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I can’t really tell when I last opened a language textbook and I bet most of you can’t either. Luckily, there’s a fast and efficient alternative for learning a foreign language: apps!
We use apps for basically everything these days, so why not learn Portuguese with one (or a bunch of them)? Today I’ll show you the best apps to learn Brazilian Portuguese that you can download now and speed up your path to fluency.
Let’s do this!
Top picks
I know some of you are so time-pressed that you won’t make it to the end of the list. With that in mind, here goes a TL;DR with my favorite apps to learn Portuguese.
- Babbel has fun and interactive lessons that tackle various language skills.
- You can hire a native-speaking tutor that fits your budget on italki or Preply.
- Pimsleur boasts an extremely comprehensive audio course with a time-tested method.
- There are 25+ million fellow language learners on HelloTalk who’d love to practice with you.
Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?
1. Babbel
Babbel is one of the most traditional language learning apps. They offer five Portuguese courses going from newcomer through intermediate levels. There are also five theme paths (“Words and Sentences”, “Grammar”, “Countries and Traditions”, “Specials”, and “Refresher”).
You’ll notice the app is among the best in terms of interactivity for learning Portuguese as a foreign language. Better yet, it has a digital magazine full of compelling articles.
For more details about this awesome app, check out this Babbel review from my colleague.
Why you must try Babbel:
- The 15-minute lessons are packed with content
- You can download them to learn anywhere
- The layout is clean and intuitive
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: Plans have flexible pricing but start at $9.95/month. Snatch Babbel’s latest promotions.
2. Pimsleur
Lessons on Pimsleur teach you a core set of words within the framework of a conversation through increasing intervals. That’s a way of ensuring that what you’ve learned is committed to your long-term memory.
This method has been proven effective and has been popular for 50+ years. As such, Pimsleur is hands down one of the best apps to learn Portuguese out there. It’ll get you to speak, understand, and read in Brazilian Portuguese really fast.
Its 30-minute core audio lessons are complemented by bonus learning resources such as quizzes, flashcards, and reading lessons.
Here’s an offer for you: Try Pimsleur Portuguese free today! And here’s an in-depth review in case you need more convincing.
Why you’ll love Pimsleur:
- It’ll help you build your conversation skills in no time
- You can listen to the lessons anywhere
- Its method has been working for decades
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: The audio-only subscription is $14.95 a month. Alternatively, the All Access plan costs $20.99/month. Try it for free now.
3. Mondly
Mondly has structured its lessons around quizzes, which couldn’t be more convenient for those of you who have to study on-the-go. And in case you want to flex your competitive streak, knock yourself out with the app’s global leaderboard.
But don’t let its clear and user-friendly interface fool you: the app presents in detail all the topics you will need to learn in order to become fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, from food to travel, and even romance.
Why you must try Mondly:
- The speech recognition tool is hard to beat
- It focuses on conversations you might have in real life
- It’ll teach you 5000+ words and expressions
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: $9.99/month or an unbeatable $47.99/year. Check out Mondly’s latest promo for bigger savings!
4. Rocket Languages
Learn Portuguese on Rocket Languages
Rocket Languages‘s 30-minute audio lessons are ideal for busy learners who want to use their commute or some other gap in their schedule to learn Brazilian Portuguese.
Its mix of grammar and culture-oriented content, exercises about pronunciation, engaging activities, and flashcards totals around 140 hours of lesson time that will take you from beginner all the way to intermediate.
On top of that, this Portuguese learning app features a huge exchange community that will help you learn and stay motivated.
Why you must try Rocket Languages:
- Portuguese podcasts make up a great deal of its lessons
- You’ll take a deeper look into Brazilian culture
- You can use it on multiple devices
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: The whole course will cost you $149.95 (lifetime access). Discounts may be available, though.
5. uTalk
For building a strong foundation in Brazilian Portuguese vocabulary, uTalk is a fantastic app. It’s built for vocabulary first, offering over 2,500 words and phrases across 60+ practical topics that cover everyday situations.
The app isn’t your generic flashcard though. Instead, it makes learning fun and memorable through a series of easy, interactive games.
A particularly helpful feature is its voice recording function, which allows you to practice speaking and then compare your pronunciation directly with authentic native speakers, ensuring you’re picking up the correct accent from the start. This makes uTalk a solid resource for anyone who wants to get a handle on essential words and phrases.
