Apps have become the default way to get your feet wet learning any language and for good reason; they’re fun, easy to use and generally very available.
Actually, I first used DuoLingo to start learning Korean back when I moved to Korea in 2019 (before I came to Thailand in 2022). Though DuoLingo currently is not supporting Thai. as of writing this article. [6]
So, what are the best apps to use for learning Thai?
Where should I get started?
Well, I’ll give you a introduction about the most popular apps, what they excel at and where to get started.
1. Ling
Best for Learning Grammar, Comprehension and Vocabulary
Honestly, this is probably the best app I’ve tried for Thai as the sentences and modules are useful, the audio sounds authentic, and the lessons are just challenging enough.
The downside is that it really requires you to have learned to read and write Thai to get the most of the lessons.
This is fine for intermediate learners, but this is also a show stopper for beginners.
Methodology
Ling is grouped into lessons with a central topic similar to how DuoLingo presents it’s lessons.
Each lesson has a similar length where you will be introduced to new vocabulary and sometimes new grammar as well.
The lessons offer a mix of simple words with audio that will culminate in a pseudo conversation at the end of each lesson that you will listen to and then fill in the blanks.
Topics increase in general complexity as you go.
Cost
| Membership Type | Cost ($) |
| Monthly | $14.99/month |
| Yearly | $79.99/year |
| Lifetime | $149.99 one time |
There is no free tier, but you can get a few lessons in before the app prompts you to pay. This is probably about a day or 2 worth of use.
Otherwise, the app really isn’t very cheap. I like the quality of it, but it feels a bit silly to pay twice the cost of Netflix for a language app per month.
Final Thoughts
So yes I recommend Ling, the monkey app for Thai learners but only AFTER they have crossed that threshold where they can read and write the Thai script.
2. Language Bee
Best for Learning to Read/Write and Drill Spellings
This is the app I made myself to fill in the gaps of tools available for me while I learn Thai.
Just to be clear about my bias.
That being said, I really do think this app brings something to the table and I wouldn’t have bothered making it if it didn’t.
There is no better way to learn the alphabet and to directly drill the spellings of common words needed to text in Thai.
Methodology
The methodology for Language Bee is a mix of DuoLingo questions and Anki spaced-repetition learning.
The user chooses to start with the script or skip ahead to drilling common spellings.
The user is served multiple choice for the script characters and is re-served the characters until he/she consistently answers them correctly.
After learning the alphabet, the same space-repetition learning is applied to spelling common words used to text in Thai. The user will have to spell out the word from memory starting with the most commonly used words.
Words that the user struggles with are shown more frequently until they are mastered 🙂
Cost
| Membership Type | Cost ($) |
| Monthly Subscription | $5/month |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99/year |
| Lifetime Subscription | $29.99/lifetime |
There is a free use tier that allows full use of the app up to about 20 questions/cards. Your progress will be tracked for these cards/questions and you can continue to review them indefinitely.
Final Thoughts
You should buy it!
I made it after all 🙂
Jokes aside, I think if you are in the stage where you need to learn the alphabet or you want to get to the point where you are actively texting in Thai, then Language Bee is the best app to get you there.
The price is cost effective and no other tool or app focuses on the spelling and reading like Language Bee does.
3. Anki App
Best for Drilling Vocabulary
Anki is a memorization app that is not specific to learning Thai.
People use Anki for all languages and even for studying other academic subjects like Physics, medical subjects, etc.
It is incredibly popular because it utilizes flashcards with spaced-repetition learning and it is very effective in learning new material.
That’s a reason why Language Bee and other apps also use the spaced repetition learning method. There are actually countless copycats of the original Anki app for Iphone and Android.
They all basically do the same thing.
Methodology
The methodology of Anki is literally just spaced repetition with flashcards.
This means if you keep answering a card wrong, then you will see it often (likely everyday). But if you keep answering it right, then you’ll see the card less often.
This will be something like once a day, then twice a week, then once a week, then once a month, etc.
You eventually build out a strong base of vocabulary and maintaining it becomes pretty easy as you only spend 5 to 15 minutes a day reviewing typically.
Normally, you will need to make your own decks of cards or download decks that people have been kind enough to upload. Search “anki deck thai” to find some decks available for free online.
Cost
| Version | Cost ($) |
| Iphone Version (AnkiMobile) | $24.99 one time |
| Web Version | FREE |
| Android Version (Ankidroid) | FREE |
Ankidroid (the app for Android) and AnkiWeb (the web version) are both completely free.
The only version(s) that cost money are either knock-offs or the Iphone version because Apple hates us and deploying to the Apple App-store is a nightmare of maintainence and fees.
Luckily all version offer syncronization with each other which is a nice feature.
