Fluenz: Excellent But Expensive Language Learning

Fluenz ranks among the best language-learning software. It distinguishes itself from other notable language apps, particularly Rosetta Stone, by using English instruction and teaching grammar. Videos of real instructors shepherd you through the course, which also includes all the interactive exercises one expects to find in language-learning software. These instructors make Fluenz feel more like a private class than a series of flashcards and games.

- Jill Duffy

Although Fluenz is a wonderful alternative to other apps that don’t include any instruction in the learner’s native tongue, Rosetta Stone remains PCMag Editors’ Choice among paid language-learning programs because it offers many more languages. Duolingo is the Editors’ Choice among free programs. If you’ve tried those apps and didn’t like them, take a look at Fluenz. It’s refreshingly different, accurate, and well designed.

LANGUAGES OFFERED

Fluenz has programs for seven languages: Chinese (Mandarin with Pinyin writing only), French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Latin American, and European Spanish. That’s not a huge selection, but it does include some of the most popular languages English speakers study. Note that with the Mandarin program, you won’t learn to read or write Chinese, as it uses Pinyin writing only, which is a romanization. You’ll have to go elsewhere to learn Chinese characters.

If the language you need isn’t taught by Fluenz, plenty of other good programs are available. Duolingo has 22 fully developed courses, plus a few more in beta. (In counting languages,, I exclude English programs as well as fictional languages.) Rosetta Stone offers programs for 28 languages. Transparent Language Online covers more than 100 languages, although the amount of material for languages that are not in high demand can be rather limited. Pimsleur, an audio-based program, has more than 50 language courses.

Another place to look if you’re in a bind is Mango Languages, although I have a hard time recommending it, because the app is painfully repetitive and slow. Mango has programs for 68 languages, however, and a few of them, such as Tamil and Javanese, are nearly impossible to find elsewhere.

FLUENZ PRICE AND PACKAGES