Russian learners
The best app to learn Russian
Lingden, Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, and Anki — compared specifically for Russian learners. We make one of them, but we'll tell you when each alternative is the better pick.
What matters specifically for Russian
Russian palatalized consonants (мь vs м) are subtle. IPA + native audio are the only reliable way to internalize the difference.
The right app for Russian isn't just the most popular one — it's the one that handles Russian-specific quirks well. Below: which app gets each angle right.
The ranking
1. Lingden — for pronunciation-first learners
Every Russian word has IPA pronunciation, per-word audio, and shows up in a real sentence with English translation + word-by-word breakdowns. Curated A1–B2 deck. Free to start with no ads.
Best for: learners who want to actually speak Russian understandably, not just translate single words.
Try Lingden free →2. Anki — for DIY power users
Free SRS engine, unlimited customization, no curated Russian content. You build your own deck from textbooks, films, or articles.
Best for: Russian learners studying a specific book or field-specific vocabulary that no curated deck covers.
Compare Lingden vs Anki →3. Babbel — for lesson-style learners
Structured 15-minute Russian lessons with grammar instruction + dialogues. No IPA. No real spaced repetition. Most expensive of the mainstream apps.
Best for: learners who prefer guided lessons over flexible flashcard-style review.
Compare Lingden vs Babbel →4. Memrise — for audio-first learners
Strong native-speaker audio on every Russian card, but no IPA and variable content quality across decks. Heavy ads on the free tier.
Best for: ear-training without caring about IPA-level pronunciation analysis.
Compare Lingden vs Memrise →5. Duolingo — for casual / beginner habits
Best free tier of any Russian app. Single-word and simple-phrase drilling. Gamification builds habit but doesn't scale past A2 for most learners.
Best for: Russian beginners building a daily habit before graduating to a more serious app.
Compare Lingden vs Duolingo →The 60-second test
Install two of these apps. Use each for one week. The app you actually open every day — that's your winner. There's no algorithmic test that beats real friction. Lingden is free to try with no card.
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