Learning to speak Korean can be tricky, especially for English speakers. The language has a different alphabet and elements that are not present in English. If you are struggling to find the best apps to learn Korean, you have come to the right place!
Learning a new language has become much easier nowadays, thanks to the advancements in technology. While you can find various offline courses and classes to learn Korean, there is also an abundance of online material. With the right resources, you can not only learn the language but become fluent in it in less than a year!
Since there are too many Korean language learning apps available, it can be challenging to pick one. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of some of the best apps in the market today.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
11 Best Apps To Learn Korean: A Quick Overview!
Too much of a lazy reader to go through the entire article? We’ve got your back! We understand that not every one of our readers would have the time or energy to read a long article. No worries, as we have prepared a quick table for your convenience. The table below lists the top 11 apps to learn Korean and their best feature.
| Sr. No. | Korean learning app | Best for |
| 1. | Rocket Languages | Best overall pick |
| 2. | LingoDeer | Best for beginners |
| 3. | Drops | Best to improve your Korean vocabulary |
| 4. | Duolingo | Best for busy learners |
| 5. | Memrise | Best to learn with flashcards |
| 6. | TenguGo Hangul | Best to learn at a slow pace |
| 7. | Viki | Best free resources |
| 8. | HelloTalk | Best to learn while socializing |
| 9. | FluentU | Best for audiovisual learners |
| 10. | Italki | Best for finding 1-on-1 Tutor |
| 11. | Rosetta Stone | Best For learning through Dynamic Immersion |
Are you intrigued by our quick list and want to continue reading the rest of the article? If your answer is yes, let’s get started and read about each app in detail.
Top 11 Apps To Learn The Korean Language (2024)
We have finally arrived at the heart of our article– we are now going to learn about our top 11 picks in detail. Make sure you go through each app word by word to choose the one most suitable to your needs.
1. Rocket Languages
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | $27/month, $149.95 one-time payment |
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
Rocket Languages is the best overall Korean language learning app on our list. It snatched the top seat due to the high quality of its lessons. From beginners to intermediate learners, people can effectively learn the language and have decent conversations. Instead of focusing on memorizing and rote learning, the app makes learning fun.
Rocket Korean lessons are detailed and easy to understand. Thus, they are perfect for beginners. Note that it only takes you from beginner to low-intermediate level. So, if you want something more advanced, try the other options.
Key features:
- Learn Korean phrases using a state-of-the-art voice recognition system.
- Downloadable audio tracks to perfect your pronunciation.
- Understand Korean culture.
- 60-day refund policy.
- Lifetime access to the content once bought.
2. LingoDeer
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | $14.99/month, $159.99 one-time payment |
| Rating | 4.8/5 |
LingoDeer is one of the best beginner-friendly apps for learning Korean. The lessons are fun and engaging, and not too overwhelming. It has detailed grammatical explanations and provides context for easy understanding. Even the most complex topics are broken down into easy sections.
There are about 100 lessons for beginners alone, so you can rest assured that you will be equipped with quality learning. The best part about the app is that you only need 5 minutes to complete one lesson. Interactive activities like listening, word-matching, fill in the blanks, etc., make the process fun.
Key features:
- Detailed explanations for easy understanding.
- Learn with flashcards.
- Target weak areas and work on them specifically.
- Voice lessons from native speakers.
- Learn cultural facts while practicing.
3. Drops
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | $13/month, $159.99 lifetime access |
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
If you already know a bit of Korean and are looking to improve your vocabulary, Drops may be the perfect platform for you. Remember that the app won’t teach you grammar or the alphabet; it is strictly a vocab-building app. Therefore, it is not for absolute beginners.
By investing only 5 minutes of your day, you can effortlessly learn new Korean words every day. The learning process is fun and engaging and is game-like in nature. The app’s design is kept minimal, making it easy to navigate. It is also visually appealing and attractive.
Key features:
- Offline learning is available.
