Best Apps to Learn Igbo in 2026

Igbo is one of the main languages of Nigeria, and around 30 million people speak it in Nigeria and abroad. It is written with 36 letters, including the dotted vowels ị, ọ and ụ. Duolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone don't teach Igbo, so this page lists the apps that do.

Custom Lessons Made for You

Bubblegum

For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Igbo. You learn from Igbo you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.

Say you are visiting family in Enugu. Ask Poppy, your AI tutor, for a lesson on greeting your grandparents or ordering at a market, and she writes it at your level, with audio. Bubblegum teaches Standard Igbo and writes it the way Igbo is normally written, with no tone marks, so ask a tutor or language partner to say the words and hear the tones.

Get Bubblegum ↓

  • Poppy writes each lesson for your level, on topics you pick.
  • Each lesson plays AI audio while you read.
  • Tap a word to see what it means, or ask Poppy to explain a whole line.
  • Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, and you can export them to Anki.
  • Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
  • You can't turn your own Igbo books into lessons. However, you can paste a page in the chat, and Poppy will explain it.
  • 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™

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Follow a Structured Course

Mango Languages

Mango teaches Igbo through conversations, and its culture notes explain how people greet each other and what is polite.

  • Lessons are built around conversations, and every word is spoken by Igbo speakers.
  • Grammar notes and culture notes sit inside the lessons.
  • A voice comparison tool lets you check your accent against the recordings.
  • Spaced review brings back the words you need to revisit.
  • The first lesson of any language is free, and a paid plan opens the rest. Many public libraries give their members free access.
  • Flashcards

MobileWeb

Learn Words and Phrases

uTalk

uTalk teaches Igbo words and phrases for talking with people and getting around Nigeria.

  • More than 2,500 words and phrases, from First Words to transport and food.
  • Recordings made by Igbo speakers, and memory games for each topic.
  • uTalk says the course takes beginners to the A1 and A2 levels.
  • You get free starter words, and a subscription or a purchase opens the rest.

    MobileWeb

    Drops

    Drops gives you Igbo words one picture at a time.

    • Short games where each word comes with a picture and a recording made by Igbo speakers.
    • Drops advertises learning Igbo in five minutes a day.
    • The free version limits your learning time, and Drops Premium removes the limit.

      Mobile

      Practice With a Person

      italki

      italki has Igbo tutors for video lessons. Each profile shows the languages the tutor speaks, so you can pick one who explains in English.

      • Pick an Igbo tutor and book a video lesson at a time that suits you.
      • You pay for each lesson, and each teacher sets the price.

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        Preply

        Preply lists more than 100 Igbo tutors for private online lessons. Compare reviews and prices, and book a trial lesson to see whether you like the tutor.

        • Read reviews and compare prices before you book an Igbo tutor.
        • Each tutor sets their own price.

          MobileWeb

          HelloTalk

          HelloTalk is for language exchange. You chat with Igbo speakers, and they practice your language with you.

          • Chat with Igbo speakers who want to learn your language.
          • Chatting is free. HelloTalk VIP removes ads and adds unlimited translations and more new partners each day.

            MobileWeb

            Other Apps We Looked At (8)
            • LingawaLive one-on-one lessons with Igbo tutors, who are matched to your dialect, such as Imo, Enugu or Anambra. The app adds vocabulary drills, a sentence builder and dialogue practice, with one free practice session a day.
            • NKENNEAudio lessons of 15 to 20 minutes in Igbo, Yoruba, Swahili, Somali and Twi, plus flash cards, a weekly podcast and live tutoring on the Premium plan. The first three lessons in any language are free.
            • KOYOShort interactive lessons and quizzes in Yoruba, Igbo and Edo, with a dictionary that plays the pronunciation of each word.
            • IgboLearn: Learn & Speak IgboA beginner app with structured lessons and grammar explanations, a dictionary with pronunciation audio, a word and phrase of the day, and quizzes. AI conversation practice is a Premium feature. The page says it also suits heritage learners and parents raising bilingual children.
            • Igbo101Standard Igbo lessons with games for children and adult beginners, in four levels. The app is free to download, and some lessons are in-app purchases. Its last update on the App Store is from 2018.
            • LangaAppLessons on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and conversation in Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and other African languages. Lessons work offline.
            • MemriseVocabulary lessons that follow your interests, with recordings of Igbo words and an AI speaking partner called MemBot.
            • IgbostudyRun by Ijeoma Akubue. Its YouTube channel has Igbo lessons, songs and stories, and it sells a one-hour beginner course and a tutor-led speaking course. Check the site for what is open now.

            Free Help for Igbo

            The FSI Igbo Basic Course is a textbook with 30 units, and each of the first 24 units has dialogues, grammar notes and drills. It came out in 1962, so some spellings may differ from today's, and its PDF and MP3 audio are free on Live Lingua.

            IgboGuide has 11 chapters, and each one has a conversation, vocabulary and a grammar topic. You can listen to the conversations while you read the English, such as Aha m bụ Emeka (my name is Emeka). The site's web pages print some Igbo letters with umlauts, where books use the dotted letters.

            Igbo Daily Drops is a podcast with episodes of about 10 minutes, and it says complete beginners are welcome.

            Which Igbo Apps Are Free?

