Our team knows a lot about this topic. We have covered the leading apps for learning a foreign language more than once in our blog, and we know what can help to learn it faster. But this article is different from many of our others in one way: we are inviting you to join us and write articles on other great apps to learn languages with our guidance. More about that below . . .
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Learning A Foreign Language
Whether you’re a world traveler or a lifelong learner, picking up a new language can be intellectually stimulating and fun. Sometimes it can be necessary for coursework in school or a specific job opportunity as well. With so many people communicating across borders in our digitally connected world, it can also be an important skill for anyone, no matter your interests. That’s where Babbel comes in.
With 14 language courses and more than 10,000 hours of content, Babbel’s language learning software aims to be the shortest path to real-life conversations. Babbel was chosen as one of CNET’s best language learning apps, particularly if you want a school-type experience. You can get a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning software for just $199 during StackSocial’s one-day deal (April 19).
See at StackSocial
Babbel’s extensive language software includes Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Swedish, Indonesian, Portuguese and more. The lessons are short and to the point, allowing you to practice in 10- to 15-minute intervals that can fit into any schedule. Real-life topics include travel, family, business, food and more. There are also a variety of skill levels available, ranging from beginner to advanced, so the program can grow with you as you improve.
babbel.jpg
Babbel
Using the speech-recognition technology will give you immediate feedback on pronunciation so that you don’t just learn to read and write, but to listen and speak, as well. You’ll also get personalized review sessions to reinforce what you’ve learned. The program works across desktop and mobile devices. And though the internet is required most of the time, there is also an offline mode available where you can access courses, lessons and reviews without Wi-Fi, so long as you download them beforehand. Babbel also syncs your progress across your devices so that you can jump in from wherever is most convenient.
Becoming fluent in a new language is a great way to stay engaged in learning, and the transferrable skills you gain can open a lot of doors for leisure, work and beyond. Note that while you can access this program on as many devices as you want, this subscription offer is only available for new users.
Mental Health
Best Mental Health Apps for 2022
The mental health app industry is booming. But how do you know which wellness app is best for you?
Taylor Leamey headshot
Taylor Leamey
April 19, 2022 8:00 a.m. PT
9 min read
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Talkspace
Best online therapy app
See at Talkspace
Calm
Best meditation app
See at Calm
Moodfit
Best app to combat negative thinking
See at Moodfit
Sanvello
Best mental health app for stress relief
See at Sanvello
Happify
Best mental health app to boost your mood
See at Happify
Show More (2 items)
There’s an app for everything, even your mental health. Over the last few years, the wellness app industry has exploded with popularity. According to the American Psychological Association, somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 mental health apps are available for download.
While these apps are not a replacement for talk therapy, research suggests they’re a great way to improve your well-being and track your wellness journey. These apps also bring mental health resources to people who otherwise couldn’t get help otherwise due of finances, disabilities or location.
With so many wellness apps out there, it’s tough to decide which will actually help you. And before you start installing, keep in mind that not all the apps available are backed by research or designed by experts. We’ve pulled together a curated list of our top choices to make the process easier.
Are mental health apps effective?
Experts are split on the effectiveness of mental health apps. Some studies have not found “convincing evidence” that apps greatly improve outcomes related to disorders like anxiety, depression or drinking. However, other research has suggested that mental health apps have potential in managing and improving symptoms of select disorders.
The research on the effectiveness of long-term treatment with apps is young. Most experts agree that they are a great tool to support your mental health, especially when you use them in addition to other treatment options. They are not intended to diagnose conditions and should be viewed primarily as a complement to traditional treatment options.
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Talkspace
Best online therapy app
Talkspace takes our top spot for the best therapy app because of its 24/7 access to medical professionals. It’s an affordable online therapy option that gives you more than just helpful guides and videos to watch. You have access to a licensed therapist wherever and whenever you need them. Talkspace is a great option for someone who is not comfortable going into an office or would rather have therapy appointments online.
A 2020 study found that messaging a therapist through Talkspace reduced feelings of anxiety and depression. A different study said that using Talkspace’s voice, video and text features also reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Note that the researchers of the studies had connections to Talkspace.
Within the app, you have access to video, text and audio chat to communicate with your therapist. However, users note there is a 5-minute cap on audio messages.
Talkspace is significantly more expensive than other apps on the list. However, if you’re looking for an app that allows you to talk to a therapist directly, it may be worth the price. Plans start at $65/week. You can use insurance to pay for Talkspace, but some users have noted customer service wait times and other insurance troubles.
