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13 top alternatives to Memrise for learning new languages

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Looking for alternatives to Memrise for language learning? See our list of the best language learning apps and what they offer!

Alternatives to Memrise

If you are looking for a high-quality language learning platform with a number of learning tools that can help you master a new language, then you might want to take a look at Memrise. Learn more about this high-quality language tool below, and then consider some of the top alternatives to meet your specific needs or learning style!

What is Memrise?

Memrise is a flashcard app that can help you learn a new language. It takes advantage of a spaced repetition learning system, similar to Ankidroid, which encourages you to not only learn new material but also retain it. One of the major challenges with learning a new language is that you need to stay on top of it, practicing every day. Otherwise, you will not make any progress. In addition, Memrise offers just about everything with the free version. The gamification style makes it fun to use, and you have incentives for staying on top of your schedule. For this reason, there are a lot of people who use Memrise to learn a new language to use in real-life or in the real-world. However, it is not necessarily a tool that will help you learn a new language as well as your native language. For this reason, you should take a look at a few Memrise alternatives to supplement your language learning.

Getting started with Memrise

With Memrise, starting a new language journey is simple and intuitive. Let's walk through the process step by step.

Creating your Memrise account

The first step to unlocking your language learning potential is creating a Memrise account. You can do this on the Memrise website, or download the app to your iOS or Android device. The registration process is quick and easy, and once you're done, you'll have access to a vast library of language courses. When you create your account, you'll have the option to sign up with your email address, Facebook account, or Google account. Whichever option you choose, you can rest assured that your personal information will be kept safe and secure. Once you've created your account, you can start exploring the different language courses available on Memrise. With courses in over 20 languages, including Dutch, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, and Yoruba, you're sure to find one that fits your interests and needs. Memrise offers official courses that cover grammar lessons, difficult words, and real-life conversations with locals.

Choosing the right language course for You

Memrise offers courses in a wide variety of languages, including Dutch, Spanish, and Danish. Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced learner, there's a course that fits your needs. If you're planning a trip to Spain or Mexico, you can find courses specifically designed to help you communicate effectively in these countries. One of the great things about Memrise is that you can browse courses by language, proficiency level, and even by specific topics. For example, if you're planning a trip to Italy and want to learn some basic Italian phrases, you can search for courses specifically designed for travelers. Memrise also provides videos of native speakers, allowing you to practice your listening and speaking skills with real people. Another useful feature of Memrise is the ability to preview a course before you start learning. This allows you to get a sense of the course content and teaching style, so you can make an informed decision about whether it's the right course for you. Additionally, with Memrise Pro, you can unlock additional features and content to enhance your learning experience.

Navigating the Memrise interface

The Memrise interface is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with clear instructions and helpful tooltips. When you start a new course, you'll be guided through the basics of the language, including pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. The app's mobile interface makes it convenient for you to learn on the go, whether you're traveling or simply have a few minutes to spare. One of the key features of Memrise is its customizable learning experience. You can select your preferred learning mode, such as classic review, speed review, or listening skills, depending on your learning style and goals. The app's adaptive learning algorithm ensures that you're challenged appropriately and focuses on areas where you need improvement. Adjusting the difficulty level of the course allows you to tackle challenging words and concepts at your own pace. As you progress through the course, you can track your progress and see how many words and phrases you've mastered. This can be a great motivator to keep learning, as you can see your skills improve over time. With Memrise's emphasis on learning with locals, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in authentic conversations and gain confidence in your language abilities.

Why look for Memrise alternatives?

While Memrise is a tool that you can use to learn new vocab, there are a few reasons why you should consider looking for a few alternatives as well. They include:

  • The exercises can get a bit repetitive, and you might feel like you are simply reading subtitles after a while instead of learning a new language.
  • Memrise is a tool that will help you learn vocabulary in a user-friendly way, but it will not help you learn grammar or sentence structure. You need to go elsewhere to learn how to apply the knowledge.
  • There is a lack of access to extra courses if you want to learn something new or try something different. Memrise will only take you so far.
  • The website navigation can take a long time to get used to. It also crashes from time to time.

All of this can get a bit frustrating when you want to learn a new language, so there are some alternatives you need to consider to help you in your language learning journey.

The best Memrise alternatives for language learners

Regardless of whether you are looking to learn Swedish, Turkish, or any other language, you need to look for Memrise alternatives. Some of the best apps include:

1. Mondly

If you are looking for an alternative to Memrise, you have probably heard of Mondly. This is one of the top apps available for learning a new language, and it is actually very affordable, even at the premium level. The lessons are short and engaging, so you will learn a lot in a short amount of time. Because the lessons are short, you will not have trouble motivating yourself to try the gamified version. However, the app will not get you fluent, and it will only take you so far.

