15 Best Korean Speaking Apps to Get Fluent Quickly

*This article may contain affiliate links. For full information, please see the disclaimer here.

한국어하세요? That’s Korean for “Do you speak Korean?” and if you’ve recently started to learn Korean, you’re probably aiming to finally answer 예 (yes) to this question. If you’ve been studying for quite some time yet still don’t feel comfortable answering yes to this question, you’ve come to the right place.

"Do you speak Korean?" written on blackboard

Whether you’re planning a trip to Seoul, want to ace a potential employer, or just want to impress your Korean friends, there are plenty of apps out there to help you improve your Korean speaking skills. From vocabulary builders to pronunciation guides, these Korean speaking apps will have you speaking like a native in no time.

So, grab your phone and let’s get started!

Why use Korean speaking apps

Learning Korean has many benefits, but knowing how to speak it is particularly an impressive skill that can earn you bragging rights in many situations.

For instance, it can help you stand out in a job interview, make new friends while traveling, or give you an easier time when you travel. Being able to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds is a valuable asset that can open up new opportunities and experiences.

hand holding Korean speaking app

Why apps though?

Learning Korean through apps is convenient as you can learn at your own pace and schedule. You can learn anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Many Korean language learning apps are free or cost less than traditional language classes so they can be affordable options too!

Furthermore, apps can personalize your learning experience based on your level, interests, and learning style. Many apps offer multimedia content such as videos, audio recordings, and images, as well as gamification techniques, to engage and motivate you.

Lastly, there are Korean speaking apps that provide access to native Korean speakers. Nothing beats being in Korea and conversing with locals but that’s not an option for everyone, right? With apps, you can connect with native speakers who can help you practice your speaking skills and provide feedback.

Top picks

There are lots of apps for learning Korean, with some zeroing in on speaking skills. But I know you don’t have the time to dive into all of them so I picked out my favorites:

  • Rocket Korean’s holistic audio-based course gives cultural context to spoken Korean.
  • Pimsleur and Glossika’s audio lessons will help you improve your conversational skills.
  • Try Mondly and Ling for gamified lessons that feature the voices of native speakers.
  • Italki and Preply can connect you with thousands of Korean language tutors.

Ready to know more about these apps? 시작해 보자!

Best Korean speaking apps for language learners

1. Rocket Korean

Learn Korean on Rocket Languages

Learn Korean on Rocket Languages

Rocket Korean offers a comprehensive and interactive way to mastering spoken Korean. The platform provides a wide range of tools, tips, and audio lessons that cater to both beginners and advanced learners.

What makes Rocket Korean is its holistic testing method. First, you can play an audio track to hear how native speakers pronounce the words. Then, you can record yourself saying the word or phrase. And then, to further reinforce learning, you’re asked to write in Korean.

Rocket Korean is one of the most comprehensive Korean courses online, but don’t expect it to be academic. The phrases you’ll learn are more colloquial, preparing you for conversations you might have with locals. You’ll get cultural info for context too.

Key features:

  • Audio lessons featuring native speakers
  • Exercises targeting all core skills
  • State-of-the-art voice recognition engine

Pricing: Lifetime access starts at $149.95 but you can avail of discounts here.

Devices: iOS and Android

2. Mondly

Learn Korean on Mondly

Learn Korean on Mondly

While Mondly isn’t necessarily dedicated to improving your speaking skills, it’s still great for honing your Korean pronunciation.

Mondly’s short, gamified lessons don’t just build your vocabulary and teach you conjugations but also train your ears. The audio recordings feature native speakers so you hear the correct pronunciation and accent.

What’s more, Mondly’s Conversation mode allows you to practice your listening and speaking skills with a chatbot. There’s also a hands-free mode for practicing these skills on the go. Learn more about Mondly with this review.

Key features:

  • Native speaker voiceovers teach authentic pronunciation and accent
  • Immersive chatbot for Korean speaking practice
  • Various exercises that build relevant vocabulary

Pricing: Free daily lessons. Full access starts at $9.99/month or $47.99/year. Check out the latest promo here.

