1. Home
  2. TTS
  3. The best alternative to Duolingo
Social Proof

The best alternative to Duolingo

Speechify is the #1 audio reader in the world. Get through books, docs, articles, PDFs, emails - anything you read - faster.

Featured In

forbes logocbs logotime magazine logonew york times logowall street logo
Listen to this article with Speechify!
Speechify

Looking for a Duolingo alternative? Check out our top picks for language-learning apps and websites, and boost your language skills today.

The best alternative to Duolingo

Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but with the help of language-learning apps like Duolingo, it has become much easier. Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps available on the market today. However, there are some downsides to Duolingo, which is why it's important to explore other options.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll discuss what Duolingo and the best language alternatives have to offer so you can choose the best software for your needs.

What is Duolingo?

Duolingo is a language-learning app that uses game-like exercises to teach users new languages. It was launched in 2011 and has since become one of the most popular language-learning apps on the market, with over 500 million downloads worldwide. The app is free to use and offers courses in over 40 different languages.

Features of Duolingo

Duolingo offers a variety of features that make it a popular choice among language learners. The app's gamified approach to learning, which includes badges and leaderboards, makes learning a new language feel like a game. Additionally, the app's simple and intuitive interface makes it easy for users to navigate and use.

Pros of Duolingo

One of the biggest pros of Duolingo is that it is free to use. The app offers a variety of courses in different languages and provides a fun and engaging learning experience. It's perfect for beginners who are just starting to learn a new language.

Cons of Duolingo

While Duolingo is a great language-learning app, it does have some downsides. One of the biggest cons is that the app's exercises are often repetitive and can become boring after a while. Additionally, the app's focus on gamification can sometimes detract from the actual learning experience.

Best alternatives to Duolingo

While Duolingo is a popular language-learning app, it may not be the best fit for everyone. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to Duolingo that offer different approaches to language learning. Some alternatives focus on more traditional methods of language instruction, while others incorporate cutting-edge technology or unique teaching styles. Let’s explore some of the best apps and language tools available on Android and IOS to master a foreign language.

Speechify

Speechify is a must-have language-learning and speech tool that uses speech synthesis and text to speech (TTS) to help users learn new words and improve their language skills. Speechify can turn any physical or digital text into high-quality audio files and offers a wide range of natural-sounding voice options so you can listen to native speakers read all of your content aloud. The idea is the more you listen to the language you are trying to learn, the easier it will be to remember the proper pronunciation.

Babbel

Babbel is a language-learning platform that offers language courses in 14 different languages. It uses a combination of interactive lessons, grammar exercises, and speech recognition technology to help users improve their language skills. Babbel's courses are designed to be practical and focus on the vocabulary and grammar that is most useful in everyday situations.

Memrise

Memrise is a language-learning app that uses a variety of tools, including flashcards, games, and videos, to help users learn and remember new words and phrases. The app uses a spaced repetition system, which helps users retain new information over time by showing them words and phrases at gradually increasing intervals. Memrise also offers courses in a wide range of popular languages, including some less commonly studied ones.

FluentU

FluentU is another popular language-learning platform that uses real-world videos, such as news clips, movie trailers, and music videos, to help users improve their language skills. The platform offers courses in several languages and uses interactive captions to provide learners with definitions, usage examples, and pronunciation tips. FluentU also includes quizzes and exercises to help users reinforce and practice what they've learned when it comes to listening, reading, writing, and speaking in their target language.

Busuu

Busuu is a language-learning platform that offers courses in 12 different languages. The platform uses a variety of tools, including interactive lessons, grammar exercises, and writing practice, to help users improve their real-life language skills. Busuu also offers a feature called "Community," which allows users to practice your language skills with native speakers and receive feedback on their writing and speaking.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is a language-learning software that uses a blend of image, text, and sound to teach users a new language. The program is designed to immerse users in the language from the very beginning, helping them to learn new vocabulary and grammar naturally through context and repetition. Rosetta Stone offers courses in over 25 different languages and uses speech recognition technology to help users practice their speaking skills.

Speechify - The best alternative to Duolingo

Speechify is the best text to speech app and alternative to Duolingo. Speechify is a text to speech app and learning tool that allows language learners of all levels, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and other reading and learning challenges, to easily have any digital or physical text read aloud, including news articles, Microsoft Word documents, academic papers, emails, etc., in their target language such as Spanish, Chinese, German, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, or Korean.

Since you can listen to any text aloud, you can gradually increase the difficulty of the material you’re listening to as you progress on your learning journey. If you’re a beginner, you can even listen to an article in English while following along with a version of the same article in your native language.

Thanks to its artificial intelligence-powered voice generation technology, you can choose from a wide variety of human-like English accents to familiarize yourself with the language and customize the reading speed.

Become a fluent English speaker today and try Speechify for free.

FAQ

What are some fun ways to practice listening to the English language?

  1. Listening to audiobooks or podcasts in English.
  2. Listening to articles and other texts with a text to speech app like Speechify, which offers various English accents
  3. Watch movies or TV shows with English audio voice overs and subtitles in your native language.
  4. Follow English-speaking accounts on social media, such as Twitter or Instagram, and listen to their videos or stories.

What are the best books on Amazon for mastering a foreign language?

  • Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It by Gabriel Wyner
  • Language Learning Made Easy by Georgette Cox
  • Learning in a New Language : A Schoolwide Approach to Support K-8 Emergent Bilinguals by Lori Helman

How do I learn more about the Speechify API?

Visit speechify.com/api to learn more.

Where is Speechify available?

Speechify is available via its website, Chrome browser extension, or Android and IOS app via the Google Play or App Store, so the pro and free versions can easily be accessed through your desktop or mobile device, including iPhone and iPad.

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.