The kids' software directory

Language learning

Apps for learning a second language, from preschool to teens.

26 researched
1 to know about
85 more on G2, not yet researched

Researched by Peabody

Facts from each maker's own pages (terms, pricing, privacy), with our one-line take. A to Z; we rank nothing until we have tried it.

Desk researchPaidNo ads
Babbel
Babbel · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A solid choice for a motivated older teen; younger kids are not allowed and are better served by kids' apps.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Buddy.ai
Buddy.ai · ages about 3-8
Engaging speaking practice for preschoolers learning English; privacy-minded parents should skip the recording consent or delete data regularly.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Busuu
Busuu Limited (owned by Chegg, Inc.) · ages 13+
A fair choice for a teen studying a language who wants speaking practice; younger kids need a different app.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Cambly Kids
Cambly Inc. · ages about 4-15
Helpful for children learning English as a new language who need speaking practice; parents should sit in on early calls and read the recording terms.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Duolingo
Duolingo, Inc. · ages about 10+ (children under 13 get a restricted mode)
A fine free habit-builder for tweens and teens learning a language; younger kids are better served by Duolingo ABC or a kids' app.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Google Translate Practice
Google · ages teens and adults; younger kids with a parent
Worth a try for teens learning Spanish or French who want speaking practice; younger kids and families wanting a full course should pick a dedicated app.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Gus on the Go
toojuice, LLC · ages about 2-8
A cheap, gentle first taste of a new or heritage language for little kids; not enough on its own to build real fluency.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
iFLYTEK Smart Dictionary Pen
iFLYTEK · ages students learning English, about 8+ (not stated)
Handy for older kids reading in a second language; parents who care about data and company ties may prefer a phone dictionary app.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Imagine Language & Literacy
Imagine Learning · ages about 4-12 (grades pre-K-6)
A reasonable choice for schools with many English learners in the early grades; families cannot buy it and should ask their school what it records.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
International Children's Digital Library
ICDL Foundation with the University of Maryland · ages about 3-13
A quiet, ad-free treasure for families looking for picture books in a home language; children wanting modern, polished reading apps will find it dated.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Lingokids
Lingokids · ages about 2-8
A safe, ad-free screen-time app for preschoolers; parents who want focused reading instruction should pick a phonics app instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Mango Languages
Creative Empire, LLC (d/b/a Mango Languages) · ages about 8 and up (K-12 school plans; family profiles for kids)
Worth checking your library card first: a solid, conversation-first language course for older kids and teens, less suited to young children who need games to stay engaged.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Memrise
Memrise Limited · ages 13 and up
A good fit for teens who want conversational practice in a new language; under-13s are not allowed, and families uneasy about AI training on chats should read the privacy policy first.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
NovaPals by Novakid
Novakid · ages 13+
Worth a try for a teen who needs low-pressure English speaking practice; not for children under 13.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Pocketalk
Pocketalk · ages school-age children with adults; buyers 18+
Useful for schools and families bridging a language gap in short conversations; for learning a language, a course or tutor is a better fit.
Desk researchPaid
Praktika
Praktika.ai Company · ages 18+ by its terms
For parents or adult learners practicing a language; children and teens are not allowed by the terms.
Desk researchPaid
Preply
Preply, Inc. · ages 13+ under the terms, though marketed for younger kids
Workable for teens with a parent on the account; for younger children, the terms do not allow it, so pick a service built for kids.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Read Along by Google
Google · ages about 5-10 (early primary readers)
A good free first choice for early readers on Android or the web; families wanting a full phonics course should pair it with something more structured.
Desk researchPaid
Speak
Speakeasy Labs, Inc. · ages about 13+ (teens and adults)
A good fit for motivated teens who want to speak a language and have a parent willing to supervise; younger kids and families wary of voice data should skip it.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
StoryWeaver
Pratham Books (nonprofit) · ages about 3-12 (picture books to longer stories)
A treasure for multilingual families and teachers who want free stories in home languages; English-only families have many alternatives.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Timekettle translator earbuds
Shenzhen Timekettle Technologies · ages teens and adults; no child-specific design
Useful for multilingual families or schools bridging a language gap; not a tool for young kids, and not a substitute for learning the language.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Todo English
Enuma · ages about 5-10
A well-built English starter for young non-native speakers; weigh the monthly cost and voice recording.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Unite for Literacy
Unite for Literacy · ages about 2-7
A safe free pick for toddlers, preschoolers and multilingual families; school-age readers will want a bigger library.
Desk researchPaid
VIPKid
VIPKid (Chengdu Yudi Technology Co., Ltd.) · ages children and teens (the site gives no exact range)
Mainly for Chinese families wanting structured English lessons; families outside China or wary of recorded video leaving the country should look at other options.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Youdao Dictionary
NetEase Youdao · ages older kids, teens and adults; App Store rating 9+
Useful for Chinese-speaking families whose kids study English, with an adult turning off personalized ads; families without Chinese should look elsewhere.
Desk researchPaid
Zebra AI Learning (Banma AI Xue)
Zebra Children's Science and Education Group (Yuanfudao; Beijing Yuanli Technology) · ages about 3-12
For Chinese-speaking families wanting a structured daily app for young kids; others, or parents uneasy about voice recording and public posting, should skip it.

Know before you buy

Shut down, exposed children's data, or said unsafe things in tests.

WarningPaid
ROYBI Robot
Roybi Inc. · ages 3 and up
Hard to recommend now: with the company's exit and no privacy policy online, families should skip it unless the new owner publishes clear terms and support.

Also listed on G2

Products G2 files here that we have not researched yet, in G2's order. Most are built for adults or businesses. G2 categories: Language Learning Software, Machine Translation Software.