Ilocano, also spelled Ilokano, has a few free apps, and each one stops being free in a different place. A free download is not always a free course.
The 6 apps below show what stays free and where the paid part begins. Bubblegum and Anki explain part of what you study in English. For courses and tutors, see the Ilocano app comparison. The table at the end puts the answers side by side.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Ilocano. You learn from Ilocano you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Ilocano 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.
Unlimited custom lessons need Bubblegum Pro, because each one costs money to make.
- Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read, and all 144 Ilocano grammar explanations are in English.
- Saved words come back in new lessons, and you can send them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
Ling
Ling suits learners who want to try an Ilocano course before they pay.
- The first two Ilocano units are free.
- The full Ilocano course needs Ling Pro.
- Flashcards
MobileWeb
uTalk
uTalk gives you a taste of Ilocano pronunciation before you decide to buy.
- The starter words are free, and they are recorded Ilocano phrases with English as the source language.
- A high score in the games unlocks one more topic.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (3)
- Learn Ilocano!A free iPhone download with a dictionary, audio for common words, beginner grammar and the first eight course units. The full course, more audio and the AI tools without your own key need Pro.
- WikaAn Ilocano course with free lessons, a dictionary, streaks, missions and ranks. Its Dialecto conversation practice is an optional paid extra.
- AnkiFlashcards you fill with your own Ilocano words. Anki on a computer and AnkiWeb sync are free, AnkiMobile on iPhone is a one-time purchase, and AnkiDroid is a separate app for Android.
A dash means the detail is not listed here.
| App | App in English | Teaches in English | What stays free | Paid part |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Yes | Partly | Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners | Unlimited custom lessons need Pro |
| Ling | Yes | — | The first two units | Full course needs Ling Pro |
| uTalk | Yes | Yes | Starter words | Full course by subscription or purchase |
| Learn Ilocano! | Yes | — | Dictionary, common-word audio, beginner grammar and eight units | Full course, more audio and keyless AI tools need Pro |
| Wika | — | — | Core lessons and dictionary | Dialecto conversation practice |
| Anki | Yes | Partly | Computer app and AnkiWeb sync | AnkiMobile on iPhone is a one-time purchase |
Each number is how many languages you can use the app in. Bubblegum's number comes from its own list, and the others come from each app's US iPhone listing.
| App | Languages You Can Use It In | Full List |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 76 | Full list
|
| Ling | 68 | Full list |
| uTalk | 1 | Full list |
| Learn Ilocano! | 4 | Full list |
| Wika | — | — |
| Anki | 34 | Full list |
Which free Ilocano app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Ilocano, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. If you want a free course on your phone, start with the first eight units of Learn Ilocano!. The first two Ling units are also free.
Is a free trial the same as a free app?
No. A trial ends after a set time, and a free plan stays open. The Ling and uTalk free parts stay open, and they cover only the first lessons or starter words.
Where can I practice with people for free?
Learner exchange apps are free to join, and tutors are paid. See the Ilocano app comparison for Tandem and Preply, and the Ilocano comprehensible input comparison for stories to read and hear.
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
- Bubblegum: Ilocano and English language pair
- Learn Ilocano!: iPhone App Store listing
- Wika: Ilocano course
- Ling: Ilocano course
- Ling: what's free
- Ling: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- uTalk: Ilocano
- uTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Anki: official site
- AnkiMobile: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Bubblegum
