Best Apps to Learn Persian in 2026

Persian is the official language of Iran, and about 120 million people speak it, more than 70 million of them from birth. People in Iran call it Farsi. It's written from right to left in 32 letters, and most short vowels aren't written at all.

Persian is written one way and often spoken another. In Tehran, می‌خواهم (I want) is usually said می‌خوام, so check which kind of Persian an app teaches before you pick it.

Custom Lessons Made for You

Bubblegum

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

Say your partner's family is coming over for Nowruz, and Poppy, your AI tutor, writes the lines you might say at the table, with audio, at your level. Ask her why any line is said that way.

Poppy builds a flexible journey around your interests and level. For more speaking with a real person, book a teacher in Practice With a Teacher.

Get Bubblegum ↓

  • The Persian Alphabet course teaches all 32 letters and the vowel marks in 12 short chapters, with a picture for each letter.
  • Read your lessons in Persian letters or in Finglish, the Latin letters many Iranians text in, and switch any time.
  • Lessons are built around your level and your interests.
  • Casual dialogue can use everyday Iranian speech, while narration and news stay in written Persian.
  • In live voice chat, Poppy asks you to say phrases back and tells you how you did.
  • 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.
  • Bubblegum teaches the Persian of Iran, so it has no course for Dari or Tajik.
  • You can't turn your own Persian 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™
  • Teaches the Persian Alphabet

Mobile

Follow a Structured Course

Rosetta Stone Sapphire

Rosetta Stone teaches Persian (Farsi) in interactive lessons with listening and speaking exercises. Pick it if you like working things out without English.

  • Lessons introduce the right-to-left script and how each letter sounds.
  • Grammar comes up inside the lessons, without translations.
  • Lessons don't translate into English, so you work out meanings from context.
  • Flashcards
  • Teaches the Persian Alphabet

MobileWeb

Mango Languages

Mango teaches Persian (Farsi) through everyday conversations, and it has a separate Dari course for the Persian of Afghanistan. Your public library may give you Mango for free, so ask there first.

  • Lessons are built around conversations you might have in Iran.
  • Culture notes explain the meaning behind the words.
  • Lessons are conversations, so it leans toward speaking.
  • Flashcards

MobileWeb

Ling

Ling's Persian course moves from greetings and pronunciation to short dialogues and stories. Its lessons are bite-sized.

  • Short, game-like lessons with flashcards and an AI chatbot.
  • Trace the letters with your finger to practice writing them.
  • Only the first two beginner units are free.
  • Flashcards
  • Teaches the Persian Alphabet

MobileWeb

PersianPod101

PersianPod101 plays a short conversation, then a teacher walks you through its words. Its absolute beginner library also has 40 tiny books to read. Choose it if you like hearing a teacher explain each step.

  • A One-Minute Persian Alphabet series of 41 short lessons.
  • Each audio or video lesson centers on a short dialogue.
  • A free account opens a Survival Phrases course and the first 3 lessons of every pathway. Paid plans open the rest.
  • Flashcards
  • Teaches the Persian Alphabet

MobileWeb

Learn by Listening and Speaking

Pimsleur

Pimsleur teaches Persian as spoken conversation, and you speak your answers aloud during each lesson. Reading lessons come with it too.

  • Two levels of 30 audio lessons, about 30 minutes each.
  • A separate course teaches the Dari spoken in Kabul.
  • The first week is free, and a subscription pays for the rest.
  • Teaches the Persian Alphabet (partly)

MobileWeb

Build Vocabulary

Drops

Drops shows a picture for each Persian word and asks you to match them in quick games. Use it to add words in spare moments, like on a bus.

  • Learn Persian words through short picture games, one topic at a time.
  • Every word comes with audio.
  • It teaches words, so you'll need another course for sentences.

    Mobile

    uTalk

    uTalk teaches the Persian of Iran through quick games grouped by topic, like phrases for travel and family.

    • More than 2,500 Persian words and phrases across 60-plus topics.
    • Speakers from Tehran recorded every word.
    • It puts speaking before the Persian alphabet.

      MobileWeb

      Read and Listen

      LingQ

      LingQ's Mini Stories are its beginner Persian course, 55 lessons that practice the basic patterns of Persian. Further in, there are Persian podcasts and a short story by Sadegh Hedayat.

      • More than 7,640 Persian lessons with over 328 hours of audio.
      • Import a Persian article or video you found, and tap words to see them.
      • After its 55 Mini Stories for beginners, most courses are podcasts and books made for Persian speakers.
      • Flashcards

      MobileWeb

      Look Up Words

      Dict Box Persian

      Dict Box is a Persian and English dictionary and translator that works offline. Keep it handy for a new word in a message or a song.

