Memrise
Memrise is a language learning app that teaches vocabulary and phrases through short videos of native speakers. It is mainly used for building word recognition and listening comprehension across a wide range of languages.
#23 in Learning & Career ToolsLanguage Learning AppsFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Casual language enthusiasts who want short, engaging vocab sessions with real native-speaker audio a
Self-study fans tackling rare or minority languages with little coverage on mainstream apps.
Not for
Organisations needing reliable billing support and predictable subscription management.
Features
Native speaker video library
Thousands of short videos of native speakers illustrate authentic accents and natural speech as it sounds outside a classroom.
Spaced repetition learning
The Memrise method presents words and phrases at algorithmically timed intervals to move vocabulary into long-term memory.
150+ language courses
Official courses span major languages such as Spanish, Japanese, and Arabic, plus dozens of minority and constructed languages including Klingon, Māori, and Esperanto.
AI conversation practice
A conversational AI feature enables dialogue practice in the target language beyond standard vocabulary drills.
Scenario-based phrasebooks
Phrasebook modules organised by real-life situation cover everyday interactions across major languages.
What users say
Pros
- Short native-speaker videos make pronunciation and natural speech easier to absorb than text-only drills.
- Spaced repetition algorithm locks vocabulary into long-term memory in a way that feels effortless compared to rote study.
- Community course library covers rare and indigenous languages that mainstream apps ignore entirely.
- Less rigid lesson structure than Duolingo — skipping around by scenario is possible rather than following a fixed path.
- Quick vocab review sessions fit naturally into spare minutes on public transport or between tasks.
Cons
- Charges appear after cancellation, and lifetime subscriptions get incorrectly downgraded with no effective recourse.
- Community courses suffer repeated sudden access outages and login failures, breaking active study streaks.
- AI conversation feature makes factual errors and functions as an unwanted replacement for structured grammar practice.
- Mandarin and other non-Latin-script courses cannot display romanisation alongside native script simultaneously.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Memrise CEO Q&A: community courses, AI, and product direction- Community course access anxiety after a decade of daily use
Charged after cancellation — refund labyrinth with no exit- Native speaker videos praised, but AI replaces structured grammar
Switched from Duolingo — native speakers make the difference
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 500k
Alternatives
Rank#23 in category#7 in category#12 in category#15 in category
Free planYesYesYesYes
ProNative-speaker videos aid retention, vast language rangeBuilds daily habit, A1-B1 foundation, full free courseStronger grammar than Duolingo, community correctionsStrong repetition method, practical dialogues, self-paced variety
Better forLearning grammar through CEFR-aligned structured lessons
Weaker atRetaining vocabulary through strong spaced repetition