- Learn Korean by investing only 5 minutes of your day.
- Over 20,000 beautiful illustrations for visual learners.
- Interactive games and animations make learning fun.
- Simple to use and well designed.
4. Duolingo
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | Free |
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
Duolingo is a fun, engaging, and interactive way to learn Korean. You can learn at your own pace in a step-by-step process. The lessons are highly organized and tailor-made according to your skills. The app targets your weaknesses and makes you practice until you have mastered a phrase or word.
The game-like lessons and fun exercises make learning Korean effortless. The best part is that you only need to give 5-10 minutes a day to complete one or two lessons. This is perfect for those who wish to learn Korean amidst a hectic schedule.
Key features:
- Tailor-made lessons to learn at your own pace.
- Engaging characters and playful exercises.
- Game-like method of learning.
- Learn by investing only 5-10 minutes of your day.
- Organized and progressive lessons.
5. Memrise
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | $8.49/month, $119.99 lifetime access |
| Rating | 4.8/5 |
Are you a fan of studying using flashcards? Then perhaps Memrise is the right option for you! Memrise is everyone’s favorite language-learning app to study with flashcards. The best part is that you get access to tons of content in the free version itself. You can even create your own flashcards to study what you need to.
The app provides flashcards for everything– from brushing up on grammar rules to helping you build a strong vocabulary. The app is easy to use and navigate, even for people who aren’t tech-savvy.
Key features:
- High-quality flashcards speed up the learning process.
- Study in a short amount of time.
- The app is well-designed and easy to navigate.
- Customizable flashcards.
- Thousands of native speaker videos.
6. TenguGo Hangul
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | Free |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
TenguGo Hangul is an extremely beginner-friendly app designed for people just beginning their Korean language learning journey. It teaches you the Korean alphabet step-by-step through audio and animated demonstrations of mouth and tongue positions.
The content quality of TenguGo Hangul is good, but the amount is rather limited. It does not teach you much, but you will surely get the hang of the basics. Once you learn the alphabet, you can opt for another app that teaches intermediate stuff.
Key features:
- Learn the history and structure of Hangul.
- Interactive lessons and quizzes for practice.
- Native-speaker lessons.
- Beginner-friendly lessons and practice sessions are not overwhelming.
- Introduction to Hangul makes learning Korean easier.
7. Viki
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | Free, paid premium account |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
Viki is strictly recommended for intermediate and advanced Korean learners. Viki is a Korean drama and movie streaming application with hundreds of free episodes. If you already know Korean words and phrases, you could get your conversational practice by watching Korean entertainment industry content.
The free Korean learning app provides definitions, translations, and captions for easy understanding. Over time, you will have acquired improved comprehension skills and vocabulary. The shows and movies are free to watch, but you can buy the premium version with no ads.
Key features:
- Native Korean video content to improve your skills.
- Thousands of hours of Korean content for free.
- Get indulged in Korean culture while studying.
- Videos have subtitles to make learning easier.
- Improve vocabulary fast.
8. HelloTalk
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | Free |
| Rating | 4.5/5 |
HelloTalk helps you improve your pronunciation and grammar in the Korean language. It aims to help you learn the language by acting as a social media platform. You can directly chat and speak with native Korean speakers. You can also make posts and have them correct your mistakes to learn in real-time.
There are a bunch of built-in tools that make it easy for Korean natives to correct your mistakes. You can also bookmark important notes and look back whenever you need to revise. There is no structured lesson or course. You are supposed to learn on the go while organically engaging with real-world people.
Key features:
- Learn directly from native speakers while socializing.
- Chat with natives using texts, voice messages, phone calls, and doodles.
- Built-in translation, transliteration, pronunciation, and correction tools.
- Immerse in Korean culture.
- Post “Moments” to share updates or ask questions.