See at Talkspace
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Calm
Best meditation app
Calm is one of the most well-known apps in the mental health space, with over 100 million downloads. We consider Calm one of the best meditation apps because of its comprehensive offerings, including breathing techniques and calming exercises. You even have access to sleep stories narrated by celebrities like Harry Styles or Laura Dern.
The Calm app is pretty easy to navigate and organized well. When you open the app, you are prompted to take a few deep breaths. Then you select what your main goals are so that your recommendations are tailored to your needs. You also can track statistics within the app, such as how long you have been using the app or how many sessions you’ve completed.
The free version of Calm is limited, but there is a 7-day trial that helps you decide if it’s right for you. After the trial, you have to pay the premium to access the 100 guided meditations, sleep library and masterclasses, which is $14.99/month or $69.99/year. If you are ready to commit to Calm, it’s good to go with the full-year option since it comes out to just under $6/month instead of the full $15. Or you can always stay with the limited free version.
See at Calm
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Moodfit
Best app to combat negative thinking
The Moodfit app has a lot to offer, and you can choose how to use the app. You can track sleep, nutrition, exercise and more during your wellness journey. Moodfit uses tools and sessions that help you assess your feelings, recognize negative thinking and change it.
The Moodfit app has pretty standard navigation. The “notices” tab at the bottom is what I would consider the educational section. There is a lot of good information available, like how your thoughts influence your behavior and feelings, but you will have to take the time to actually read it. Other apps have a more interactive experience with imagery, videos and readouts.
Where I think where Moodfit really shines is its analytics. With the easy-to-interpret charts, you can spot patterns in your mood and your activities. You also can track your mood down to the hour — analytic views available are monthly, weekly, daily and hourly. Many apps do have analytics, but Moodfit puts a lot of intention behind helping you find patterns in your behavior and moods.
The basic version of Moodfit does not include all that the app has to offer. The premium version is $8.99/month, which is a few dollars cheaper than the average cost of the best mental health apps.
See at Moodfit
Moodfit app home page
Moodfit’s home page features your progress and goals.
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Sanvello
Best mental health app for stress relief
Sanvello is the best mental health app for stress relief thanks to its full meditation library, guided journeys, health tracking and cognitive behavioral therapy tools. I was pleasantly surprised when using Sanvello. For me, it was a lesser-known option on the list, and it did not disappoint. You can choose what goals you want to target — reduce anxiety, feel happier, build confidence, etc., and you can select as many goals as you want.
One of my favorite parts of the Sanvello app was how connected it felt when using it. Like other apps, there is an education section. What’s different is how it is presented. Sanvello uses text, videos and audio for a multimedia experience that is much easier to follow and digest. This comes down to preference, as some people prefer to read at their cadence.
The basic version of Sanvello is free. However, there are additional features that the app offers — like coaching and guided journeys — that are not available on the free version. There is a premium option of $8.99/month and a premium plus coaching option for $50/month which offers a coach with live connection capabilities.
Sanvello does have a therapy option. Unfortunately, it is not available in all states, and if not covered by insurance, it can get expensive.
See at Sanvello
Goal screen from Sanvello app
The Sanvello app allows you to select which goals you want to target.
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Happify
Best mental health app to boost your mood
Happify is a free mental health app that focuses entirely on your mood and helps relieve anxiety. Developed by mental health professionals, Happify’s strategies are derived from cognitive behavioral therapy that helps you learn how to recognize and reorient negative thinking.
Happify had the most thorough questionnaire when signing up. I was asked about relationships, employment and medical conditions to help personalize the service. As the name suggests, Happify focuses on positivity and tries to make your journey fun with engaging games. With the relaxation and mindfulness techniques Happify offers, you can boost your mood and relieve anxiety.
When using Happify, you have access to a community forum or you can keep your account private. Happify also has a digital coach feature available. The app has a different navigation setup than other apps. Instead of having the navigation bar at the bottom, there’s a three-bar dropdown you have to tap to bring up the menu at the top left, making it just a little more difficult to find things.
Happify is one of the most robust mental health apps on the list. However, the free features available are limited. Happify is $14.99/month or $139.99/year. You also can purchase “lifetime access” for $499.99.
See at Happify
Happify app
Various tracks are available from Happify.
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
MindShift
Best mental health app for anxiety
MindShift is a free mental health app specifically designed to target anxiety. Categories within the app are broken down into general worry, social anxiety, perfectionism, panic and phobias. This allows the user to personalize which type of anxiety they want to work through.
