The Korean language is one of the most interesting, scientific and logical on the planet.
What’s great is that there are so many apps available to learn it. So, it’s easy to start as soon as today!
The 14 best apps to learn Korean mentioned below comprise all the various facets and avenues for learning this fascinating language.
These will comprise learning management systems (LMS), where there are levels and lessons. Alternatively, others offer ways to get in touch with real Korean-speaking people.
These apps encompass conversation, alphabetical, grammatical and comprehension. Some of them combine all of these while others are specific to one or two.
Which one you choose will depend on how valuable it is for you to learn Korean.
While some of these are free, you may want to consider paying some with fees.
Overview of the 14 Best Apps to Learn Korean
- KoreanClass101
- Memrise
- Korlink
- Drops
- Rocket Korean
- Mango Languages
- Duolingo
- LingoDeer Korean
- Rosetta Stone
- Infinite Korean
- iTalki
- HelloTalk
- Teuida
- Speechling
Learning Management Systems
Learning Management Systems (LMS) provide an all-around learning experience. The apps below provide encompassing interactivity.
You’ll not only learn vocabulary and numbers, but also the alphabet, common phrases and a host of other things.
Therefore, you should consider your level of proficiency with Korean and devise a lesson plan for yourself with one or several at once.
1. KoreanClass101
- Devices: Android and iOS
- Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
- Cost: Start with a free seven-day trial and then $8 per month thereafter
KoreanClass101 is one of the most comprehensive Korean learning apps. Ther are four levels with each consisting of short podcast and video lessons that come with full transcriptions and quizzes.
What’s great about this app is that it caters to newcomers and those with a more serious approach to the language.
They offer a myriad of tools and games to get into. So, the chance of running out of new material is highly unlikely.
They have a variety of language tutors as well as “Top 10 Lines to Introduce Yourself” and “Speaking Perfect Korean in a Restaurant.” So, it’s excellent for those planning to travel to Korea.
2. Memrise
- Devices: iOS and Android
- Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Cost: Free or $5 per month for full access
The mobile learning app Memrise offers is very easy to use. Casual learners should get plenty out of the free version, but more advanced speakers should go for full access.
There are videos, flash cards and other games for interactivity in several levels with seven courses in each.
However, there are over 50 million users in some 189 countries. While there is more than enough content to keep you occupied, much of it comes from users.
But this means you’ll be able to see and hear native speakers saying the most common and modern phrases.
3. Korlink
- Devices: Android
- Overall Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Cost: 100% Free
Korlink connects with talktomeinkorean.com to aggregate all the documentation, information and lessons into videos, notes, quizzes and more.
They also recommend specific lessons and you can get certificates of completion. Unfortunately, it’s only for Android devices but it’s totally free.
You can download lesson notes to access them anytime, so you don’t need to be online. But you must have a data plan or Wi-Fi connection to use the app.
It truly is one of the most inclusive apps to help you learn Korean or help refine what you already do know.
4. Drops
- Devices: iOS and Android
- Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginners
- Cost: Free or $10 per month
While this is mostly a flashcard app, it teaches the Korean language to newcomers in the most exciting and addictive way.
Free users can only play for five minutes every 10 hours, but paid memberships get unlimited access.
It’s perfect because the lessons are small and manageable. This makes learning phrases and essential Korean vocabulary easy to digest and remember.
The app has a great design with a simple interface that is easy on the eyes. This is ideal for people who learn best through visualization and do well with memorization.
5. Rocket Languages Korean
- Devices: Android and iOS
- Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Cost: Six payments of $27 per month or $99.95 for life
With Rock Languages Korean, you’ll go from beginner to intermediate in 120 hours. The lessons comprise thousands of voice-recognition phrases along with 27 writing lessons and 23 language lessons literally. There are cultural lessons too.
This makes it an extremely easy and affordable language learning app. Most people that start using Rocket Languages often stay with it, mainly because of the results.
Unlike many other Korean learning apps out there, this one has voice recognition. Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone uses this, but for people that want to speak like native Korean speakers, it’s a no-brainer.
6. Mango Languages
- Devices: iOS & Android
- Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- Cost: Free for the first 14 days then $8 per month or $80 per year
This is one of the few apps where the design simulates school attendance. There are several ways to track your progress, which modifies and adjusts to suit your review sequences.
There are memory-building and critical thinking exercises, which give you practical application of Korean.
Regardless, you’ll get all the foundational knowledge about pronunciation, learning the alphabet and common phrases. There’s audio, video and pictorial methods with a hands-on approach.
This is great to level up your Korean vocabulary, because most Korean learning apps don’t offer this feature, and this one does.
7. Duolingo
- Devices: iOS and Android
- Overall Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Cost: Free or $6.99 per month for unlimited “mistakes”
Anyone interested in languages knows Duolingo is one of the hottest apps today. With over 300 million users, they offer a cornucopia of languages, including Korean.
They have an easy interface with simple games to begin learning the foundations of the language. You simply set up your profile and get to work.
Once you complete a module, you’re taken onto the next along with simple discussion in a chat like you would on your cell phone.
Plus, Duolingo offers quizzes and other immersive techniques to help you not only learn but also remember the material.
The progress reports help you understand what you need to perfect and refine.
Duolingo is used by millions of people worldwide, and some of their question even includes Korean pop culture. Even though you can’t speak 1-on-1 to native Korean speakers, it’s a great app, in general, to learn Korean by yourself.
