Best Apps to Learn Russian in 2026

Bubblegum suits learners who want Russian built around their own lives. Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, what you want to learn. She writes lessons for your level and helps you understand the words and grammar. You can read and listen, and ask her about anything that is unclear. News and stories give you more Russian to read about music, food, family, and other things you care about.

The trade-off is that Bubblegum does not replace real Russian voices or a fixed course. For recorded speakers, Pimsleur and uTalk are the better fit. For a step-by-step path, try Duolingo or Memrise, and for conversation, try the apps in Learn With People.

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Duolingo has a Russian course for English speakers. It is a way to start with the letters, words, and simple sentences.

Memrise has an official Russian course made by expert linguists. Its videos show native speakers using the phrases you are learning, so you can get used to different accents.

Busuu has a Russian course that takes you from the alphabet and first phrases up to B2, the upper-intermediate level.

Mango Languages teaches Russian through everyday conversations. Its Russian course also has focused units, such as one on slang. Many public libraries give free access with a library card, so check yours first.

LingoDeer builds Russian from the ground up and explains the grammar in short tips inside each lesson. It uses bite-sized lessons and timed quizzes, and you can download the course to study offline.

Ling's Russian lessons are short and playful, with grammar tips along the way. The first lesson covers the words you need to get by.

Babbel guides you through listening, speaking, and writing. Its lessons use conversations you might have at work, while traveling, or with friends.

Pimsleur suits learners who want to start speaking before they read much. You hear a prompt, answer aloud, and then hear the answer. Its Russian course has five levels.

RussianPod101 lets you study through short recordings and lesson notes. Choose a lesson pathway and work through it at your own pace.

Drops teaches Russian words through quick games and memorable pictures.

Clozemaster asks you to fill in the missing word in a Russian sentence. You meet each word inside a full sentence.

uTalk starts with first words and moves on to topics such as transport, restaurants, and doctors. Games help the words stick, and you can record yourself and compare your pronunciation with a native speaker's.

LingQ is a library of lessons to read and listen to, sorted by level. Its Russian courses include Cortina Conversational Russian, with about 10 hours of native audio, and Russian Through Real Stories for beginners. You can review the words you saved later.

Beelinguapp shows each story in Russian and English at the same time, from children's fairy tales to classics. It suits learners who want to hear the Russian while they follow the words.

italki lists many Russian teachers. Read each tutor's profile and reviews before you book.

Preply has a page of Russian tutors. Read profiles and reviews to find a tutor who fits your level and goals.

HelloTalk has Russian speakers who want to practice their own languages with you. Start with messages, then try voice notes or a voice room.

Tandem lists Russian among its languages and has language exchange pages for Moscow, Los Angeles, Geneva, and other cities. Agree with your partner on how to split time between your two languages.