Devices: iOS and Android

3. Pimsleur

Learn Korean on Pimsleur

Try out Pimsleur for FREE

If you want to speak Korean from day one, start by using Pimsleur. This app is one of the best Korean speaking apps as it really focuses on pronunciation.

The Pimsleur Korean course has three levels, making up a total of 48 hours of audio. The 30-minute audio lessons feature essential Korean phrases and sentences that are voiced by native Korean speakers. There are also reading materials that can help strengthen your recall.

It’s worth noting that Pimsleur doesn’t have a voice recorder function. But the app uses listen-and-repeat and call-and-response patterns, prompting you to speak and repeat what you hear. Keep doing this and you’ll naturally improve your pronunciation and accent.

Learn more with this review of Pimsleur.

Key features:

  • Authentic voices of native Korean speakers
  • Relevant vocabulary and grammar in context
  • Well-timed intervals between repetitions for longer recall

Pricing: $14.95/month for Audio-Only; $19.95/month for Premium (with bonus materials), or $20.95/month for All Access. Try Pimsleur now for FREE.

Devices: iOS and Android

4. Ling

Learn Korean on Ling

Learn Korean on Ling

For playful lessons that touch on a variety of skills, Ling is a good choice. It’s one of the best Korean speaking apps for those who have limited time to practice daily.

Ling offers comprehensive lessons and topics in a mini-game format designed to expand your vocabulary and improve your conversational skills. The best place to start is with the app’s chatbot. Here, you can practice your listening and speaking skills while simulating a conversation.

Because Hangeul is an important part of learning Korean, Ling also offers writing lessons where you can familiarize yourself with Korean characters. You can practice writing by finger-tracing these characters.

Key features:

  • Fun learning environment with mini-games, quizzes, and puzzles
  • Voice clips featuring native speakers
  • Chatbot for boosting conversational skills

Pricing: $14.99/month. Check out Ling discounts here.

Devices: iOS and Android

5. italki

Korean tutors on italki

Learn Korean on italki

If you’d rather practice speaking with a real person, I have two words for you: Korean tutors.

There are several websites for Korean tutors but one of my favorites is italki. As you can guess from its name, italki lets you talk to build your conversational skills. This platform lets you connect to hundreds of Korean professional teachers and community tutors who can give you personalized feedback.

Choosing a tutor on italki is as simple as browsing through tutor profiles. You can filter your options by lesson category (e.g., conversation practice, Korean for business, TOPIK preparation, etc.), rates, schedule, and more.

Check out this italki review to learn more.

Key features:

  • Private coaching from a Korean native speaker
  • Customized lessons and personalized coaching
  • Affordable tutor rates and flexible schedules

Pricing: You can find tutors for as low as $5 per lesson. Check out discounted trial lessons here.

Devices: iOS and Android

6. Glossika

Learn Korean on Glossika

Learn Korean on Glossika

Another audio-based app that’s worth your attention is Glossika.

Glossika’s unique approach to language learning focuses on sentence structure and patterns, allowing you to understand the language in context. This method, combined with the repetition of key phrases, helps to solidify your understanding and recall of Korean grammar and vocabulary.

The platform provides native speaker recordings, giving you exposure to the authentic sounds and rhythms of the Korean language. You can record your voice after the listening exercise. Glossika’s spaced repetition system also ensures that you review material at the optimal time for memory retention.

Key features:

  • Teaches thousands of full Korean sentences
  • Natural acquisition of Korean vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
  • Hands-free listening-only mode

Pricing: Starts from $16.99/month but you can try it for free first. Discounts are also available. If you’d 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

7. Memrise

Learn Korean on Memrise

Learn Korean on Memrise

One of the most immersive Korean speaking apps out there is Memrise. This app offers a unique feature to teach you Korean: real-life videos.

These videos feature native Korean speakers using the language in everyday situations, giving you a glimpse into the practical application of what you’re learning. This not only helps you understand the context in which certain words or phrases are used, but also exposes you to the natural rhythm and intonation of the language.

