*This article may contain affiliate links. For full information, please see the disclaimer here.
Immersion is often touted as one of the most effective and quickest ways to learn a new language. After all, itâs how we learn as children â by being constantly exposed and primed to absorb a language.
This method is at the core of Memrise, one of the most popular language-learning apps online. Memrise believes that to acquire a new language, you have to live and breathe the language. And you canât get that from simply reading a textbook.
Memrise is an excellent app. But itâs not the only one.
In fact, there are lots of Memrise alternatives â some using the same immersive methods and some relying on other effective learning tools to teach languages.
What is Memrise?
Founded in 2010, Memrise uses language immersion to help learners quickly acquire words and phrases that they can use in real-life conversations. It does this in various ways but it highlights the use of âLearn with Localsâ videos.
âLearn with Localsâ, available on Memriseâs official courses, is a collection of over 50,000 videos featuring native speakers using their languages in local and authentic settings.
It doesnât matter if youâre viewing these from the comforts of your home; by watching, youâre able to learn how a language is used in real life, with all its quirks and nuances.
Apart from native content, Memrise also uses engaging games, exercises, and flashcards to help you practice your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. On its unofficial, user-generated courses, there are also plenty of âmemsâ or visual clues that help you memorize a character, word, or phrase.
Memrise currently has 22 official courses and hundreds of user-generated lessons in over 200 languages.
Why look for Memrise alternatives?
Memrise was one of the first language learning apps I downloaded years ago. It was the app I used to memorize Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. I loved it, I enjoyed using it, and it was instrumental during the early stages of my Korean learning journey.
But I have since moved on to other apps. And I think itâs perfectly fine to do so.
Are you seeking something more exciting or challenging? While Memrise is gamified to some degree, there are plenty of other apps that do a better job at this aspect.
Perhaps you want a more extensive form of immersion, one that involves talking to native speakers. Then youâll benefit from online tutors and language exchange apps. If you want well-structured courses, many apps can meet this requirement.
And if you find Memriseâs Premium features too pricey, looking for free Memrise alternatives doesnât sound bad.
Whatever your reason is, thereâs nothing wrong with finding a tool that suits your needs better. You might just find one from the list below.
Top Memrise alternatives for language learners
1. Mondly
If youâre looking for a fun Memrise alternative, look no further than Mondly. This award-winning app takes some of the best features of Memrise and makes the whole experience more engaging through fun, bite-sized lessons.
Mondly lets you learn 41 languages through a conversation-focused curriculum. This means you will learn to read, write, and understand phrases that are used in actual conversations.
Like Memrise, Mondly features native speakers on its audio recordings so you can enjoy flawless pronunciations and natural accents. Whatâs more, you can get lots of speaking practice by using the appâs chatbot!
Find out more with our in-depth Mondly review.
What I love about Mondly:
- Short but effective lessons that address all core skills
- Emphasis on commonly used words
- Ample listening and speaking practice
Pricing: Free daily lessons. Full access is available for $12.90/month or $61.92/year. Check out the latest promo here.
2. Babbel
Combining the power of compact lessons with well-structured content, Babbel is one of the best Memrise alternatives. Its courses can take you from newcomer to advanced levels in 13 languages.
There are also specialized courses such as French for business, countries and traditions, grammar, and more. Whatever you choose, you can be sure that youâll be learning stuff thatâs practical.
Even better, Babbelâs teaching tools are not limited to the usual flashcards, fill-in-the-blanks, and voice clips. To make learning more fun and contextualized, Babbel also uses podcasts and mini-games!
Want to know more about this awesome app? I wrote a review here!
What I love about Babbel:
- Comprehensive courses presented through engaging and bite-sized lessons
- Caters to learners of all levels
- Well-designed and user-friendly app
Pricing: Flexible plans that start from $13.45/month. Find the latest Babbel promotions.
3. Rocket Languages
Designed by passionate language experts and teachers, Rocket Languages offers comprehensive courses in 14 languages. This app is one of the best Memrise alternatives if you like varied activities that can improve all your core skills. If you’ve read my review of Rocket Languages, you’d know how much I love it.
Most of Rocket Languagesâ 30-minute lessons come in audio format so you get plenty of listening practice. This is complemented by the appâs voice recognition tool to help you improve your speaking skills.
This app is also replete with reading materials and even writing instructions to give you a holistic learning experience. A good feature is its Culture Notes section, which helps you get to know the language and culture better.
What I love about Rocket Languages:
- An expansive collection of downloadable audio content
- Well-structured lesson track
- Varied exercises to train all language skills
Pricing: Starts at $149.95 per level but discounts are available.
