British English is the one to learn if you're moving to the UK, studying at a British university, or working with people from Britain. Most English apps teach American English, so this page checks, app by app, which ones teach British English and what each one gives you.
The accent and some everyday words change. The storage space in a car is the in British English and the in American English. For apps that cover English as a whole, see our English app comparison. For tutors, free lessons, and dictionaries from Britain, see the best ways to learn British English.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn British English. You learn from British English you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your British English 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.
Bubblegum focuses on reading and listening more than speaking. For conversation, try the tutors and partners in the best ways to learn British English.
- Lessons are written in British English and voiced in a British accent.
- Read and listen to news and stories in British English about things you care about.
- Ask Poppy about a sentence while you read.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, so you review them by reading. You can also export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- You can't turn British novels you own into lessons. However, you can send Poppy a photo of a page, and she'll explain it one sentence at a time.
- 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 British English
Mobile
Memrise
Memrise has a British English course where you choose the situations you want to prepare for, learn the words, and then practice speaking with an AI partner.
- A British English course with 70+ lessons and 8,000+ words, sorted by situation.
- 75+ AI conversations to practice speaking, and videos of native speakers.
- Teaches British English
MobileWeb
Drops
Drops suits learners who want British words in quick daily games.
- More than 2,000 British English words.
- Short picture games, about five minutes a day.
- Teaches British English
Mobile
uTalk
uTalk's page says British English has its own identifiable accent, and its course keeps you in it.
- Teaches mainstream English as spoken in Britain.
- Two voice artists with BBC experience; you record yourself and compare.
- Teaches British English
MobileWeb
ELSA Speak
ELSA Speak is for learners who already have words and want their pronunciation to sound British. Pick the British accent when you set it up.
- Accent choices that include American, British, and Australian.
- Pronunciation training with AI feedback on pronunciation and word stress.
Mobile
LearnEnglish Podcast
The presenters, Tess and Ravi, talk with guests about everyday topics. It's a gentle way to get used to British voices.
- Free podcast series from the British Council, with a story that follows a student who moves to the UK.
- Every recording has a transcript and interactive exercises.
- Teaches British English
Mobile
Cambly
Cambly connects you with tutors for conversation. Choose the British accent filter, then check each profile.
- A British Accent filter on the tutor list, beside American and Australian.
- Each tutor card shows an accent label.
MobileWeb
The number of languages you can use an app in isn't the same as the languages its lessons explain things in, so check one lesson in your language before you pay. A dash means the app's own page doesn't say.
| App | Languages You Can Use It In | Full List |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 76 | Supported language pairs |
| Memrise | 22 | Full list |
| Drops | 16 | Full list |
| uTalk | 140+ | Full list |
| ELSA Speak | 1 | Full list |
| Cambly | 12 | Full list |
| LearnEnglish Podcast | — | — |
Most English apps are built around American English, so check a course's page before you pay. A general course is still good for grammar and everyday words, and you can add British audio from the apps above. For the big English apps, see our English app comparison.
Which British English app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning British English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with Memrise's British English course or Drops for words, and add a tutor from the UK when you want to speak. For a full path, see the best way to learn British English.
Is British English very different from American English?
People understand each other. The differences are in the accent, some spelling, and words like and . If you plan to live or study in the UK, learn the British ones first so the English around you sounds familiar.
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.
