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Have you ever dreamed of chilling on the beaches in Phuket or traversing the lush trails of Chiang Mai? Or perhaps youâre planning on sniffing out the best buys in Bangkokâs floating markets. Whatever youâre planning to do in vibrant Thailand, a top tip before traveling is to learn some Thai.
If youâre wondering how to teach yourself Thai and learn the language fast, look no further. Weâve come up with a list of the best apps to learn Thai no matter your budget and lifestyle. Weâll have you saying more than just âSawatdii!â in no time!
Why is using apps the best way to learn Thai?
The short answer is that it is super convenient! While formal courses are well and good, they are often quite pricey and not as easy to come by.
Apps, on the other hand, are available to most people provided they have a mobile phone and a working Internet connection. This makes Thai apps one of the best ways to help you learn to speak Thai.
Different apps tackle different aspects of the Thai language from reading to writing to speaking with ease.
Top picks
There are many apps to learn Thai, each one targeting a particular skill. Here are my favorites:
Excited to learn more about the best apps and programs to learn Thai? Read on!
Overall best apps to learn Thai
1. Mondly
A handy app you can use to learn to speak Thai is Mondly. This app is especially useful for people who can only spend a limited amount of time per day learning a foreign language.
The main advantage of using Mondly is that it sends the user bite-sized lessons every day. These range from core vocabulary and essential introductory phrases to grammar across multiple different categories. Of course, youâll also have some exercises to help keep track of your progress.
All in all, Mondly is the perfect app to learn Thai for those who prefer lessons that are short but effective.
Offer alert: Check out the latest Mondly promo here!
Why you should try Mondly:
- Short daily lessons delivered directly through the app
- Comes with an audio feature that helps improve pronunciation
- Interactive interface facilitates fun, effective learning
Pricing: A premium plan starts at $9.99/month.
Devices: iOS and Android
2. Ling App
If youâve been following our language learning series (want to learn Tagalog or Turkish?), then this app will definitely sound familiar. Ling is an underrated gem and ranks among the best apps to learn Thai.
Basically, Ling is the epitome of learning Thai the fun way! It covers a wide range of topics: the Thai alphabet, vocabulary, grammar, writing, pronunciation, and more, all delivered in engaging, fun-filled lessons. Youâll be mastering Thai all while feeling like youâre just playing your favorite mobile game!
Fair warning, though: its mini-games and engaging interface keep you glued to the app for hours on end. Itâs that fun, it borders on addictive.
Why you should try Ling:
- Fun-filled learning that keeps you engaged
- Covers a wide range of fundamental topics
- Casual learning that delivers results
Pricing: Downloading the app is free. For learning plans with access to all modules, prices start at $8.99/month.
Devices: iOS and Android
3. Preply
Find affordable Thai tutors on Preply
The most effective way to be conversational in any language is to have, well, conversations. By having lessons with a Thai Preply tutor, you get to converse in Thai while also learning about the intricacies of the language.
Preply has over 100 Thai online tutors as of writing, many of them sporting impressive resumes and glowing reviews from former students. Whether you’re looking to learn basic Thai for traveling, intensive lessons for exams, or even Thai lessons for business, you’ll find a good match on Preply.
If, by any chance, you don’t feel satisfied after your first lesson, Preply offers a tutor replacement. This flexibility, along with the option to take lessons that fit your budget and schedule, makes Preply an efficient tool for busy, pragmatic, and serious learners!
Why you should try Preply:
- Instant feedback from native-speaking Thai tutors
- Customized lesson plans
- Flexibility in budget and schedule
Pricing: Thai lessons costs $16/session on average but you can find tutors for as low as $8. You can also avail of discounted trial lessons.
Devices: iOS and Android
4. Pimsleur
Try Pimsleur Thai absolutely FREE today
Pimsleur is one of the worldâs leading apps when it comes to learning a foreign language. Combining a multitude of research-proven learning methods, Pimsleur helps you achieve fluency quickly in your choice of language, including Thai.
Courses are structured to incorporate real-world context and are delivered through 30-minute daily audio lessons. This helps to improve your listening and verbal comprehension, not to mention pick up practical vocabulary along the way.
Pimsleur also offers offline learning features, as well as bonus learning materials such as games and quizzes, making it one of the best apps to learn Thai!
Why you should try Pimsleur:
- Focus on auditory/verbal learning to prepare you for real-life conversations
- Proven track record of helping learners quickly reach fluency
- Offline learning feature offers flexible accessibility
Pricing: Pimsleur subscription is $14.95/month for Audio-Only; $19.95/month for Premium (with Bonus Materials), or $20.95/month for All Access. Try it for free.