As the name suggests, MindShift targets your mindset, meaning that it helps you identify what is making you anxious and helps you redirect your thinking to positivity. When you open the app, you’re prompted to rate your daily anxiety score to track over time. The app is pretty easy to use and easier to navigate than other options simply because there is less available. One tools that stood out was the “thought journal” that helps you work through what you’re worried about and how to overcome negative thoughts. “Coping cards” are also available to help you ease anxiety in the moment.
MindShift is much more interactive than other apps, as it relies on you to add anxiety scores and type responses to get the best experience. Other apps are mainly reading-based. If you want the best out of MindShift, you need to interact with the app.
See at MIndshift CBT
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
Shine
Best mental health app for people of color
The unique experiences of people of color are often excluded from traditional mental health resources. The wellness app industry is traditionally not inclusive and mainly focuses on experiences that white people encounter. Only one in three Black Americans get the mental health care they need. That’s why Shine is the pick for the best mental health app for people of color.
It’s specially designed to target the needs and struggles of people of color, making mental health resources more accessible and inclusive. Shine offers meditations, self-care courses led by experts and monthly virtual workshops. You are also prompted to add a wellness check-in each day and are greeted with motivational messages.
Shine offers a free app version, though you will not have access to all the features offered. You should expect to pay $14.99/month for Shine, which is about average when compared to the other options on the list.
See at Shine
Shine app screen
Selection of choices for Shine app.
Screenshot by Taylor Leamey/CNET
How did we choose the best mental health apps
The apps included on the best mental health app list have the best features supported by research. When selecting our picks, we examined each app’s user experience, features and pricing. We also read through user reviews to tease out pain points and what people value in mental health apps.
Do mental health apps share your data?
With mental health apps, you can’t assume that everything is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Mental health apps fall in a gray area. HIPAA only protects information collected by “covered entities,” including healthcare providers and insurance companies. Many of the best mental health apps on the market operate without connection to covered entities, meaning your information isn’t completely private.
HIPAA applies to conversations with your therapist on an app. So you don’t need to worry about what you disclose in those sessions. However, the apps’ additional features — guided meditations, CBT exercises and mood logs — are not always kept confidential. Neither is the fact that you use a mental health app. The data you give the apps outside of therapy sessions can be sold for targeted advertising. And it’s not just Facebook; your information can be shared with public health and academics for research.
Privacy will vary by platform. Make sure you read the privacy policy of each app to fully understand your protection.
Should you use a mental health app?
For many people, apps are an important tool to guide their wellness journey. While they are not a replacement for therapy, mental health apps are a great way to check in on yourself. My advice is that mental health apps are what you put into them. Many of the free ones offer helpful, educational content. But you need to take the time to read it. Others allow you to work through stressors with open-ended answer boxes. But you have to interact with the app to truly benefit from it.
A wellness app won’t give the client’s relationship with a counselor that traditional talk therapy offers. And for some, that’s not something they are willing to give up. But if therapy is currently out of your reach, especially due to cost, then mental health apps may be a good option. You won’t get the highly personalized experience you could get with another person, but you can still learn healthy habits and skills.
Best language learning apps for speaking
1.Memrise
Memrise iPhone app
Memrise is your go to place for fun vocabulary practice. There is no shortage of courses on almost every language you can imagine—or invent, as there are also several devoted to constructed languages—created by the vibrant community of users. You can find standardised courses based on popular textbooks or vocabulary frequency lists. There are also less expected vocabulary collections such as “Japanese naughty words” or words from the Japanese translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The fun of Memrise lies in two things: memes and gamification. The app follows a learning method that relies on creating funny or bizarre associations with the studied words. Courses are often coupled with memes designed to playfully help remember the vocabulary. The memes are created by the community and everyone can add their own! Both earning, revising and creating memes is a source of points that help you advance in the Memrise hierarchy of users (from Membryo to Overlord).
You can follow fellow learners and compete with them for points as well as see how well you’re doing in a ranking for a particular course. It’s very motivating to outscore others!
The power of Memrise also lies in two things: spaced repetition and mnemonics. The spaced repetition algorithm calculates when and how often you should review each word. And the app will send you reminders when it’s time to review. The addition of memes is helpful in memorising the vocabulary. If you’re new to it, it may take some time to adjust to, but after that you’ll quickly start coming up with your own creative combinations.
- LinguaLift
LinguaLift Android App
This is a language app that is geared more towards serious learners who want a complete language program with the guidance of a tutor. Yes they have a good app, but it’s the extra help from the professional teachers that makes the difference.
The tutors are available to answer any questions you might have. They can help with grammar, suggest extra resources, and will even assign and correct homework for those interested.
If you sign up for this app, remember, USE THE TUTORS they are there to help.
