6 apps travelers love that can teach you a new language quickly

By

The best language learning apps for your summer travels.
Start getting ready for your summer travels right now.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Exploring the world may feel more rewarding when you can speak the local language. With a firm grasp of the native tongue, you should be able to read and ask for practical things like directions, understand instructions and signage, and build genuine connections with folks you would never have been able to otherwise.

Simply, when you speak the local language, travel is completely transformed. Thankfully, you already have everything you need to brush up on the phrases you need for your next trip — and it’s likely right in your pocket! There’s no easier or more convenient way to learn a language than with a great language-learning app for your iPhone, iPad or other device.

So, ahead of your summer travels, here are six excellent language learning apps that are on sale right now. All you need to do is choose the best one for you and have the most fulfilling vacation ever!

Best language apps for travel

Learning a new language doesn’t need to be difficult — or take forever. These apps approach language learning using various technologies and tools. But they all help you pick up the basics, pronto, so you can take full advantage of your time abroad.

Mondly: Lifetime Subscription (all languages) — $99.99

sale_23675_article_image

Mondly offers an exciting, tech-forward approach to language learning. The platform features state-of-the-art speech recognition and AR to listen to your pronunciation and give you practical, custom feedback. Facebook’s prestigious FbStart developers’ program named Mondly the App of the Year in 2016 and Apple editors picked it as App of the Day on the App Store.

Buy now: Get a Mondly: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) for $99.99 (regularly $2,199).

Lingoda language classes — Free with trial

Lingoda Language Classes

Prefer to learn with real people? Combine the convenience of online learning with all the benefits of in-person classes with Lingoda. It gives you access to Zoom classes with real tutors, either one-to-one or in small groups, 24/7. And that will get you speaking confidently — fast. Lingoda earned an impressive 4.4-star rating from users on Trustpilot. Right now, you can start learning Spanish with a seven-day free trial.

Try now: Get a Lingoda language class seven-day trial for free.

Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (all languages) — $199

sale_136716_article_image

There’s a good reason Babbel is the world’s top-grossing language-learning app. Actually, there are 14: With this package, you’ll get access to all 14 languages on the platform — for life.

You can study with bite-size, 10-to-15-minute lessons, which makes picking up the language for useful topics a breeze. That approach helped Babbel earn an excellent 4.5 out of 5 stars from hundreds of thousands of reviews on Google Play and an even better 4.6 on the App Store. Fast Company also named Babbel “most innovative company in education” in 2016.

Buy now: Get a Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (all languages) for $199 (regularly $499).

Speakly: Lifetime Subscription (all languages) — $69.99

sale_162525_article_image

Have a trip coming up soon and want to learn the phrases you need muy rápido? Speakly might be for you. Touted as the quickest way to learn a language, Speakly uses a unique algorithm to find the statistically relevant words in your chosen language in order of importance. That means you’ll be able to speak in real-life situations quicker than ever.

Buy now: Get a Speakly: Lifetime Subscription (all languages) for $69.99 (regularly $399).

The Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle featuring Rosetta Stone — $199

sale_308156_article_image

After fueling decades of innovative language learning, the award-winning Rosetta Stone is about as trusted as they come, having been used by TripAdvisor, NASA and more. And if there’s anything those guys don’t know about travel, it’s not worth knowing.

Forget memorizing words: Rosetta Stone takes a proven, natural approach to learning, so you’ll be speaking your chosen language like a local.

Buy now: Get the Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle featuring Rosetta Stone for $199 (regularly $1,794).

The Language Learner Lifetime Subscription Bundle featuring uTalk — $39

sale_310687_article_image

If your motivation for language learning is to boost your career prospects, this bundle might be for you. The award-winning uTalk platform teaches you to speak a language using practical spoken phrases through language programs recorded by real native speakers.

This subscription lets you choose six different languages to learn from a choice of 140. Then, you’ll also get a lifetime subscription to StackSkills Unlimited, a top-rated online learning hub that offers thousands of courses on everything from IT to graphic design and finance.

Buy now: Get the Language Learner Lifetime Subscription Bundle featuring uTalk for $39 (regularly $1,819).

Prices subject to change.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.