5. italki
Find affordable Thai tutors on Italki
You can spend hours and hours picking up new vocabulary and learning Thai grammar on various apps. However, it could take you months before you gain the confidence to actually speak the language. This is where italki comes in.
italki is an app where you can find Thai tutors or locals to practice conversations and work through customized lessons online. Lessons typically run for 30 or 60 minutes and are conducted via Skype or italki Classroom and can range from casual conversations to fully-structured lessons.
The obvious advantage of having a tutor (or multiple tutors) is being able to stay motivated on your language learning journey. Whatâs more, youâll be able to make friends with locals while you learn to speak Thai. Now thatâs an awesome way to learn!
Why you should try italki:
- Highly personalized and customized lessons
- Ability to interact and converse with a tutor/local
- Facilitates a fun, natural environment to improve fluency in Thai
Pricing: The app itself is free but lessons with Thai tutors start from $7.
Devices: iOS and Android
Best apps to learn Thai vocabulary
6. Drops
Drops is an aesthetically pleasing app that makes learning to speak Thai a fun, engaging process. The app focuses on word association and uses eye-catching flashcards to help users quickly acquire and understand a wide range of vocabulary and basic phrases.
Each âlessonâ lasts only about five minutes so you wonât have to worry about feeling lethargic at all! Whatâs more, you can choose which lessons you want based on your level of proficiency, which is super helpful if youâve already got a basic grasp of the language.
Why you should try Drops:
- Bite-sized sessions to keep you fresh and interested
- Memorable flashcards that promote word association
- Helps you quickly expand your word bank and learn new phrases
Pricing: Premium features start from just $2.91 per month. Find the latest Drops promo here.
Devices: iOS and Android
7. Learn Thai Vocabulary with Vocly
Vocly is an app that is best suited for those who already have a basic understanding of Thai. After all, the app is made to help users quickly expand their word bank by sending them daily lessons and reminders.
With over 100 different topics, each separated according to specific situations and conversational fields, Vocly is an easy-to-use app that helps you master Thai without breaking a sweat. There are also a few mini-games that help you test yourself every now and then!
Why you should try Vocly:
- An efficient way to acquire new vocabulary on a daily basis
- Easy separation of topics helps you pick and choose your lessons
- Fun mini-games help you track your progress in an engaging manner
Pricing: Premium features start from $8.99/month
8. Learn Thai – 11,000 Words by FunEasyLearn
With 11,000 Thai words and phrases combined with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and high-quality audio recordings of native speakers, FunEasyLearn should be on every learner’s toolkit. It’s one of the most comprehensive apps for expanding Thai vocabulary.
The aptly named app is designed to be fun and easy to use. You can acquire new vocabulary by playing effective games covering a variety of interesting topics. What’s more, you can learn Thai from 62 mother tongues!
Why you should try FunEasyLearn:
- A vast catalog of words and phrases to learn
- Game-based lessons are great for busy learners
- Smart review tools and stats for increased motivation
Pricing: Premium features start from $3.99/month.
9. Clozemaster
Need a bit more challenge? If you’re way past basic Thai and looking to take your Thai knowledge to the next level, Clozemaster is for you.
Clozemaster is a gamified app that challenges you to select or enter the correct word from context. This is known as a cloze test and the more you keep doing it, the more you learn difficult words and fix the gaps in your vocabulary.
Ideal for intermediate and advanced learners, Clozemaster is a great resource to achieve fluency. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s designed like a retro 8-bit video game.
Why you should try Clozemaster:
- Gamified approach for learning from context
- Challenging vocabulary builder tool
- Engaging way to achieve fluency
Pricing: Free to download and play. Clozemaster Pro, which has advanced features and stats, is available for $8 per month or $60 per year.
Best apps to learn conversational Thai
10. Glossika
This audio-based course promises to teach Thai without the need for memorization. Intrigued already?
Glossika’s Thai course is designed to improve your listening and speaking at native speed. It does this by letting you hear complete sentences in Thai, not just random words. This way, you’ll absorb Thai patterns, hear native pronunciations, and get a good grasp of grammar structures.
Designed for the busy learner, Glossika takes care of all the lesson scheduling and review sessions. You can listen to the course while driving to work, getting dressed, or doing chores. Neat huh?
Why you should try Glossika:
- Learn Thai from sentences that offer context
- Hear native pronunciations to train your listening and speaking skills
- Tailor-made courses based on your skill level
Pricing: Premium plans start at $16.99/month. Snatch Glossika deals here! If youâd like to support Learn Languages From Home, make sure to complete your purchase through the Glossika website (not the mobile app). You can sign up and use whatever platform you want, but if you make the purchase using the website, I make a small commission. Thanks!
Devices: iOS and Android
11. ThaiPod101
Although apps like Duolingo and Rosetta Stone are great for learning new languages, neither offer lessons in Thai at the moment. Instead, try ThaiPod101, arguably one of the best apps to learn Thai! It offers a multitude of features that makes learning Thai fun and breezy.