            AppFree?What's Free
            BubblegumFree versionCustom 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.
            Mango LanguagesSome lessons freeThe first lesson of every language is free, and many public libraries give their members full access at no cost. The paid plans start with a free trial.
            uTalkSome lessons freeEvery language has free starter words, and getting full marks in the games opens one more topic for free. For the rest, you subscribe or buy a language or topic.
            DropsFree versionThe free version lets you learn for five minutes every 10 hours. Drops Premium gives you unlimited time and all the content, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
            italkiPaidYou pay for each lesson, and each teacher sets their own price. Practicing with the community and taking the level test are free.
            PreplyPaidYou pay for each lesson, and each tutor sets their own price. If your first tutor isn't a good fit, you can try two more for free.
            HelloTalkFree versionChatting with language partners is free. HelloTalk VIP removes ads and adds unlimited translations and more new partners each day.
            LingawaFree versionYou get one free practice session a day. Live lessons with Igbo tutors are paid.
            NKENNESome lessons freeThe free plan gives you a short set of lessons plus blogs, podcasts and the community. NKENNE Premium opens the full set of lessons.
            KOYOFreeIt is free on the App Store, and its listing shows no in-app purchases.
            IgboLearn: Learn & Speak IgboFree versionYou can start learning for free, and a paid Premium subscription opens all features.
            Igbo101Some lessons freeIt is free to download, and three extra lesson sets are paid add-ons.
            LangaAppNot statedIt is free to download. Its page lists in-app purchases and does not say what is free before them.
            MemriseNot statedIts Igbo page does not say which lessons are free.
            IgbostudyFree versionIts YouTube lessons are free. The beginner course and the speaking course are paid.

            Learn Igbo in Your Language

            Menus in your language don't always mean Igbo explained in your language, so try one lesson before you pay.

            AppLanguages You Can Use It InFull List
            Bubblegum74Supported language pairs
            Mango Languages2Full list
            uTalk140+Full list
            Drops16Full list
            italki19Full list
            Preply19Full list
            HelloTalk16Full list
            Lingawa1Full list
            NKENNE1Full list
            KOYO1Full list
            IgboLearn: Learn & Speak Igbo1Full list
            Igbo10125Full list
            LangaApp1Full list
            Memrise22Full list
            Igbostudy——

            Common Questions

            Which Igbo app should a beginner choose?

            If you are serious about learning Igbo, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with Mango if you want short conversations with Igbo audio, or with the free FSI Igbo Basic Course if you like a textbook with dialogues. The best way to learn Igbo has a plan for each week.

            Does Duolingo teach Igbo?

            No. Duolingo doesn't have an Igbo course. Mango, uTalk and Drops all teach beginner Igbo.

            Do I need to learn the dotted letters first?

            Yes, in the first week. The vowels ị, ọ and ụ are separate letters, so write ụlọ (house), not ulo. Everyday Igbo is written without tone marks, so you learn the tones by listening.

            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
            1. UC Berkeley class schedule: Elementary Igbo (Igbo is one of the main languages of Nigeria, spoken by around 30 million people in Nigeria and the Diaspora)
            2. Wikipedia: Igbo alphabet (36 letters, including the dotted vowels ị, ọ and ụ)
            3. Duolingo course list (no Igbo course)
            4. Babbel: language courses
            5. Pimsleur: list of languages
            6. Rosetta Stone: languages
            7. Mango Languages: Igbo
            8. Mango Languages: pricing
            9. Mango Languages on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
            10. uTalk: Learn Igbo (over 2,500 words and phrases, recorded by Igbo speakers)
            11. uTalk on the App Store (free starter words)
            12. uTalk: the languages you can learn from
            13. Drops: Learn Igbo
            14. Drops on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
            15. Bubblegum: Igbo
            16. italki: Igbo teachers
            17. italki: home page (what is free)
            18. italki on the App Store
            19. Preply: online Igbo tutors
            20. Preply on the App Store
            21. HelloTalk: Igbo language partners
            22. HelloTalk: what the paid plan adds
            23. HelloTalk on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
            24. Memrise: Learn Igbo
            25. Memrise on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
            26. Igbo101 on the App Store (standard Igbo, 12 lessons, paid lesson sets)
            27. IgboLearn on the App Store
            28. LangaApp on the App Store (Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and more)
            29. KOYO: Learn Nigerian languages
            30. KOYO on the App Store (Yoruba, Igbo and Edo)
            31. NKENNE: African language lessons (Igbo, Yoruba, Swahili, Somali, Twi)
            32. NKENNE on the App Store
            33. Lingawa: live Igbo lessons with Igbo tutors
            34. Lingawa on the App Store
            35. Igbostudy: free and paid Igbo resources
            36. FSI Igbo Basic Course on Live Lingua (free PDF and MP3 audio)
            37. FSI Igbo Language Course (30 units, first published in 1962, public domain)
            38. IgboGuide: table of contents (11 chapters with conversations and grammar)
            39. IgboGuide: Igbo conversations with audio and English transcripts
            40. Igbo Daily Drops podcast
            41. Drops: what's free
            42. Drops: what the paid plan adds
            43. Nkenne: what's free
            44. Mango Languages: what's free
            45. Bubblegum
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            Published Nov 6, 2026