Memrise

Memrise is one of the longest-running and most widely used language-learning products, with more than 80 million learners reported. Its positioning is deliberately different from gamified apps: rather than memorising isolated words in a robotic voice, learners hear complete phrases spoken by real people in real settings — a Madrid waiter taking an order, a French speaker saying goodbye, a Mexican Spanish speaker greeting you.

The pedagogy follows a three-step loop shown directly in the product. First you hear the phrase from a native speaker and get used to their accent and natural speed. Then you learn what it means and practise recalling it until it sticks. Finally you copy it back, matching not just the sounds but the rhythm, stress and flow, with the option to record yourself and compare against the original. Smart review schedules replays so vocabulary moves toward long-term memory, and private AI practice lets you rehearse conversation without an audience.

Content spans 150-plus languages, from Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese through to less commonly taught languages. Alongside courses, Memrise offers curated phrasebooks for travel and everyday situations, and learner-created community word lists. The app is available on mobile and web, with a free tier that covers the core experience and paid plans unlocking additional features.