Today there are 127 different vocabulary builder apps. We spent 71 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to boost your vocabulary.
What is the Best Vocabulary Builder App?
1. FluentU
Our Verdict — Best Of The Best
Price: Starts at $29.99/month
FluentU is a language learning app that uses real-world videos for contextual vocabulary learning. We think it’s the best because of its bilingual subtitles, in-app flashcards, and top-notch video selection.
The Best Part:
Entertainment meets education. FluentU's use of real-world videos, such as movie trailers, sitcoms, and news, makes building new vocab a fun and engaging experience.
The Worst Part:
It’s all about videos. FluentU's focus on video lessons could be a letdown if you're looking for more variety for building your vocabulary.
Get it if you want a Netflix-like vocabulary learning app that you can use on your phone or desktop to work on your vocabulary while having fun.
I recommend you sign up for the 14-day free trial, then get the Yearly plan for $143.99/year.
(14-day free trial)
Best For
FluentU is best for language learners who want to improve their vocabulary through entertaining, real-world videos.
Top Features
Master words in their natural habitat. Uncover how words are used in sentences with FluentU's interactive captions, making it a breeze to learn and use them in your own conversations.
Learn at your own pace. Tailor your experience and the content you watch to suit your tastes, favorite topics, and vocabulary levels.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Monitor your achievements and witness your transformation with FluentU's hands-on progress visualization tools.
Sharpen your vocabulary with quizzes. Challenge yourself with interactive exercises that level up as you do.
Ditch old-school flashcards. Create in-app digital flashcards for a modern and convenient way to review and memorize new words.
Pricing
FluentU offers two pricing plans:
- Monthly: $29.99/month for language learners who want a flexible and immersive experience to build their vocabulary, with access to all supported languages and personalized quizzes.
- Yearly: $143.99/year for dedicated learners who want a full-year subscription to FluentU's extensive language learning resources, including video dictionaries, word lookups, and the ability to create custom flashcards.
Annual plans provide a 60% discount.
Try FluentU today with a free 14-day trial.
2. Magoosh
Our Verdict — Best For GRE, SAT, and Other Test Prep
Price: Starts at $149/month
Magoosh is a comprehensive test prep tool designed for students preparing for GRE, SAT, and other exams. We think it’s the best vocabulary builder for test prep because of its adaptive learning technology, progress insights, and fun digital flashcards.
The Best Part:
Adaptive learning technology. Magoosh zeroes in on the words you need to review the most, making sure you remember your new vocabulary.
The Worst Part:
No vocabulary-only plan. Magoosh doesn’t provide a separate plan focusing solely on vocabulary, so you'll need to invest in the full test prep package.
Get it if you want a comprehensive and easy-to-use app that covers not only vocabulary but all aspects of GRE, SAT, and other test prep.
I recommend you sign up for the 7-day free trial, then get the Premium — 6 Months plan for $44.75/month.
(7-day free trial)
Best For
Magoosh is best for students who want a gamified app to give their vocabulary a boost while tackling all aspects of GRE, SAT, and other tests.
Top Features
Study anywhere, anytime. Magoosh's sleek design, optimized for web, iPhone, and Android, makes studying on-the-go a walk in the park.
Learn from the best. Dive into expert-curated vocab lists featuring the most common and toughest words, perfect for sharpening your vocabulary for each test.
Crush those tests with confidence. Take Magoosh's timed quizzes that mimic real test conditions, setting you up for success ahead of time.
Conquer words at every level. Magoosh's free GRE vocab flashcards span all difficulty levels, allowing you to zero in on words that matter most to you.
Go beyond vocabulary. Not only does Magoosh help you boost your vocabulary, but it also tackles all parts of GRE, SAT, and other tests.
Pricing
Magoosh offers three pricing plans:
- Premium — 1 month: $149/month for students with limited study time who want to level up their vocabulary and cover all aspects of the GRE, SAT, and other tests.
- Premium — 6 months: $44.75/month over four months, for students who want to dive deep into vocabulary building, with enough time to prepare for GRE, SAT, and other tests.
- Premium + Admissions: $57/month for four months, for students who want comprehensive test prep, including vocabulary building, along with graduate application support to get an edge in the admissions process.
6-month plans provide an 87% discount.
Try Magoosh today with a free 7-day trial.
3. Babbel
Our Verdict — Best For Language Learning
Price: Starts at $14.95/month
Babbel is a fun and easy-to-use language learning app for improving vocabulary and communication skills. We think it’s the best for language learning because of its engaging real-life scenarios, interactive quizzes and games, and expertly crafted lessons.
The Best Part:
Speech recognition technology. Babbel's voice recognition feature allows you to instantly nail your pronunciation in foreign languages.
The Worst Part:
Limited selection of languages. Babbel has 14 languages up for grabs, but if you're on the hunt for some less-common languages, you might need to explore other options.