2. Babbel

If you are looking for an inexpensive option that you can use to learn a new language, you should consider Babbel. It is one of the easiest apps to use, and it even has podcasts available. You can use Babbel from beginner all the way up to advanced levels, but there aren’t too many languages available. If you are looking for a tool that can handle niche languages, or even some of the more popular ones, you might be out of luck with Babbel.

3. Ling App

The Ling app is an outstanding option for beginners. You need to be exposed to your target language if you want to learn a new one, and that is something that Ling will quickly do. There are lots of games and quizzes you can try, and the app will also provide you with feedback, making it easier for you to figure out what you need help with and what you are doing well. This will help you become more confident, but once you reach an advanced level, Ling might not be able to help you much anymore.

4. FluentU

FluentU is a good app that can help you improve your listening comprehension. If you ever feel like you are having a difficult time understanding what someone is saying when you try to learn a new language, FluentU is the answer. It will also let you watch native speakers, but when it comes time for you to build your own sentence structure, FluentU is a bit lacking. You might want to use this app in concert with another program.

5. LingQ

LingQ is a great option for more advanced speakers because it is built around practicing with other people, including native speakers, as much as possible. When you need to build your confidence before you use your new language out in public, this is a great tool to choose. Ultimately, if you want to truly become fluent, or if you are a beginner, this might not be the best option, but it can help you improve your confidence by speaking with natives.

6. Busuu

Busuu is a polished and professional app. There is a free version and a premium version, which means you get to try out the free version before you decide if you want to pay for the premium version or not. There are many interesting features that will help you improve your language skills, but when it is time to truly practice long passages and have extended conversations with someone else in a new language, it will be time to go somewhere else.

7. Drops

Drops is another tool that is similar to Memrise in that it is a great tool that can help you learn new words. If you want to expand your vocab quickly, Drops is great. If you want to learn grammar and sentence structure, you will need to look to another app for help.

8. Duolingo

Duolingo is a great choice for people looking to learn a new language. This is an app that focuses on grammar and sentence structure, but it will not necessarily help you expand your vocabulary. When you need to learn how to apply the words you have learned, Duolingo is the place to go. When you need to learn new words, you might want to go with a different option. Even Memrise is a great choice for that.

9. Clozemaster

Clozemaster is an app that is mostly geared toward beginners. It will say that it is great for people at all levels, but once you have passed the beginner stage, the only thing the app will do is to continue to reinforce the basic concepts. You might want to find an app that allows you to talk with a native speaker, or that will expand lessons to include grammar and sentence structure, to truly progress.

10. Rocket Languages

Rocket Languages is a pretty good tool with a variety of courses and lessons that will go by quickly. The platform is engaging, and the lessons are arranged logically to help you improve your language skills over a gradual amount of time. This is nothing like immersing yourself in a new language, but it is a good place to start.

11. MosaLingua

MosaLingua has a bit of an outdated graphics package, but the quality of the content is still strong. There are a lot of features, so it is easy to get overwhelmed, but it does a great job of providing you with a straightforward program to help you master the basics of a new language.

12. italki

If you want to get set up with a teacher who can help you, consider italki. This is essentially a language tutor platform with teachers for people on all budgets that can enhance your language. There are some free features, but if you want to get the most out of this program, you need to be willing to spend money to hire a teacher. That is the true strength of this program, and it gets you set up with a native speaker.

13. Speechify

If you are looking for the best language-learning app, even for a target language such as Russian, you need to take a closer look at the text-to-speech program Speechify. This is a program that will take the text you have on the screen and speak it to you. This provides a great learning experience for people with learning difficulties, such as those with dyslexia, but the program can even help you with language skills similar to learning courses.

Maximizing your language learning experience

Wondering how you can utilize Memrise to the best of your ability? Here are some tips:

Setting realistic goals and expectations

Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint. It's important to set realistic goals and avoid burnout. Memrise allows you to set daily learning goals and reminders, as well as track your streaks and compete with other learners. Remember that consistency is key; even 10-15 minutes a day can make a significant difference in the long run.

Incorporating memrise into your daily routine

Learning a new language shouldn't feel like a chore. With the Memrise app, you can incorporate language learning into your daily routine, whether it's during your commute, while cooking dinner, or before going to bed. The mobile app gives you the flexibility to learn whenever and wherever you want, making it convenient and accessible.

Utilizing memrise’s gamification features

Memrise's gamification features, such as badges, points, and leaderboards, add an element of fun and motivation to your language learning journey. You can challenge yourself to beat your own high scores, or compete with other learners around the world. The app's regular content updates ensure that there's always something new to discover, keeping your learning experience fresh and engaging. Memrise is widely regarded as one of the best language learning apps available. With its comprehensive selection of courses, including official courses, grammar lessons, and difficult words, Memrise caters to learners of all levels. Its mobile app, featuring videos of native speakers, allows you to learn with locals and develop your language skills in a practical context. Whether you're interested in learning Dutch, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, Yoruba, or any other language, Memrise offers a user-friendly interface, customizable learning modes, and gamification features to enhance your language learning experience. Start your language journey with Memrise today and discover the joy of learning languages.

