The 13 Best Apps to Learn Spanish in 2024

In this day and age, we are constantly on our phones. We scroll through social media, use apps to track the steps we take, the food we eat, and the hours we sleep. We play games, listen to music, and do work, all on our phones. Have you ever thought about putting your phone to another use and learning something new? One of the best kinds of apps we can download is a language learning app.

Nowadays, there is a plethora of apps that can help you learn Spanish, so it’s become difficult to tell which ones really are made with the user in mind. We’re going to look at the 13 best apps for learning Spanish and their main features.

What’s the best app for learning Spanish?

Duolingo

One of the most famous language apps on the market is Duolingo. I’m pretty sure you already know the easily recognizable green owl mascot. This app is designed to make learning fun, with bright-colored short games that only take a couple of minutes to complete. It doesn’t feel like a strict learning app, and the competitive aspect encourages you to play more to keep up your daily streak or move up the leaderboard.

One of the main advantages of Duolingo is that there is loads of free content, although there are different paid plans available for those who want to take it up a notch.

LiveXP

LiveXP enables you to connect with private tutors across the world. In fact, you don’t have to choose one specific teacher, as you can change your tutor at any time and as many times as you like until you find the perfect person to help you achieve your Spanish goals.

LiveXP, which is available on both IOS and Android, offers a flexible subscription plan that gives you access to all of the tutors and languages on the platform. Scheduling lessons is easy and can be done from the app, along with rescheduling and cancellations. You don’t have to commit to anything without speaking to the tutor, as you can get in touch with them directly before booking a lesson. There’s no need for other video call apps or software, as LiveXP has its very own in-house room for video calls.

You and your tutor can jot down anything during the lesson to look back at later in the Lesson notes, and you can also save words to your online vocabulary list. Another exciting new feature of the LiveXP app is the Word Trainer. The Word Trainer is a fun game where you can practice the words you’re learning. You add new words to My Vocabulary and then start practicing them. The Word Trainer is based on a spaced repetition algorithm for the most efficient learning. Also, it will be an advantage if you learn English, as there are already prepared basic word sets for beginners to learn.

Also, on LiveXP, you can ask any Spanish-related question in the Community and get help from tutors for free.

Clozemaster

Clozemaster is an app that works on the premise of cloze tests, which are language tests in which a word is hidden or removed from a sentence. The user must fill the gap with the correct word. Clozemaster is designed to look and feel like a game, which makes learning Spanish fun.

You can choose to play the simple version with multiple-choice questions or the more difficult text-input mode. You can choose to focus on vocab, listening skills, or speaking, as well as concentrate on various aspects of grammar or general vocabulary. The app uses the most common words in Spanish so that you can learn the most useful terminology. Furthermore, there’s even a radio function where you can listen to Spanish sentences and their translations hands-free while you’re on the go. And best of all, most of the Clozemaster content is completely free.

The best iPhone app for learning Spanish

Memrise

Memrise is an app dedicated to memorizing vocabulary via videos. The video mode is available on the app for both European Spanish and Mexican Spanish, which includes video clips of natives using common day-to-day language.

The app has pronunciation exercises to practice your spoken Spanish and even has offline features on both Android and IOS, so you can continue learning anywhere, anytime. Another feature is the AI language partner, with whom you can practice speaking. Memrise can be used on multiple devices, and a lot of the content is totally free, but monthly, annual, and lifetime memberships are available too.

Best Android app for learning conversational Spanish

Hellotalk

Do you ever wish you could just have a chat with a native Spanish speaker? The purpose of apps like HelloTalk is to pair you with a language partner so that you can have real conversations with a real person who speaks your target language as their mother tongue. You can chat with other users in direct messages, share moments on the newsfeed, and take part in live streams to learn even more from expert teachers. There are translation options and captions to make it easier to understand others and to make yourself understood. Furthermore, correction features can help you learn from your mistakes.

A new part of HelloTalk, added just this year, is the Voiceroom, where you can listen to, take part in, or even host your own discussions about the subject of your choice. The primary features of the app are free, with extra elements available to those with a VIP account.

