Drops review

Drops is the lightest app on this list, and that is the point. Each session is a short game where you swipe and tap illustrated words, built so you can learn words for conversations in about five minutes a day. It covers 55+ languages, including Hawaiian, Samoan, Ainu and Yoruba, and its script practice for Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and Hindi is a friendly way to learn to read a new alphabet. Drops has also added grammar lessons for several languages, such as French, Korean and Japanese. The free version is time-limited: Premium is sold on unlimited time, no ads, offline learning and all content, and Drops shows US prices only inside the app, so we list its price as pending. Drops is not a full course and offers little speaking, so treat it as a daily vocabulary warm-up beside a course app.

Who it is for

Beginners who want a few minutes of vocabulary and script practice a day.

Price

Free daily lessons; Premium with a 7-day free trial (see vendor pricing, USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• 55+ languages, from Mexican Spanish to Hawaiian and Yoruba
• Custom illustrations for each vocabulary word
• Script practice for Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and Hindi
• Grammar lessons now in several languages, including French, Korean and Japanese
• Premium adds unlimited time, offline learning and all content

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Very fast and simple sessions
• Strength: Illustrations help visual learners remember words
• Strength: Wide catalog with many smaller languages
• Weakness: Free use is time-limited; Premium adds unlimited time
• Weakness: Focuses on words, with little speaking or conversation
• Weakness: US Premium prices are shown only in the app

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, quick daily lessons
• Languages: 55+
• Users: 50 million+ per its App Store listing
• Premium: Unlimited time, ad free, offline, all content
• Free trial: 7 days of Premium

Where it ranks

Drops is No. 10 in our Best Free Language Learning Apps verdict.