Blog
Notes on free language learning, and how Wekos compares to the apps you've probably already tried.
Roundups
Best Free Language Learning Apps in 2026
Ten apps you can use without paying, ranked by how much of the real product you actually get for free.
Matthew Spiers · Sep 28, 2026 · 11 min read
Best Free Spanish Learning Apps in 2026
Seven apps for learning Spanish for free, from a full sequenced course to flashcards for a class you’re already taking.
Matthew Spiers · Sep 28, 2026 · 9 min read
Best Free French Learning Apps in 2026
Seven apps for learning French for free, compared on course structure, native audio and how much they actually let you practice.
Best Free Portuguese Learning Apps in 2026
Seven apps for learning Brazilian Portuguese for free, from a full sequenced course to a flashcard tool.
Best Free German Learning Apps in 2026
Seven apps for learning German for free, compared on course structure, native audio and how much they actually let you practice.
Best Free Italian Learning Apps in 2026
Seven apps for learning Italian for free, from a full sequenced course to flashcards for a class you’re already taking.
Best Free Mandarin Learning Apps in 2026
Seven apps for learning Mandarin for free, compared on tone practice, classifiers and how much they actually let you practice.
Best Free Cantonese Learning Apps in 2026
A short list, because most language apps skip Cantonese entirely. Here’s what actually teaches it, for free.
Matthew Spiers · Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Best Free Japanese Learning Apps in 2026
Seven apps for learning Japanese for free, compared on particle explanations, romaji support and daily limits.
Best Language Apps for Traveling Photographers in 2026
Offline use, real sentences and no daily caps: the apps that work when you’re mid-shoot and out of signal.
Matthew Spiers · Oct 6, 2026 · 8 min read
Best Language Apps for Remote Workers in 2026
Short sessions, no daily caps and a path to actually speaking: the apps that fit around a working day.
Alternatives
Alternative to Duolingo: Wekos
Duolingo runs on hearts and streaks. Wekos runs on sentence drilling with no cap on how much you can practice, free.
Matthew Spiers · Sep 28, 2026 · 7 min read
Alternative to Memrise: Wekos
Memrise teaches words through video clips. Wekos teaches full sentences, then drills them until they stick.
Alternative to Busuu: Wekos
Busuu’s free version is a 30-day trial. Wekos’s free version is the whole course, indefinitely.
Alternative to Quizlet for Language Learning
Quizlet is a flashcard tool for a class you’re already taking. Wekos is a full spoken course, free.
Matthew Spiers · Sep 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Alternative to Ling: Wekos
Ling covers 60+ languages behind a subscription. Wekos covers 8, in full, for nothing.