Duolingo is arguably the most recognized language learning app, known for its game-like interface that makes starting a new language feel fun and accessible. Through points, streaks, and leaderboards, it excels at motivating users to build a consistent daily practice habit. The bite-sized lessons are ideal for learning vocabulary and basic sentence structures on the go. However, the platform offers weak explicit grammar explanations and limited opportunities for real speaking practice, meaning its content can feel shallow for those aiming to move beyond a beginner level. It serves best as an engaging starting point or a vocabulary-building supplement.

Speechling is a non-profit platform singularly focused on improving spoken fluency and pronunciation. The method is simple yet effective: you listen to a sentence from a native speaker, record yourself saying it, and submit your recording for feedback from a human coach. This targeted approach provides personalized corrections that automated speech recognition cannot offer. It is not a comprehensive course for learning a language from scratch, but rather an invaluable tool for learners who have a basic foundation and want to refine their accent and conversational confidence.