Lumi Kids
Best Language Learning Apps for Kids: 10 Languages Compared
Language apps for kids 4–12 on iPhone, iPad and Android: what to look for, free vs. paid, and side-by-side app lists for Spanish, French, Mandarin and 7 more.
Facts and prices checked October 5, 2026
Language apps and classes for kids, compared
Many "best app" lists are written by app makers, and so is this one: Lumi Kids is our app. So it sticks to the facts that matter for a child aged 4–12: who the app is made for, what it costs and what your child actually does in it, with the date we checked.
No single app is best for every child. A 4-year-old needs pictures, sound and very short sessions; an 8-year-old can read instructions and type answers. Some families want live classes with a teacher, others a few minutes of practice a day. The table below compares the apps and classes US parents look at most for Spanish and other languages, using only what each product states on its App Store listing or its own website.
Try before you pay: most apps have a free start. Sit with your child for ten minutes, then ask two questions: did your child speak, and does your child want to open it again tomorrow?
Kids' language apps and classes at a glance
What each one is, who it is for and what it costs in the US (checked October 5, 2026).
| App or class | Ages and languages | Price (US) | What your child does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumi Kids (our app) | 4–12; 10 languages for English-speaking families | First two levels free; Lumi Plus $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year (yearly: 7-day free trial for new subscribers); talk-minute packs from $2.99 | Listens, taps, matches, then talks out loud with Lumi, an AI owl |
| Duolingo | App Store 4+; Common Sense Media: 11+; many languages | Free with ads; Super Duolingo in-app purchases $9.99–$119.99 | Short lessons for all ages; Common Sense Media calls it excellent for middle schoolers and older kids |
| Duolingo ABC | Preschool to grade 2 | Free, no ads, no in-app purchases | Learns to read in English: not a foreign-language app |
| Studycat (Spanish) | 3–8 | $14.99 a month or $59.99 a year (in-app) | Games and speaking challenges with on-device voice recognition |
| Dinolingo | 2–12; 50 languages | In-app purchases $6.99–$199.99; single-language courses $19.99 | Videos and games, including speaking games with the microphone |
| FabuLingua | Made for ages 6–8; Spanish | $11.99 a month or $69.99 a year | Interactive Spanish stories; children can record themselves reading |
| Gus on the Go: Spanish | Spanish | $3.99 once | About 90 words in 10 activities, with native-speaker audio |
| Spanish School Bus | Pre-K to grade 6 | Free to start; in-app purchases $4.99–$49.99, including a monthly subscription | Vocabulary and verbs with audio pronunciation |
| Homeschool Spanish Academy (online classes) | Spanish, 1-on-1 with a teacher | 25-minute 1-on-1 classes: $16, $12 or $11 per class in packages of 30, 60 or 90 | Live classes with a native-speaking teacher |
Lumi Kids is our product. The other names are trademarks of their owners; we are not affiliated with them. Facts and US prices from each product's App Store US listing or official website, checked October 5, 2026; prices change and may differ in your country. If something here is out of date, write to hello@lumikids.live and we will correct it.
Best apps for kids
Side-by-side guides to language apps for children.
App reviews
One app at a time, in detail.
Is Duolingo Good for Kids? Ages, Costs and Alternatives
Is Duolingo good for kids? What the 4+ rating and Common Sense Media's 11+ mean, free vs Super Duolingo costs, Duolingo ABC, and better options for ages 4–9.
Classes and tutors
Online classes, tutors and what they cost.
Online Spanish Classes for Kids: Costs, Formats, How to Choose
Online Spanish classes for kids compared by format and cost: 1-on-1 schools, group classes and marketplaces, plus how to judge a trial class for a child of 4–9.
Sources
Each product's own App Store listing or website.
- App Store (US): Lumi Kids: Learn Languages (October 5, 2026)
- App Store (US): Duolingo (October 5, 2026)
- Common Sense Media: Duolingo review (October 5, 2026)
- App Store (US): Learn to Read – Duolingo ABC (October 5, 2026)
- App Store (US): Learn Spanish – Studycat (October 5, 2026)
- App Store (US): Dinolingo (October 5, 2026)
- App Store (US): FabuLingua (October 5, 2026)
- App Store (US): Gus on the Go: Spanish (October 5, 2026)
- App Store (US): Spanish School Bus for Kids (October 5, 2026)
- Homeschool Spanish Academy: pricing (October 5, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best language learning app for kids?
It depends on your child's age and on what you want the app to do. For ages 4–6 choose an app that works without reading; at any age, check whether your child gets to speak. Our guide to the best language learning apps for kids goes through the criteria.
Is Duolingo good for kids?
Duolingo is rated 4+ on the App Store, but Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 11 and up, and the free version shows ads. Read is Duolingo good for kids? for the details and alternatives.
Are there free language apps for kids?
Several apps are free to start and some are free with ads. Duolingo ABC is free without ads, but it teaches reading in English, not a foreign language. Lumi Kids is free for the first two levels.
Is an app or an online class better for a young child?
They do different jobs. A class gives a real teacher at fixed times and costs more per hour; an app gives a few minutes of practice every day. Many families combine them. See online Spanish classes for kids for costs and formats.
Do kids' language apps teach speaking?
Some do. Look for speaking tasks with the microphone or a talking partner, not only tapping and listening. The table above notes what children actually do in each app.
Try Lumi Kids for free
The first two levels are free in every language. Lumi Plus is $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year on the US App Store.
