Learning Korean and looking for apps to help you progress? There are probably hundreds of apps to choose from, so knowing which one to choose can be tricky. Read about our favourite apps here.
1. YouTube
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Listening, shadowing
You’ve probably already got YouTube downloaded on your phone, but did you know that a lot of Koreans and Korean teachers use YouTube too? You can find plenty of lessons on YouTube, as well as lots of content from Korean creators so you can immerse yourself in the language.
Even if you don’t understand a lot of what’s being said in videos made by Korean creators, you’ll be surprised by the amount you can pick up through body language and knowing just a few hundred words. Studies show that those who immerse themselves in their target language exhibit higher levels of fluency.
YouTube channel recommendations:
The best channels to follow are those that cover your favorite topics. If you watch a lot of videos on YouTube in your native language, try searching for the topic in Korean on YouTube instead. Here are some to get you started:
- Vlog-style videos: 김프로KIMPRO
- Gaming videos: 태경 TV or 혜안
- Camping videos: Rirang OnAir
- Mukbang videos (먹방): tzuyang
- Beauty videos: PONY Syndrome
2. Naver Dictionary
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Vocabulary
When you’re learning a new language, a dictionary is a must as it allows you to look up words on the go. Naver Dictionary is perhaps the best available, although there are others like Daum Dictionary which are really good too.
The Naver Dictionary app isn’t just for looking up words in Korean or English and getting their translation either; there are plenty of features that make it a brilliant resource for learners. This includes:
- Example sentences of words you search for
- Daily vocabulary section on the homepage
- Daily conversation in Korean complete with audio, translation and quiz to test your understanding
- “Wordbook” for Korean learners, where you can add vocab and use their quizzes to test yourself
- Explanations on different traditional Korean foods
- Papago, a translation app that is similar to Google Translate but generally provides a more accurate translation, plus a breakdown of the key words in the sentence(s).
We would recommend you get started with the Korean-English Dictionary to enjoy all these benefits. When possible, it’s a good idea to progress to the Korean-Korean dictionary for further immersion.
3. Talk To Me In Korean
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Grammar
Talk To Me In Korean (TTMIK) is perhaps one of the best known resources for learning Korean. They were one of the first major resources to come out for Korean language learners all the way back in 2008, more or less at the start of the second Hallyu Wave in non-Asian countries.
More recently, the team has created an app version of their website, complete with all the lessons and quizzes from the old website, plus some new extras like a community section for members.
It’s important to note that TTMIK switched over to a paid resource model so you will have to get a subscription to use it.
4. HelloTalk
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Writing, Speaking
HelloTalk is a language exchange app that helps you connect to native Korean speakers via text and voice messages. It also covers other languages too.
The app certainly isn’t perfect; many use it as a dating site, so if anyone acts oddly towards you be warned! You might find that people stop using the app suddenly too, so conversations could be cut short suddenly without any notice.
One of the most useful features of HelloTalk is that it allows users to post corrections on any text that the person you’re talking to sent. This means you can get real-time corrections from native Koreans – and you can help them with any English sentences they send too.
5. Bubble App
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Reading, Writing
If you’re a K-Pop fan and you want to connect with a specific artist from JYP Entertainment, the Bubble for JYPnation app could be useful. The creators also made Lysn (App Store | Play Store) for idols from SM Entertainment, which works in the same way.
Essentially, you can pay to “subscribe” to a certain artist. Once you’ve paid, you can view exclusive messages, photos and videos from the artist.
You can also type messages to the artist yourself, but it’s important to note that all fans are put in the same chat room with the K-Pop artist so there’s no guarantee that your specific messages will be seen by your bias. However, the longer you remain a fan of the idol on the app, the longer the message you can send, which helps improve the chances that they will see anything you send them.
Note that you won’t see messages sent to the idol from other members so it’ll feel like a chat room between just yourself and the artist.
