Best Apps to Learn Portuguese (2026)
Honest reviews of the major Portuguese-learning apps, what each is actually good for, and how to combine them without wasting money on overlapping subscriptions.
Last updated May 20, 2026.
There are too many Portuguese learning apps and most of them are mediocre. This guide covers the apps actually worth your time, what each is best at, and how to combine them without paying for the same lesson three times.
How to read this guide
Apps in this list fall into three buckets:
- Core apps that can carry the bulk of your study if you only have time for one.
- Vocabulary apps focused on building your word bank.
- Speaking-focused apps for conversation practice with humans or AI.
For each, the listed reviews on this site go into much more detail with pros, cons, region coverage (Brazilian vs European), and cost.
Core apps
Pimsleur
Strong audio-led course built on the Pimsleur method: short daily lessons (30 minutes), spaced repetition baked in, heavy emphasis on pronunciation and speaking out loud. The Brazilian Portuguese course is mature and well-paced; the European Portuguese course is shorter but covers the basics well.
Best for: commuters and people who want to learn from listening. Worst for: visual learners who want to see words written, and grammar-curious students. Free trial available.
Babbel
App-led grammar lessons in 10 to 15 minute chunks, with built-in review and reasonable speech-recognition exercises. Brazilian Portuguese only on Babbel; if you want European, look elsewhere.
Best for: structured beginners who want a clear lesson path. Worst for: anyone learning European Portuguese.
Mango Languages
A solid free option if your local library subscribes. Mango’s Brazilian Portuguese course covers practical vocabulary and grammar with a tourist-survival emphasis. Audio quality is good and the interface stays out of the way.
Best for: free learners with library access. Worst for: people wanting depth past A2.
Vocabulary apps
Drops
Five-minute gamified vocabulary sessions with great illustrations and audio. Brazilian and European Portuguese both covered. Free tier is limited to one short session per day, which paradoxically works well as a habit-builder.
Memrise
Long-running vocabulary app with user-generated decks alongside its official Brazilian Portuguese course. The video clips of real native speakers saying each word are the standout feature. European Portuguese coverage is thin.
Anki (plus a deck)
Not an app you pay for but the best single vocabulary tool for serious learners. Pair Anki with one of the Brazilian or European Portuguese decks listed in the Best Anki Decks guide. Twenty minutes a day with a 10-card daily new limit gets you to a working vocabulary fast.
Speaking-focused apps
italki
A marketplace for live one-on-one lessons with independent tutors. Lessons typically run $10 to $25 per 45-minute session. Trial lessons let you find a tutor whose pace and style match yours. Brazilian and European Portuguese tutors both well-represented.
Preply
Similar marketplace to italki, with slightly different pricing structure and a 100% money-back first-lesson guarantee. Pick one or the other; you don’t need both.
Tandem and HelloTalk
Free language-exchange apps where you trade conversation time with native speakers. Quality varies wildly; works best when you have a specific topic to discuss. Best as a supplement once you can already string sentences together.
How to combine them
A common stack that works for beginners:
- One core app (Pimsleur OR Babbel) for daily lesson structure.
- Anki for vocabulary review (20 minutes/day).
- italki or Preply for one weekly 45-minute tutor lesson once you have a few weeks of self-study under you.
Total cost: usually $30 to $60 per month. Time: 30 to 45 minutes daily, plus the weekly tutor. This is enough to make real progress.
What to read next
- Beginner’s Guide to Learning Portuguese: how to structure your first three months.
- Best Anki Decks for Portuguese: vocabulary decks for the stack above.
- Best Portuguese Podcasts: listening input once you have the basics.
- Library: full filterable list of every mobile app in the catalog.
Frequently asked
Which Portuguese app is best for absolute beginners?
Pimsleur for audio-led pronunciation, Babbel for app-led grammar lessons, or Drops if you want gamified vocabulary. Most beginners do well combining Pimsleur or Babbel with Anki for vocabulary, plus YouTube clips for input. No single app does everything well.
Is Duolingo enough to learn Portuguese?
No. Duolingo is fine for vocabulary exposure and habit-building during your first month, but it doesn't teach grammar systematically, doesn't develop speaking, and its translation-heavy exercises don't carry over to real conversation. Use it as a snack, not a main course.
Are the paid apps worth the money?
Pimsleur and Babbel pay back for committed beginners. Weekly italki or Preply lessons pay back once you can string simple sentences together. Apps with $100+ annual subscriptions and no clear teaching pedagogy (looking at you, many AI-tutor apps) usually do not.
Should I get an app or a tutor first?
App first to get to the point where you can construct simple sentences. Then add a weekly tutor, keeping the app for daily review. Tutors do live conversation; apps do structure. They're complementary, not alternatives.