      • Look up words from English to Persian and back, with no internet.
      • Hear how a word or sentence sounds.
      • It shows ads until you buy Premium.
      • Doesn't teach the Persian Alphabet

      Mobile

      Practice With a Teacher

      Preply

      Preply has hundreds of Persian (Farsi) tutors for online lessons. Tell your tutor what you want Persian for, like talking with your partner's family, and they can shape your lessons around it.

      • Read reviews from other students before you book a Persian tutor.
      • Lessons are paid one at a time, at the price each tutor sets.

        MobileWeb

        Other Apps We Looked At (9)
        • MondlyShort lessons on everyday topics, with voice recognition and conjugation tables. Its Persian course is called Farsi.
        • GlossikaListen to Persian sentences and say them back. Its course runs from A1 to C1.
        • ClozemasterFill in the missing word in Persian sentences, sorted into topic lists, once you know the basics.
        • Learn Farsi: Real PersianAn app that teaches the everyday Farsi Iranians speak, with handwriting practice for each letter.
        • Learn Persian (Beginners)An app from BNR Languages that starts with the alphabet and works offline.
        • Zaban: Farsi, Dari & TajikAn app with five courses, including Iranian Farsi, Afghan Dari and Tajik, and side-by-side comparisons of how the same idea changes across them.
        • HelloTalkFind Persian speakers to message, and correct each other's messages.
        • TandemMeet people in Tehran and elsewhere who speak Persian and are learning your language.
        • AnkiMake your own Persian flashcards, or download decks that other learners have shared.

        Free Courses and Podcasts for Persian

        Persian Language Online has free courses from beginner to intermediate, supported by contributors from SOAS, the University of Cambridge and the University of St Andrews. Its beginner course starts with greetings, and each lesson has a video, a dialogue and a quiz. Easy Persian has hundreds of free lessons on the Persian spoken in Iran, starting with the letters and short vowels. The University of Texas's Persian of Iran Today has audio and video files for each unit of its textbook.

        For listening, the Chai and Conversation podcast has taught spoken Persian since 2010, in short weekly episodes. Its website adds courses on reading and writing the letters, with a 30-day free trial.

        Which Persian 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.
        Rosetta Stone SapphireSome lessons freeYour first Rosetta Stone lesson is free, and the Sapphire app lets you try 7 days for free. After that, you need a membership.
        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.
        LingSome lessons freeThe first two beginner units are free in every language. Ling Pro opens all the lessons, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
        PersianPod101Free versionA free PersianPod101 account gives you a survival phrases course and the first 3 lessons of every pathway, with new lessons each week. Paid plans open every lesson, and Premium starts with a 7-day free trial.
        PimsleurFree trialYou can try Pimsleur free for 7 days. After that, you pay for one language or for all of them.
        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.
        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.
        LingQFree versionA free account lets you save up to 20 words and phrases and import 5 lessons of your own. LingQ Premium removes both limits.
        Dict Box PersianFree versionThe dictionary is free to download and use offline. Premium removes ads and adds the picture dictionary and backup across devices.
        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.
        MondlyFree versionMondly gives you free lessons every day. A subscription opens all of its courses and features.
        GlossikaFree trialYou can try Glossika free for 7 days without a credit card. After that, you need a subscription.
        ClozemasterFree versionClozemaster is free to sign up and play. Clozemaster Pro lets you play as much as you want.
        Learn Farsi: Real PersianSome lessons freeUnit 1 is free, and you can preview every topic without signing up. A subscription opens the rest.
        Learn Persian (Beginners)FreeAll of its content is free, and it also sells in-app purchases.
        Zaban: Farsi, Dari & TajikSome lessons freeThe first six units of each course are free, and Zaban Plus opens the rest.
        HelloTalkFree versionChatting with language partners is free. HelloTalk VIP removes ads and adds unlimited translations and more new partners each day.
        TandemFree versionSigning up is free, and Tandem reviews each new member first. Many features are free, and Tandem Pro gives you all of them.
        AnkiFreeAnki on computers, AnkiWeb and AnkiDroid for Android are all free. The official iPhone app, AnkiMobile, costs money and helps fund Anki.

        Learn Persian in Your Language

        An app you can use in your language may still explain Persian only in English, so check one lesson before you pay.

        AppLanguages You Can Use It InFull List
        Bubblegum74Supported language pairs
        Rosetta Stone6Full list
        Mango2Full list
        Ling68Full list
        PersianPod1011Full list
        Pimsleur3Full list
        Drops16Full list
        uTalk140+Full list
        LingQ17Full list
        Dict Box Persian3Full list
        Preply19Full list
        Mondly32Full list
        Glossika2Full list
        Clozemaster37Full list
        Learn Farsi: Real Persian33Full list
        Learn Persian (Beginners)46Full list
        Zaban: Farsi, Dari & Tajik1Full list
        HelloTalk16Full list
        Tandem14Full list
        Anki25Full list

        Common Questions

        Which Persian app should a beginner choose?