What’s more, these phrases you will learn are all relevant and with cultural context to boot. You won’t hear outdated phrases. If you crave conversation partners though, you’re in luck because the app also features MemBot, an AI chatbot that you can practice with.

Key features:

  • Essential and relevant Korean phrases
  • Video lessons delivered by native Korean speakers in local settings
  • Chatbot for conversation practice

Pricing: Memrise Pro starts at $14.99/month. Snatch discounts here!

Devices: iOS and Android

8. Lingopie

Learn Korean on Lingopie

Learn Korean on Lingopie

With its vast collection of Korean dramas, movies, and music videos, Lingopie offers an immersive and entertaining way to learn the language. And it won’t feel like you’re studying!

The platform provides a wide range of features that make learning Korean fun and easy. For instance, you can watch your favorite Korean dramas and movies with dual subtitles, which makes it easy to follow along with the dialogue. You can also click on any word in the subtitles to get an instant translation, which is a great way to learn new vocabulary.

Because you’re watching videos that feature native speakers, you’ll hear authentic pronunciation and a variety of accents. You’ll also be exposed to cultural nuances and different contexts for phrases. Overall, a great way to develop your speaking skills.

Key features:

  • Learn Korean pronunciation and accents from K-dramas, movies, and K-pop
  • Interactive features like dual subtitles, flashcards, and transcripts
  • Ideal for hearing colloquial Korean

Pricing: Starts from $12/month. Lingopie discounts are available here.

Devices: iOS and Android

9. Preply

Korean tutors on Preply

Learn Korean on Preply

For more Korean tutor options, head over to Preply. Here, you can choose from over 600 native and near-native speaking Korean tutors!

Along with the usual filters for choosing tutors, Preply lets you choose from specialties such as Korean conversation, Korean literature, TOPIK, and more. The rates are competitive as well. You even have the option to choose tutors based on other languages they speak.

Preply is a great choice for those who prefer receiving guidance and instant feedback from a teacher. It’s also ideal if you prefer customized lessons.

Key features:

  • Connect with native Korean tutors
  • Personalized coaching on Korean pronunciation, accents, and tones
  • Flexible rates and schedules

Pricing: Find tutors for as low as $5/session. Hire a Korean tutor on Preply now.

Devices: iOS and Android

10. Teuida

Learn Korean on Teuida

Learn Korean on Teuida

If you want to learn how to speak in Korean, well, you have to speak in Korean!

Enter Teuida, an app that lets you do just that. It provides an opportunity to practice speaking essential Korean expressions in first-person POV scenarios through video tutorials. You can record your voice and the app’s AI pronunciation analysis will give you instant feedback.

Teuida puts you in real-life situations, preparing you for future conversations with locals. This means you’re learning real-life expressions, not weird, awkward phrases.

Key features:

  • Video lessons featuring Korean native speakers
  • Lessons teaching real-life conversations
  • Feedback from AI pronunciation analysis

Pricing: $14.99/month

Devices: iOS and Android

11. Rosetta Stone

Learn Korean on Rosetta Stone

Learn Korean on Rosetta Stone

For a truly immersive learning experience, the time-tested Rosetta Stone is one of your best choices. This app teaches Korean in full Korean!

In its unique method called Dynamic Immersion, Rosetta Stone teaches Korean with zero translations or Romanizations. It’s like finding yourself in Korea with no translator beside you. If you like this kind of challenge, Rosetta Stone is for you.

To make it even more challenging, Rosetta Stone tests your pronunciation with its TruAccent voice recognition engine. This feature can be ruthless at times as it won’t let you advance to the next question unless you pronounce the word correctly.

Key features:

  • Hear the voices of native Korean speakers to train your ears
  • The course is fully in Korean
  • Effective voice recognition system

Pricing: Starts at $35.97. Check out Rosetta Stone’s promos here.

