11 Best Apps to Learn Russian Quickly and Fluently
Chad Emery
Published on December 11, 2020
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Are you looking for language apps to learn Russian? Learning a new language can be difficult and time-consuming, but language learning apps have changed the game. They make it easy to learn on your own schedule and at your own pace, and they also make language learning fun and engaging.
Best Overall App
Best For Beginners
Best Interactive Lessons
Using a language app is one of the best ways to learn Russian. On this list, you’ll find apps that teach vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, conversation skills, and more. I’ve researched them, read reviews, and even tried them myself to make sure they’re worth your time. So whether you want to brush up before a trip or become completely fluent in Russian, these 11 apps will get you speaking in no time!
What Are The Best Apps To Learn Russian?
Here are the 11 best apps to learn Russian that can help you become fluent quickly and from the comfort of your own home. As one of the most spoken languages in the world, there are a lot of tools you can use to learn Russian online, but these are the ones that will help you the most.
| Best Overall App to Learn Russian | ||||
| Best Beginner Russian App | ||||
| Best Russian App with Interactive Lessons | ||||
| Best Russian App with Audio Lessons | ||||
| Best App to Learn Russian Culture | ||||
| Best App for Russian Immersion | ||||
| Best App to learn Russian Vocabulary | ||||
| Best Russian App for Speaking | ||||
| Best Russian Podcast App | ||||
| Best App to Learn Russian Grammar | ||||
| Best App to Learn the Russian Alphabet |
Rocket Languages
Best Overall App to Learn Russian
The Rocket Languages app is the overall best app to learn Russian. It’s a comprehensive course that will guide you through the Russian language from beginner to advanced levels.
It has clear explanations of the more difficult parts of the language and is packed with voice recordings from native speakers. The app is easy to navigate and the lessons focus on making you conversational quickly.
Try Rocket Languages for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Rocket Russian review.
Key Features
- Learn at your own pace
- The lessons are straightforward and easy to follow
- The course covers every aspect of the Russian language
- You’ll learn about Russian culture as you learn the language
Pricing
The Rocket Languages Russian course costs $149.95, but you can also choose to pay $27.00 per month for 6 months. Rocket Russian is a one-time purchase, so you have access to the course forever. Most other apps charge a monthly subscription, which can be more expensive in the long run.
Mondly
Best Beginner Russian App
The Mondly app is perfect for those looking to learn the basics of Russian without getting overwhelmed by more advanced topics. The lessons are designed so you can complete them in any order you want, and they’re easy for beginners to follow.
With Mondly, you can track your progress with detailed statistics and it uses learning methods that will help you stay motivated as you learn the language.
Try Mondly for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Mondly review.
Key Features
- It covers the basics of Russian in short, manageable lessons
- The app is well-designed and easy to navigate
- The learning statistics are more advanced than other apps
- It’s the only major language app that uses augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to teach you Russian
Pricing
Mondly offers a limited free version as well as a premium version. A subscription for the premium version starts at $9.99 per month. You can get a discount if you buy a longer subscription.
Babbel
Best Russian App with Interactive Lessons
If you learn by doing, you’ll love Babbel. Its interactive lessons keep you engaged as you study different aspects of the Russian language. From grammar and vocabulary to pronunciation, reading, and writing, Babbel covers everything.
The lessons start from absolute zero and help you become completely conversational by the end of the course. Developed by linguists, Babbel’s Russian course teaches you how to sound like a native speaker.
Try Babbel for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Babbel review.
Key Features
- Lessons are quick and easy to complete
- The content is useful and the activities are fun
- The app adapts to you and helps you review what you’re struggling with
- Professional linguists developed the course
Pricing
A subscription to Babbel costs $17.95 per month, but you can get it for less if you buy a longer subscription. Babbel also offers a 20-day money-back guarantee if you buy a subscription and change your mind.
Learn to speak like a Russian with a free trial of Babbel.
Pimsleur
Best Russian App with Audio Lessons
Pimsleur is an audio-based app to learn Russian that lets you jump right into speaking the language. The lessons use audio from native speakers beginning in the very first lesson, something which makes it different compared to most other Russian learning apps.
The lessons gradually build on each other so that you constantly review what you’ve already learned. For people who are looking for a quick, but thorough, way to start learning Russian, Pimsleur is perfect because it provides 30 minutes of daily instruction. Since it’s audio-based, you can listen to the lessons anywhere you want.