8. LingoDeer Korean
- Devices: Android and iOS
- Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Cost: Free or several membership tiers ranging between $11.99 and $119.99
LingoDeer Korean is flashcard-style app to absorb the Korean language. You’ll learn the alphabet along with grammar and sentence structure.
There’s also speaking practice and fill in the blank. All of these come in a game format, so you’ll have fun and stay engaged for hours.
Plus, they offer audio and video so you understand correct pronunciation along with learning tips.
You’ll get a side education about the history of the Korean language and some of the culture. LingoDeer also challenges your knowledge as you progress in your grasp of it.
9. Rosetta Stone Korean
- Devices: iOS and Android
- Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Cost: $170 per year, $35 for three months or $7.99 per month
Rosetta Stone is a longtime and trusted name in language learning for over 25 years. Their team of experts offers the best methods to learn any language as quickly as possible, and the Korean modules don’t disappoint.
This is a great Korean vocabulary-building app with 10-minute lessons filled with video and audio cues.
In three to four months, you’ll learn basic Korean conversation alongside speaking, writing, reading and understanding the basics.
Plus, they can cater your course material for whatever reason you want to learn the language. This can encompass travel, friendly conversation or work.
Unlike the other Korean language learning apps, Rosetta Stone has been around for a very long time, which means that their language learning platform is one of the best.
I mean… for people that are serious about improving their Korean language and vocabulary fast, it’s a no-brainer. It is more expensive than the other apps, but it’ll get you fast results.
10. Infinite Korean
- Devices: iOS and Android
- Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Cost: Free with an optional $5 premium membership
Of all the apps mentioned thus far, Infinite Korean is the most underrated hero of the bunch. While its capacities are finite, it’s an excellent way to memorize vocabulary.
There are no boring multiple choice questions, quizzes or flashcards. It’s a game set in outer space that’s fun and enjoyable.
You can save the vocabulary words you’ve learned along with a nifty feature that repeats the words back to you. This is Korean-focused, so English is minimal, which means you get a fully immersed experience.
It’s by far one of the best apps to learn Korean for beginners.
Korean Tutors, Pen Pals & Chat
For those wishing to advance their Korean speaking skills or for people who are above and beyond the beginner stages, the following apps are ideal.
These will get you in touch with speaking, listening, and other types of conversations in Korean. Most of these deal with real people, but others are solo practices.
1. iTalki
- Devices: Android and iOS
- Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
- Cost: Price varies depending on the tutor
Take your Korean education one step beyond grammar, spelling and vocabulary with iTalki. This app allows you to engage with a fluent Korean speaker, which will advance your knowledge 10 fold.
Your conversational skills will get stronger since it adds that special element of human interaction into the mix.
But, you have to pay for this kind of help depending on the tutor. Their profiles are thorough but the price range varies greatly.
Usually, however, it never costs more than $15 per hour without pesky international calling fees. Once you find one that appeals, you schedule your appointment right on the app.
2. HelloTalk
- Devices: Android and iOS
- Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
- Cost: 100% Free
The language exchange app offered by HelloTalk gives users a free option in which to speak with native Koreans.
When you find someone interesting to speak with, you can send a message or do a video call. However, the app itself doesn’t teach Korean.
The only pitfall is that the app tracks your characters and/or time in one language. After that, it directs you to switch languages, for which you’ll have to pay.
But, what’s great is that it features a search so you can find people that live near you. So, there’s great potential to learn offline and in-person with others.
3. Teuida
- Devices: iOS and Android
- Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Cost: First lesson free then $10 per month thereafter
For fans of Kpop, the Teuida app is a conversation simulator featuring Nancy of Momoland. While users don’t speak with her directly, she speaks to the viewer while teaching them how to say modern phrases and conversations in Korean. This includes buzzwords and slang too.
All of this comes in the format of videos, so you can reverse and replay whatever you need whenever you wish.
But, you can record your pronunciations and the app gives you feedback along with a grade.
4. Speechling
- Devices: iOS and Android
- Overall Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
- Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- Cost: Free or $20 per month membership
Not only will you learn Korean but you will also speak like a native. While there are many free features, full access opens far more doors.
Here, you can speak to real Koreans and upload recordings of your practice. A coach listens to it and gives feedback within 24 hours.
What’s The Best Way To Learn Korean
There are many ways to learn Korean; you can use language learning sites or mobile apps. Usually, 99 out of 100 people get the best results by using a Korean course like KoreanClass 101.
This is by far the best way to learn Korean because it offers a fast, in-depth course with flashcards, slide shows, and video lessons, even though it’s not free like some other Korean language apps.
It’s still one of the better ways for people that want to learn Korean fast. You can go at your own phase, and there’s no deadline. This makes it great for people that want to go slowly, step-by-step.
Plus, you get to know the Korean grammar rules and Korean culture and even have your own teacher. This is what sets KoreanClass101 apart from the rest.
The teacher is a native Korean, and you can talk to native Koreans instead of watching video courses all day.
Conclusion
With so many apps available, there’s no reason for you not to start learning Korean today.
You should sit down with this list of the best apps to learn Korean and then devise a lesson/course plan for yourself. Investing a little time this way will help you get the most out of your learning experience.
Beginners should start with the alphabet and vocabulary. Intermediate speakers should get into videos and audio, with proficiency in pronunciation.
Anyone advanced at speaking Korean should go for the jugular and jump right into finding a tutor.
Of course, these are only suggestions and everyone’s needs will be different. Regardless, there’s at least one app here for anyone who wants to learn more about this wonderful and logical language.