Best app for learning Spanish language

FluentU

FluentU is a language-learning app that uses videos to help users learn. You can learn Spanish by watching real videos, such as music videos and TV and movie clips, to see real-life applications of the language. Each video has interactive subtitles. These not only help you to understand the speech as you watch, but they also allow you to click on a word to see its definition as well as example sentences and other information. After watching a video, you can complete an exercise based on the content of the video to check your understanding.

Busuu

Busuu uses community spirit to help users learn. The app offers interactive lessons that cover a wide range of subjects, including grammar, vocab, and more. Different lessons are available depending on your level. You can practice speaking with native Spanish speakers for fast improvement. Users can complete exercises which are then corrected by other members of the Busuu community.

What’s more, premium users can even earn a Spanish language certificate, which shows what level they’ve reached according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). While these certificates do not represent official language qualifications, they are widely accepted in companies around the world as proof of language ability. That said, it’s always better to check with the company in question whether or not you must take a formal exam to prove your level of Spanish fluency.

Rosetta Stone

If you’ve already done some research into language websites and apps, then you’ve no doubt come across the infamous Rosetta Stone. It has been around since 1992 before most of the creators of the other apps on this list were even born. It started out as a language CD but has since become a computer course and smartphone app. The goal of Rosetta Stone has always been to help people learn a language using sounds and concepts, avoiding translations altogether. With fame and success comes the ability to set high prices, so beware that this is not a low-cost option, and for those of you on a tight budget, there are many other more affordable options available.

App for learning Spanish words

Brainscape

This app is entirely based on flashcards. You know, the cards with words written on them that you have to try to memorize and play memory games with until you know them by heart? This effective learning technique has been transformed into a smartphone app so that you can learn vocabulary everywhere you go. The Brainscape app lets you create your own flashcards with your own personalized definitions of words. The app’s own algorithm decides how often you need to see a certain word in order to learn it so that you spend more time practicing these hard-to-learn words.

You can choose from a variety of subjects in the library, according to your personal interests. You can even play with decks of cards created by other users for collaborative learning. The cost can be spread into monthly payments to avoid paying the annual lump sum.

Babbel

Babbel claims to be the world’s first language app, so it’s unsurprising that it has millions of users worldwide. The app uses empirically proven techniques to help users learn a language via real-world conversations, games, and even podcasts for hands-free learning. There are live online classes available, too. You can download the app on IOS or Android and simply log into your account to access your Spanish course. After a free trial period, subscriptions can be paid every 3, 6, or 12 months, or you can sign up for a lifetime membership.

Mondly

Mondly prides itself on its interactive lessons, with a focus on conversation, and it uses voice-recognition technology, vocabulary exercises, and games to boost learning. The app is easy to use, and lessons only take a few minutes to complete. The app has grammar resources and conjugation tables, as well as resources to help you learn vocabulary. Mondly has both augmented reality and virtual reality technology, in addition to a kids app that aims to teach children a language while having so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning. Mondly also has software for businesses. The Mondly app has monthly, annual, or lifetime payment plans.

Lingualia

While most apps offer a multitude of language pairings, Lingualia is solely focused on Spanish and English. The app uses artificial intelligence to adapt the course to your own Spanish level, providing a unique, personalized learning experience. As well as seeking the help of AI technology, you can also communicate with real people around the world who can chat with you or help you learn their native language. You can track your progress on the app and go at your own rhythm, with lessons as short as 5 minutes.

Great app for learning Spanish

SpanishDict

When you’re learning a language, it's vital that you have access to a dictionary. This can help you find the translation of a word or look up the definition of a new word. When we take the less conventional route of learning entirely online, it’s not quite so easy to take a dictionary everywhere you go. Instead, you need your very own dictionary app to help solve your vocabulary problems. SpanishDict is a Spanish dictionary app where you can find not only vocabulary but also conjugations of Spanish verbs, not to mention fun quizzes and lessons. There’s also a word-of-the-day feature to teach you a new word every single day of the year, as well as many videos to help with pronunciation.

