There’s nothing stopping you from surprising everyone by becoming a fluent Italian speaker overnight. Isn’t that something you’re prepared for? All you need is determination and a few of the best apps to learn Italian to get started. Before we begin, you should be aware that the market for Italian learning apps is extremely crowded.
Unfortunately, not all of them are created equal, and knowing which ones will benefit you the most in learning Korean will save you a lot of time and money. In 2021, here are the top 20 best apps to learn Italian.
Can you learn Italian with an app?
There is no single book, course, or app that can provide you with everything you need to learn a language.
So, while you can learn Italian with an app, it won’t be the only thing you need to become fluent in Italian.
In the end, the best way to learn a language is to interact with it, so while an app is a great place to start, don’t expect it to be the only tool you’ll need.
Why learn Italian with an app?
Apps are a great way to start your language learning journey for several reasons:
Gamification
The process has been fine-tuned in most apps to make it as simple and enjoyable as possible while covering some of the most important topics.
Each app takes a different approach, but regardless of which app you use, you will learn Italian.
A low entry fee
One of the most appealing aspects of learning through an app is how simple it is to get started.
Most apps are either free or offer a free trial, so you can always try them out to see if they’re right for you.
Expertise
Though learning through an app may appear to be simple, most apps employ a large team of linguists and language learners who ensure that the content you are learning is actually useful.
Though some of the phrases may appear strange, they have been considered by others.
The randomness of some sentences can help you think more deeply about what you’re saying rather than writing on autopilot.
How to learn Italian with an app?
Make a daily routine for yourself.
You can learn a language while waiting for your dentist appointment or riding the bus. Making practice a part of your daily routine is the best way to ensure that you do so. Take a look at your schedule and see what activities you can add to it.
Find one that meets your requirements.
Every language learner has a different goal, and each app has a different focus, and it’s critical to understand both.
Make a list of what you want to accomplish (speak a language on holiday, understand cinema or literature, etc.)
Try to find an app that will help you achieve that goal.
There are many excellent choices available, but not every app will be the best fit for you.
Read: The Best App For Learning French In 2022
Jot down ideas
While doing everything on your phone is convenient, studies have shown that writing things down makes them easier to remember.
Don’t be afraid to scribble down some notes, even if it’s just to keep track of what you’ve learned.
Make it a social event
While many apps already include a competitive component, nothing beats doing something with a friend. Try to find someone in your area who is interested in learning a language as well.
It doesn’t have to be the same as long as you can keep each other entertained.
Remember to speak up
It’s easy to use an app casually while typing answers, but don’t forget to practice speaking it as well.
Are paid-for apps to learn Italian better?
Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren’t. You’ll notice that we give you an overview of app features and what we think of them, including price. We’ll always try to let you know who the app is best for in terms of skill level.
One thing is certain, though. Money shouldn’t be a reason you give up on your dream to learn Italian.
Best apps to learn Italian in 2021
Babbel is probably the best app to learn Italian. It’s suitable for everyone because it covers all manner of subjects, levels of proficiency and interests.
20 Best apps to learn Italian in 2021
Babbel
Babbel is one of the best apps to learn Italian. It’s appropriate for everyone because it covers a wide range of subjects, skill levels, and interests.
You get what you pay for with Babbel: high-quality, in-depth lessons at a reasonable price. This is also the best app for learning Italian for travel – the beginner lessons cover everything you’ll need to know for your trip to Italy.
Why we recommend it:
Easy to use and user-friendly
Top-quality teaching methods and resources
Offers specialized courses for grammar, refreshers, beginners, intermediates, and advanced learners
Synchronized progress across devices
What it costs: $12.95 for a one-month plan, $26.85 every quarter, $44.70 every six months, or $83.40 for a yearly subscription.
Duolingo
If you’re short on cash but have a lot of motivation, Duolingo is a great place to start. The content is free, and there are a variety of lessons to choose from. My only criticism of Duolingo is that it quickly becomes repetitive, and as a result, you may feel like your progress is being stifled. After a while, the ads become irritating.
