Many Esperanto courses are free, but they are not all apps. Lernu and 50LANGUAGES are websites, Kurso runs on a computer, and Parolejo is an Android app. Duolingo is free with optional purchases, and Bubblegum has free library lessons. This page shows what stays free in each one and where it stops. For courses and tutors, see our Esperanto app comparison. For reading and listening, see our Esperanto comprehensible input comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Esperanto. You learn from Esperanto you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Esperanto 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 that you can review words in new contexts without having to use flashcards.
- Library lessons in Esperanto are free to read.
- The Esperanto dictionary has more than 19,000 entries, and Poppy's grammar notes cover 316 topics in English.
- Saved words can go to Anki too.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Unlimited custom Esperanto lessons need Pro. You also can't turn an Esperanto book or video you own into a lesson, but Poppy will explain a page you paste in.
- 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
Duolingo
Duolingo suits learners who want short Esperanto lessons in a game-style format.
- The Esperanto course for English speakers is free on the web and in the app.
MobileWeb
50LANGUAGES
50LANGUAGES suits learners who want a free phrasebook course with audio you can play on a phone or computer.
- The English to Esperanto course has 100 short lessons, free on the website.
- Each lesson has an MP3, so you can listen away from the screen.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (5)
- LernuA website made for Esperanto. It has an interactive course, a grammar overview, a dictionary built into the texts and a media library. It is free to use.
- ParolejoAn Android app with twelve lessons, audio, course flashcards and an offline dictionary. It has no ads, purchases or subscriptions.
- Kurso de EsperantoA twelve-lesson multimedia course that you download for Windows, macOS or Linux. No subscription or paid lessons are listed.
- ClozemasterFree Esperanto sentence practice, with English as the language you read in. Pro adds unlimited practice and extra features.
- AnkiFlashcard software with no Esperanto deck in the box. You type in the words you want, each with its meaning and a sentence of your own, and Anki schedules the reviews.
| App | What stays free | Where the limit is | Paid plan | English help | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Library lessons | Unlimited custom lessons | Pro | Partly | iPhone, iPad, Android, web |
| Duolingo | The Esperanto course for English speakers | Not listed | Optional in-app purchases | Yes | Web, iPhone |
| 50LANGUAGES | 100 lessons and MP3 audio on the website | Levels A1 and A2 | iPhone app has in-app purchases | Yes | Web |
| Lernu | Course, grammar, dictionary, media library | No limit listed | No paid plan shown | Yes | Web |
| Parolejo | All twelve lessons, audio, flashcards, offline dictionary | Twelve beginner lessons | None | Yes | Android |
| Kurso de Esperanto | The whole twelve-lesson course | Twelve beginner lessons | No paid plan shown | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Clozemaster | Esperanto sentence practice | Daily limit not listed | Pro adds unlimited practice | Yes | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Anki | Desktop and AnkiWeb | You supply the cards | AnkiMobile for iPhone is paid once | Your own cards | Computer, Android, iPhone |
Which free Esperanto app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Esperanto, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with Lernu, a free website made only for Esperanto, and add the free 50LANGUAGES audio.
Can I learn Esperanto with no phone app at all?
Yes. Lernu and 50LANGUAGES run in a web browser, and Kurso is a download for Windows, macOS or Linux. Parolejo is an Android app.
Is Anki free for Esperanto?
Anki is free on computers, on AnkiWeb and on Android. AnkiMobile for iPhone is paid once. Anki also has no Esperanto deck of its own, so you add your own cards.
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
- Duolingo: Esperanto for English speakers
- Duolingo: iPhone App Store listing (US)
- 50LANGUAGES: English to Esperanto lessons and MP3 audio
- 50LANGUAGES: iPhone App Store listing (100 lessons)
- Lernu: free Esperanto lessons
- Parolejo: Google Play listing (US)
- Kurso de Esperanto: desktop course
- Clozemaster: Esperanto sentence lists
- Anki: what's free
- AnkiMobile: iPhone App Store listing (US)
- Bubblegum
