Thai is the official language of Thailand, and about 60 million people speak it. It has five tones and its own script, so learning to read it is a big first step. Many apps teach Thai, but they differ a lot in how much of the script they cover.
Here are the apps and services that teach Thai, grouped by what they help you do. Each card shows whether the app teaches the Thai alphabet. You can start with one and add another when you need it.
Custom Lessons Made for You
Bubblegum
Bubblegum suits learners who want Thai 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 Thai to read about music, food, family, and other things you care about.
The trade-off is that Bubblegum does not replace real Thai voices or a fixed course. For recorded speakers, Pimsleur and uTalk are the better fit. For a step-by-step path, try Ling or Memrise, and for conversation, try the apps in Learn With People.
- Read Thai lessons for free.
- The Thai Alphabet course teaches the 42 consonants Thai uses today, the vowels, and the tone rules from the first letter.
- Lessons fit your level, interests, and goals.
- Read and listen to news and stories in Thai 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 instead of using flashcards.
- Lesson audio uses AI voices, not recordings of Thai speakers.
- You cannot import your own books or articles.
- The free plan includes one new custom lesson each day.
- Regenerative Review™
- Teaches the Thai Alphabet
Mobile
Follow a Thai Course
If you want someone to choose what comes next, start here. These apps give you an ordered path through Thai words and sentences.
Ling
Ling teaches Thai in short lessons that mix vocabulary and listening with games, and it adds grammar notes and culture notes along the way. Each letter you trace is one you have already met in words and listening practice.
- 200 lessons in 50 units, made in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- A writing lesson where you trace Thai letters.
- Flashcards
- Teaches the Thai Alphabet
Mobile
Memrise
Memrise says its Thai course was made by expert linguists. You pick a topic such as travel or food, then learn the words and phrases for it and hear how native speakers say them.
- More than 300 lessons on everyday topics, with over 130 videos of native speakers.
- Lessons called Decode the Thai Script teach consonants and vowels.
- Teaches the Thai Alphabet (partly)
MobileWeb
LingoDeer
LingoDeer explains Thai grammar and pronunciation in short lessons. You can tap any letter in its chart to hear how it sounds.
- A Thai course for English speakers with detailed grammar and pronunciation guides.
- Every Thai word and sentence is voiced by a native speaker.
- Teaches the Thai Alphabet (partly)
MobileWeb
Mango Languages
Mango Languages opens each lesson with a conversation between native speakers and works outward from it. You can compare your pronunciation with a native speaker's recording. Check your local library first, since many libraries include Mango.
- Conversations recorded by native speakers, with grammar and culture notes.
- Many public libraries give free access with a library card.
- Flashcards
MobileWeb
Practice Speaking and Listening
Pimsleur
Pimsleur suits learners who want to start speaking before they read much. You hear a prompt, answer aloud, and then hear the answer. Its Voice Coach gives feedback on your pronunciation.
- Audio lessons of about 30 minutes where you listen and answer out loud.
- Reading lessons that introduce reading Thai.
- Teaches the Thai Alphabet (partly)
MobileWeb
Glossika
Glossika trains your ears and your mouth with Thai sentences. You can take a placement test or start from zero, and the app picks the sentences for you.
- More than 5,000 Thai words and sentences, from A1 to C1.
- Listen to native speakers, type each sentence in Thai, and record yourself repeating it.
- Doesn't teach the Thai Alphabet
MobileWeb
Build Vocabulary
Drops
Drops teaches Thai words through short, illustrated games. It is a good way to build a stock of words to use in the other apps on this page.
- More than 2,000 Thai words, taught with pictures.
- You swipe and tap, so you do not need to type on an unfamiliar keyboard.
- It focuses on words, so a course can add grammar.
- Teaches the Thai Alphabet
Mobile
uTalk
uTalk covers topics such as greetings and ordering a coffee. You can dip into the words you need and work at your own pace.
- More than 2,500 words and phrases in over 60 topics.
- Games and recordings from native speakers help you compare your pronunciation.
- Doesn't teach the Thai Alphabet
MobileWeb
Read and Watch Thai
Language Reactor
Language Reactor adds learning tools to Netflix and YouTube in your browser. Pick a video in Thai and follow along with subtitles in both languages.
- Watch Netflix and YouTube with Thai and English subtitles side by side.
- Look up words as you watch.
- Doesn't teach the Thai Alphabet
Browser extension
Learn With People
Choose a tutor if you want teaching and correction. Choose a language exchange if you want a practice partner and are happy to help with English in return.
italki
italki's Thai tutors include teachers in Bangkok, and each profile says which levels the tutor teaches.
