Which Dutch vocabulary app suits you depends on where your words come from. LingQ saves words from Dutch texts you read, Clozemaster sets each word in a sentence, Drops and uTalk supply topic lists, and Anki holds cards you write yourself. Below, each app is compared on how it delivers words and how it brings them back. For courses, tutors and speaking, see our Dutch app comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Dutch. You learn from Dutch you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Dutch lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it.
With Regenerative Review™, words you save show up again in new lessons, so you meet them in new contexts.
- Ask Poppy to explain a Dutch sentence you can't follow.
- Words you save in Dutch lessons come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™, and you can send them to Anki with example sentences.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- You can't turn your favorite Dutch novel into a lesson. But Poppy will explain a page you screenshot or paste.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
LingQ
LingQ suits learners who already have Dutch texts or audio to import. The words you tap go into spaced review.
- Read or listen to Dutch, tap an unfamiliar word and save it as a LingQ.
- Dutch lessons pair each text with audio, and the words you save go into spaced review.
- Flashcards
MobileWeb
Clozemaster
Clozemaster puts each Dutch word in a sentence with a gap to fill. Its sentences and translations come from Tatoeba.
- The Dutch vocabulary course fills a gap in a sentence.
- Sentences you have seen come back later at spaced intervals.
MobileWeb
Drops
In Drops you play through Dutch topics one at a time, with a quick game for every word. Drops makes the word sets.
- The Dutch course gives each word a picture and its audio.
- Favorites, Quiz and Word Collection let you go back over words you chose.
Mobile
uTalk
uTalk gives you topic word sets with written Dutch and English side by side. Downloaded topics work offline.
- The Dutch course page lists topics of words and phrases, each with recall games.
- You can record yourself and compare with native-speaker audio.
MobileWeb
Memrise
Memrise turns the words on a Dutch list into learning activities and scheduled review.
- Pick a Dutch wordlist and its words feed learning and review activities.
- Word Information shows meanings, examples and native-speaker clips where available.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (2)
Anki and Quizlet hold the cards you write, so the Dutch on them is whatever you type. Add the article next to each noun on your own cards. Desktop Anki and AnkiWeb sync are free. AnkiMobile on iPhone is a one-time purchase, and Android uses the separate AnkiDroid app. For help setting up decks, read Is Anki good for language learning?.
| App | Word source | Review | Sentence and audio | English help | Free boundary | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Lessons Poppy writes | Saved words return in new lessons | Words appear in new sentences | Partly | Lessons by other learners are free to read; unlimited custom lessons need Pro | iOS, Android |
| LingQ | Text and audio you import | Spaced repetition | Matching text and audio | Yes | 20 saved words, 5 imported lessons | iOS, Android, web |
| Clozemaster | Sentences with a gap | Review of sentences you saw | Translation and audio modes | Yes | Free to start; Pro adds more | iOS, Android, web |
| Drops | Topics made by Drops | Favorites, Quiz, Word Collection | Pictures and audio | Yes | 5 minutes every 10 hours | iOS, Android |
| uTalk | Topics made by uTalk | Recall games | Native audio and your own recordings | Yes | Starter words and one unlockable topic are free; the rest is paid | iOS, Android, web |
| Memrise | Wordlists | Scheduled review | Examples and speaker clips where available | Yes | Limited free plan, Pro is paid | iOS, Android, web |
| Anki | Cards you make | SM-2 or FSRS | Only if the card has them | Your own cards | Desktop and AnkiWeb free; AnkiMobile paid once | iOS, Android, web, computer |
| Quizlet | Sets you make or pick | Study and test modes | Whatever the set holds | Your own sets | Free to start; Quizlet Plus is paid | iOS, Android, web |
Do you want to read Dutch before you save words? Our Dutch comprehensible input app comparison lists the reading and listening apps. For vocabulary methods in any language, see vocabulary apps compared.
Which Dutch vocabulary app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Dutch, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or choose Drops for a ready-made picture list. Choose Anki if you want to make cards from the Dutch you meet.
Can I keep the sentence a Dutch word came from?
In LingQ you save words from Dutch texts that come with matching audio. An Anki card holds its sentence only if you type or paste it in. Clozemaster builds each exercise from a sentence.
Can I build my own Dutch word list?
With Anki or Quizlet you write each card yourself. Clozemaster Pro adds custom collections, and Drops and uTalk work from the sets they built.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- AnkiMobile: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Anki manual: scheduling and cards
- Drops: Dutch course
- Drops: what's free
- Memrise: Dutch course
- Memrise: help centre
- Clozemaster: expand Dutch vocabulary
- Clozemaster: FAQ
- LingQ: learn Dutch
- LingQ: what's free
- uTalk: Dutch course
- Quizlet: iPhone App Store listing
- Bubblegum