Why you must try uTalk:
- It has a large library of Brazilian Portuguese words and phrases
- Each word comes with native speaker audio
- The voice recording tool allows you to evaluate your pronunciation
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: Starts from $11.99/month, but LLFH readers can check out this exclusive deal.
6. Duolingo
Duolingo outright changed the way we study foreign languages by launching the concept of an app that balances learning and fun in equal measure.
The app gets more accurate by the day as learners send corrections and suggestions that enlarge its databases. The fact that it’s so popular means millions of people are regularly contributing for the improvement of its content.
Since you’ll have to put in 400 study hours to complete Duolingo’s 25 levels, it’s fair to say you’ll have reached upper-intermediate Portuguese by then: fluency comes after about 600 hours of learning.
Why you must try Duolingo:
- It single-handedly created gamified language learning
- The method worked for over 300 million people worldwide
- It’s constantly improved by users’ contributions
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: Free! Yet for a smoother, ad-free experience you can try Duolingo Plus for $9.99/month.
7. FluentU
FluentU is one of the most exciting apps among those with unique approaches. It boasts an impressive video library, complete with news clips, movie trailers, and music videos, from all over the interwebs. This is meant to teach you Brazilian Portuguese in context.
The app’s quizzes and lessons work in flawless harmony with the videos and will ensure you hone your Portuguese skills without even feeling like you’re studying.
Why you must try FluentU:
- You’ll learn how native speakers actually talk through FluentU’s videos
- It’ll introduce you to Brazilian culture in the meantime
- It’s a lot more fun than the majority of apps
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: Either $29.99 for a monthly subscription or $239.99 for a year. Get 40% off its regular price after a 14-day trial.
8. Drops
It’s true Drops offers limited content for free, but the premium plans are great value for money. It’s one of the highest-rated language apps on the market as well.
The app focuses on building your Portuguese vocabulary. Its method revolves around creating a link between images and their definition through challenging games.
Drops is recommended for beginners and intermediate-level learners. Its layout is so sleek and user-friendly, I won’t be surprised if you get hooked on it.
Why you must try Drops:
- It’ll teach you the 2,600 words crucial for effective communication
- Lessons are short and interactive
- Its blog and visual dictionary are top-tier
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: Starting at $12.99/month
9. Lingopie
Watching Brazilian TV shows and movies to learn Portuguese need not be a passive learning activity. With Lingopie, you can actively learn the language and have fun at the same time!
Choose from Lingopie’s binge-worthy shows, Netflix Selects, cartoons, documentaries, travel shows, and more. To learn new words, you can click the subtitles and get instant translations then save them into flashcards for later use. You can also record your voice and let the app test your accuracy.
Lingopie is great for studying both Brazilian and European Portuguese. You can easily distinguish the origin country of the show/film so you can simply choose the ones from Brazil if you want to concentrate on learning Brazilian Portuguese.
Why you must try Lingopie:
- A wide variety of interesting content from Brazil and Portugal
- You can learn native pronunciation and accent
- Innovative learning features like clickable subtitles, flashcards, voice recorder, etc.
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: Starting at $5.99/month on the annual plan. You can try it for free too!
10. Busuu
Busuu has a vibrant community of 100+ million learners. With its well-thought-out, bite-sized lesson plans, it’s definitely among the best apps to learn Portuguese.
One of my favorite things about it is the possibility of talking to native speakers after every lesson. Plus, you can pick between a dozen languages to study in case English isn’t your first language.
Pricing: Premium plans cost $9.99/month and $79.99/year
Why you must try Busuu:
- It earned multiple awards since it was launched in 2008
- Its free version is really comprehensive
- There’s a dozen working languages available
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: $12.99 for a month, $77.94 for six months, and $155.88 for a year. Discounts are available here.
11. italki
Find Portuguese tutors on italki
italki will have you take a course with a native tutor that fits in your pocket. There are about 500 native Brazilian Portuguese teachers active on the platform, so you’re guaranteed to find the perfect match for your learning needs.
Yet not only does the app link students and private tutors, it offers the possibility of talking to fellow learners as well. That way, you’ll get to both practice conversation and cover grammar and vocabulary through a more structured learning path.
Why you must try italki:
- Tutors create a tailored approach for your specific learning needs
- It’s one of the most affordable apps of this kind
- Learning from a native speaker is extremely effective
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: Usually between $10 to $30 per hour for the best-rated tutors, though some will charge $5 or a bit less. Sign up for less here.