Why we recommend it:
It’s free
Easy to use
Lessons are organized by subject and proficiency level
The content is occasionally very amusing (ever wanted to learn how to say “the bear is a vegetarian in Italian?” Me neither!)
What it costs: The app itself is completely free. You can upgrade to get rid of the pesky advertisements but I don’t think this enhances the experience of learning Italian, to be honest.
LingQ
LingQ is one of the most immersive learning apps available, allowing you to learn Italian through audio, video, and written content that you are interested in. This method allows you to learn in context while also assisting you in remembering what you’ve learned.
LingQ will convert a variety of interests and topics (for example, books, podcasts, food, and entertainment) into interactive lessons. Using the spaced repetition method, master what you’ve learned. LingQ’s grammar and writing game isn’t great, but it does provide a lot of Italian speaking practice.
LingQ works best for:
Unstructured but immersive learning.
Learning in context.
Intermediate to advanced learners who need motivation. Your preferred content will keep you interested.
Italki
While self-studying through an Italian language app is a good use of your time, learning from an Italian language tutor makes a lot of sense, especially if you’re a beginner. A tutor will not just teach you how to read and write Italian but will get you speaking, too. This is what Italki is for.
Italki connects 5 million language learners with over 10,000 professional and community tutors who teach various languages. There are over 100 Italian teachers on Italki offering conversational Italian classes as well as structured lessons catered to your goals.
Lessons are done via video chat, typically through Skype, and prices cater to all budgets.
Mondly
If learning Italian with cutting-edge technology sounds appealing to you, Mondly is for you.
It is a beautifully designed app that caters to over 40 languages, Mondly includes daily bite-size lessons, chatbot conversations, language exercises, audio guides, and tests. For an immersive learning experience, the app features speech recognition, augmented reality, and even virtual reality.
But perhaps the best thing about Mondly is that it allows you to learn languages in any combination. You can learn Italian from any language, not just English!
Mondly works best for:
Vocabulary building.
Quick and engaging Italian lessons.
Students who are also learning through other channels and are looking for complementary lessons.
Preply
Preply is an alternative app to italki. It’s another one that will help you to actually learn to speak Italian. Pick a tutor and get the ball rolling – it’s easy to use and great for improving pronunciation.
This app is a great window into the world of conversational Italian, as you’ll be learning it from someone who speaks it every day.
Why we recommend it:
Great tutors at reasonable prices
Convenient and easy to use
Highly recommended by users
You don’t have to include a video for your call if you prefer to remain anonymous
Read: Best Apps For Learning Spanish
Busuu
One of the best apps to learn Italian, Busuu’s Italian lessons are systematic and efficient. The app has lessons on how to read and write and grammar that start with the basics and progress to more advanced levels.
It offers topic-based lessons that are both insightful and entertaining. This is a good option if you’re looking for an all-around app to teach you Italian.
Why we recommend it:
Well-designed app
Mixed-approach teaching (not just memory drills)
Material is always relevant
Active app community
What it costs: For the basic premium package you’ll pay €5.83 a month. For access to all Busuu’s features, you’re looking at €6.66 a month.
HelloTalk
What if you can learn a language and a culture while also teaching your own language and culture? The language exchange app HelloTalk lets you do just that.
With over 150 languages supported and more than 250 million members to chat with, this is one of the most collaborative apps to learn Italian. You learn how to speak Italian by actually speaking the language with native speakers who help you correct whatever mistakes you make.
You can have conversations with your language partner through chat, voice calls, or video calls. Learning with your partner, or with a group chat, also gives you the opportunity to make friends and learn about each other’s culture
Memrise
Memrise contains video clips and imagery, which is great for visual learners. Memrise’s ethos is that vocabulary building is more important than grammar. If you agree, this could be for you. Personally, I find this approach to be a little basic. However, if you’re a visual learner, definitely give it a try.