Get it if you want a fun, interactive way to expand your vocabulary while practicing real-life conversations in foreign languages.
I recommend you get the 1 month plan for $14.95/month.
(14-day money-back guarantee)
Best For
Babbel is best for busy adults and language enthusiasts who want to expand their vocabulary while they practice speaking, listening, and reading skills with relevant real-life scenarios.
Top Features
Learn like a local. Get your convo skills on point and pick up vocab and phrases you'll actually use in real-life scenarios.
No more fumbling through dictionaries. Look up unfamiliar words with ease, with Babbel’s in-app dictionary feature.
Get that adrenaline boost. Set customized daily goals and keep yourself motivated with progress reports.
Have fun while learning. Have a blast with Babbel's interactive challenges, quizzes, and games that'll ensure your vocabulary stays sharp.
Stay on track with review sessions. Babbel's smart review system helps you retain what you've learned by reminding you to review your new vocabulary.
Pricing
Babbel offers five pricing plans:
- 1 month: $14.95/month for casual learners who want to take Babbel for a spin and get a quick vocab boost.
- 3 months: $37.95/three months for committed learners who want to build a solid vocabulary foundation with a short-term commitment.
- 6 months: $66.90/six months for dedicated learners who want to steadily grow their vocabulary over several months.
- 12 months: $89.50/year for long-term learners who want to develop a strong and diverse vocabulary foundation and take their communication skills to the next level.
- Lifetime: $349 one-time payment, for language enthusiasts and learners who want extensive vocabulary growth and lifetime access to all of Babbel’s resources and features.
Annual plans provide a 50% discount.
Try Babbel today with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
- FluentU — best of the best
- Magoosh — best for GRE, SAT, and Other Test Prep
- Babbel — best for language learning
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
FluentU | 14-day free trial | Starts at $29.99/mo |
Magoosh | 7-day free trial | Starts at $149/mo |
Babbel | 14-day money-back guarantee | Starts at $14.95/mo |
Anki | Free plan | Free forever, or $24.99 for iOS |
Quizlet | 7-day free trial | Starts at $7.99/mo |
Memrise | Free plan | Starts at $8.49/mo |
Vocabulary.com | Free plan | Starts at $12.99/mo |
Here are the top 50 vocabulary builder apps we considered in this review:
- FluentU
- Magoosh
- Babbel
- Anki
- Quizlet
- Memrise
- Vocabulary.com
- Drops
- Rosetta Stone
- Duolingo
- 7 Little Words
- Aworded Crack
- WordBrain
- WordUp
- Words With Friends
- PowerVocab
- Knudge.me
- Word of the day
- Advanced English & Thesaurus
- English Vocabulary in Use
- WordBit English
- Ultimate Vocabulary Builder
- Wordly
- BBC Learning English
- Word Master
- Word Search
- Word Connect
- Word Cookies
- Word Toons
- Word Nut
- Word Collect
- Word Cross
- Word Link
- Word Swipe
- Word Crush
- English Vocabulary Test
- English Words - Learn English
- English Vocabulary Builder for GRE®, SAT® & more
- TOEFL Vocabulary Builder
- IELTS Vocabulary Builder
- Vocabulary Builder - Test Prep
- Vocabulary Builder Game
- GRE Vocabulary Builder
- SAT Vocabulary Builder
- GMAT Vocabulary Builder
- LSAT Vocabulary Builder
- PTE Vocabulary Builder
- ACT Vocabulary Builder
- MCAT Vocabulary Builder
- Vocabulary Flashcards: GRE® & TOEFL® Test Prep
Frequently Asked Questions About Vocabulary Builder Apps
What is the best vocabulary builder app overall?
FluentU is our top pick. It teaches you words through real-world context in videos rather than isolated flashcards.
Which vocabulary app is best for test prep like the GRE or SAT?
Magoosh is the one to reach for when you prep for the GRE, SAT, or other standardized exams.
Is there a free vocabulary builder app?
Anki is our free pick, free forever with a paid iOS version. It is the one to reach for if you are a medical student.
What makes FluentU the best vocabulary app?
You learn words through real-world video context instead of isolated flashcards, so they stick. That approach is why it is our top pick.
Which vocabulary app is best for learning a new language?
Babbel is the one to reach for when you learn a new language. It ranks among our top three overall.
What techniques do vocabulary builder apps use to help you learn?
They lean on seven techniques: interactive gaming, digital flashcards, real-world video context, frequent testing and quizzes, personalized adaptive learning, speech recognition for pronunciation, and regular revision across multiple methods.
Which vocabulary app is best for teachers and students?
Quizlet is our pick for teachers and students. It is built for classroom use and collaborative study.
FluentU vs Babbel: which one should I choose?
Choose FluentU as your overall pick, since it teaches vocabulary through real-world video context. Go with Babbel if your focus is specifically learning a new language.
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best vocabulary builder apps to try this year: