Best Apps to Learn Korean in 2026
Duolingo is the best app to learn Korean for most beginners in 2026: free, with a course rebuilt in July 2026 that now teaches up to B2 and gives Hangul its own tab. LingoDeer is the best paid course at US$95.99 a year, with grammar tips and native-speaker audio from A1 to B1. Pimsleur teaches the Seoul dialect in 30-minute audio lessons from $14.95 a month. Babbel does not offer Korean. Add an italki tutor for speaking and TOPIK preparation.
10 apps and tutor platforms ranked for Korean learners, with Hangul, honorific and TOPIK coverage and prices checked in October 2026.
Start with Duolingo to learn Korean: it is free, its Korean course was rebuilt in July 2026, and it gives the Hangul alphabet its own tab. Add LingoDeer when you want grammar explained and native-speaker audio for US$95.99 a year, and book a tutor on italki once you can read Hangul and say a few sentences. Toolradar data: 15 of the 25 language learning tools we track are freemium and 5 are fully free, which leaves only 5 with no free plan at all.
Korean has two features that decide which app suits you. The Hangul alphabet was designed to be easy to learn, so reading is quick to get. Speech levels are harder: the verb endings and word forms you choose change with the age and status of the person you are talking to, and particles mark the roles in each sentence. Apps drill the forms, and a tutor teaches when to use them.
Methodology: these 10 were ranked for an English speaker learning Korean from zero, against the 25 tools in the language learning category. Babbel offers 14 languages and Korean is not one of them, so it is not ranked. Prices are US prices from vendor sites in October 2026. For AI speaking partners, see the AI language learning tools guide.
Top Picks
Picked by editorial review, informed by G2 and Capterra review volume and rating and by media mentions, the signals behind our category rankings. How we rate
| Tool | Starting price | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | Free (Super and Max are paid) | 4.6 1,122 reviews | Beginners who want a free start, a strong alphabet introduction and a daily habit. |
| LingoDeer | From US$95.99/yr | n/a | Beginners who want Korean grammar and particles explained step by step in a paid course. |
| Pimsleur | From $14.95/mo | n/a | Learners who want to speak and understand Korean on a commute, without a screen. |
| italki | Pay per lesson (set by tutor) | 4.2 13,850 reviews | Learners who want a live Korean tutor for speech levels, speaking and TOPIK preparation. |
| Speak | From $83.99/yr | 4.9 28 reviews | Learners who can read Hangul and need daily spoken Korean practice. |
| Busuu | Free courses, then Premium | 4.5 79 reviews | Learners who want a Hangul course, drama-based lessons and feedback from Korean speakers. |
| Preply | Pay per lesson (set by tutor) | 4.0 30 reviews | Learners who want a tutor for a specific goal such as TOPIK or Korean for work. |
| Rosetta Stone | From $13.25/mo billed yearly | 4.3 141 reviews | Learners who want to study Korean without English translations and may add a second language later. |
| Anki | Free (iOS app is paid) | n/a | Learners who want to lock in vocabulary and polite verb forms beside a course or tutor. |
| Memrise | Free tier, then Pro | 4.6 34 reviews | Learners who want to hear real Korean speakers and copy their phrases. |
Beginners who want a free start, a strong alphabet introduction and a daily habit.
- Pro: Duolingo says everyone can use its courses without spending a cent. Its July 2026 rebuild added advanced content, so the Korean course now teaches up to B2, and it reports over 1.9 million Korean learners.
- Pro: The Korean writing system has its own tab, with alphabet teaching sessions along the learning path, and transliterations for every sentence can be switched on or off during a lesson.
- Pro: The new approach sets clear grammar goals with new exercise types, and the course is available to speakers of 27 languages. Super and Max are optional paid tiers. The Duolingo profile has the rest.
- Con: The game format rewards finishing lessons, not speaking, and Duolingo does not itemize how deeply it drills honorifics. Add a tutor to practice speech levels.
- Con: Super and Max prices appear at checkout and vary by country and platform. See LingoDeer vs Duolingo for a grammar-first paid option.
Duolingo's pricing is generally fair, offering a robust free tier for casual learners.
Watch out
Family plan requires 6 users for lowest per-user price
Beginners who want Korean grammar and particles explained step by step in a paid course.
- Pro: The Korean course is built on detailed grammar tips and bite-sized lessons, and LingoDeer says every sentence and word is voiced by a native speaker instead of synthetic audio.
- Pro: US pricing is US$14.99 monthly, US$39.99 quarterly and US$95.99 annually (listed against US$159.99), plus one-time 3-year (US$189.99) and 6-year (US$239.99) plans.
- Pro: You can download the whole Korean course for offline study, and review uses built-in flashcards. The LingoDeer profile and LingoDeer alternatives list similar tools.
- Con: Each course runs from A1 to B1, so learners aiming for a high TOPIK II level will need more material after finishing it.
- Con: There is no live conversation inside the app, and promotional banners change the multi-year prices often. Confirm what a free lesson covers before you pay.
Learners who want to speak and understand Korean on a commute, without a screen.
- Pro: Pimsleur's Korean page says the course teaches the Seoul dialect. Korean Levels 4 and 5 were released recently, so the course now runs through Level 5.
- Pro: US pricing is $14.95 a month for the audio-only format and $19.95 a month for Premium, each with a 7-day free trial, and Premium is $149.95 on the annual plan. Each conversational lesson runs about 30 minutes.
- Pro: Premium adds a Voice Coach that uses AI voice recognition for pronunciation feedback. All Access covers all 51 Pimsleur languages. The Pimsleur profile lists the courses.
- Con: Subscription charges are not refundable, so cancel before the 7-day trial ends or before your billing date. Pimsleur does not refund unused time.
- Con: The core lessons are audio, and Pimsleur's FAQ calls reading lessons a separate part of the course. Plan Hangul practice with Duolingo or Busuu. See Duolingo vs Pimsleur.
While the method is scientifically proven, the high upfront cost for the 'Starting' tier might deter casual learners.
Learners who want a live Korean tutor for speech levels, speaking and TOPIK preparation.
- Pro: There is no subscription, and tutors list their own hourly rates and trial lessons on their profiles. The Korean page lists 528 tutors.
- Pro: Both professional teachers and community tutors are listed, and tutors advertise TOPIK preparation, including writing for TOPIK II levels 3 to 6, as well as beginner and conversation lessons.
- Pro: You can message a tutor before booking, so you can ask which speech levels they teach first. See the italki profile and italki vs Preply.
- Con: Quality varies, so the first lesson tests the tutor, not the platform. Try two or three tutors before booking a weekly slot.
- Con: Cost follows frequency. At $20 an hour, two one-hour lessons a week is about $170 a month, well above a year of LingoDeer at US$95.99.
The yearly plan offers a reasonable 16.7% discount, making it the more attractive option for committed learners.
Learners who can read Hangul and need daily spoken Korean practice.
- Pro: Korean is one of six languages Speak offers English speakers, beside Spanish, French, Japanese, Italian and Simplified Chinese. Speak says it has you speaking from the first lesson.
- Pro: Premium includes the Speak curriculum, roleplay, access to Speak Tutor and a pronunciation coach. Premium Plus adds a personalized study plan, targeted feedback on mistakes and custom interest-based lessons.
- Pro: A 7-day free trial comes first. Speak's US sign-up page lists Premium at $99.99 a year and Premium Plus at $234.99, with a sale page showing $83.99 and $164.99. See the Speak profile.
- Con: Speak is a speaking app, not a Hangul course, so learn to read first with Duolingo or Busuu. It suits learners past the first few lessons best.
- Con: Prices differ between Speak's own pages and change with promotions, so confirm the amount in the app before you pay. See Speak vs Duolingo.
It's best for individuals and small teams committed to language learning through AI interaction.
Watch out
Overage fees for transcription minutes
Learners who want a Hangul course, drama-based lessons and feedback from Korean speakers.
- Pro: Complete Korean has 185+ lessons, and a separate Hangeul course teaches you to read and write the alphabet. A K-Drama course teaches Korean through drama content.
- Pro: The community gives you feedback from Korean speakers, and Busuu says about 100,000 learners are studying Korean on it. Courses are free to start.
- Pro: Premium adds grammar and vocabulary review, offline mode and certificates, and Premium Plus adds AI conversations and speaking practice. The Busuu profile has details.
- Con: The Korean catalog is smaller than Busuu's Japanese one (185+ lessons against 570+), and Busuu does not state a level range for it on the course page.
- Con: Busuu says AI conversations and speaking practice are on mobile in selected languages only, and price depends on platform and region, so see current price at checkout. The Duolingo vs Busuu page compares free tiers.
Learners who want a tutor for a specific goal such as TOPIK or Korean for work.
- Pro: You pay per lesson and tutors set their own rates, so you can match a Korean tutor to your budget instead of a fixed plan.
- Pro: Preply keeps separate pages for TOPIK preparation, business Korean and beginners, which helps when your goal is a test, a job or a first month of lessons.
- Pro: Preply offers a free tutor replacement if you are not happy after a trial lesson. The Preply profile and Preply alternatives list similar services.
- Con: There is no flat monthly rate, so cost scales with how often you book. Budget by lessons per week.
- Con: Because tutors set price and style, fit varies. Treat the trial lesson as the real test and compare two tutors before buying a package.
Learners who want to study Korean without English translations and may add a second language later.
- Pro: A subscription is $19.99 monthly or $159 a year ($13.25 a month), and every subscription includes all 25 languages. There is a free first lesson.
- Pro: The Korean page says you can learn Hangul in a few hours before moving to vocabulary and grammar, and the course expands to verb tenses and honorifics.
- Pro: TruAccent speech technology helps you refine pronunciation, Chat Missions give you conversation practice, and flashcard sets cover 500+ topics. The Rosetta Stone profile has more.
- Con: The yearly plan ($159) costs more than LingoDeer's annual plan (US$95.99) and is billed up front. See Rosetta Stone vs Duolingo.
- Con: Learning without translation can feel slow for Korean particles and verb endings. Add a grammar source such as LingoDeer or a tutor if you stall.
Rosetta Stone's pricing is fair, especially for longer commitments.
Learners who want to lock in vocabulary and polite verb forms beside a course or tutor.
- Pro: The desktop version is free for Windows 10 and later, macOS 13 and later, and Linux, and AnkiDroid for Android is free.
- Pro: The free AnkiWeb sync service moves your cards between devices, and Anki supports add-ons and shared decks, so you can reuse cards other learners built.
- Pro: You choose what to memorize, so you can load the words and honorific endings you miss in tutor lessons. See the Anki profile and Anki alternatives.
- Con: Anki has no lessons, audio course or speaking practice, so it supplements the other nine and cannot replace them.
- Con: AnkiMobile, the official iOS app, is paid, and good deck design has a learning curve that casual learners skip.
This model is far fairer than most flashcard apps that rely on subscriptions, making it ideal for budget-conscious learners who want a powerful, ad-free spaced repetition system without ongoing payments.
Learners who want to hear real Korean speakers and copy their phrases.
- Pro: Memrise lists Korean among its 150+ languages and teaches through thousands of short videos of native speakers, following a Hear it, Learn it, Copy it routine.
- Pro: You record yourself repeating phrases to match native pronunciation, and Memrise includes private AI practice for speaking. A free tier gives basic access.
- Pro: Smart review brings words back at spaced intervals. The Memrise profile lists similar tools.
- Con: Memrise does not publish a Korean level range or Hangul curriculum on its landing page, so test a lesson to see how it handles the alphabet before paying.
- Con: The Pro price is not shown on its landing page, so see current price at checkout. Compare it with Memrise vs Duolingo first.
Other Language Learning tools worth considering
More published tools from our Language Learning category, ordered by our category ranking. They are not part of the editorial picks above.
What a Korean learning app is, and what it cannot do
A Korean learning app teaches Hangul, vocabulary, grammar and listening in short phone lessons. Course apps (LingoDeer, Busuu, Rosetta Stone) take you through ordered levels. Duolingo is a free habit app with a dedicated Hangul tab. Pimsleur is audio-first, Speak is an AI speaking tutor, and Memrise teaches phrases through short videos of native speakers.
Tutor platforms (italki, Preply) sell live lessons, and italki lists 528 Korean tutors. Anki is a flashcard engine you fill yourself. Two Korean-only services sit outside the ranking because they have no Toolradar page yet. Talk To Me In Korean sells unlimited access to 1,700+ lessons at $16.99 a month, with a 7-day free trial, or $85.40 and $122 a year on its two yearly plans (prices exclude tax). KoreanClass101 offers short audio and video lessons and a free account.
An app teaches you the forms, and a tutor teaches you which form to use. An app can drill the verb endings that mark politeness. Only a person tells you that your sentence is correct and still too casual for your boss.
Why Hangul, honorifics and a test target decide the outcome
Hangul is the fast part. Duolingo's course team describes it as a script designed to be easy to learn, with each shape reflecting where in the mouth the sound is made, and Rosetta Stone says you can learn it in a few hours. Learners who stay on transliteration for months lose the main advantage Korean gives them.
Speech levels are the slow part. Korean has levels of formality that depend on your status and how well you know the other person, and they change the endings of verbs and some words. Pimsleur's Korean course teaches the Seoul dialect, and Rosetta Stone expands grammar with verb tenses and honorifics. Practice with a person is how you learn to pick the right level.
A test target gives the study a shape. TOPIK I covers levels 1 and 2, and TOPIK II covers levels 3 to 6. italki lists Korean tutors who prepare students for TOPIK, including writing for TOPIK II levels 3 to 6, and Preply has a TOPIK tutor page. The apps here label levels with CEFR (Duolingo up to B2, LingoDeer A1 to B1), which is a different scale.
Key Features to Look For
Hangul instruction (Essential)
Duolingo gives the Korean writing system its own tab and adds alphabet teaching sessions along the learning path. Busuu has a separate Hangeul course for reading and writing, and Rosetta Stone says you can learn Hangul in a few hours before moving to vocabulary and grammar.
Honorifics and speech levels (Essential)
Korean marks politeness in verb endings and word choice. Rosetta Stone's course expands grammar with verb tenses and honorifics, and Pimsleur's Korean teaches the Seoul dialect. A tutor is the surest way to learn which level fits which person.
Grammar and particles explained (Essential)
LingoDeer builds its Korean course on detailed grammar tips, one step at a time. Duolingo says its rebuilt course focuses on clear grammar goals with new exercise types. Particles, which have no simple English translation, are where beginners stall.
Native audio and pronunciation feedback (Important)
LingoDeer voices every sentence in its Korean course with a native speaker rather than synthetic audio. Pimsleur has a Voice Coach, Rosetta Stone has TruAccent, and Speak has a pronunciation coach.
Listening input (Important)
Pimsleur is built on 30-minute audio lessons. Talk To Me In Korean offers 1,700+ lessons, and KoreanClass101 offers short audio and video lessons with a free account. Both work beside any app in this ranking.
Trial and refund terms (Nice to have)
Duolingo is free, and Pimsleur and Speak start with 7-day trials. Pimsleur does not refund subscription charges once billed, so cancel before the trial ends. Talk To Me In Korean's monthly and Standard yearly plans include a 7-day trial, and its Smart Save yearly plan does not.
What to settle before you pay
Decide how you will learn speech levels. An app drills endings, and a tutor corrects register. If you will work with Korean colleagues, book the tutor early.
Avoid multi-year plans until month two. LingoDeer's 3-year plan is US$189.99, about two years of its annual plan at US$95.99.
Evaluation Checklist
Open the free tier or trial and check whether Hangul is taught, or whether lessons lean on romanization.
Say one full sentence aloud and see whether the app responds to your pronunciation.
Confirm the plan you will buy reaches your goal level: LingoDeer's A1 to B1 may fall short of a high TOPIK II score.
Read the refund and cancellation terms before you enter a card, especially on trials that bill automatically.
Switch transliteration off after the first week, so you read Hangul from the start.
Book one trial lesson with a tutor who lists TOPIK preparation, and ask which speech level they would teach you first.
Pricing Overview
Free
$0
Yearly course plan
LingoDeer at US$95.99 a year (US$14.99 monthly, US$39.99 quarterly) fits a learner who wants structured grammar.
About US$8 a month
Audio and immersion
Rosetta Stone at $13.25 a month on the yearly plan and Pimsleur at $19.95 a month fit learners who want listening and speaking first.
$13 to $20 a month
AI speaking practice
Speak Premium and Premium Plus fit learners who can read Hangul and need daily spoken practice.
About $84 to $235 a year
Korean-only lesson library
Talk To Me In Korean at $85.40 or $122 a year, or $16.99 monthly (excluding tax), fits learners who want a large lesson archive.
$7.12 to $16.99 a month
Pricing Comparison
| App | Korean focus | Entry price (US) | Billing | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Duolingo | Hangeul tab, course up to B2 | Free | Super and Max are paid tiers | Free to use |
Grammar course, A1 to B1 | US$95.99/yr | US$14.99 monthly, US$39.99 quarterly | See the app for free lessons | |
Pimsleur | Audio, Seoul dialect | $14.95/mo audio-only, $19.95/mo Premium | Monthly, or $149.95 a year for Premium | 7-day free trial |
528 tutors, TOPIK preparation | Set by each tutor | Pay per lesson, no subscription | Tutors list trial lessons | |
Speak | AI speaking practice | $99.99/yr Premium (sale page $83.99) | Annual, varies by offer | 7-day free trial |
Busuu | Complete Korean, Hangeul course | See current price at checkout | Premium and Premium Plus | Free courses |
Preply | Tutors, TOPIK page | Set by each tutor | Pay per lesson | Trial lesson |
Immersion, Hangul in hours | $13.25/mo | 12 months, $159 up front, or $19.99/mo | Free first lesson | |
Anki | Spaced-repetition cards | Free | iOS app is paid | Free on desktop and Android |
Memrise | Native-speaker videos | See current price at checkout | Pro plan | Free tier |
Checked October 2026 on vendor sites: Babbel languages, Duolingo Korean course update, LingoDeer pricing, Pimsleur FAQ, italki Korean, Speak, Busuu Korean, Rosetta Stone Korean, Rosetta Stone plans, Anki, Memrise, Talk To Me In Korean pricing.
Mistakes to Avoid
- ×
Staying on transliteration for months. Hangul can be learned in a few hours according to Rosetta Stone, and Duolingo has a free tab for it.
- ×
Treating CEFR labels as TOPIK levels. Duolingo (up to B2) and LingoDeer (A1 to B1) use CEFR, while TOPIK runs levels 1 to 6 on its own scale.
- ×
Learning only one speech level. Korean changes verb endings with the person you are speaking to, so practice polite forms with a tutor before a work or family visit.
- ×
Buying a multi-year plan before testing the course. LingoDeer's 3-year plan is US$189.99, about two years of its annual plan.
- ×
Booking a 10-lesson tutor package before a trial lesson. Try two or three tutors and ask what they teach first.
- ×
Ignoring the cancellation date on a trial. Pimsleur does not refund subscription charges, so a missed date costs a full billing period.
Expert Tips
- →
- →
Pair one course app with one weekly tutor lesson. Duolingo is free, so the only cost is the tutor, and LingoDeer at US$95.99 adds explained grammar.
- →
Ask your tutor to drill polite and casual endings on the same sentence. Hearing the contrast teaches speech levels faster than a rule list.
- →
- →
Add listening input once you pass the first units. Pimsleur is audio-first, Talk To Me In Korean has 1,700+ lessons, and KoreanClass101 has a free account.
- →
Move the particles and endings you miss into Anki. A deck of 20 to 30 real mistakes beats a large deck you never open.
Red Flags to Watch For
-
A Korean course that never teaches Hangul and relies on romanization throughout.
-
A tutor listing with no stated TOPIK or exam experience and no trial lesson.
-
A promise of Korean fluency in a fixed number of weeks, with no level or hours attached.
-
A free trial that needs a card and bills automatically, with no reminder before the charge.
-
A countdown timer on a multi-year plan that pushes you to buy before you have tested the course.
The Bottom Line
Start with Duolingo free to learn Hangul and the first units of Korean, and move to LingoDeer at US$95.99 a year when you want grammar and particles explained. Choose Pimsleur for audio in the Seoul dialect and Speak for daily speaking practice. Book a tutor on italki or Preply who lists TOPIK preparation once you can read Hangul. Decision: start Duolingo today and book one trial lesson with a Korean tutor this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best app to learn Korean in 2026?
Does Babbel teach Korean?
No. Babbel offers 14 languages: Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Indonesian and English. Japanese, Korean and Chinese are not among them. For a paid structured Korean course, LingoDeer, Busuu and Rosetta Stone are the closest alternatives.
What is the best free app to learn Korean?
Duolingo is the best free app to learn Korean, and the company says everyone can use its courses without spending a cent. The rebuilt course teaches up to B2, with a Hangul tab and optional transliterations. Anki is free on desktop and Android, Busuu offers free courses, and Memrise has a free tier.
Which app is best for learning Hangul?
Duolingo, Busuu and Rosetta Stone all teach Hangul directly. Duolingo gives the alphabet its own tab with teaching sessions along the path, Busuu has a separate Hangeul course for reading and writing, and Rosetta Stone says you can learn Hangul in a few hours. Start with the free Duolingo tab and turn transliteration off after the first week.
Which app helps most with TOPIK?
No app maps exactly to TOPIK, which has levels 1 and 2 on TOPIK I and levels 3 to 6 on TOPIK II. Duolingo reaches B2 and LingoDeer runs A1 to B1, both on the CEFR scale. For a study plan, book an italki or Preply tutor who lists TOPIK preparation. Preply has a TOPIK tutor page, and italki tutors list writing for TOPIK II.
Is Duolingo or LingoDeer better for Korean?
Duolingo is better as a free start, and LingoDeer is better for explained grammar. Duolingo is free and its course now reaches B2. LingoDeer costs US$95.99 a year, voices every sentence with a native speaker and covers A1 to B1. Starting on Duolingo and adding LingoDeer when particles confuse you is a sensible path.
Where do Talk To Me In Korean and KoreanClass101 fit?
They are Korean-only lesson libraries that sit beside a course app. Talk To Me In Korean offers unlimited access to 1,700+ lessons at $16.99 a month with a 7-day trial, or $85.40 or $122 a year (excluding tax). KoreanClass101 offers short audio and video lessons and a free account. Neither has a Toolradar page yet, so they are not ranked.
Cite this page: Toolradar, "Best Apps to Learn Korean in 2026", updated October 2026, https://toolradar.com/guides/best-apps-to-learn-korean
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