The best Korean speaking app depends on what you want to say and who answers you. Teuida and Seyo give you guided replies, Poppy, Talkpal and Praktika answer you as an AI, and italki, HelloTalk and Tandem 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 apps, see our Korean app comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Korean. You learn from Korean you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Korean lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it, or talk it through with her in a voice chat.
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.
- Every Korean lesson is written at your level, about things you like.
- Talk with Poppy by voice chat in Korean, and ask her to explain any sentence.
- 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.
- Learn every letter in the free Korean Hangul course, with a picture to help you remember each one.
- You can't turn your favorite webtoon 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™
- Teaches Hangul
Mobile
Teuida
Teuida suits learners who want to hear and see a Korean situation before they answer in it.
- You reply aloud in first-person Korean video scenes.
- The listing advertises pronunciation feedback from speech recognition.
- Doesn't teach Hangul
MobileWeb
Seyo
Seyo gives you a scenario and answers your Korean, so you have more structure than a blank chat box.
- It comes from Talk To Me In Korean, a team known for Korean lessons.
- Scenario-based AI responses give you a topic to talk about.
- Doesn't teach Hangul
Mobile
Pimsleur
Pimsleur suits learners who want to speak along with a recording rather than with a partner.
- You follow a Korean audio lesson and answer recorded prompts.
- The audio lessons start at beginner level, so you can begin with no Korean.
- Teaches Hangul
MobileWeb
Talkpal
Talkpal suits learners who want to talk about any topic with an AI and no scheduled partner.
- Korean voice chat and role-play are advertised in the US listing.
- Basic access is free to download.
- Doesn't teach Hangul
MobileWeb
Praktika
Praktika suits learners who like to practice face to face with an avatar.
- You speak Korean with an AI avatar in role-play.
- The publisher advertises pronunciation and fluency feedback.
- Doesn't teach Hangul
Mobile
italki
italki suits learners who want a person to correct their spoken Korean.
- You pick a Korean teacher and book a live lesson.
- Corrections come from a person who hears you.
MobileWeb
HelloTalk
HelloTalk suits learners who want to chat with Korean speakers and help them with English in return.
- You can find a Korean exchange partner for messages, voice notes and voice rooms.
- Basic exchange is free, with a paid VIP plan.
MobileWeb
Tandem
Tandem suits learners who want scheduled calls with an exchange partner.
- You choose Korean and English exchange partners for text, voice notes and calls.
- Basic exchange is free, with optional Pro.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (1)
- MemriseCourse and video vocabulary practice, useful for learning words before you say them.
| 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 |
| Teuida | Replies to video scenes | Guided scenes | Speech-recognition feedback advertised | Yes | Free download, paid plans | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Seyo | Answers to scenarios | Scenario-based AI | Pronunciation and speaking practice advertised | Yes | Trial, then paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Pimsleur | Replies to recorded prompts | Fixed audio lesson | Recorded prompts, no live reply | Yes | Trial, then paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Talkpal | Voice chat and role-play | Open AI | Pronunciation and grammar feedback advertised | Yes | Basic free, Premium paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Praktika | Role-play with an avatar | Open AI | Pronunciation and fluency feedback advertised | Yes | Premium paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| italki | Live lessons | Open, with a teacher | A teacher corrects you | Partly | Account free, teachers set prices | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| HelloTalk | Messages, voice notes, voice rooms | Open, with a partner | Depends on the partner | Partly | Basic free, VIP paid | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Tandem | Messages, voice notes, calls | Open, with a partner | Informal partner corrections | Partly | Basic free, Pro optional | iPhone, iPad, Android |
If you want to read and listen to Korean before you speak, our Korean comprehensible input app comparison covers reading and listening apps. For speaking apps in any language, see apps for speaking practice.
Which Korean speaking app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Korean, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or choose Pimsleur if you want a recording that tells you what to say. Choose Seyo for guided scenarios with English help.
Do these apps check my pronunciation?
Teuida's listing advertises pronunciation feedback from speech recognition. Seyo, Talkpal and Praktika advertise their own AI pronunciation feedback. Poppy answers you in a voice chat and explains what you ask about. A teacher on italki can correct how you sound and explain why.
Can I practice speaking Korean for free?
HelloTalk and Tandem have free basic exchange with a Korean speaker. italki is free to join, and each teacher sets a lesson price. Talkpal is free to download with paid Premium.
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
- Teuida: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Seyo: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Pimsleur: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Talkpal: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Praktika: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- italki: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- HelloTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Tandem: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Bubblegum
- Teuida
- Seyo
- Pimsleur
- Talkpal
- Praktika
- italki
- HelloTalk
- Tandem