Final Thoughts
Anki is pretty key for any serious language learner, regardless if you are using other apps and/or taking in-person lessons.
If you want to remember a specific word, then add it to Anki. Simple as that.
So yea, if this is your first introduction to Anki, go get it. Even if you use other apps. Anki is like taking your language vitamins and simply cannot be skipped.
Do so at your own peril.
If you’re still putting off learning to read and write Thai, then read this little guide to prepare yourself about why reading Thai is especially HARD.
4. Drops App
Best to Avoid Altogether
I won’t write much about Drops because I really don’t like it and think it’s more confusing than useful.
The idea is that it use images to learn vocabulary so that you are learning and associating in a more natural way.
This method of course has it’s limitations… You are never exposed to grammar of any kind and the images used can often be very confusing and ambiguous about what they actually mean or refer to.
Methodology
Drops is an app that gives a twist on the typical rote memorization of vocabulary.
They do so by using a Rosetta Stone type tactic to show pictures associated with a word rather than translated text. I suppose to more “naturally” learn the words.
However, this approach works very poorly for anything other than simple objects like dogs, cat, etc and then this approach simply stops working once you get to more abstract or complex vocabulary.
In the same vein, even simple verbs can be difficult to illustrate depending on how intuitive the images used are.
Cost
| Version | Cost ($) |
| Monthly | THB 200/month or (~$6/month) |
| Yearly | THB 575/yearly or (~$17/year) |
| Lifetime | THB 4,275 one time or ($125 one time) |
The cost structure is a bit weird as the Lifetime price doesn’t really match the cheap monthly and yearly offerings.
That being said the cheaper price is good, but then again it is a very simple app concept that can leave alot to be desired and I generally find it more confusing than helpful.
Final Thoughts
I labeled this app best to avoid because it’s really nothing more than a creative way to make Anki flashcards worse.
Give it a go and make your own opinions, but you heard it here first.
5. Simply Learn Thai
Best for Self Guided Learners
I chose the title best for self-guided learners because I’m not quite sure what to make of the app itself to be honest.
It has quizes, tracks your progress, and groups words and phrases by category for you. There is a study feature that has Anki spaced repetition elements as well to be used.
However it doesn’t really guide you towards anything so it’s a bit unclear exactly how I am progressing.
It feels like you need to use this app with a plan for exactly what you want to learn and how you want to use the app.
Methodology
Similar to what I said in the section above, it feels like the app is just a bunch of features packed thrown together and then they took this template and applied it the 50 or so languages that the app supports.
You can quiz yourself, study space repetition flashcards with Thai script as well as romanized script, and you can just choose to view the phrases or words you want.
Cost
| Membership Type | Cost ($) |
| One Language | $10 one time |
| All Languages | $50 one time |
I guess the biggest benefit here is simply how cheap it is and it feels like a modern version of those little travel phrase books people used to use.
$10 for a one time fee is almost nothing, but at the same time, I’m not sure how or why I should use this app. It doesn’t feel specific enough at any one thing to keep me interested.
Final Thoughts
This app seems like an interesting take on a learning app but seems to have no real focus on a particular problem and seems like a template was just used to apply to all languages.
I would skip this and just use Anki or self-study if you don’t want spend money. Otherwise I think Ling or Language Bee are the best options.
Additional Questions
Why Doesn’t DuoLingo Have Thai?
It’s unclear why exactly DuoLingo has decided to commit resources to support fake languages like Klingon but not Thai. Until late 2023, DuoLingo publically had commited to developing existing langauge support rather than add any new languages.
That did change with an announcement where DuoLingo did say they are working on creating a Thai course. Unfortunately, there is no actual planned date to release this so we’ll just have to be patient.
To be honest though, DuoLingo[6] really isn’t the best way to learn a language and is too gamified to really translate to tangible language skills.
Useful for getting your feet wet, yes, but not much else.
Are Apps the Best Way to Learn Thai?
Apps honestly are not the best way to learn Thai or any language really. Unfortunately, you will need to practice speaking, listening, and generally communicating with actual human beings to get decent at a language.
That being said, the apps are good to use if you have zero motivation and need some gamification to keep you on task.
They can also be good to learn reading and writing skills as well as getting familiar with the sounds of the language.
Something that I have found to be a winning combination is use Italki [7] tutors (or a local teacher) in conjunction with self-studying or studying with an app.
This will generally cover all of your bases.
Sources
- [1] Ling App
- [2] Language Bee App
- [3] Drops App
- [4] Anki App
- [5] Simply Learn Thai App
- [6] DuoLingo Doesn’t Support Thai
- [7] Italki
- [8] Spaced Repetition Learning