Try Pimsleur for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Pimsleur review.
Key Features
- Start speaking Russian during your first lesson
- Accurate speech recognition technology improves your pronunciation in real time
- The course builds on what you already learned
- Your comprehension skills will improve quickly with the audio lessons
Pricing
There are two ways to gain access to the Pimsleur Russian course: buy the course upfront or subscribe to the app. A subscription to the Pimsleur app costs $14.99-$20.99 per month. If you prefer to buy the course upfront, the price ranges from $119.95 to $550.00, depending on how many levels you want (there are 5).
Sign up for a free 7-day trial of the Pimsleur Russian course to start speaking today.
Lingopie
Best App to Learn Russian Culture
LingoPie is an immersive way to learn Russian because you watch tv shows and documentaries to learn your target language. Each video has subtitles so you can click on the word to see the translation.
You can create your own custom flashcard set for each show. When you click on the word to see the translation, LingoPie automatically adds it to your list. There is a ton of content available so there’s always something new to watch.
Try LingoPie for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this LingoPie review.
Key Features
- Fun and immersive way to learn
- Watch tv shows with subtitles
- Create custom vocabulary lists
Pricing
LingoPie costs $12.00 per month or you can get a yearly subscription for $67.00 ($5.60 per month). You can try LingoPie for free with a 7-day trial. It gives you access to all the languages and features available.
Rosetta Stone
Best App for Russian Immersion
Rosetta Stone is a language learning program that is flexible and comprehensive. It focuses on teaching conversational Russian, so you’ll be ready to speak with people in real-life situations.
It also has an immersive approach, which means you won’t see any English when you use it. From the second you start using it, you’ll only see Russian. While that could be intimidating at first, it’s an effective way to learn.
Try Rosetta Stone for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Rosetta Stone review.
Key Features
- One of the biggest brands in language learning
- Native speakers voice all the lessons so you’ll only hear natural speech
- The course builds on what you already learned from previous lessons
- The app is easy to use and the lessons are quick to complete
Pricing
A Rosetta Stone subscription costs $36.00 for 3 months, but you can get a discount if you choose a longer subscription.
Sign up for a free 3-day trial to see if Rosetta Stone is a good fit for you.
MosaLingua
Best App to Learn Russian Vocabulary
If you want to throw yourself head first into the Russian language, you need to find Russian content to immerse yourself in. MosaLingua is the best way to do that. MosaLingua is mainly a flashcard app that teaches you vocabulary and phrases, but it has evolved into more than that.
It has a huge library of Russian videos, songs, articles, and more to help you dive in and study native Russian content. You can also add words and phrases to your vocabulary list from any website you find, which is something no other apps offer.
Try MosaLingua for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this MosaLingua review.
Key Features
- Efficiently learn useful Russian vocab and phrases
- Huge resource lists let you immerse yourself in Russian
- Use MOSADiscovery to import your own words and phrases into MosaLingua
- Offers more value for money than most other apps
Pricing
A subscription to MosaLingua Web costs $4.99 per month or $59.90 per year, but the mobile app costs $9.49 per month. This price is a great deal compared to a lot of other apps. To get an idea of what MosaLingua has to offer, you can take advantage of a 7-day free trial.
Sign up and try MosaLingua for free.
italki
Best Russian App for Speaking
italki is a popular language learning app that allows you to find high-quality Russian tutors online. You can easily filter the tutors to find the perfect one for you, and you’re in complete control of what you study.
Some tutors offer simple conversation classes while others offer more formal Russian courses. No matter what type of lesson you choose, practicing with a native Russian tutor will improve your skills in just a few lessons.
Try italki for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this italki review.
Key Features
- Study Russian with native-speaking tutors
- You can filter tutors by different characteristics to find a good match
- Learn only what you want to learn
- italki is a well-known platform that is safe and secure
Pricing
Italki tutors set their own lesson prices, but they typically range from about $6.00 per hour to over $35.00. Conversation classes tend to be on the lower end of that range and specialized lessons are often higher. Most tutors offer trial lessons at half-price for your first session to see if they’re a good fit for you.
Take a trial lesson on italki to practice with a native Russian tutor.