Why we recommend it:
Has seven courses available for different proficiency levels
The user-created content is even more helpful than the actual program (and there’s tons of it!)
Drops
Fellow puzzle nerds, I raise you Drops. This app is a lot of fun and it teaches you new vocabulary at the same time. A blend of word and memory games, Drops’ approach is to have its users enjoy themselves and pick stuff up along the way.
I have to say, this is a great app to take the sting off of grammar drills.
Why we recommend it:
Innovative and challenging puzzles to stimulate learning
Has a great visual dictionary
Plenty of content (although the free content is limited)
What it costs: Drops can be considered expensive. That said, it’s addictive and you’ll get your friends and family on it in no time. It costs $9.99 per month, $69.99 for yearly plans, and $159.99 for lifetime access.
MosaLingua Italian
This is another app for people who want to keep all their learning in one place.
MosaLingua is a great option for learners who need variety and like repetition. Traditional methods meet new approaches and you can customize pretty much every feature to suit your goals. Love flashcards? Then this is the app for you. Curate your own Italian flashcards ensemble and use them to practice in your downtime.
Why we recommend it:
Caters for 10 levels of difficulty
Has an initial assessment test for accurate placement
Plenty of bonus materials and sub-categories to explore
Uses a blend of flashcards and audio clips
If your commute is long and you wish you had a better way to fill your time, take a look at these audio course apps to learn Italian. Both of the following have been tried, tested, and approved by countless Italian learners!
Pimsleur
Pimsleur is an audio-based course that can be accessed via its app or website. It’s based on the Pimsleur Method, which is designed to get you speaking, understanding, and reading new languages quickly.
The course comprises 30-minute audio lessons that introduce core vocabulary in the context of conversations.
Following the lesson, you can dive into the bonus learning materials such as digital flashcards, games, and quizzes to review the vocabulary and test your skills.
Rocket Languages
If structured learning is your thing, Rocket Languages is one of the best apps to learn Italian. Through interactive audio lessons, you will start with useful Italian phrases and work your way through the finer points of the Italian language and culture.
Covering lessons on grammar, vocabulary, writing, reading, listening, speaking, and even culture, Rocket Languages gives you a well-rounded Italian education. Step-by-step videos also demonstrate how to write in Italian.
Rocket Languages works best for:
Structured learning.
On-the-go learning.
Beginners to intermediate learners looking for a balanced way to learn various aspects of Italian, including writing and reading.
Spotify
You didn’t even imagine that Spotify might be all you need to learn Italian, did you? Instead of your favorite bops, tune in to Coffe Break Italian on Spotify and get fun and exciting snippets of the Italian language on your drive.
It’s innovative and I can promise you’ll find out tons of stuff you won’t learn through other mediums.
Why we recommend it:
Makes the most out of your Spotify subscription
Turns lessons into fun conversations and trivia facts
Makes learning enjoyable
Offers a different perspective on learning Italian
What it costs: Good news, you don’t need to pay for Spotify. If you already have a subscription, you’re allowed to be a bit smug that you’re using your account to learn a new language.
Unconventional apps to learn Italian
WordReference
Most of us will recognize the agony inflicted by trying to translate just one word on Google Translate. Sometimes it works, other times your gut feeling says “that word can’t possibly mean “hot air balloon disposal”.
Luckily, Word Reference Italian is one of the best multi-lingual apps on the market right now and I would recommend it to all language learners. Trust me, it saves a lot of embarrassment.
Read: Best Way To Learn A New Language Fast And Be Good At It
Speechling
Learners who don’t or can’t invest in an online tutor might find Speechling especially helpful. Users of Speechling learn Italian by mimicking phrases delivered by the app. Therefore, this app is best for practicing speaking Italian out loud.
However, I would only recommend this to intermediate or advanced learners because beginners need to have some knowledge of Italian pronunciation in order to benefit from it.