Choose from a range of audio and video lessons, offline learning features, and even daily vocabulary lessons to quickly grasp the basics. It is also one of the best apps to learn the Thai alphabet!
Thereâs also a dedicated website and Youtube channel to supplement your learning. Itâs like an entire course packaged into one neatly-structured app!
Why you should try ThaiPod101:
- Holistic learning with different features
- Easy-to-digest daily vocabulary lessons
- Complementary resources to help with learning
Pricing: Comes with limited free lessons but you can upgrade to Basic Access for $7.99/month; $24.99/month for Premium Access; $46.99/month for Premium PLUS Access.
Devices: iOS and Android
12. Tandem
Ready to put your language skills into practice? How about mastering a language and gaining a friend?
Tandem is highly recommended for learners who want to speak to native speakers and learn from them. It’s pretty straightforward: find a language exchange partner from Tandem’s huge pool of Thai users, get talking with the in-app tools (e.g., chat, correction, translation), and learn as you go!
Of course, since this is a language exchange app, you’ll also have to teach your language(s) to your partner. It’s a great way to gain a more nuanced understanding of Thai, learn a new culture, and help a fellow learner!
Why you should try Tandem:
- Social way of learning languages
- Learn Thai from a native speaker
- Ample messaging features and language tools
Pricing: Slightly limited free features. Tandem Pro starts at $6.99/month.
Basic apps to learn Thai
13. Learn Thai – Phrasebook by Apoxis
Learn Thai is a handy app that is specially catered to expats and visitors to Thailand. Developed by a team of locals, the app is designed to help kickstart your language learning journey with clear, concise audio lessons to help you grasp proper pronunciation.
With more than 200 words in the vocabulary bank, youâll also be able to quickly pick up useful phrases with relative ease. Lessons are also divided based on categories so youâll be able to be specific with what you wish to learn.
Finally, the ability to customize the audio lessons (in terms of speed and voiceover selection) makes it one of the most user-friendly apps to learn Thai.
Why you should try Learn Thai:
- Quick, concise lessons that help you kickstart your learning journey
- Audio lessons recorded by native speakers to improve pronunciation
- Comes with an offline mode that allows you to learn anytime, anywhere
Pricing: While Learn Thai can be used for completely free, you can also upgrade to the full version for $4.99.
14. FREE Thai by Nemo
In my opinion, Free Thai by Nemo is one of the best free apps to learn Thai. It can be your go-to phrasebook, teach you proper pronunciation with the help of native speakers, and provide you excellent learning sessions even on a free account.
FREE Thai by Nemo narrows lessons down by creating essential shortlists of words and phrases and focuses on sentence-building. You can track your progress with quirky quizzes and the Speech Studio, which allows you to practice your pronunciation.
Youâll also build your word bank using flashcards whilst getting familiar with the Thai alphabet.
Why you should try FREE Thai by Nemo:
- A wide word bank covering different areas of conversation
- Fun quizzes to check your progress
- Audio lessons to improve your pronunciation
Pricing: You can use the app effectively for free. Upgrades and purchases start from $8.99.
Devices: iOS and Android
15. Simply Learn Thai
We understand that some of you may want to learn Thai as quickly as you can. Donât worry â weâve got you covered, too! If your main goal is to acquire words and phrases you can use in casual conversations, Simply Learn Thai is easily your best friend. Itâs also one of the best travel apps for Thailand!
The app mainly makes use of flashcards and pronunciation guides in addition to fun, interactive pop quizzes to check your progress.
Thereâs also a nifty word bank that contains essential travel-related words and phrases. These include words and phrases that youâre likely to utter when commuting, eating out, sightseeing, shopping, and asking for directions.
Why you should try Simply Learn Thai:
- Effective use of flashcards to quickly learn essential vocabulary
- Audio guide by locals helps you nail your pronunciation
- Extensive word bank that helps you quickly acquire topic-specific words/phrases
Pricing: $9.99 for a Pro account (with full access) or $1.99 per topic category
Devices: iOS and Android
16. Pocket Thai Speaking: Learning to Speak Thai Today
Much like Simply Learn Thai, Pocket Thai Speaking allows you to go straight into learning Thai phrases youâll need for travel. In fact, this app was created with the smart traveler in mind so most lessons are geared towards exactly that. As a bonus, lessons come with fun facts about Thai etiquette, culture, and traditionďź
But what makes Pocket Thai one of the best apps to learn Thai fast is that it also gives you quick grammar tutorials. There are also clear audio recordings to help improve your pronunciation as you learn to speak Thai fluently.
Plus, Pocket Thai prioritizes your convenience above all else by offering offline learning and lets you customize lessons depending on your preferences.