RussianPod101
Best Russian Podcast App
Learning Russian can be a challenge, but RussianPod101 makes it a lot easier with its video, audio, and text lessons. The quality of the content is high compared to other apps, and they’re always adding new lessons.
The audio files are always voiced by native speakers, and you can access a lot of additional resources to reinforce what you learn. These include flashcards and vocabulary lists, grammar explanations, and more.
Try RussianPod101 for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this RussianPod101 review.
Key Features
- Thousands of lessons to explore
- Additional features and resources help you remember everything you learn
- Fresh content that is updated regularly
Pricing
RussianPod101 offers different subscription packages ranging in price from $8.00 to $47.00 per month. The features included in each subscription vary, so you can compare them and pick the one that’s best for you. If you want to explore RussianPod101 before subscribing, you can sign up for a free account and access some of the lessons.
Try RussianPod101 for free today to improve your Russian skills.
Lingodeer
Best App to Learn Russian Grammar
Lingodeer features a range of lessons that are categorized by topic. The app has comprehensive explanations that cover the Russian alphabet, grammar, and more for both beginner and intermediate learners.
Lingodeer stands out among other apps to learn Russian because it explains every detail of Russian grammar. This detail can help take your fluency to the next level.
Try Lingodeer for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Lingodeer review.
Key Features
- Covers different topics to help you become conversational quickly
- Excellent grammar explanations break down difficult concepts
- The explanations throughout the app are clear and easy to understand
Pricing
A subscription to Lingodeer starts at $14.99 per month, but you can get a discount if you choose a longer subscription. Lingodeer also offers some free content, so you can try it out before committing to a paid subscription.
Try Lingodeer for free to master Russian grammar.
Russian Cyrillic in 3 Hours
Best App to Learn the Russian Alphabet
As its name suggests, you’ll learn the Cyrillic alphabet quickly with Russian Cyrillic in 3 Hours. It uses videos to teach you how to identify and pronounce the different letters.
It also teaches you the letters in context, which means you’ll remember them more effectively over time. It’s a simple app to use and is great if you haven’t studied the Russian alphabet before.
Key Features
- Quickly learn the Cyrillic alphabet and how to pronounce it
- Learn letters in context to remember them long-term
- It’s completely free!
Pricing
Russian Cyrillic in 3 Hours is completely free to use!
Best Apps To Learn Russian: Final Thoughts
There are a wide variety of apps available to learn Russian, but not all of them provide the same quality or value. This list is an overview of some of the best apps to learn Russian, and they’re all here for a reason.
Whether they have interactive exercises that improve your conversational skills or they break down and explain difficult aspects of the language, each app can help improve your fluency. You can also use an app in addition to other learning methods like a Russian book, an online course, and even YouTube videos. This ensures that you’re developing all necessary language skills.
The best app to learn Russian is different for everyone, but chances are the best one for you is on this list! As the most spoken language in Europe, you’ll never regret learning this language.
Best Apps To Learn Russian: FAQ
Russian is a difficult language to learn, but if you study consistently, you can become conversational in Russian in a year. Using an app like Rocket Languages, Pimsleur, or Babbel can help you learn Russian even more quickly. If you don’t have a lot of free time, you can still learn Russian, but it may take longer than a year.
To find out how long it will take you to learn Russian, check out this fluency calculator.
The best Russian language app is Rocket Languages. This app has a complete course that will teach you everything you need to know about Russian, from vocabulary and grammar to pronunciation and reading.
Babbel is an excellent app to learn Russian because the course was designed by professional linguists. It covers all aspects of communication (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) to help you feel more comfortable when you interact with native speakers. The quality of the content is high, and the activities are fun to complete. Overall, it’s a great choice for everyone who wants to learn Russian!
Duolingo offers a complete Russian course, but that doesn’t mean it teaches the language well. If you’re looking to pick up some useful words and phrases, it’s a great option. If you want to become fluent in Russian though, Duolingo is not the best choice. Apps like Rocket Languages and Babbel are better.
1 Comment
AM says:
When I subscribed to the Babbel Russian in May, 2023, they only offered Newcomer and Beginner Russian, highest degree of competency: A1. Thankfully, they refunded my subscription. Please correct me if Babbel has expanded their Russian course since then.
I used to like Duolingo Russian, but in August 2022, they restructured the course and eliminated the essential TIPS that explained Russian grammar. Very frustrating.