Conclusion – Speechify is the best alternative

Speechify provides you with access to instant translation at the premium level. You can take text on the screen, instantly translate it to another popular language, and have it spoken to you in customizable, natural-sounding voices powered by advanced AI technology. This is one of the top ways to learn a new language, such as Polish and Portuguese, and is even similar to other language courses in that you can handle entire passages at once. If you want to try out the premium instant translation feature for a few days before you commit, you can take advantage of a free trial for a few days. Speechify is one of the most affordable options available, and the user interface is very easy to use. There are hundreds of voices, so you can customize the voice to meet your needs, and there are dozens of languages from which to choose, making it much better than a simple deck of Quizlet flashcards. While you might run into chatbots from time to time that can play a few audio clips, Speechify is clearly one of the best alternatives to Memrise. You can create quizzes for yourself, even in Arabic, read entire articles in another language, and truly immerse yourself in that language, making it easier for you to grasp the material in a short amount of time.

Find the right program to help you learn a new language

In the end, if you are looking to learn a foreign language, including English and Spanish, a lot of native speakers will tell you that you should go to the country and live there and truly immerse yourself. However, many people, particularly beginners, might not be able to do so. That’s why it’s better to start with an app, such as one for iOS or Android, that can help you learn. A few Anki flashcards can go a long way, but you might want to go with Speechify instead or in addition to the language-learning apps you are already using. Speechify can help you learn new languages, including Chinese, French, Italian, German, and Korean, quickly. You can have the language spoken to you and take advantage of instant translation features.

Frequently asked questions

Some of the most common questions people have about learning a new language include:

What is better than Memrise?

While Memrise is a great program for helping people learn a new language, there are some better options, or ones that can work in concert with Memrise. One example is Speechify, which is a text-to-speech program that takes text written on the screen and converts it into spoken words. One of the major benefits of Speechify, is that it even comes with instant translation capabilities. This means that you can take text in one language, convert it to another, and then have it spoken to you, which is a great way to learn a new language.

Is Duolingo better than Memrise?

While Memrise is very good at some of the things that Duolingo has issues with, Duolingo is a platform that does well with some of the things that Memrise struggles with. Therefore, it is not necessarily that one program is better than the other, but the two programs can work together to make it easier for you to learn a new language. Duolingo is a great option for helping you construct sentences in a grammatically correct manner, but Memrise is great for helping you learn individual words and phrases. If you are looking for another program to add to the list, you should explore Speechify, which can help you learn a new language as well.

Is Babbel better than Memrise?

Babble is not necessarily better than Memrise, but the two do different things. Babbel is great because it has a lot of apps and lessons that can help you learn how to build sentences, but Memrise can help you learn individual words and phrases faster, particularly with the helpful flashcards that the program makes. You might want to consider using both programs, but the process can get expensive. You might want to consider using Speechify to help you augment the various tools that these programs give you as well. It is a strong tool that can help you learn different languages quickly.

Is LingoDeer better than Memrise?

LingoDeer and Memrise are perhaps two programs that you can use together. LingoDeer is a great program for teaching you the basics, even when it comes to sentence structure and grammar, but if you want to keep up your vocabulary and continue to learn new words, Memrise is the better option. Because the two programs do different things well, you might want to put together a lesson plan that puts both of these programs to use. That way, you do not miss anything along the way.

Is Memrise better than Duolingo?

Memrise is not necessarily better than Duolingo, but it is important to understand that the two programs do different things. Memrise is a strong program for using flashcards that help you learn new words, but Duolingo is a better option if you want to use those words to put sentences together. You might want to consider using both programs, but Speechify is really the best program for learning a new language, thanks to the instant translation and the ability of the program to speak to you.

Is Memrise worth the money?

Memrise can be worth the money. It is a strong program that can help you learn a new language, but it is all dependent on how you learn and how you use it. One of the major problems people have when they try to learn a new language is that they do not stick with it. You need to practice every day if you want to learn a new language, so you need to stay on top of Memrise if you want the program to work for you.

Is Memrise the best?

No, Memrise is not the best program to learn a new language. If you want to learn a new language, then you need to go with Speechify. This is a program that is simply a cut above the rest when it comes to learning new words, sentences, and even passages.

Is Rosetta Stone better than Memrise?

Rosetta Stone is one of the most popular programs available for those looking to learn a new language. There are not a lot of options that are as comprehensive as Rosetta Stone, but it is important to know that Rosetta Stone is also incredibly expensive, so you need to be committed if you want to get your money’s worth. If you are looking for a more relaxed option that can still help you learn a new language, you need to go with Speechify.

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.