- Choose a Thai tutor and book lessons around your schedule.
- Some tutors teach reading and writing as well as speaking.
MobileWeb
Preply
Preply lists 358 Thai tutors. Lessons are live and one-on-one in Preply's online classroom.
- Compare tutors by profile, reviews, and price.
- Tutors list specialties such as conversational Thai and business Thai.
MobileWeb
HelloTalk
HelloTalk matches you with native Thai speakers who want to practice your language. It also has live streams where you can ask Thai teachers questions.
- Join voice rooms to practice speaking Thai with other learners.
- Share a post and get corrections from the community.
Mobile
Tandem
Tandem has language exchange pages for Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Pattaya City, and other Thai cities. Agree with your partner on how to split time between your two languages.
- Chat by text, voice note, or video call.
- In-app correction and translation tools help you fix each other's mistakes.
- It can take a few tries to find a partner who matches your interests and time.
MobileWeb
More Ways to Study Thai
Few apps give you Thai to read and listen to beyond lessons. Bubblegum's news and stories are one way. thai-language.com is a Thai dictionary with audio clips, lessons on reading and writing, and message boards where learners ask questions. Learn Thai with Mod has YouTube videos in English that explain parts of Thai.
Learn Thai in Your Language
These counts cover menu-language choices, including script variants. Other apps’ counts and full lists come from their iPhone listings. Lesson explanations and other platforms may differ.
| App | Supported Display Languages | Full List |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 74 | Full list
|
| Ling | 67 | Full list |
| Memrise | 22 | Full list |
| LingoDeer | 15 | Full list |
| Mango Languages | 2 | Full list |
| Pimsleur | 3 | Full list |
| Glossika | 2 | Full list |
| Drops | 16 | Full list |
| uTalk | 1 | Full list |
| Language Reactor | 27 | Full list |
| italki | 19 | Full list |
| Preply | 19 | Full list |
| HelloTalk | 16 | Full list |
| Tandem | 14 | Full list |
Other Apps We Looked At (9)
- Read Thai EasilyAn iPhone app for learning to read Thai. It was a big inspiration for Bubblegum's Thai Alphabet course.
- ThaiPod101Its Thai Alphabet Made Easy course has 25 video lessons, and a free seven-day alphabet challenge sends video lessons on writing the letters by email.
- LingQA library of Thai lessons with Mini Stories, a Thai grammar guide, and an alphabet guide with reading practice. You can import your own content too.
- ClozemasterFill in the missing word in real Thai sentences, with audio and English translations. Its page describes it as made for intermediate and advanced learners.
- ReadlangClick any word in Thai text to see what it means and save it for flashcards. Its public library has Thai texts you can read.
- Easy Thai ReadFor learners who already know the Thai alphabet, it pairs text with a voice reading it aloud and translations with tone markings, plus a quiz after each lesson.
- Read ThaiAn iPhone app for learning to read the Thai alphabet, with articles from basic to advanced, hundreds of flashcards, and a quick reference page.
- Thai Reading: Alphabet & TonesBreaks Thai reading into small steps, from consonants and vowels to tones and exceptions, with every word recorded by native speakers.
- ThaiLearnA free web app with the 44 consonants, five tones, and 11 vocabulary modules, and no account is needed.
Common Questions
Which Thai app should a beginner choose?
Start with Ling, which has a writing lesson for the letters, or with Memrise, which has lessons called Decode the Thai Script. Add Pimsleur if you want to speak from the start. Bubblegum suits learners who want lessons around their own interests, and its Thai Alphabet course teaches the script from the first letter.
Can I learn Thai for free?
Yes. Memrise has a free plan for its Thai course, Drops has a free version, and many libraries give free access to Mango. Bubblegum's lesson library is free to read too.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. You can read the free lesson library and ask Poppy for one new custom lesson each day on iPhone and Android. Become a Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons and to support our team.
Sources
- Omniglot: Thai language and alphabet
- Wikipedia: Thai language
- Wikipedia: Thai script
- Ling: Ling App Thai Review
- Memrise: Online Thai Courses
- Mango Languages for libraries
- Glossika: Learn Thai
- Drops: Learn Thai
- uTalk: Learn Thai
- Preply: Online Thai tutors
- Tandem: Language Exchange Thailand
- Bubblegum
- Ling
- LingoDeer
- Mango Languages
- Pimsleur
- Language Reactor
- italki
- HelloTalk
Checked on October 4, 2026 against each app's own pages.
