- Korean learning apps at a glance
- Ten Korean learning apps
- How long learning Korean takes
- Hangul, lessons, speaking or immersion?
- A first month of Korean
- Signs you're making progress
- Practising speaking without a partner
- Using K-pop to learn
- My plain advice on choosing a Korean learning app
- Frequently asked questions
The best Korean learning app depends on your stage. Beginners should master Hangul first, which takes days rather than months, then add a structured course; intermediate learners need speaking practice and real listening from dramas, shows and music. Ten apps follow in no particular order.
K-dramas, K-pop, Korean food and travel have made Korean one of the fastest-growing languages for English speakers. The good news is that the alphabet is logical and quick to learn; the challenge is everything that comes after it.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from big lesson apps to small tools for handwriting, chatbot tutoring and speaking. Each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, re-checked this week. My ChatGPT prompts to learn a language in ten minutes a day make a useful extra practice partner.
Korean learning apps at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own store listing or site describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many free apps carry ads or sell optional upgrades.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busuu | Structured course | Feedback from native speakers | Yes |
| Duolingo | Gamified lessons | A daily habit | Yes |
| Eggbun | Chatbot tutor | Chatting with a tutor | Yes |
| Korean! (Luli Languages) | Hangul trainer | Reading Hangul quickly | Yes |
| LingoDeer | Structured course | Clear grammar for Korean | Yes |
| Lingory | Phrase trainer | Everyday native phrases | Yes |
| Migaku | Immersion tool | Learning from K-dramas | Yes |
| Teuida | Speaking practice | Speaking from the start | Yes |
| TTMIK Courses | Course library | A well-loved course series | Yes |
| Write It! Korean | Handwriting trainer | Writing Hangul by hand | Yes |
Ten Korean learning apps
Busuu
Best for: Sociable learners who want structured lessons plus corrections from a friendly community of native Korean speakers.
Duolingo
Best for: Beginners who want short, game-like lessons to build a daily Korean habit from the alphabet up.
Eggbun
Best for: Chatty learners who enjoy chat-style lessons with a friendly tutor guiding them through speaking, reading and writing.
Korean! (Luli Languages)
Best for: Absolute beginners who want to read and write Hangul fast, with audio and no internet needed.
LingoDeer
Best for: Grammar-minded students who want teacher-written lessons that explain Korean grammar clearly, one step at a time.
Lingory
Best for: Drama fans who want to learn how Koreans speak in everyday life, practising all four skills.
Migaku
Best for: K-drama and variety show fans who want to turn what they watch into study material.
Teuida
Best for: Shy speakers who want to practise real expressions out loud in first-person scenes before talking to people.
TTMIK Courses
Best for: Fans of the long-running course series who want its lessons in an official app.
Write It! Korean
Best for: Visual learners who want to master the 24 letters of Hangul with handwriting recognition.
How long learning Korean takes
The U.S. Department of State's Foreign Service Institute lists Korean among its Category IV languages, which take about 88 weeks, or 2,200 class hours, of full-time study for English speakers.
What that means for you: Korean is a long road for English speakers, so choose apps you'll enjoy for years rather than weeks. Celebrate the early wins, like reading Hangul and ordering in a restaurant, because fluency is a long way off for everyone.
Hangul, lessons, speaking or immersion?
Hangul trainers teach the alphabet and handwriting, which most people can learn in a few days. Lesson apps build vocabulary and grammar step by step. Speaking apps get you saying real expressions out loud in everyday scenes. Immersion tools turn the dramas and shows you love into study material.
Learn Hangul first, then pair a lesson app with one speaking or immersion tool so you're not only tapping answers on a screen.
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A first month of Korean
- Learn Hangul in the first week and practise writing it.
- Start a daily lesson app for vocabulary and grammar.
- Learn polite everyday phrases for greetings and thanks.
- Watch a drama with Korean subtitles for a few minutes a day.
- Repeat short lines out loud after the actors.
- Review your words before adding new ones.
Signs you're making progress
- You read signs and menus. Hangul no longer slows you down.
- You catch words in dramas. Familiar phrases jump out.
- You build simple sentences. Without checking every word.
- You notice politeness levels. And choose the right one.
Practising speaking without a partner
Speaking is the skill most app learners avoid, and the one that matters most when you travel or talk to Korean friends. You don't need a partner to start.
Shadowing works well: play a short line, pause it and repeat it with the same rhythm and tone. Record yourself on your phone and compare it with the original.
When you're ready, a language exchange or a short lesson with a tutor will stretch you further. It feels awkward at first, and then it's the part you'll look forward to most.
Using K-pop to learn
Music is one of the easiest ways to keep Korean in your ears every day. Pick a song you love, look up the lyrics in Hangul and learn a verse at a time.
Sing along slowly at first, then at full speed. You'll pick up pronunciation, rhythm and vocabulary that sticks far better than a list of words.
Just remember that song lyrics bend grammar and use casual speech, so check anything you plan to say to someone you've just met.
Do you make a Korean learning app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a Korean learning app
Don't skip Hangul, and don't rely on romanised spellings; reading the real alphabet early makes everything that follows easier. Then choose one lesson app and one speaking or listening tool and stick with them.
Korean rewards patience and consistency far more than intensity. And if you'd like a reminder of why it's worth it, read how a new language can boost your career.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to learn Korean?
A Hangul trainer first, then a lesson app paired with speaking practice or immersion.
How long does it take to learn Korean?
The Foreign Service Institute puts Korean at about 88 weeks of full-time study for English speakers.
How long does it take to learn Hangul?
Most learners can read Hangul within days with a focused trainer.
Can I learn Korean for free?
You can make a good start. All apps here are free downloads, and some describe free lessons.
Can K-dramas help me learn Korean?
Yes. Watching with Korean subtitles and repeating lines builds listening and pronunciation.
Should I learn formal or casual Korean first?
Start with polite forms for everyday situations, then learn casual speech you hear in dramas.
