The best Filipino speaking app depends on who answers you. Pimsleur, Glossika and Ling give you set lines to say, Talkpal and Tahanan answer you with an AI, and Tahanan, HelloTalk, italki and Preply put you in touch with people. This page compares what you say aloud in each app, what feedback comes back and what stays free. For courses and reading, see our Filipino app comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Filipino. You learn from Filipino you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Filipino lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it, or ask her to roleplay a conversation with you.
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.
- Filipino lessons are written at your level, and Poppy explains hard sentences in English.
- Ask Poppy to roleplay a conversation, or ask her questions about any lesson.
- Saved words come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™, and you can send them to Anki too.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Bubblegum focuses on reading and listening more than speaking, so for a talk with a person you'll need a tutor or exchange app.
- 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
Pimsleur
Pimsleur suits learners who want a recorded lesson that tells them what to say and then answers it.
- You hear a Tagalog prompt, answer aloud, then hear the model answer.
- The lessons are taught in English.
MobileWeb
Glossika
Glossika suits learners who want to say whole sentences aloud until they come easily.
- Tagalog sentences come with native-speaker audio, and you repeat them.
- The US App Store description explains spaced repetition for the sentences.
MobileWeb
Ling
Ling suits learners who want a course with speaking built in and a free start.
- A Tagalog course you can use in English, with native audio.
- Guided games and dialogues give you lines to say.
- Flashcards
MobileWeb
HelloTalk
HelloTalk suits learners who would rather swap messages and voice notes with Tagalog speakers, and teach some English back.
- Its Tagalog page lists voice rooms, voice messages and correction tools.
- Basic exchange is free, with a paid VIP plan.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (4)
- TahananRecord yourself speaking and get personal feedback from a Filipino coach, or talk with an AI Tagalog partner. It is made for heritage learners, taught in English, and the US App Store lists a 7-day trial.
- TalkpalPractice Tagalog out loud with an AI in voice chat and roleplay. The download is free, and Premium comes as 1, 3 and 12 month passes in the US App Store.
- italkiBook a live lesson with a tutor who hears you speak and corrects you. Each tutor sets a price, and English explanations depend on the tutor.
- PreplyBook a Tagalog tutor for a live lesson. Many tutors on the list speak English, and each sets a price.
| App | What you say | Conversation | Feedback | English help | Free boundary | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Live voice chat with Poppy | Open, with Poppy | Poppy answers and explains what you ask about | Partly | Lessons by other learners are free to read; unlimited custom lessons need Pro | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Pimsleur | Replies to recorded prompts | Fixed audio lesson | Model answer after each prompt | Yes | 7-day trial, then paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Glossika | Repeated sentences | Fixed sentences | Native-speaker audio to match | Not confirmed | 7 days free, then paid | iPhone, iPad |
| Ling | Lines in guided games and dialogues | Guided | Built into the exercises | Yes | First 2 units free; paid plan | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Tahanan | Recordings, or AI conversation | Open with an AI; recorded for a coach | Personal feedback from a coach | Yes | 7-day trial, then paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Talkpal | Voice chat and roleplay | Open with an AI | Corrections advertised | Not confirmed | Basic free, Premium paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| HelloTalk | Messages, voice messages, voice rooms | Open, with a partner | Depends on the partner | Partly | Basic free, VIP paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| italki | Live lessons | Open, with a tutor | A tutor corrects you | Partly | Tutors set prices | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Preply | Live lessons | Open, with a tutor | Depends on the tutor | Partly | Tutors set prices | iPhone, iPad, Android |
If you read Filipino before you speak it, our Filipino comprehensible input app comparison covers reading and listening apps, and the best way to learn Filipino gives a full path. To talk with an AI chatbot, see how to learn Filipino with ChatGPT.
Which Filipino speaking app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Filipino, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or choose Pimsleur if you want to say Tagalog aloud from the first lesson with an English guide. Choose HelloTalk or italki when you want a person to answer you.
What is the difference between a set prompt and a conversation?
Pimsleur, Glossika and Ling ask you to say lines they have chosen. Talkpal and the AI partner in Tahanan talk back to you, and HelloTalk, italki and Preply put a person on the other side.
Can I record myself and get feedback from a person?
Tahanan lets you record your speech for personal feedback from a Filipino coach. In italki and Preply, the tutor listens to you live. HelloTalk partners can correct you, but how much help you get depends on the partner.
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
- Pimsleur: learn Tagalog
- Pimsleur: iPhone App Store listing
- Glossika: learn Tagalog
- Glossika: iPhone App Store listing
- Ling: learn Tagalog
- Tahanan: Tagalog for heritage learners
- Talkpal: learn Tagalog
- Talkpal: iPhone App Store listing
- HelloTalk: learn Tagalog
- HelloTalk: iPhone App Store listing
- italki: iPhone App Store listing
- Preply: iPhone App Store listing
- Bubblegum
- Ling
