Italian Language App Reviews

The best Italian language apps reviewed by an expert linguist

What are best apps to learn italian? Find out with these expert online Italian course reviews where I cut through the marketing noise and deliver the real scoop on functionality and effectiveness. Trust my expertise to guide you right.

Quick answer:

  • the only app you need to practice speaking is Think In Italian
  • other audio materials that work are Pimsleur and Glossika
  • steer clear of Duolingo

21 Online Italian language courses, compared

think in italian logo

Think in Italian

90%
Think in Italian is designed solely for learning Italian, emphasizing spaced repetition and speaking practice to achieve fluency through a structured and immersive approach.

Web

39.80$/m
162.40$/y
480.00$/l
100%
The app provides 249 lessons, over 1,000 readings, and access to an AI tutor, focusing on speaking and spaced repetition to enhance language acquisition.
80%
The app offers a straightforward, user-friendly interface with a focus on speaking exercises and supplementary grammar and vocabulary materials.
80%
The app offers a subscription model, allowing access to all lessons and additional materials for flexible, in-depth learning.
glossika italian review logo

Glossika

85%
Glossika Italian focuses on repetition and speaking practice, however, it doesn\’t offer an obvious and easy way to pratice what the user learns.

Web, iOS, Android

16.99$/m
159.96$/y
80%
Glossika offers an effective approach to learn languages, covering levels A1 to C1 and emphasizing repetition and listening.
80%
Clean design, user-friendly, but lacks interactive elements and feedback.
80%
Glossika is on the affordable side and it offers a free trial with premium features available for an upgrade.
memrise review italian logo

Memrise

85%
Memrise is great when it comes to vocabulary acquisition through spaced repetition, videos and AI tools, although practice oportunities can feel limited.

Web, iOS, Android

17.99$/m
86.30$/y
228.08$/l
80%
Vocabulary-focused courses with spaced repetition, native speaker pronunciation, and interactive videos for effective learning.
80%
User-friendly interface with diverse practice options, though conversations can feel too short for advanced practice.
80%
The pro plan unlocks all features, offering extensive content and advanced tools for an enhanced learning experience.
pimsleur italian review logo

Pimsleur

85%
Pimsleur Italian offers a well-structured, audio-focused learning experience with speaking and pronunciation activities.

Web, iOS, Android

575.00$/l
80%
The course is highly effective, with clear, gradual lessons that build speaking and comprehension skills through consistent repetition and practical exercises.
100%
The app is straightforward and easy to navigate, with a clean design focused on delivering lessons without unnecessary distractions.
80%
Pimsleur offers different packages, with each level priced around 150 USD and the entire course costing between 400 and 500 USD
rosetta stone italian review logo

Rosetta Stone

80%
Rosetta Stone Italian offers a structured, organized approach to language learning, although the more advance content feels quite basic.

Web, iOS, Android

15.99$/m
126.00$/y
199.00$/l
80%
The lessons are visual and structured but may lack depth in grammar explanations and language complexity.
80%
The app is user-friendly and visually appealing, with immediate feedback on exercises.
80%
The app offers different subscription plans, including a one-time payment option.
rocket languages italian review logo

Rocket Languages

80%
Rocket Languages Italian offers a structured approach to learning Italian, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and speaking, however the advanced levels lack complexity

Web, iOS, Android

47.00$/m
259.90$/l
80%
The app provides grammar-focused lessons with detailed explanations, vocabulary practice, and interactive audio exercises.
80%
The app feels serious and text-based, with elements for progress tracking and competitive learning.
80%
Several subscription plans are available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, with additional features requiring extra payment.
language transfer review italian logo

Language Transfer

80%
Language Transfer offers free, audio-based language courses focusing on understanding and thinking in the target language rather than memorization.

Web, iOS, Android

60%
Courses focus on thinking through language exposure with clear explanations but lack speaking practice.
80%
The app provides a simple, clean interface with easy access to all courses, making it straightforward for users to navigate.
100%
The app is completely free to use, with optional donations to support the developers.
ouino review italian logo

Ouino

75%
Ouino Italian offers extensive content with lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and conversation, but lacks sufficient speaking practice for achieving fluency.

Web, iOS, Android

83.88$/y
95.76$/l
80%
High-quality, detailed lessons with extensive content, but limited speaking practice.
60%
User-friendly and offline study capability, however, due to the massive amount of content, navigation can feel a bit overwhelming.
80%
The demo version is free, but full content access requires a paid subscription.
italian made easy review logo

Italy Made Easy

75%
Italy Made Easy offers a traditional teacher-student dynamic with well-structured courses ranging from beginner to intermediate levels, emphasizing comprehension and listening.