Why we recommend it:
Builds great speaking-out-loud habits
The paid-for version allows you to get feedback from real Italian speakers who listen to your recordings and correct you
Teaches through doing rather than memory or listening
Bravolol
Learning Italian with the use of the Bravolol app is an excellent choice. This app too is available on your smartphone supporting Android and iOS versions. Simply register on the app and select the language you wish to learn.
It has been specifically designed for everyone who is looking to learn Italian as soon as possible and also in the best manner. You will find loads of phrases, words, sentences, etc to learn from. Take your time and make sure you become fluent while you learn.
In fact, as soon as you tap on the phrase the app speaks it aloud for you so that your speech skills are well brushed up and tested. Similar to what you may see in the Duolingo app, this too has a small snail icon beside the speaking out loud option.
If the bot speaks too fast for you to understand which may happen often since you have just started, click on the snail icon and the bot will break down the words and speak slowly for you.
The voice-over has been recorded by the native Italian speakers and you can practice by listening to them every day. All you need is at least 10-15 mins of your time to learn.
FleuntU
We all know that the fastest way to learn a language is through immersion. But if you’re not in Italy or don’t talk to native speakers, how can you do that. Enter FluentU, one of the best immersive apps to learn Italian.
FluentU helps you learn Italian through real-world videos. These include Italian music videos, commercials, movie trailers, news, and more. The videos are subtitled in Italian and have English translations.
FluentU works best for:
Immersive and interactive learning.
Audio-visual learners who thrive in contextual learning.
Intermediate or advanced learners who already have a grasp of the Italian language.
Read: 20 Best Apps To Learn German In 2022
Audible
You might not immediately think of it, but Audible is a great tool for language learning. Not only do they offer loads of highly-rated Paul Noble courses for various languages (including Spanish, French, Japanese), but they also have loads of other audiobooks in various languages.
Whether you are a beginner or advanced learner, you’ll surely find something on there.
They also have other great linguistics-related content such as the book “Because Internet”, which is all about how the internet has changed the way we use language.
You can get a book for free during your 30-day trial. Cancel anytime, and the book is still yours.
Audiobooks are a great way to work on your listening skills and pronunciation. Find out what kind of audiobook best matches your skills and how you can get one for free.
I can personally tell you that Audible is one of the best apps to learn Italian and improve your listening skills.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is one of the most famous learning programs in the world. The good news is that it is available on an app! In about 3-4 months you will be able to speak, read, write, and understand basic words and phrases in Italian. It will help you build a solid foundation so you can have basic conversations with native Italian speakers.
They offer different programs based on the reason why you are looking to learn Italian. Is it for travel, work, or friendly conversation? Rosetta Stone has programs for all. It can get repetitive at times as you will need to hear it, say it, write it, and then finally choose it from a list of multiple-choice questions.
This formula by Rosetta Stone has made them one of the best apps to learn the Italian language in the world
Read: Best Ways To Learn Hebrew In 2021
FAQs
Even if English is the only language you speak, you’ll find Italian fluency perfectly achievable even if you’re working on your own. Begin by choosing an app that best suits your skill level, interests, and learning style.
Babble is one of the best apps to learn Italian. It’s suitable for everyone since it covers all manner of subjects, levels of proficiency and interests.
It’s possible to become conversational in Italian within one year, as long as you study consistently. The time it will take to learn Italian depends on how much time and effort you can devote to it though.
It’s neither difficult nor easy. It’s easier than Arabic or Chinese, but harder than German or French for a native English speaker. The main aspect of Italian that is most difficult for English speakers is the alphabet. However, with consistent study, you can learn the alphabet pretty quickly.
Yes, it will be possible to have meaningful conversations in Italian. True proficiency cannot be achieved in that period of time though.
Conclusion
That concludes our list of the best apps for learning Italian in 2021. Make sure to pick the apps that work best for you, and if you have any tips for other Italian learners, please leave them in the comments section below.