“That’s probably the best part about LinguaLift: having access to real people who want to help and are invested in your learning.”
Kimberly, Seattle, USA
The app itself, is great for a beginner or intermediate, with clear grammar explanations, vocabulary & script learning tools. There are also a lot of cool cultural insights that you don’t get with most language programs. And of course, the professional tutors that know the material.
Your subscription includes their Language Learning Secrets book (which they are currently offering for free on their homepage). And your customized study plan called, A Road Map to Fluency. To receive a road map, you first fill out a questionnaire, telling their tutors about your goals, study habits, daily schedule, etc.
The tutors then take this information and create your road map. It guides you every step of the way. Showing you the most effective study routines, telling you what additional resources to use, how much material to cover, and what stage in your language learning to use each resource. You just follow the map!
The courses are broken down into small 10 to 15 minute sections to keep things interesting and to ensure you have enough time to study a little every day. They also use an algorithm that tracks your progress through the course, so your review topics are geared specifically to your needs.
Also unique to LinguaLift, they give you access to ALL their languages with your subscription. They currently offer Spanish, French, Japanese, Russian and Hebrew language courses. If your language of choice is not on this list, you should still check out their recently released e-book entitled Language Learning Secrets. This is a must have for any language learner.
If you are serious about learning a new language, LinguaLift offers a complete program that’s definitely worth checking out. But if you have even the slightest interest in languages, be sure to get a free copy of their Language Learning Secrets book. LinguaLift
- Rosetta Stone
No list of top language learning apps would be complete without Rosetta Stone. Unfortunately, the only reason we’ve include it is because it’s the most widely recognized language learning program on the planet.
Their whole philosophy of language learning is to ‘learn like a baby’. But there is a major flaw with this school of thought. There are much more effective and faster ways to learn a language as an adult.
Rosetta Stone does a great job of teaching you individual words, but without context. And without context, you have no idea how to use these words in the real world. The truth is, you may be studying with Rosetta Stone for a month or two before you are able to introduce yourself, or ask a simple question in your target language.
Many people are drawn to Rosetta Stone because of their “State of the art” Speech Recognition software. But anyone whose tried it knows, this software simply does not work.
And one final issue is the cookie cutter template used for all languages. They’ve basically created one language course, and translated the content into all other languages. You cannot take a Spanish language course, translate it into Chinese and expect it to be a high quality language program.
The truth is, Rosetta Stone is so well known because it was the first language program on the market. But these days, there are much more effective programs out there.
Learn Japanese with LinguaLift
- Duolingo
Duolingo Android app screenshot
When you try to describe any other learning app how often have you heard the question “is it like Duolingo?” There is no list of best apps that doesn’t mention it. Luis von Ahn successfully merged gamification and learning, addicting people to languages and producing an app with over 100 million users. The app has become a staple example of mobile language learning.
Many Duolingo courses are created by native speakers themselves which gave rise to perhaps less expected courses such as Guarani or Klingon. Another feature that makes Duolingo special to me is that it is not aimed solely at an English native speaker. For each language there are specific courses that aim at those with different first languages, which to date produces 81 courses.
The main problem with Duolingo is (like Rosetta Stone), many students use the app and expect to learn to speak a languange. (Crazy right!) Unfortunately, it’s not a complete language program, but it will help you improve your vocabulary and introduce you to a new language in a fun way.
- HelloTalk
HelloTalk Android screenshot
An app aimed to facilitate speaking practice and eliminate the potential stress of real time conversation. Learners can find native speakers and converse with them using a whatsapp-like chat with voice and text messages.
The best feeling is when you come across a native speaker of your target language who also wants to learn your mother tongue—it’s like you hit the language jackpot!
Users can correct each other’s messages with an in-built correction tool, which transforms the language exchanges into tiny tutoring sessions. The app also has an integrated translation system. This helps in those moments when you really want to communicate something but just lack the one word that gives the sentence it’s proper meaning.
Tips and tricks on using HelloTalk
You can mark your top conversations or messages, so your favourite phrases will not get lost. And the text-to-voice option will make sure you always know how to pronounce the messages you receive. To help you with conversation motivation you can also arranged language exchanges by different parameters like time, number of exchanged messages or characters.
Extra perk? With HelloTalk you can also exchange doodles. So if you really run out of vocab, you can unleash your inner artist.
- Mindsnacks
Mindsnacks iPhone screenshot
Did I say Duolingo gamified language learning? Mindsnacks takes gamification to a whole different level.
