10 Best Apps To Learn Spanish In 2022 [For All Learning Styles]

Learning a new language has numerous benefits for adults and children alike. For children, being bilingual can improve problem-solving and critical thinking skills while also improving multitasking skills, memory and concentration. For adults, it can improve your profile for certain jobs and can help expand your horizons substantially. If you are planning to move to Spain, learning the local language can be especially helpful not only on the job market but also in unlocking incredible experiences. And the best way to learn is to live among people who speak it as their native language. 

While learning a new language, especially as an adult, may seem like a mammoth task, it is made easy by the numerous apps available on the internet. You will find apps for every level of skill, from beginner to expert. Whether you are planning to move to the country or simply learning to add to your skills, this article lists some popular and easy-to-use platforms to learn the language.

Why Is It A Good Idea To Learn Spanish With More Than One App?

You would want to use multiple apps to learn a new language for numerous reasons. Every app is likely to have a different area of focus and can have a different approach to learning. While some might focus on reading practice, others might specifically target listening skills or help build your vocabulary. Every person will have a different preference and method for learning. Some might respond well to structured lessons, while others would prefer conversational ways of learning the language. Similarly, short activities like flashcards will work for some, while others would prefer longer, taught sessions.

Many people can write or understand a language more easily than writing or speaking it. But to truly master a language, you should be able to do all four. Each app mentioned here tackles a different angle of learning and focuses on different kinds of activities to teach. You can either pick only the apps that will help you target your weaker areas or use a combination of these to truly master the Spanish language. If you are not aware of your learning style yet, you can figure it out once you start and make progress.

What Are The Best Apps For Learning Spanish?

Duolingo

This app works in a game-like format and involves you in short activities to build a strong understanding of the language. The usually brief lessons teach you basic vocabulary and pronunciation through different themes in a fun way and are an excellent introduction to Spanish. You can set your own goals and track your progress to see how well you are learning. This method of learning is very motivating since the games engage you and make it a lot less intimidating. 

For younger kids, the Duolingo Kids app is a wonderful option. One setback is that sometimes their sample sentences are nonsensical and not something you would say in real life interactions, which can become a hindrance for new speakers. Nevertheless, it is a great beginner level option.

Cost structure: The basic version is free, while Duolingo Plus costs around 7 euros per month.

Memrise

Each course on this app is taught by native speakers, so you will have a great sense of conversational Spanish that is used in everyday life. The app also adapts to your way of learning since it suggests the practice activities that are most likely to be effective for you, depending on your usage of the app. 

Memrise focuses on building your vocabulary by repeating words, and using them in different exercises. It uses video clips of native speakers saying Spanish phrases, as well as games and flashcards to teach, hence skipping the monotony of textbook approaches to teaching.

Cost structure: There is a free plan, and a Memrise Pro plan which costs around 8.5 euros a month. You can even get lifetime access for 120 euros.

Pimsleur

Pimsleur is a popular app that focuses on audio learning, and not much on grammar or writing. It teaches conversational language skills, and you can listen to the audio lessons on the go. Each 30 minute lesson revolves around an audio dialogue, which is then dissected, and the app prompts you to learn through repetition. You can even use the reading exercises, digital flashcards, quizzes and role-play speaking challenges for review. It is similar to a traditional classroom setting in that it teaches you using examples given by native Spanish speakers and guidance from a tutor in English.

Cost structure: The first lesson is free. The Pimsleur Premium plan is for around 20 euros a month (which gives you access to one language), while the Pimsleur All Access plan costs just around 21 euros which gives you full access to more than 50 languages.

Busuu

This app covers all four areas of learning i.e., reading, speaking, writing and listening, but the practice sessions for speaking are the best part. For every lesson, you will be working on writing practice, vocabulary, speaking practice and voice recordings. A stand out feature is the facility of getting your writing or speech reviewed by other users in the community, since it brings together native speakers and teachers. It is therefore an excellent resource to brush up on your Spanish conversational skills.

It uses machine-learning technology to update your personalized lesson plans, and also has specialized courses and a study plan feature so you can learn at your own pace. So you can either practice a few minutes daily, or use one of the app’s more accelerated courses.

Cost structure: There is a free version of the app, but it doesn’t include offline access, grammar lessons or personalized plans. The paid version costs around 6 euros a month.

