Memrise
Language lessons built around clips of native speakers, with vocabulary, listening and speaking practice
by Memrise Limited · listed Nov 5, 2026
Quick verdict
A solid pick if you want listening and speaking practice grounded in real people rather than synthetic voices. Expect to pay for a subscription to get the most out of it.
Best for Learners with a specific goal who want to hear and imitate how native speakers really talk
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Nov 5, 2026. How we review
Memrise review
Memrise teaches languages through short videos of native speakers in everyday situations, paired with vocabulary drills, listening exercises and speaking practice. It covers popular choices like Spanish, Japanese and Korean alongside less common ones such as Irish, Latin and Esperanto. It suits learners with a concrete goal, like talking with a partner's family, getting by on a trip or preparing for an exam, and it aims to serve beginners through to people polishing their conversation.
A typical session mixes word review with clips of real people saying the phrases, so you hear natural pronunciation and pacing rather than synthesized voices. There is also role-play style practice for building sentences and rehearsing conversations. Sessions are short enough to fit into a commute, and the spaced review keeps older words coming back.
Why we picked it: The native-speaker video approach gives a better feel for how people actually talk than many drill-only apps, and the language list is unusually broad.
Watch out for: Much of the full course content and newer features are generally behind a paid plan, so check what the free tier includes for your language.
What we like
- Real native-speaker video clips instead of robotic voices
- Wide range of languages, including less common ones
- Mix of vocabulary, listening and speaking practice
- Short sessions with spaced review of older words
- Highly rated by a large number of App Store users
What could be better
- Full access typically requires a paid subscription
- Depth of content likely varies between popular and newer languages
- Not a substitute for grammar-heavy study or a live tutor
Questions about Memrise
Is Memrise free?
The app is free to download with some free content, but a paid subscription unlocks the full courses and features. Check the in-app pricing for current plans.
Which platforms does it run on?
It is available on iPhone and iPad through the App Store. Memrise also offers an Android app and a web version.
Which languages can I learn?
Mainstream options like Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean are covered, along with additions such as Irish, Latin, Ancient Greek, Cantonese and Esperanto.
Is it good for complete beginners?
Yes, it starts from scratch and builds up to everyday phrases. Intermediate learners can use it to work on listening and speaking.
What are some alternatives?
Duolingo is more game-like, Babbel leans on structured grammar lessons, and Pimsleur focuses on audio-based speaking practice.
From the developer: how Memrise describes itself
Memrise is a language learning app for people who have a specific reason to learn. Trusted by 80 million learners, Memrise offers specialised courses for your goals: passing an exam, speaking confidently at work, building relationships, or discovering cultures you love. Unlike gamified apps with robotic voices, it's built around real native-speaker videos - so you learn to speak like real people.
Learn Spanish, Korean, Japanese or 136 other languages in lessons that teach you vocabulary, listening and speaking as if you were a local living in the country.
15 NEW languages to learn from: Afrikaans, Ancient Greek, Latin, Finnish, Irish, Czech, Hungarian, Cantonese, Romanian, Esperanto, Croatian, Kurdish, Serbian, Bulgarian, Azerbaijani
* Showing you how to piece together natural sentences, preparing you for everyday conversation * Giving you a place to practice role-play and gain confidence * Teaching you the cultural nuances you need to feel like a local
Memrise is the best language-learning app for beginners that are starting to learn a language from scratch, intermediate learners that want to build on their listening and speaking, and advanced learners who are looking to improve their conversational skills.
Download Memrise so that you can confidently:
* Connect with your partner and their family * Have a better time while travelling * Sharpen your mind if you’re learning a language for brain health * Prepare for a language exam * Connect with work colleagues * Better understand different cultures
How do we help you have conversations in other languages?
* Choose from hundreds of real-life scenarios * Practice listening to native speaker videos using what you’ve just learned * Then build confidence speaking with AI Buddies, your personalised language learning bots
- Helping 80+ million learners speak confidently - Featured in BBC World Service, Forbes, The Verge, The Financial Times, and more
What other learners are saying
"I've been using Memrise for about two years, studying European Portuguese. I have the paid version - it's a solid learning tool, and it has been my primary resource ever since got it. I find the Learn with Locals feature to be especially useful, more so as my Portuguese improves. My wife and I spent a couple of weeks in Portugal a few months ago, and we were able to handle all of our transactions - stores, restaurants, markets, car rental, etc!" - Voloúre
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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