak a language - hold real conversations, write with confidence, or pass a qualification - apps alone rarely get you there. The gap between completing lessons on an app and genuine fluency is bridged by structured practice, human feedback, and lessons tailored to how you actually learn.
Here's a rough guide based on where you are in your language learning journey:
Just starting out: Memrise, or Babbel for structured early lessons alongside daily practice
Intermediate learners who want to speak more: italki or Tandem for real conversations with native speakers; GoStudent or FindTutors for lessons with a qualified tutor who can correct your grammar and pronunciation in real time.
Serious language learners with specific goals GoStudent and FindTutors provide personalised, one-to-one language support for language exams and professional development.
On a budget: Busuu, Memrise, and Tandem offer comprehensive free content and practice sessions.
The most effective approach for many learners is to combine apps - for daily practice and vocabulary building - with regular language lessons with a tutor for grammar explanations, speaking exercises, and bespoke feedback that most apps simply can't provide.
GoStudent lets you browse qualified language tutor profiles complete with student reviews, while our tutor-matching service is available to help you find the right private teacher for your language goals.
The platform offers:
Ready to start speaking with confidence? Download the GoStudent app today and kickstart your language adventure!
What is the best free alternative to Duolingo? Busuu and Memrise both have strong free versions, particularly for authentic audio content. Tandem is also free and gives you access to real conversations with native speakers.
Can language apps replace a tutor? For most learners, no. Language learning apps are excellent for daily practice, vocabulary building, and staying consistent - but they can't replicate the personalised feedback, grammar explanations, and conversational practice that a qualified tutor provides. The two work best in combination: apps for routine practice, a tutor for structured progress.
Which app is best for pronunciation practice? Babbel and Rocket Languages both include integrated voice recognition features and pronunciation feedback. For real pronunciation coaching from an expert human tutor however, GoStudent and FindTutors are the standout options.
What is the best language learning app for visual learners? Memrise is a good choice for visual learners due to its video clips of real native speakers using the language in everyday contexts.
Which is better - Duolingo or Babbel? For complete beginners who want a gentle, gamified introduction to a new language, Duolingo is an accessible, low-pressure study tool. For learners who want structured lessons and grammar explanations, Babbel is the better choice.