Devices: iOS and Android

12. Speechling

Learn Korean on Speechling

Learn Korean on Speechling

Speechling is a gem of an app that combines immersive technology with personal coaching to help you speak better.

To start learning, listen to a professional voice actor say a sentence. Then, record yourself and save it for your coach to review. Within 24 hours, you will receive feedback on your pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, grammar, word choice, and more. Do this as often as possible and you’ll find yourself conversational in two to three months. The best part? It’s free!

Because the platform is designed by a non-profit org, it’s free forever. You can get up to 10 coaching sessions per month. A paid plan is also available if you want unlimited coaching.

Key features:

  • Learn authentic Korean pronunciation and accent
  • Get feedback from native speakers
  • Thousands of sentences to help you boost your vocabulary

Pricing: Free for up to 10 coaching sessions per month. Get unlimited coaching for $19.99 per month.

Devices: iOS and Android

13. KoreanClass101

Learn Korean on KoreanClass101

Try KoreanClass101

With thousands of lessons, you can start speaking Korean from your very first lesson on KoreanClass101. The lessons are designed to guide you through real Korean conversations. Whether you’re learning for travel or love, you can focus on reading, writing, grammar, or culture, with lessons tailored to your goals and needs.

KoreanClass101 helps you boost your speaking skills with its audio and video lessons that feature native speakers. What’s more, get slowed-down audio and line-by-line breakdowns so you pick up every word.

The app also offers a range of study tools to help you learn quickly and effectively. You get word lists, slideshows, and flashcards that quiz you on words so you never forget them. You can even learn one-on-one with a Korean teacher (available with the Premium PLUS subscription).

Key features:

  • Tons of audio and video materials to learn from
  • Slowed-down audio and transcripts
  • Supplementary study tools to reinforce learning

Pricing: Limited content for free. Premium access starts at $10/month.

Devices: iOS and Android

14. FluentU

Learn Korean on FluentU

Learn Korean on FluentU

FluentU transforms authentic, real-world videos into personalized language learning lessons. Here, you can learn from a wide range of content, from K-pop music videos to news clips, allowing learners to pick up the language in a fun and engaging way.

To start learning, pick a video and click on the interactive subtitles to ensure you never miss a word. The subtitles define the words and provide visual learning aids and useful examples.

To practice your speaking skills, you can record your voice and the app will check it for accuracy. This, and the fact that you’re watching interesting content, makes FluentU a really fun app.

Key features:

  • Huge collection of real-world videos arranged by skill level and genre
  • Interactive captions to help you understand each word
  • Pronunciation guides and speaking exercises

Pricing: Subscriptions start from $19.99/month. Or try it first for free.

Devices: iOS and Android

15. Tandem

Learn Korean on Tandem

Learn Korean on Tandem

One of the best resources for learning Korean is Tandem. This language exchange app combines the power of language learning technology and social networks to effectively and naturally teach you Korean.

Tandem allows you to connect with native Korean speakers and Korean learners who are willing to share what they know. You can chat with them via text, voice notes, audio calls, or video calls if you’ve grown comfortable enough with them. Your language partner can correct your pronunciation, intonation, sentence construction, word choice, and more with the built-in tools.

That said, joining this app also requires you to be willing to help other learners. This means you should also help your partner learn your language. If you find the prospect of making lots of language-learning friends appealing, this app is for you.

Key features:

  • Connect with native Korean speakers in a more casual environment
  • Social way of learning Korean
  • In-app tools like translation and correction

Pricing: Free with limited features. For unlimited translations and more features, sign up for Tandem Pro for $6.99/month.

Devices: iOS and Android

Final thoughts

Korean flag waving on Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul

Learning to speak Korean can be daunting, but with the right tools, it can also be a lot of fun!

Fortunately, aside from the apps I listed above, there are lots of books, podcasts, and other resources for Korean learners like you. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced in your studies, I have no doubt you’ll find the tools that meet your needs.

Stay motivated, keep practicing, and you’ll soon be confident enough to answer ‘yes’ to ‘한국어하세요?’!

Leave a Comment