4. Pimsleur
Tried and tested for over 50 years, Pimsleur is one of the best options if your goal is to boost your conversational skills. Like many of the apps on the list, it teaches vocabulary. But its focus is on helping you learn the correct pronunciation and accent, as well as making you comfortable with speaking.
The Pimsleur Method has been known as an effective way of acquiring and retaining new languages. In a nutshell, the program teaches core vocabulary and then reminds you of these words at gradually increasing intervals. Each time, you’d remember longer than the time before, until the words are stored in your permanent memory.
This same science-backed method is at the core of all audio lessons in the app. But that’s not all. The app also features reading materials, fun quizzes, interactive games, and cultural insights that give you a holistic learning experience.
Check out our Pimsleur review and walkthrough here.
What I love about Pimsleur:
- Audio-based program to upgrade your listening and speaking skills
- Established and effective learning method for learning 40+ languages
- Teaches relevant vocabulary and grammar through conversational context
Pricing: Starts at $19.95/month per language. Try it for free first!
5. FluentU
If Memriseâs immersive method appeals to you but you want more content that targets your interests, FluentU is worth trying out.
FluentU has an impressive collection of real-world videos that help you learn languages. Youâll be surprised at the variety of content that you wonât initially associate with learning. From movie trailers to music videos to the news, every video can be used to teach languages. The best part is that you can choose what you want to watch.
FluentU does this by meticulously translating and subtitling videos. When you click on the subtitles, youâll see the definition of the word and get to understand the tone and context of phrases. How cool is that?!
What I love about FluentU:
- Content catered to your interests
- Pick up vocabulary, tones, and accents through a variety of examples
- The library is categorized by topics and difficulty so itâs easy to find material that suits you best
Pricing: Subscriptions start from $19.99/month. Get full access with a 14-day trial.
6. LingQ
For learners who prefer audio-based apps, LingQ is a good Memrise alternative. Like Memrise and FluentU, this app has a huge collection of content featuring native speakers, but in audio format.
Ideal for contextual learning, LingQ contains thousands of audio materials covering an array of topics â science, sports, food, travel, news, and more â along with matching transcripts from which you can study vocabulary and grammar.
This means you can choose the material youâll use for studying while getting lots of exposure to native tones and accents. To further cement what youâve learned, the app uses an SRS-based review system.
What I love about LingQ:
- Contextual learning
- Immersion through a huge library of audio content
- Systematic lesson tracking and review method
Pricing: Some features for free. Get monthly premium access starting at $7.99/month.
7. Busuu
Memrise has awesome features but it does fall short on lesson structure. If a classroom-ish lesson structure is what youâre looking for, Busuu is one of the best Memrise alternatives for you.
Busuuâs curricula include over 100 well-structured units on each of the 13 language courses it offers. While the lessons pack loads of vocab and grammar instruction, theyâre presented in a way thatâs far from boring. Theyâre bite-sized and you can learn at your own pace.
Whatâs more, Busuuâs well-designed app comes with a study plan so you can track your progress and memorize difficult words. For extra immersion, you can exchange tips with Busuuâs community of native speakers!
What I love about Busuu:
- Organized but easy-to-digest lesson plans
- Caters to learners of all levels
- An interactive community of native speakers and learners
Pricing: Some features are available for free. For full access, get the premium membership starting at $12.99/month.
8. Ling App
With over 60 languages that you can learn from your mother tongue, Ling is among the best Memrise alternatives out there. This app expertly combines fun activities with extensive grammar tips and instructions for an in-depth learning experience.
Ling features fun games and quizzes to help you learn a new language. You can also practice speaking by listening to and mimicking native speakers. And if youâre learning a new writing system, you can polish your writing skills through calligraphy exercises.
With chatbots, spelling challenges, flashcards, sentence order sorting exercises, and more, Ling has all the bases covered!
What I love about Ling App:
- Engaging challenges and quizzes for a fun learning time
- Practical vocabulary and grammar lessons
- Lots of conversational practice
Pricing: Some content can be accessed for free. Premium plans start at $14.99/month. Check the latest offers here.
9. Drops
If like me, you thrive in a gamified learning environment, youâre probably better off checking out Memrise alternatives like Drops.
In as short as five minutes a day, youâll learn new vocabulary from this visually pleasing and fun app. Granted, youâll need a separate app for learning grammar. But with thousands of useful vocabulary and beautiful illustrations, you will hardly feel like youâre studying.