9. FluentU
| Availability | Android, iOS |
| Price | $29.99/month |
| Rating | 3.9/5 |
With 356 videos and 14 flashcards, FluentU is the best app on our list for audiovisual learners. The app is equipped with authentic media clips, interactive subtitles, and quizzes. Instead of focusing on teaching textbook content, FluentU rather uses real-world examples created by native speakers. You can dive into Korean media and absorb its content.
However, studying with authentic videos is not as fun as it may sound, especially for beginners. You may have trouble understanding their pronunciations or what they mean. This is where FluentU comes in. It provides the right resources to help you understand and learn with authentic Korean videos.
Key features:
- Real-world videos with subtitles and captions.
- Engaging experiences.
- Enjoyable study process.
- Flashcards and quizzes.
- Authentic content from native speakers.
10. Italki
| Availability | iOS, Android |
| Price | Varies depending on the tutor |
| Rating | 3.9/5 |
If you want to learn Korean from a native speaker one-on-one, then Italki can be a great option for you. It has over 300+ tutors who teach Korean one-on-one. You can easily connect with the tutor of your choice and schedule classes at your own convenience. You can choose to learn from your tutor wherever you want, or you can follow the course created by the Tutor.
You can not only learn Korean from the tutor but also learn Korean culture and their dialects. You can learn Korean for travel purposes, become a fluent speaker, or giving a specific test for your education. With a tutor, you improve your speaking and listening skills which will be more beneficial than learning from an app at home.
Key Features:
- Plenty of options for tutors are available.
- Take a trial from your tutor before committing.
- Learn whenever and wherever you want
- All the tutors are verified.
11. Rosetta Stone
| Availability | iOS, Android |
| Price | $11.99 per month for three months and $299 once for a lifetime subscription |
| Rating | 4.2/5 |
Rosetta Stone is considered one of the oldest language-learning platforms. They use the natural method of learning any language, which is called Dynamic Immersion. You will learn the Korean language from the very beginning in Korean only. It doesn’t use English to teach Korean except when giving instructions. This learning method is used to teach a child their mother tongue or first language.
This method can be really beneficial, but it can be complicated for new learners to understand this learning process. It also has a TrueAccent Voice Recognition tool that ensures that you are pronouncing the words correctly. But getting feedback from a native speaker is much better than this tool.
Key Features:
- Lessons focus more on speaking
- Lifetime subscription with access to 25 languages
- Learn real-life expressions with context
- Real-time tutoring
Head over to our detailed comparison and know the answer to –Should I learn Korean or Japanese?
Related Read:
Which Is The Best Apps To Learn Korean?
With that, our article on the best apps to learn Korean has come to an end. We tried the most popular Korean learning apps and put together a list of the best ones to help you arrive at a conclusion. These are the best Korean learning apps in the market and would surely supplement your learning journey.
Whether you are just getting started or already know the basics and want to improve your skills, you can check out the options we’ve listed above. There is no “best program”; it depends on your budget, skill level, and preferred study method.
All the apps featured on our list are high quality. We hope it helps you figure out how to begin your language-learning journey! Please drop your feedback in the comment section below.
FAQs
Since Korean and English are such different languages in every aspect, it can be challenging for an English speaker to get the hang of it. The main aspect is the alphabet. However, with regular study and good resources, one can surely excel in it.
Learning Korean is certainly a good hedge to your job profile. Korea is one of the strongest economies in Asia. Thus, learning Korean can boost your career or business.
Korean is one of the hardest languages to learn. However, it is still possible to become conversational in Korean in a year with consistent study and practice. If you continue, you can even become fluent within two years.
One of the difficult aspects of learning Korean is using different words to address people of different ages. This means that you need to change the wording of your sentence depending on who you are speaking to. You cannot use the same sentence with your teacher that you would use with your friend.
Yes. Even if English is the only language you speak, you can certainly get used to Korean by practicing by yourself at home and using online resources. You could also watch Korean movies and dramas to enhance your vocabulary.