Web

480.00$/y
990.00$/l
80%
Courses are comprehensive, with a mix of video lessons, quizzes, and supplementary materials, ideal for building a solid foundation in Italian.
80%
The platform is user-friendly, with an active community and immersion tools, but lacks speaking exercises.
60%
The app offers two payment options: $480 for a one-year subscription or a one-time payment for lifetime access.
babbel logo

Babbel

70%
Babble Italian offers a language learning experience with a variety of features, but it lacks sufficient focus on speaking exercises to achieve fluency.

Web, iOS, Android

13.95$/m
83.40$/y
299.50$/l
60%
Courses cover A1 to B2 levels with well-organized content and integrated grammar explanations.
80%
Elegant design, user-friendly interface, however it can occasionally feel overwhelming due to the abundance of elements it contains.
80%
The app provides two free live classes; additional features require a subscription.
mondly logo

Mondly

70%
Mondly Italian offers a variaty of exercises for learners, including some conversational activities, however, they lack depth and can occasionally feel plain.

Web, iOS, Android

9.99$/m
47.99$/y
89.99$/l
60%
Offers basic lessons and conversation practice; audio quality inconsistent.
80%
User-friendly interface; limited variaty of exercises with added conversation practice.
60%
Free version available with limited access; premium subscription unlocks more features.
news in slow italia review logo

News in Slow Italian

70%
News in Slow Italian offers structured lessons and regular content updates, but its old-fashioned approach and limited interactivity may not appeal to all users.

Web, iOS, Android

19.90$/m
60%
Content is updated frequently and includes various topics for all levels. However, it doesn\’t offer enough opportunities to improve speaking skills.
60%
The app feels outdated with minimal interactive features and basic exercises.
80%
The free version is very restrictive; the paid version unlocks full content access.
story learning logo

Story Learning

70%
Story Learning focuses on language acquisition through stories and readings, offering a unique approach to learning. While it excels in reading and listening practice, it lacks integrated speaking exercises.

Web

297.00$/l
60%
The course provides structured chapters with a focus on reading, comprehension, and vocabulary, but lacks integrated speaking practice.
80%
The app is user-friendly with a consistent format, though the audio volume can be low.
60%
The app offers a free version for podcasts and various paid packages, including a seven-day free trial.
lingopie italian review logo

Lingopie

70%
LingoPie integrates real-world content, like Netflix shows, to enhance listening comprehension and vocabulary. It offers very limited changes to practice speaking.

Web, iOS, Android

12.00$/m
71.88$/y
199.00$/l
60%
The app focuses on listening comprehension and vocabulary, offering contextual grammar explanations but lacks robust speaking practice options.
80%
The interface is intuitive but has some quirks, like inconsistent grammar updates.
80%
LingoPie offers a seven-day free trial and charges $80 for four private lessons.
busuu logo

Busuu

65%
Busuu Italian offers an interesting approach to language learning with video content and peer feedback. However, it falls short when it comes to speaking exercises.

Web, iOS, Android

14.00$/m
83.00$/y
60%
The courses are well-structured and cover levels A1 to B2, with a limited emphasis on speaking practice.
80%
The user interface is intuitive, and the inclusion of native speaker videos provides a nice touch to the learning process.
60%
Many features are locked behind a premium paywall, limiting access to advanced content without a subscription.
lingq italian review logo

LingQ

65%
LingQ offers a content-rich platform focused on reading and listening exercises. However, it lacks structured courses and integrated speaking practice.

Web, iOS, Android

14.99$/m
119.88$/y
40%
Courses are unstructured and feel more like a collection of random content rather than a guided learning path.
60%
The app\’s interface feels overwhelming, especially for beginners, with a lot of options and limited clear guidance.
80%
LingQ includes a free version with limited access; additional points and services may require purchases.
yabla review italian logo

Yabla

60%
Yabba Italian focuses on video and audio content. Despite its outdated interface and poor audio quality, it offers helpful exercises for practicing languages.

Web, iOS

12.95$/m
99.95$/y
60%
The course quality is decent, providing practical exercises, though held back by poor audio quality and outdated interface.
60%
The user experience is hindered by an outdated design and inconsistent audio quality, though it offers a good variaty of practicing options.
80%
The app\’s pricing is reasonable for the practice opportunities it offers but isn’t sufficient for achieving fluency alone.
coffee break italian review logo

Coffee Break Languages

60%
Coffee Break Italian offers a podcast-style approach to learning Italian, combining audio lessons with traditional teaching methods. However, it lacks sufficient speaking practice to achieve fluency.

Web

145.00$/l
60%
Well-structured and engaging lessons with a conversational style, but lacks dedicated speaking practice.
80%
The app features a user-friendly interface with interactive content but limited navigation in the trial version.
60%
The app offers a free trial with access to three lessons per level and subscription plans for full access.
easy italian news review logo

Easy Italian News

60%
Easy Italian News offers a straightforward way to practice reading and listening by providing simplified news articles.