Drops teaches over 45 languages through immersive, playful lessons. The short, focused learning sessions will keep you wanting more playtime though.
What I love about Drops:
- Beautiful visuals and user-friendly interface
- Fun memory association exercises
- Practical vocabulary
Pricing: Free for five minutes of gameplay. Drops Premium gives you extended playtime for as low as $5/month.
10. Duolingo
Youâd be hard-pressed to find a language learner who hasnât heard of Duolingo. With over 500 million users, Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps. And itâs not hard to see why.
Duolingo is perhaps one of the few apps that have mastered the art of gamifying learning. Not only are the various listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities made more interactive but the app also motivates you through weekly challenges, leaderboards, gems, and badges.
For courses like French and Spanish, Duolingo ups it game by adding more immersive learning tools such as the Stories and Podcasts that help you get to know the French and Spanish cultures better while also getting acquainted with more vocab and grammar.
Hereâs an in-depth review of Duolingo if you want to know more about it.
What I love about Duolingo:
- Fun and compelling lessons
- Easy to digest and squeeze into your day
- Most of its best features are available for free
Pricing: Free! Donât want ads? You can get the Duolingo Premium for $6.99/month.
11. Clozemaster
Like Memrise, Clozemaster believes vocabulary and grammar are best taught in context. After all, much of your conversation with foreigners will likely include words that you havenât learned before.
Clozemaster challenges learners through âcloze testsâ, sentences with missing words that you have to fill in. If youâre a learner looking for more challenging exercises, this is the Memrise alternative for you!
While Clozemaster is suited for intermediate and advanced learners, donât let that dissuade you from trying if you think youâre still a beginner. Who knows? This might just be the app to help you progress faster.
What I love about Clozemaster:
- Learning vocabulary and grammar in context
- Immersive challenges
- More than 50 languages and over 170 language pairings
Pricing: Free. For advanced features and stats, get Clozemaster Pro starting at $8/month.
12. MosaLingua
What if I tell you that you donât have to know everything to be fluent? You only need to be able to converse comfortably and know the words that you will actually use. And thatâs where MosaLingua can help.
MosaLingua helps you learn the most useful words and phrases in the language youâre studying. Even better, you learn these in context using interesting materials such as articles, books, movies, and more. Through flashcards and SRS, you can commit these words to memory.
For an even more engaging experience, you can also read and listen to MosaStories, which contain texts and stories that match your level.
What I love about MosaLingua:
- Engaging exercises to expand vocabulary
- Flashcards, mini-challenges, and audio clips
- Personalized learning plans
Pricing: Access MosaLingua Premium for $9.99/month, after a 7-day trial.
13. italki
Looking for Memrise alternatives that offer another level of immersion? Itâs tough to beat tutoring sites like italki. Our team loves this tool so much, as you can see in this detailed review.
With italkiâs language tutors, you donât just get conversational practice. The best tutors will also give you constructive feedback to help you improve on areas where you stumble.
You can choose between a professional/certified teacher and a community tutor. With over 20,000 tutors on board, itâs not hard to find one that can meet your requirements. And they donât have to burn a hole in your pocket either or hard on your schedule.
What I love about italki:
- Personalized coaching and study plan from a language tutor
- Filter tutors based on experience, nationality, budget, and schedule
- Flexible rates and schedules
Pricing: Varies per language and tutor but you can find tutors for as low as $5 per lesson. Avail of the discounted trial lesson here.
14. Tandem
Not quite ready to commit to a language tutor? The next best thing is a language exchange partner. And one of the best apps for that is Tandem.
Tandem is a language learning app and social network rolled into one. It lets you learn languages with an interactive community of learners and native speakers. You can find people who speak the language youâre studying, chat with them via text or call, and learn a thing or two about their culture.
The catch? Since this is a language exchange app, you have to be willing to teach your language and share your culture, too. If all that sounds good to you, this should be a worthy Memrise alternative.
What I love about Tandem:
- A social way of learning languages
- Correction and translation tools
- Unstructured, free-flowing conversations to help expand vocabulary
Pricing: Free. You can access unlimited translations and more tools with Tandem Pro for $6.99/month.
Conclusion
Memrise stands to be one of the best apps for learning languages in an immersive and engaging way. I think it deserves a spot in your toolbox, especially if youâre in the early stages of studying.
That said, exploring your options isnât bad either. It may introduce you to apps and sites that can meet your specific needs faster. Or it may lead you to other resources that can complement your Memrise lessons.
Either way, knowing your learning styles and preferences will help you choose the apps to include in your routine. So, donât be afraid to give these Memrise alternatives a try!