Babbel

Given its ease of use and speed of teaching, it comes as no surprise that Babbel is one of the most popular choices for language-learning apps. It is similar to Duolingo, but less gamified. Therefore, it is more likely to work for people who are looking for a more structured, textbook-like resource for studying. 

Its courses are well structured and teach you Spanish that you will most likely be using in real life. The aim is to get you speaking the language from the very first day, and you can easily fit in their brief lessons in your busy schedule. It also uses speech recognition to help you work on your pronunciation. Apart from the main course, you will even find mini-courses that focus on specific areas, such as Business Spanish, Countries and Traditions, Mexican Spanish etc. You can even track your learning to see how much progress you’ve made over time.

Cost structure: The app has monthly plans starting at 14 euros a month, with bigger plans like the 12 month pack costing as low as 7 euros a month.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone has a less demanding manner of teaching, and will help you learn Spanish from scratch just like a native speaker would. For conversation practice, you can chat with a live tutor. The app also has speech recognition that is different from other apps in that it is specifically designed to recognize the pronunciation of non-native speakers and gives you instant feedback. It also doesn’t let you advance unless your pronunciation matches closely with that of native speakers.

The variety of audio lessons, phrasebook for travelling, stories and other features make this an immersive experience that lets you learn grammar and pronunciation in a natural yet comprehensive manner. It is also instinctive and more natural since it uses real-world conversations to teach. For a more interactive experience, it also has games and challenges.

Cost structure: A demo account is free, but the 3 month subscription is for 36 euros while the 12 month subscription is for around 96 euros (approximately 8 euros a month).

Lingvist

This app is useful for people who learn in short bursts since it primarily uses flashcards. You can use a general deck of cards, a themed deck or even create a personalized one. The cards have sentences on them, with missing words that you can fill in so that you learn new words in context. 

You can choose the kind of Spanish vocabulary you want to learn, which are organized thematically according to specific goals like business, vacation etc. The app tests you to determine your level of expertise, and then adapts to your needs, to ensure maximum learning. It equips you with language skills that are highly useful in real life.

Cost structure: A free trial is available, but the monthly subscription costs around 10 euros a month. With longer plans, per month costs might go down to around 7 euros a month.

FluentU

This app is particularly helpful for people who already know the basics of the Spanish language, but want to improve their fluency. It makes use of videos like music videos, movie clips, inspirational speeches, commercials as well as other content made by native speakers. To ensure that you understand these clips, each of them has interactive subtitles. The app also has flashcards and quizzes to let you practice the language that was used in each video. The aim is to be able to learn from real world content, where you can place vocabulary in context. If you wish to expand your understanding, you can even see how a word is used in other contexts through sample sentences and other videos.

Cost structure: There is a 14 day free trial period, but the monthly package costs around 30 euros a month.

Lingopie

Lingopie will help you learn Spanish by watching television! It has a wide variety of telenovelas, soaps, comedies and more that you can choose from. Learning through pop culture is sure to keep you engaged. For each video you will see Spanish subtitles on your screen, and if you click on a word, you are able to view its translation in English. At the end of a video or episode, you get tested on all the words that you interacted with to see how many you remember. The comprehensive review and flashcards are a great way to test your understanding. On the flip side, it doesn’t test any other skills like listening, writing, speaking and grammar.

Cost structure: The per month subscription cost is around 12 euros a month. You can even get a Family Plan (for 4 separate accounts) for a year at a discounted rate.

MosaLingua

MosaLingua teaches common words and phrases using a number of efficient methodologies. The learning techniques include a spaced repetition system which can calculate when you should review a word again in order to retain it best. The words and phrases have been divided into distinct categories, making them organized and easier to track. The tools available in the app include thousands of flashcards, a Spanish dictionary, grammar essentials and learning tips.

It includes both audio and visual memorization and also constantly adapts to your needs. Moreover, you can unlock bonus content as you continue to advance. Practice material in the app covers listening, speaking and reading as well, making it a comprehensive resource for learning.

Cost structure: a free trial is available. The monthly subscription of the app costs around 5 euros a month, or 60 euros a year.

Final Thoughts On The Best App To Learn Spanish

The best way to learn Spanish is to work on your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills consistently. There are a lot of apps out there, some of which are mentioned in this article, which can teach you nearly everything about the language. But it might take some mix and matching to find the ideal method. Learning styles and attention spans differ for each person, so it is up to you to pick out which app is best suited to your needs.