Language learning apps are great for expanding your vocabulary and if taken seriously, can lead to great progress. Having tried and tested a variety of different apps, for me Airlearn outdoes any other contenders.
How it works
If you don’t have a subscription, you get 5 free lessons per day. They take around 10 minutes to complete, which is easily achievable! It’s a gamified language learning style, which is a great complement to other language learning methods.
Pros and cons
PROS
- The lessons keep rolling on so it encourages (forces) you to keep going. Almost like doom scrolling but in a positive way!
- The app reads you explanations out loud (in a Spanish accent!) about different grammar or cultural points. This is lacking on other apps like Duolingo or Busuu in my opinion.
- You learn useful vocabulary from the beginning about life, food, travel etc.
CONS
- This language learning app also has a guilt-tripping mascot; this one is a cat though.
- The app feels very AI. All the images and voices seem to be artificial intelligence which makes it quite impersonal.
- Sometimes the app doesn’t register your progress so you do the same lesson twice in a row – this can be rather frustrating.
- There are lots of ads asking you to subscribe between every lesson.
Why you should use it
For me, I think this app is worth your time and effort in 2026 for two main reasons:
Firstly, the content is really useful; you learn practical, authentic phrases that can be used in day-to-day life. This can’t be said for all language learning apps, wink wink Duolingo.
Secondly, the app reads explanations out loud to you (albeit in a fake AI Spanish accent…), which I think really stands out from other language learning apps. When learning languages I personally really like to understand grammar and the reason why the language is used in that way, and so this app’s explanation helps you to grasp exactly that.
How to use it
Be sure to click ‘x’ when the app asks you to subscribe during your lessons so that you complete all 5 free lessons. It may look as though you have reached your daily limit with them asking for a subscription but do not be fooled.
You can buddy up with a friend so that you play together. I would highly recommend starting a buddy streak, as a bit of healthy competition is always beneficial!
Add a widget to your homepage so that you visualise your progress/streaks regularly. If you have your notifications on then it’s hard to miss a day as like Duolingo, the notifications are never ending. If you don’t trust yourself though, try putting an alarm on your phone every day at a time where you know you can dedicate ten minutes. Consistency is key when learning a language.
To go pro?
The pro version of Airlearn is as cheap as €2.62/£2.29 a month (annual plan) which gives you unlimited lessons all year round and access to all languages too. I would say it’s a great investment for 2026 if you are serious about learning Spanish. You can use this link for a day’s worth of unlimited lessons for free!
For me, language learning apps should be used alongside other methods too; if you need any inspiration then feel free to check out my Spanish page for several free resources for beginner’s to advanced Spanish learners.