The 5 Best Apps to Learn Portuguese in 2026
Before choosing an app to learn Portuguese you have to settle something almost nobody raises: European or Brazilian. They sound noticeably different, they are spelled differently in places, and most apps only teach the Brazilian variety. In this guide we compare the 5 best apps to learn Portuguese in 2026 and which variety each one covers.
Apps for studying Portuguese on your phone
Apps to learn Portuguese on your phone, with European or Brazilian Portuguese lessons, native speaker audio, pronunciation feedback and grammar practice.
Top pick
Duolingo: Aprende Idiomas
Free (with purchases) · 500M+
Best free option
4.7
47.0M reviews
TopApps analysis
Duolingo has a long, free Brazilian Portuguese course, and the first units move fast enough to build momentum from day one.
Duolingo is the world's most popular language-learning app, with more than 40 languages and a gamified method that keeps you coming back. Five-minute lessons, streaks, levels and rewards turn studying into a daily game. It is free (with ads) and ideal for starting a language or keeping one alive without much effort.
Pros
- More than 40 languages available
- Gamified method that hooks you and keeps you going
- Short lessons that fit into any day
Cons
- The free version shows ads
- Less focused on real conversation than Babbel
- Duolingo Super (ad-free) is paid
Babbel: Aprender idiomas
Babbel GmbH · Free (with purchases) · 50M+
Best for speaking well
4.5
1.1M reviews
TopApps analysis
Babbel explains the traps of Portuguese in your own language and works on the nasal vowels from the very first lessons.
Babbel is the best app for learning a language with a practical, conversation-first approach. Its lessons, designed by linguists, focus on real everyday situations and get you talking from the start. Ideal for anyone who wants to speak as soon as possible, with a more structured method than Duolingo.
Pros
- Practical, conversational approach from the start
- Lessons designed by linguists
- Speech recognition to work on pronunciation
Cons
- Full access requires a subscription
- Fewer languages than Duolingo
- Less gamified, so it can feel less addictive
Busuu: Aprende idiomas
Free (with purchases) · 50M+
Best for native corrections
4.7
1.2M reviews
TopApps analysis
Busuu has native speakers correct your written exercises, which quickly catches the habits that slip in without you noticing.
Busuu pairs structured lessons with a community of native speakers who correct your exercises. It offers full courses in grammar, vocabulary and conversation, with personalised study plans and official certificates. A good fit for anyone who wants to learn properly and get real feedback from natives.
Pros
- Corrections from real native speakers
- Personalised study plans
- Full courses covering grammar and conversation
Cons
- The best features need a Premium subscription
- Fewer languages than Duolingo
- The community depends on how active other users are
Memrise: Idiomas toda la vida
Free (with purchases) · 50M+
Best for listening
4.5
1.6M reviews
TopApps analysis
Memrise includes videos of Brazilians and Portuguese speaking at real speed, essential because spoken Portuguese is much harder to follow than written.
Memrise stands out for teaching languages through videos of real native speakers, backed by a strong spaced-repetition system for locking in vocabulary. You learn the language as it is actually spoken, with authentic expressions. A good fit for widening your vocabulary and training your ear on real accents.
Pros
- Videos of real native speakers
- Spaced repetition for better recall
- Teaches the language as it's really spoken
Cons
- Full access requires a subscription
- Less structured grammar than Babbel or Busuu
- More focused on vocabulary than on writing
Mondly: Aprende 41 Idiomas
Mondly by Pearson · Free (with purchases) · 50M+
Most flexible
4.5
927K reviews
TopApps analysis
Mondly teaches Portuguese from your own language and lets you work through specific topics, useful if you are learning for work or travel.
Mondly covers 41 languages, far more than Babbel or Busuu, and it is one of the few that teaches from your own language instead of routing everything through English. Lessons are short, with speech recognition to correct your pronunciation, plus a chatbot for practising basic conversations.
Pros
- 41 languages, several of them unusual
- Teaches from your own language, not through English
- Speech recognition to fix your pronunciation
Cons
- Without a subscription you only get one lesson a day
- Less grammar depth than Babbel
- Quality varies a lot from language to language
Frequently asked questions
Should I learn European or Brazilian Portuguese?
It depends what you need it for. Brazilian is what almost every app teaches, has far more speakers and a clearer pronunciation for a beginner. European Portuguese sounds quite different, with closed vowels that are hard to follow at first. If you are going to live or work in Portugal, look for courses specifically in European Portuguese, because Duolingo and Babbel mostly teach the Brazilian variety.
Is Portuguese easy to learn?
Reading it is easy if you know any Romance language; speaking it well is harder. The specific danger is that people understand you even when you speak badly, so mistakes fossilise and you stall there for good. That is why an app that corrects you, like Busuu with its native speaker feedback, beats relying on intuition.
What are the false friends in Portuguese?
There are plenty and some are awkward: puxe means pull, not push; constipado means having a cold; esquisito means strange, not exquisite; and pretender means to intend. They catch people out precisely because so much of the language looks familiar. Babbel and Busuu deal with them explicitly.
How long does it take to learn Portuguese?
It is one of the faster languages if you already speak Spanish, French or Italian. Fifteen minutes a day gets most people to A2 in four or five months and a reasonable B1 in a little over a year. Reading comprehension improves almost immediately; the ear and the accent are what really take time.
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