10 best Korean learning apps for Android

Korean is one of the most popular Asian languages for non-native speakers. It garners a surprising amount of interest. However, a lot of interesting things happen there. It’s where Samsung lives. Additionally, plenty of US soldiers make their way there from time to time. There aren’t a ton of great options for learning Korean. However, we can help you find the best ways. Here are the best Korean learning apps for Android.

Drops: Learn Korean

Price: Free / $7.49 per month / $48.99 per year / $109.99 once

Drops is a popular language learning app for a variety of languages. That includes Korean. The app prioritizes vocabulary and phrase learning above other topics like grammar. It proceeds at a rapid pace, includes a variety of things like games and quizzes, and it gives you a pretty decent mental workout. The free version limits you to five minutes per day. You can subscribe to extend that time limit. The free version works for casual learners. However, those really wanting to learn have to fork out a subscription or a one-time cost to get everything.

Duolingo

Price: Free / $9.99 per month

Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps on Google Play. It supports a ton of languages, including Korean. Duolingo takes a simple approach to language learning. You slowly build up a variety of vocabulary words and phrases. Over time, they connect and you learn Korean. It seems fairly effective. Duolingo boasts that 34 hours of the app equals a semester of university-level education. We’re doubtful about that, but it’s completely free so who are we to complain. This may cost something someday. They have dabbled with pricing in the past.

Google Translate

Price: Free

Google Translate is probably the most powerful translation tool. It works with 103 languages online and 59 languages offline. You can translate between any two languages. The app is mostly useful for travelers. However, it does have a live voice translation function that is perfect for practicing. Additionally, there is a camera feature that translates things in real-time. These are exceptionally great tools for both travelers and learners, but especially both. Google Translate is entirely free. We also had a couple of readers recommend Papago as a translation source specifically for Korean. That is also worth a try. Microsoft Translate is another good option in this space.

LingoDeer

Price: Free / $11.99 per month / $29.99 per 3 months / $79.99 per year / $199.99 once

LingoDeer is one of the best Korean learning apps available. It focuses mostly only on Asian languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese. It does the basics really well. You learn the alphabet and the basic, core experience of each language. The app also includes offline support, various types of exercises, over 2,000 words and phrases, and a flashcard system. You get a few decent features in the free version, but you have to use the subscription to get a lot of it.

Memrise

Price: Free / $9 per month / $59.99 per year

Memrise is one of the most popular and powerful language learning apps. It supports dozens of languages, including many Asian ones like Korean. It combines a lot of philosophies into a single app. That includes a social element with real people who speak the language you want to learn. Additionally, it has grammar and vocabulary lessons, quizzes, offline support, a pronunciation guide (with audio), and a lot more. Those features come at a price. However, Memrise isn’t for the casual learner. This paired with Duolingo, HelloTalk, or Tandem is a seriously great combo.

Mondly

Price: Free / $9.99 per month / $47.99 per year

Mondly is another popular and powerful language learning app with a ton of languages. Yes, that includes Korean. It throws away the traditional method of language learning. Instead, it dives right in and teaches you conversational Korean. You learn the core ideas and expand from there. It also features audio pronunciations, quizzes, various lessons, phrase learning, verb conjugation, and other useful stuff. To be honest, we prefer Memrise over this one. However, if Memrise just isn’t your speed, Mondly very well might be. Like Memrise, it is a little expensive, though.

Naver Papago is another translation app similar to Google Translate. It comes from Naver, the Korean version of Google Search. Thus, it may be able to translate stuff into Korean with a little more attention to detail than even Google Translate on occasion. The app features a very clean and easy UI along with support for 13 languages. Some other features include offline translations, image translations, real-time voice translation, and it also works on websites and with handwriting. For people learning the language, the built-in dictionary is also quite useful. The app is entirely free and might be a better option than Google Translate for this particular use case.

Rosetta Stone

Price: Free / $94.99 per year / $199.99 once

Rosetta Stone is a big name in language learning. The official app supports 24 languages, including Korean. It uses a proprietary teaching method. It focuses on repetition, conversational learning, and accent learning. You basically learn how to talk properly first and, by extension, you learn most of the language’s various mechanics. It’s a tried and true method. Rosetta Stone isn’t exactly new, after all. It is very expensive, though. You can pay every three months, every 12 months, or just once if you don’t mind forking out $199.99.

Simply Learn Korean

Price: Free / Up to $6.99

Simply Learn Korean is a simpler type of learning app. It works better as a phrasebook and study aid than it does a full Korean learning experience. It includes a phrasebook with 900 phrases and words. The app also includes quizzes, tests, flashcards, and other exercises for faster learning. It’s an excellent app for travelers and learners. However, we would definitely pair this with something like Duolingo for a more effective and efficient learning experience. This one is also cheap, at least in comparison to other Korean learning apps.

Tandem and HelloTalk

Price: Free / $6.99 per month / $34.99 per year

Tandem is a popular rival for HelloTalk. Both apps do basically the same thing. You pair up with another individual. You teach them about your language and culture and vice versa. The app also includes audio and video calls, messages of various types (text, audio, picture), and you can even choose what topics you want to talk about. There are also professional tutors available if you want. This works just as well as HelloTalk. The one you like more will be a matter of preference, mostly. Speakly is also a decent free app that does about the same thing. HelloTalk is a very similar social network for language learners that also supports Korean.