Web

40%
The platform provides content for improving reading and listening comprehension, but it does not offer speaking or writing practice.
60%
The website is user-friendly, with clear formatting that follows natural speech patterns, making it easy to navigate and follow along.
100%
The service is entirely free, with an optional donation for support and the ability to purchase a printable PDF version.
duolingo logo review italian

Duolingo

50%
Duolingo Italian offers an extremely gamified experience to practice Italian, but it falls short in offering enough speaking exercises.

Web, iOS, Android

12.00$/m
59.00$/y
40%
The course is fine for beginners, focusing heavily on translation and typing, with minimal speaking practice.
60%
The user-friendly interface lacks depth, and it heavily relies on gamified elements to keep learners engaged.
60%
Duolingo provides free access with optional in-app purchases for premium features.
fluentu

FluentU

50%
FluentU Italian offers a library of videos to practice listening and comprehension skills, but it entirely lacks speaking exercises essential for fluency.

Web, iOS, Android

29.99$/m
143.99$/y
60%
High-quality video content covers diverse topics and skill levels, but lacks emphasis on speaking improvement.
60%
Outdated interface but functional, with good filtering options.
60%
FluentU is relatively expensive compared to other language apps. Its pricing is subscription-based with options for monthly and annual plans.

Do Language Learning Apps Work?

The 3 flaws of most language apps

Here’s what I’ve found.

As a polyglot, I often rely on language learning apps to enhance my skills, but I’ve realized that achieving fluency demands more than just using these tools.

In fact, I believe that most language apps don’t work for what they’re supposed to do – help you to speak a language.

A Columbia University review of language apps highlighted three major shortcomings:

  • they often teach vocabulary in isolation instead of in meaningful contexts
  • minimally adapt to individual learners’ needs
  • rarely provide explanatory corrective feedback

Language apps alone are not enough

Every linguist, including myself, agrees that human interaction is crucial for learning a second language.

Therefore, it’s essential to choose apps that offer the option to listen to and converse with native speakers.

Apps that present real-life scenarios, tell stories, and provide cultural context are particularly beneficial.

Vocabulary-focused apps can be useful, but they should be supplemented with classes or other learning tools.

Language learning apps are great for beginners and intermediate learners to build a foundation. If your goal is to learn enough to order a coffee, these apps can certainly help.

However, achieving fluency requires immersion and comprehensive learning, whether through conversations with native speakers, classroom instruction, or engaging with books and movies.

Gamification vs progress

Many language apps and courses are designed to entertain you as a user or, in other words, to retain you as a customer.

Language apps praise you constantly: for responding several times correctly in a row, for completing a chunk of the day’s lesson, and for learning from your mistakes.

Language apps keep you apprised of your progress via various point schemes and use email and phone notifications to nudge you to keep your routine going.

You became rich in worthless points and cherished them.

However, you only have a feeling of progress. In fact, even if you’re learning anything, it’s not useful material for conversation in real-world situations.

Instead, the best language app to learn Italian should be designed to learn, not to kill time, and should be focused on giving users the ability to get by in social settings in Italy (meeting people, traveling, ordering food and drinks).

What I want from a language course

As language learners, we all need to cover various skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

This involves acquiring vocabulary and grammar patterns.

There are many apps that focus on grammar rules and translation, while others that try to stuff new words into your mind.

There’s also plenty of reading and listening material, although it’s rarely in the ideal form to be digested by beginners.

In any case, there’s one aspect that is often overlooked by apps, courses, and textbooks – speaking.

It’s a common experience to go through one or two grammar books only to find yourself at a loss for words when you try to make a basic sentence.

That’s why I want to practice speaking even when I’m alone.

Personally, I evaluate language apps based on how well they get you to speak Italian.

That’s why at the top of this list, you find audio courses like Think In Italian.

Best language app by use case

To learn Italian while driving

Think in Italian, Pimsleur and Glossika are audio courses made up of audio lessons that you can listen to while driving, with the option to set them to autoplay.

To learn Italian for travel

Think In Italian comes with thousands of real-life sentences that you easily hear in conversations with native speakers. Pimsleur‘s speech register is overly formal, while Glossika has some sentences that were clearly created in English and then translated into Italian in a way that doesn’t match the original.

Most of the apps tested provide lessons that put you in scenarios you might encounter while traveling, like ordering at a cafe.

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"I've tried other apps like Babbel and Memrise. None made me fluent or made me feel like I was making much meaningful progress in learning a language."
testimonial 2
Ecem Topcu
Aug 7, 2025