        If you are serious about learning Persian, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with Pimsleur if speaking comes first for you, or with Ling if you like small lessons that build in order. For a weekly plan, see the best way to learn Persian.

        Does Duolingo teach Persian?

        Duolingo doesn't teach Persian. Ling and Drops, above, have short, game-like lessons.

        Is Persian the same as Farsi?

        Yes. Farsi is what the language is called in Persian, and Persian is its English name. Dari, spoken in Afghanistan, and Tajik, spoken in Tajikistan and written in Cyrillic letters, are forms of Persian too.

        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. Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Article 15 (Constitute Project)
        2. Saadi Foundation: Why Learn Persian? (speaker numbers; official in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan)
        3. University of Texas at Austin, Persian Online: The Writing System (32 letters, right to left)
        4. University of Texas at Austin, Persian Online: What Is Diglossia? (written and spoken Persian)
        5. Bubblegum: Persian and the Persian Alphabet course
        6. Rosetta Stone: Learn Persian (Farsi)
        7. Rosetta Stone Sapphire on the App Store (7-day trial, membership, languages you can use it in)
        8. Mango Languages: Persian (Farsi)
        9. Mango Languages: Dari
        10. Mango Languages: pricing
        11. Mango Languages: home page and library access
        12. Reddit (r/farsi): Apps for learning Farsi (a learner's notes on Mango, Ling and others)
        13. Ling: Learn Persian
        14. Ling: Persian on Google Play (finger tracing for writing)
        15. Ling: FAQs (free units)
        16. Ling: pricing
        17. PersianPod101: Absolute Beginner lesson library (One-Minute Persian Alphabet)
        18. PersianPod101: pricing
        19. Innovative Language (PersianPod101) on the App Store
        20. Pimsleur: Learn Farsi Persian (two levels of 30 lessons, 7-day free trial)
        21. Pimsleur: Learn Dari Persian
        22. Pimsleur on the App Store
        23. Drops: Learn Persian
        24. Drops: Free vs Premium
        25. Drops: Premium
        26. Reddit (r/farsi): a learner on Drops for vocabulary
        27. Drops on the App Store
        28. uTalk: Learn Farsi (Iranian Persian)
        29. uTalk on the App Store (free starter words)
        30. uTalk: the languages you can learn from
        31. LingQ: Learn Persian online
        32. LingQ: Persian courses
        33. LingQ: languages (Persian lessons and hours of audio)
        34. LingQ: what's free
        35. LingQ on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
        36. Persian Dictionary - Dict Box on the App Store
        37. Preply: online Farsi tutors
        38. Preply on the App Store
        39. Mondly: languages
        40. Mondly: what's free
        41. Mondly on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
        42. Glossika: Learn Persian
        43. Glossika: what's free
        44. Glossika on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
        45. Clozemaster: Persian Farsi sentence lists
        46. Clozemaster: FAQ (what's free)
        47. Clozemaster Pro (what the paid plan adds)
        48. Clozemaster on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
        49. Learn Farsi: Real Persian on the App Store
        50. Learn Persian (Beginners) by BNR Languages on the App Store
        51. Zaban: Farsi, Dari & Tajik on the App Store
        52. HelloTalk: Persian language partners
        53. HelloTalk: what's free
        54. HelloTalk: what the paid plan adds
        55. HelloTalk on the App Store (languages you can use it in)
        56. Tandem: language exchange in Tehran
        57. Tandem: what's free
        58. Tandem on the App Store (what the paid plan adds)
        59. Anki
        60. Anki: free apps and AnkiWeb
        61. Persian Language Online: all courses
        62. Persian Language Online: about (SOAS, Cambridge and St Andrews contributors)
        63. Chai and Conversation: Learn Persian
        64. Chai and Conversation: Read and Write Persian (30-day free trial)
        65. Chai and Conversation podcast on Apple Podcasts
        66. Easy Persian: getting started
        67. University of Texas at Austin: Persian of Iran Today
        68. Duolingo course list (no Persian course for English speakers)

        Your Next Persian Lesson

        Ask Poppy for a free Persian lesson about something you care about. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.

        Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
        Explore More Persian Guides

        Start With the Script

        Persian Alphabet

        Course

        Go Deeper

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        The Best Way to Learn Persian in 2026

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        The Fastest Way to Learn Persian in 2026

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        • Persian
        • Farsi
        • App Comparison
        • Pimsleur
        • PersianPod101
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        Published Oct 31, 2026