What are the best Spanish apps for beginners?

The best app for those starting out learning Spanish is one with a simple idea: playing games, multiple choice questions, flashcards, or any other fun way to learn general vocabulary. Apps like this include Duolingo, Brainscape, and Clozemaster.

What are the best Intermediate-level Spanish apps?

Once you’ve covered the basics, you should take it up a notch and start listening to music and podcasts in Spanish as well as watching videos. That’s why apps such as FluentU and Busuu are good stepping stones for intermediate Spanish students. They expose you to more difficult vocabulary and introduce grammar lessons without overwhelming you with grammatical structures and verb tenses.

What’s the best app for advanced students?

When you want or need to progress more quickly in Spanish, or once you’ve acquired a good basic knowledge, then you should think about taking private lessons in an app like LiveXP. One-on-one tuition enables you to work on the areas you have the most difficulty with, and your tutor can provide tailored lessons to suit your needs.

How to build a language-learning habit?

As with any habit, you have to be disciplined. I recommend that you set a reminder or alarm on your phone at the same time every day so that you don’t forget to do your daily Spanish practice. Booking in lessons makes it easier to commit, and sharing your progress with friends on a language exchange app holds you accountable and can motivate you to continue.

The best time of day to practice Spanish is a time when you’re always doing the same thing, for example, eating breakfast on your daily commute or just before you go to sleep. Many working adults have a different routine or lack of routine on the weekends, so consider choosing a different time of day on Saturdays and Sundays.

How to choose an app for learning Spanish

There are several factors that you must take into account when deciding which language-learning app to download. The app should align with your personal needs, goals, and learning style. Some apps only provide the most common language pairings, but if you’re eager to learn Spanish, then this won’t be an issue, as it is one of the most widely spoken and widely studied languages in the world.

Firstly, determine your goals. If you need to progress quickly, then you should focus on one-to-one lessons or apps that allow you to communicate directly with native speakers. Real-life conversation is the thing that will improve your spoken Spanish in the shortest amount of time, even more so if you are speaking to an experienced tutor.

Next, work out what your preferred learning style is. If you learn by listening, then watching videos and listening to radio or podcasts will be perfect for you to learn on the go. If you need to sit and write in order to absorb new words, then opt for an app with a writing or gap-fill feature. Similarly, if you want to focus on kinesthetic learning or simply having fun, play games in one of the fun game-like apps.

If you’re going to pay for an app, then you might want to get the most bang for your buck. In this case, select the app with the most available features. These could include the kinds of exercises available, the lessons on offer, the interactivity, expert tutors, feedback system, or sense of community.

Don’t forget that your Spanish lessons must fit into your lifestyle, so be sure to check out the app’s flexibility. If you’re going to be penalized for missing a day, then you should avoid an app with a streak feature. If you want one-on-one lessons, the app should enable you to book these lessons around your job and personal life without being blacklisted for last-minute cancellations when life gets in the way.

Experience full flexibility with the LiveXP app. Learn Spanish with your own schedule.

Always take a look at customer reviews in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. These will show you just how users rate the apps, and you can find out their opinions on certain elements such as user-friendliness, ease-of-use, fun factor, learning effectiveness, and much more.

There’s no time like the present, so the best way to find out if an app is right for you is to download it and start learning right now! For paid subscriptions, why not try a free trial? Many apps offer a free trial varying from just a few days up to a month. That way, you can play games, watch videos, chat with the community, and get an overall sense of the apps and their interface without financial commitment. If you’re unhappy with your choice of app, don’t forget to cancel your subscription before the trial is over to avoid unintentionally paying for the first month.

The overall best apps to learn Spanish

Thanks to all of these modern learning tools, language acquisition is no longer boring and tedious. Ultimately, the best language learning app is one that caters to your personal needs, preferences, and goals. Find what’s right for you, and you’ll be chatting to locals outside the Sagrada Família or ordering cocktails in Cancún in no time.