For the most part, idols message in Korean, so this can be a great way of practicing your reading – and even practicing your writing if you decide to send them messages in Korean.
6. KoreanClass101
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Grammar
KoreanClass101 is another resource that’s been around for over a decade. With a plethora of lessons to get through, it’s pretty comprehensive, but is perhaps most useful for auditory learners.
Like with TTMIK, the podcasts are mainly in English and do run fairly long, so you might want to skip to the review for each lesson, plus look at the vocabulary and complete the quizzes.
Note that the team don’t really post updates to the app so any content you see on there is what you’ll get.
You also need to pay for a subscription if you want full access to the app so it’s not for everyone.
7. Naver Webtoon
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Reading
Created by the same company that made Naver Dictionary, Naver Webtoon is an app for reading Korean comics (known as 만화; manhwa). These are great for language learning as they’re rich in illustrations, which sometimes allows you to guess the meaning of each panel through context clues even if you don’t understand the Korean text fully.
A great story to start off with is Penguin Loves Mev, which follows the love story of an interracial couple (Korean wife, Penguin, the artist and an English man called Mev). The 만화 uses simple language and is fairly accessible for upper level beginners.
8. Ridi
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Reading
If you’re looking for a longer read, you can buy Korean books on 리디 (Ridi). Note that the app is fully in Korean so it could be difficult for beginners to navigate, but once you get the hang of this is opens up a new world of possibilities. Ridi also includes webtoons, light novels, and more.
You have to pay for a lot of the content, but you can view some parts of webtoons for free, plus you can preview books to see if you’d like them. Ridi also have a subscription service, Ridi Select. This works in the same way as Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited membership, so if you end up purchasing a lot of books through the app, this could be more cost effective.
9. Dooru Library (두루책방)
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Reading
If you’re just starting out, this is perhaps one of the best apps around. 두루책방 is a graded reader app that includes a range of simple picture e-books aimed at Korean children and language learners. The stories start off very simply, covering things like counter words, how to count, how to express emotions, and how to form simple sentences.
As you progress, the stories become increasingly complex and challenging, which is perfect as your skills improve.
10. Anki or Memrise’s Community Courses
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Vocabulary
Anki is a flashcard app that uses the spaced repetition system (SRS) to help you learn, memorize and – most importantly – retain Korean vocabulary. Those who are used to gameified language learning apps might find that Anki is a bit of a shock to the system as it has a very simple, pared-down interface – perhaps too simple for some.
That being said, you can design your flashcards to look better, and really the meat of the app is its SRS system, which helps improve the rate of learning.
Note that Anki is around $25 on the App Store, but the web version is completely free.
If you’re a beginner, it’s usually a good idea to create your own flashcards of vocabulary that you’ve come across yourself. This is because flashcards are meant to help you memorize words you already know as opposed to teaching you new words.
And, if the interface is too bland for your taste, Memrise’s Community Courses is a good alternative, but it’s only available via the website on mobile or desktop. It should be noted that Memrise is considering deleting its community courses at some point in the near future, which is a shame as the Korean course they’ve created to replace it is absolutely not recommended.
Duolingo (App Store | Play Store) is also good for beginners despite its flaws (which I covered in a Duolingo app review).
11. KakaoTalk
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Writing, Reading, Speaking
If you know Koreans, KakaoTalk is one of the most popular messaging apps in Korea so can help you stay in touch with them. Speaking and writing to native speakers is probably one of the best ways you can learn Korean, so if you don’t know anyone yet, it’s a great idea to start making friends!
Similar to Instagram, you can also post stories and images to your feed – either to your friends only or as public broadcasts. This is a great way of practicing what you’ve learned even if you don’t have Korean friends yet.
12. MasterTOPIK
Download: Play Store (Not available on the App Store, but lessons available through their website)
Good For: Formal Language Learning, Listening
MasterTOPIK’s app is slightly different from the rest as it has one core goal: to help you pass both exams of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK I & TOPIK II).