Why you should try Pocket Thai Speaking:
- Allows you to learn essential phrases and grammar
- Holistic, customizable courses that also incorporate travel tips for Thailand
- Comes with a handy offline learning feature
Pricing: In-app purchases start from $7.25
Devices: iOS and Android
17. Write It! Thai
While most apps on this list teach a combination of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and a little bit of the Thai alphabet, this app focuses only on the latter.
For a well-rounded approach to learning Thai, learning how to read and write Thai characters â 44 consonants and 28 vowels â is a must. It’s not easy but Write It! Thai’s bite-sized handwriting lessons make it more doable.
Aside from tracing characters by hand, you can also listen to audio recordings. Pairing the script with the sounds help establish recall. In no time, you’ll be learning to read Thai phrases without Romanizations!
Why you should try Write It! Thai:
- Learn to write Thai stroke by stroke
- Fast and fun way to develop reading and writing skills in Thai
- Professionally recorded audio to pair with each character
Pricing: Free with in-app purchases
Bonus: Thai – English Translator
Sometimes the best apps for learning Thai are the ones with the most practical usage. If all you want is to be able to communicate with a local instantaneously while traveling in Thailand, then the best app for you is simply Thai – English Translator.
As the name suggests, this free app to learn Thai allows you to translate words between English and Thai at a momentâs notice. Its user-friendly interface makes the whole process a breeze and it can also be used as a dictionary.
So while youâre using the app for simple translations, youâll also be able to pick up basic Thai words along the way! Above all though, it is simply one of the best travel apps for Thailand.
Why you should try Thai – English Translator:
- A highly-accurate translation app that helps you communicate
- Instantaneous translation on-the-go
- Can be used to store previous translations like a dictionary
Pricing: It is free for use but contains a fair amount of ads
Note: We’ve previously featured Walen Thai and Speak Thai (by Tourism Authority of Thailand) apps but unfortunately, they’ve been discontinued and are no longer available for download on the App Store or Google Play store.
Your most-asked questions about the Thai language, answered!
Now that you have your options for app-based learning, itâs time for a quick Q&A! We rounded up questions that most Thai language learners tend to ask and we hope that by answering them, we’ll encourage you to go ahead and start taking up Thai as a second language!
How long does it take to learn Thai?
Most learners will usually begin to achieve a level of fluency in three to four months! By this time, youâll likely have a phrase bank thatâs filled with essential words, which is more than enough to carry a casual conversation.
How do beginners speak Thai?
With such a phonetic language, the best way to start learning Thai is by listening to native Thai speakers talk. This is why audio lessons are so useful. Keep that in mind when looking for apps to learn Thai.
What do you call the Thai alphabet?
People just refer to it as Thai script. It contains 72 characters in total.
Is Thai a gendered language?
While Thai isnât a gendered language like Spanish or French, men and women use different pronouns in Thai. For example, to say hello in Thai, a woman would say âSawatdii ka!â Males, on the other hand, say âSawatdii khrap!â
Surely, there are more things left for you to discover once you start studying the Thai language. So what are you waiting for? Take your pick from these best apps for learning Thai and let the downloads begin!
Also Read: Learn Thai: 30+ Best Apps, Podcasts, Books and Free Resources
You can also try TUTOROO. They have native Thai language tutors and speakers that you can hire to learn the Thai language easier and effectively.
You can choose your own tutor from this link: https://www.tutoroo.co/thai-tutor and you can inquire directly with them about the classes.
Check out their website for more information. Hope this helps!
No, please avoid Tutoroo. The company is fraudulent. The tutor is obliged to teach the first few hours for free (Tutoroo keeps ALL the money, and they try to encourage you to book more hours for a lower hourly rate, but none of that goes to the tutor). The tutor only gets paid AFTER you’ve completed the basic Tuturoo classes and make private arrangements for payment.
Also, once they have your card details, they will continue to take money from your account surreptitiously – without warning and without confirmation or receipts – until you block your card. They’ve been doing this routinely to their “premium” tutors who are obliged to pay a subscription to be listed on their site – they continue to charge them even after having cancelled!
Please can you add a mention to the Rapid Method for learning Thai.
Frankly, it’s the only one that works, although some of the other courses could be useful follow-on material, once you’ve become literate. Rapid Read Thai is the first step in the Rapid Method. All the subsequent conversational courses require that you can read.
To learn to speak Thai (once you’re already literate, that is), I recommend Everyday Thai for Beginners. Attending the online ALG classes is also an entertaining way to gain better comprehension – but it helps to write down the vocabulary encountered in each less (in Thai, of course) and look them up and memorize them before continuing with the next class. (This is not how ALG was intended, but this combination of literacy, vocabulary building and re-listening is far more effective.)