12. Preply
Find Portuguese tutors on Preply
Another platform for finding Portuguese tutors online, Preply has a pool of 800+ Portuguese tutors (many of them from Brazil) offering various specialties. Whether you need beginner lessons, help with CELPE-BRAS (certification exam for Brazilian Portuguese), or guidance in Portuguese literature, you’ll surely find a good Preply tutor.
Choosing a tutor on Preply is as easy as browsing through profiles, which contain all the details you’d want to know — the tutor’s experience, certification (if any), ratings and reviews from previous students, specialization, availability, and rates.
If you somehow end up feeling dissatisfied after your trial lesson, Preply will help you find a replacement tutor for free. This ensures that you get a tutor who can meet you needs and learning style.
Why you must try Preply:
- Huge pool of Portuguese tutors to choose from
- Flexibility in schedules and budget
- You can find a tutor that can meet specific goals and needs.
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing:Â Usually between $15 to $20 per 50-minute lesson. Get 50% off your first Preply class here!
13. HelloTalk
With over 25 million users, HelloTalk is the no. 1 language exchange community on Earth. Its 25+ million users can text, send voice messages, doodles, and call their conversation partners. It even offers a built-in feature emulating Instagram Stories.
While the app is not exactly suited for Portuguese first-timers, those of you who have mastered basic Brazilian Portuguese will love HelloTalk’s laid-back environment.
Why you must try HelloTalk:
- You’ll make friends that will help you learn
- It’ll make you forget you’re actually studying
- You can post your own material and interact with HelloTalk’s community
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: You can get the ad-free version for $7.99/month and $79.99/year
14. Rosetta Stone
Learn Portuguese on Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone offers a three-day trial that will leave you asking for more. It features downloadable lessons, a phrasebook, and, for many of the available languages, the possibility of simply touching anything on a lesson to reveal its translation.
Its course will get you to speak Brazilian Portuguese regularly as you learn common expressions, practice listening through authentic dialogues, and read gripping stories. All it takes is five to ten minutes a day on the app.
Rosetta Stone is used by several leading corporations worldwide, including Uber, BMW, Twitter, and Lego.
Why you must try Rosetta Stone:
- Rosetta Stone will help you have breakthrough after breakthrough in Brazilian Portuguese
- Its yearly and lifetime plans allow you access to all 22 languages available
- It’s in high demand among schools and companies
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: A $19.95/month plan will grant you access for three months. Check out the latest Rosetta Stone promo here.
15. MosaLingua
Learn Portuguese on MosaLingua
MosaLingua has a wide range of grammar lessons, audio clips, and flashcards that are precious tools to learn how to speak Portuguese more naturally and improve your pronunciation.
The app even issues its own certificate, which is unheard of in the world of language learning apps. On top of that, most teachers on the platform are Brazilian.
Memorizing words will become way easier with the MosaLingua method, which is awesome if you’re having a hard time with vocab.
Why you must try MosaLingua:
- Native teachers will be there to help you learn
- It’s one of the most thorough apps on the market
- It alternates between lessons, videos, flashcards, and other resources
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: MosaLingua starts from $9.99 per month. Try it free first!
16. LingQ
LingQ‘s library includes material on literature, history, pop music, and even science that you can freely pick from to learn Portuguese. It features comedy sketches too so you can have fun as you learn.
My two favorite things about the app are the possibility of asking questions directly to native tutors and the focus on building the listening skills of learners through over 1000 hours of audio and video content, which always features matching transcripts.
Why you must try LingQ:
- The content mix perfectly balances vocab, grammar, and culture
- Tutors are available to answer your questions around the clock
- Your listening skills will take off
Devices: iOS and Android
Pricing: From $12.99/month through $107.99 for one-year access.
Final thoughts
There are multiple kinds of resources that you can rely on to learn Portuguese, like Portuguese translator apps and podcasts.
That said, you must also count on conventional, grammar- and vocabulary-oriented apps to learn Brazilian Portuguese if you want to master the language soon.
They’re the modern equivalent of good ole’ textbooks and will teach you Portuguese in an exciting and almost effortless way, trust me! You can also follow these tips to learn Brazilian Portuguese, and you’ll soon find yourself on your way to fluency!
Top apps to learn Brazilian Portuguese – Pin it!