All the lessons are in 100% Korean, so they’re not as beginner friendly, but if you want to immerse yourself in the language or you’re genuinely studying for the TOPIK, this is a great resource. The teachers also use a level of Korean that’s appropriate for your level as a learner, so it starts off fairly easy.
This is a paid app with two tiers, though you can get a two-week free trial. MasterTOPIK also has a YouTube channel where you can get a feel for the type of content they publish.
13. Cake
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Listening, Shadowing
Cake is a more recent app for learning Korean that’s become popular in recent years. It uses YouTube videos that are in Korean to help you learn words and phrases through immersion. I particularly like the fact that the app pulls from a diverse range of videos, allowing you to familiarize yourself with different accents and dialects from both male and female speakers.
The app includes videos from K-Pop artists, variety shows, K-Dramas, interviews, and more. Note that some features of the app are paid only.
14. Italki
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Speaking
If you want to practice with native speakers, Italki is brilliant for this. The app allows you to find native Korean speakers (plus speakers of other languages too) to learn from.
There are a couple of different types of tutors, including community teachers, who haven’t qualified as a teacher so tend to simply chat with you in your target language, and professional teachers, who have trained to become a teacher and usually have qualifications and teaching experience.
Both are really beneficial for different reasons. If you’re a beginner, you might find that the structured lessons are the best for your level as any mistakes you make will be corrected. Plus, professional tutors on Italki will usually have lesson plans in place to help you get the most out of your time with them.
If, on the other hand, you’re an intermediate or advanced learner, a community tutor can help keep your speaking skills from getting rusty. They will usually prepare a topic to talk about so you’ll get exposed to a wide range of topics.
There is, of course, a big price difference between the two. Community teachers can be found for less than $10, whereas Professional tutors can be over $30 depending on their experience and ratings.
Either way, whatever fits into your budget will be beneficial. You can also usually get a trial lesson with a tutor if you haven’t used the app before.
15. Dongsa Korean Verb Conjugator
Download: App Store | Play Store
Good For: Conjugating Verbs
This is a very simple app and serves one purpose: to help you conjugate verbs. Simply put the verb form of a word into the app and it’ll show you all the different ways to conjugate it.
As you can see from their example with 하다 (to do) on the website, Dongsa shows quite an extensive list of conjugation forms which can be confusing, but if you familiarize yourself with the most common forms, you’ll know which ones to check and which ones to ignore. Take a look at the lesson on basic Korean grammar to understand a bit more about verb conjugation as this will help when you use the app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, But What’s The Best App?
I wouldn’t recommend learning from just one app. Using multiple will not only help to keep you engaged, but it’ll also ensure you get a well-rounded experience. It’s a good idea to use resources outside of the apps on this list too; sometimes writing in a journal and learning from a textbook will help you in ways that these apps cannot.
Which App Do Koreans Use to Chat?
The most popular is KakaoTalk (카카오톡), which we covered above. It’s commonly referred to as KaTalk (카톡) or just Kakao (카카오).
Which App Will Allow Me To Watch Korean Dramas For Free?
There aren’t many free apps for Korean dramas. Viki (App Store | Play Store) is one of the most popular apps for K-Dramas. While it does include some free content, you have to pay a monthly subscription to get full access to its library.
That being said, Viki is an excellent resource. The community creates subtitles for Korean dramas (and other Asian dramas) in a wide range of languages, including English. If your native language isn’t English, you might still be able to find episodes translated into your native tongue too.
If you have access to a Netflix (App Store | Play Store) account, the site has introduced a wide range of Korean TV shows too.
Why Use Apps to Learn Korean?
Language learning apps allow you to study Korean anytime and anywhere, making them perfect for fitting lessons into a busy schedule. Most are usually fairly affordable or free too.
Any Other Recommendations?
Let other learners know if you have any other recommendations in the comments!