What language do you want to learn? Have you already learned a little, or are you a blank slate? Is your goal to know the language so well that you can speak, hear, read, and write it, or do you want to start with just one of those goals? Does the language you’re learning use a different script? Is it hard for you to make unfamiliar sounds? 

Answering all these questions is crucial to finding the right language learning apps—yes, apps, plural. If you want to make real progress with a language, whether you’re learning for school, travel, family, or personal enrichment, you need a variety of tools.

As with all kinds of education, learning a language takes dedication. Picking the right tools sets you up for success.

Top 10 picks: