Best of 2026
The best education apps that cost nothing to start, ranked by our editors.
Our pick: Speak: Language Learning leads with an editor score of 4.5. Speak is the rare language app that skips the tile-matching and puts your voice front and center, using AI-driven pronunciation coaching to close the gap between reading a language and actually speaking it. How we score.
| # | App | Best for | Price | Editor score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speak: Language Learning | Intermediate learners who can read... | Free | 4.5 |
| 2 | Dreaming: Language Learning | Self-directed adult learners burned out... | Free | 4.5 |
| 3 | SpanishDictionary.com Learning | Self-directed Spanish learners who want... | Free | 4.4 |
| 4 | Lingvano - Learn Sign Language | Hearing beginners wanting structured... | Free | 4.4 |
| 5 | Airlearn - Language Learning | Self-directed beginners who want to... | Free | 4.4 |
| 6 | italki - Language Learning | Self-directed language learners seeking... | Free | 4.4 |
| 7 | Language Transfer | Self-motivated adult learners who want... | Free | 4.4 |
| 8 | Babbel - Language Learning | Adult learners and professionals who... | Free | 4.3 |
| 9 | Pimsleur | Language Learning | Busy commuters and travelers who want... | Free | 4.3 |
| 10 | Bunpo: Language Learning | Self-directed learners who want... | Free | 4.3 |
Speak is the rare language app that skips the tile-matching and puts your voice front and center, using AI-driven pronunciation coaching to close the gap between reading a language and actually speaking it.
Read the full Speak: Language Learning review
Dreaming is a focused, philosophy-driven language app that earns its high early rating by doing one thing differently and doing it well, though an unclear paywall and a very short public track record mean cautious...
Read the full Dreaming: Language Learning review
SpanishDictionary.com Learning is one of the most complete single-app Spanish references available on iOS, combining dictionary depth, verb conjugation, video lessons, and translation in a package that stays genuinely...
Read the full SpanishDictionary.com Learning review
Lingvano is a video-first ASL learning app taught by Deaf instructors that earns its near-perfect 4.88-star rating through authentic instruction, thoughtful pacing tools, and a 600-plus lesson curriculum that genuinely...
Read the full Lingvano - Learn Sign Language review
Airlearn earns its place in a crowded category by teaching grammar and cultural context before testing you, making lessons feel like genuine study rather than educated guessing.
Read the full Airlearn - Language Learning review
italki is the right tool for learners who already know they want a human tutor and need a reliable, well-maintained marketplace to find one at a flexible price point.
Read the full italki - Language Learning review
Language Transfer is a focused, no-frills audio learning tool that delivers its unique constructive method reliably, though stalled development and uneven course depth limit it to a strong starting point rather than a...
Read the full Language Transfer review
Babbel is the structured, linguist-built alternative to gamified language apps, prioritizing real conversation skills over streaks and points.
Read the full Babbel - Language Learning review
Pimsleur is a focused, ears-first language tutor that converts dead commute time into genuine speaking practice, though its deliberate audio-only pace and steep subscription cost will not suit every learner.
Read the full Pimsleur | Language Learning review
Bunpo is a grammar-forward, multi-language learning app that earns its exceptional 4.92 store rating by helping learners understand why a language works, not just how to mimic it.
Read the full Bunpo: Language Learning review