What's the Best App to Learn Korean? (2026 Comparison)

In short: there's no single best app to learn Korean, only the best app for your goal. To start for free and build a habit, Duolingo or LingoDeer. For a complete structured course, Talk To Me In Korean. To memorize vocabulary, Anki or Memrise. To talk with Koreans, HelloTalk. And for a guided path from hangul to advanced levels, with conjugation and a dictionary built in, Seonsaengnim, the app I'm building.

Transparency: I'm Nicolas, a Frenchman living in Seoul since 2013, and I build Seonsaengnim. It's included in this comparison and presented as such. I tested 7 apps for 2 weeks each. Information about the other apps (pricing model, content) comes from their official websites and store listings, checked in October 2026. It may change, so check current terms before subscribing.

Korean learning apps compared

The apps in detail

Duolingo

Duolingo's Korean course offers short, game-like lessons. It's excellent for setting up a routine of a few minutes a day.

Strengths: free, motivating, easy to start. Limits: lessons stay short; for deeper grammar and real conversation, it works best alongside other resources. For whom: beginners who want to try Korean without commitment.

LingoDeer

LingoDeer offers a Korean course organized by topic, with grammar notes in each unit.

Strengths: clear progression, grammar explanations, a good start for hangul. Limits: only part of the content is free. For whom: beginners who want a fun but more structured format.

Talk To Me In Korean (TTMIK)

TTMIK is the go-to Korean course for English speakers: 1,700+ audio and video lessons on web and mobile, organized from beginner to advanced, with a subscription and a 7-day free trial.

Strengths: solid teaching, well-paced progression, lots of audio. Limits: the full course requires a subscription. For whom: learners who want a complete course in English.

Anki

Anki is the reference spaced-repetition flashcard tool. It's free on desktop, on the web (AnkiWeb) and on Android (AnkiDroid); the iPhone version (AnkiMobile) is a one-time purchase.

Strengths: very effective for memorization, endlessly customizable. Limits: plain interface, you need to create your decks or find good ones. For whom: organized learners who want to build their own review system.

Memrise

Memrise offers a Korean course focused on vocabulary and native speaker videos. The free version is limited; Pro unlocks everything.

Strengths: practical vocabulary, real voices to listen to. Limits: the free version limits lessons and videos. For whom: as a complement to a main course, for vocabulary and listening.

HelloTalk

HelloTalk connects people learning each other's language: you help a Korean speaker with English, they help you with Korean. It's free with daily limits (translations, new contacts); VIP removes them.

Strengths: real conversations, corrections by native speakers. Limits: no course, exchange quality depends on your partners. For whom: once you have some basics, to practice writing and speaking.

Seonsaengnim, the app I'm building

Seonsaengnim is a complete method to learn Korean, available in English and French: 300+ lessons from A1 to C2 (starting with hangul), spaced-repetition flashcards, a dictionary of 120,000+ translated words, every verb conjugated in 16 forms, and a teacher available 24/7 to answer your questions. It's free to start, then works with a subscription, on the web, iPhone and Android.

Strengths: guided level-by-level path, conjugation and dictionary built in. Limits: newer than the other apps; for real conversation, pair it with native speakers. For whom: learners who want one structured method that covers reading, grammar and vocabulary.

Which app should you choose?

• You're starting from zero: begin with the alphabet, it takes a few hours (guide to learn hangul). Seonsaengnim, LingoDeer and Duolingo all start there.
• You want to try for free, a few minutes a day: Duolingo.
• You want a complete audio course: Talk To Me In Korean.
• You want one structured path with conjugation and a dictionary: Seonsaengnim.
• You want to memorize lots of vocabulary: Anki, Memrise or Seonsaengnim's flashcards.
• You have some basics and want to speak: HelloTalk.

Combining several apps

No app does everything. A combination that works well: one main course (TTMIK, Seonsaengnim or LingoDeer), a flashcard review tool, and practice with native speakers (HelloTalk). Add Korean content (videos, podcasts, shows) with Korean subtitles to train your ear.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best app to learn Korean?

It depends on your goal. To start for free: Duolingo. For a complete course in English: Talk To Me In Korean. For a structured path with conjugation and a dictionary: Seonsaengnim. For vocabulary: Anki. To speak: HelloTalk.

Is there a free app to learn Korean?

Yes. Duolingo is free (optional subscription), Anki is free on desktop, web and Android, and HelloTalk is free with daily limits. LingoDeer, Memrise and Seonsaengnim offer some free content before a subscription.

Is Duolingo enough to learn Korean?

It's a good tool to get started and keep a daily habit. To understand grammar in depth and hold a conversation, it's best combined with a structured course and practice with native speakers.

Can you learn Korean with an app alone?

You can go far in reading, vocabulary and grammar. To speak comfortably, you also need to practice with people: language exchange, classes or a stay in Korea.

Which app is best to learn hangul?

Hangul takes a few hours to learn, with or without an app: follow our 5-step guide to the Korean alphabet. Seonsaengnim (7 dedicated lessons in level 1), LingoDeer and Duolingo all start with the alphabet.

Further reading: an app isn't always enough. To complement it, see the best books to learn Korean, how to learn Korean with Netflix and the beginner roadmap to read Korean in 7 days.

→ Start learning Korean with Seonsaengnim