Each of the seven languages they teach comes with eight or nine tiny games that are designed to help you learn vocabulary, grammar, and practice your listening. There are short simple lessons outlining concepts that then get practiced or tested in the games before they achieve the status of being mastered.
Mindsnacks monitors your progress so you can clearly see how much more learning you need to achieve proficiency in every skill. It’s such a fun app though, that even if you do master a skill it is still fun to go back and play more games to practice it!
Learn Russian with LinguaLift
The design is very charming (I would have just said cute, but that may discourage some of you from trying it 😉 ) which helps to stay involved with the learning. Being timed, the games keep you engaged and often on the edge of your seat. And on top of that MindSnacks also assigns you quests so you can really feel like a language explorer.
The basic download is free, but it comes only with a restricted number of games. If you pay a little bit you can access more lessons and widen your game options.
- Busuu
Busuu iPhone app
Busuu offers full courses in 12 languages. The app is free but to unlock most of the features and course materials you have to invest $17 a month. The app takes you through learning individual words to simple dialogues and questions about the dialogues. All of which include audio where you can listen to native pronunciation.
The lessons are organised in topical themes where we learn skills and expressions connected to tasks. Each course also comes with a separate mini “travel course” for those who need to quickly get the basics before a trip abroad—pretty handy!
The special aspect of Busuu is that you can engage native speakers in your personal learning process. Busuu learners contribute their native speaking skills to the platform by correcting texts created by those who study their language. The desktop version even allows you to chat to native speakers real time.
Both studying and contributing to the platform as a teacher allows you to collect “berries”, points used to rank students based on their activity. So if you’re one of the points and badges addict, it’s a good place for you!
- Babbel
Babbel iPhone app
A paid cousin of Duolingo with more free material than busuu? The free version comes with 40 classes, so even without investing money the app allows you to learn a fair amount of phrases in one of the 13 languages it teaches.
Each class starts from step-by-step teaching of vocabulary with the aid of pictures. Then the words are being used in related phrases and short dialogues adjusted to the student’s level to help quickly build conversation skills.
The app has speech recognition exercises, so you can surely scare your fellow bus commuters by shouting in Dutch to your phone! 😉 But unfortunately, like Rosetta Stones speech recognition software, it doesn’t really work. This technology is just not effective in correcting your pronunciation.
Handy pop-ups with the app explain most important grammatical points related to the learned material and the desktop version includes short cultural notes.
Apart from the general beginner’s courses Babbel also has separate packages devoted to improving specific skills such as grammar or vocabulary. If you already have some experience with a particular language and know where your weaknesses lie you can focus on improving those chosen skills. Babbel’s classes can be downloaded for later offline study and the app will send you convenient reminders so you don’t miss your daily session.
- TripLingo
TripLingo iPhone app
As the name suggests the app is aimed at travellers who need to brush up on their language skills before that dream holiday in Mauritius or a business trip to Mexico.
The app is aimed to get you to speak and be understood so you don’t feel lost in a foreign environment making your stay not only much richer culturally, but also less stressful. In addition, the creators took care so you at least attempt to sound like a local and use the current expressions rather than the textbook formulas.
A feature called the slang slider displays different levels of formal or casualty of each phrase so you can adjust it to the specific context you’re in. The lessons are divided into handy sections such as “safety phrases” or “business phrases”.
TripLingo is also your emergency resource. It has an inbuilt voice translator rendering your English in the foreign language, and when you are really at a loss for words you can even call a real translator (that’s when you really desperately need to ask for that extra mayo).
With the free version of the app you get access to about 15% of the resources and no audio, but it’s still a great and fun resource.
I had a little chuckle looking at the vocab categories in the Word Bank for Russian: accommodation, alcohol & arguing — a good summary of your initial experience in a Russian speaking country!
- MosaLingua
Mosa Lingua App
MosaLingua is a fully rounded resource for a number of languages including French, Spanish and Italian. You can choose to go through the standard lesson program starting from simple phrases and numerals, or you can opt to go for one of the specific topical packs, for example people, time or tourism.
This means that if you already went through the basics and are looking to fill in specific gaps in your knowledge you can do it instantly. You can support your learning with dialogues illustrating real life situations.
I have to admit, it’s very handy to listen to a “in a hotel” dialogue just before opening your mouth at a reception desk!
Learning is based on a self-assessed flashcard system which will drill you on the words in a number of ways, asking you to record, speak out, and spell them, so all your “memory channels” are activated.
Of course, not all the resources of the apps are unlocked without paying, and you have to pay for each language separately. But even the free version has ample resources — definitely enough for a quick 5-day learning spree before that weekend in Tuscany! 😉
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