The best language learning apps, according to hackers
12 language learning apps were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 1 earns the Hacker Approved badge.
Top pick
The most recommended language learning app with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Widely recommended as an excellent resource
Free audio courses that teach language concepts and grammar in a calm, non-gamified way, recommended for learning Spanish, Greek and other languages.
All 12 language learning apps, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duolingo | 39 | 111 | 26% | 12 | 3 yrs4 owners | — |
| 2 | 9M Mandarin tone speech model | 14 | 5 | 74% | 1 | — | — |
| 3 | Language Transfer | 13 | 0 | 100% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Tied 4 | Pimsleur | 9 | 4 | 69% | 6 | — | — |
| Tied 4 | Voxel Tokyo | 9 | 5 | 64% | 1 | — | — |
| 6 | italki | 8 | 1 | 89% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 7 | ToLearnJapanese | 7 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 7 | lairner language learning app | 7 | 26 | 21% | 1 | — | — |
| Tied 9 | Context-aware Japanese furigana tool | 5 | 2 | 71% | 1 | — | — |
| Tied 9 | Coupling Cafe | 5 | 0 | 100% | 1 | — | — |
| Tied 9 | SubSmith | 5 | 4 | 56% | 1 | — | — |
| 12 | Assimil language courseby S. Alexander Reed | 2 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same language learning app in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to language learning apps that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.