Learning Spanish can feel a lot more approachable when you have the right tools. While nothing fully replaces real-life immersion, apps, courses, and online resources can still help you build confidence before you go. If Spain is on your radar, these are some of the best tools to learn Spanish and get more comfortable with the language.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is one of the most recognizable names in language learning, and for good reason. Its biggest selling point is immersive learning, which means the lessons are presented fully in Spanish rather than relying heavily on English translation. For some learners, that feels like a helpful push. For others, it can feel a little intense at first.
Rosetta Stone also leans heavily on repetition, so it can be a good fit if you like structured practice and do not mind seeing vocabulary and phrases multiple times. It may not be the most exciting option for every learner, but it can be effective for building familiarity through consistency.etta Stone referenced in the media.
Rosetta’s calling card is “immersive learning,” which means that its materials are only presented in Spanish alone and there is no English translation available to fall back on. In this way, Rosetta’s curriculum is designed to closely mimic the experience the kind of physical immersion in Spanish culture that we referenced earlier.
If you want a little more personalized attention, Rosetta Stone does offer a live online tutoring option with a Spanish expert (for a price, of course).
Pricing: About $15.95/month for 3 months, $11.95/month for 12 months, or $219 lifetime at current listed pricing.
Rating: 4.8/5 in the App Store.
Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the most popular language apps out there, especially for beginners. Its biggest advantage is accessibility. It is easy to use, easy to fit into your day, and the free version gives people a low-pressure way to start learning Spanish without a big commitment.
It is especially useful for building a habit and practicing a little each day. That said, it usually works best as a support tool rather than your only resource, especially if you want deeper grammar instruction or more conversational practice
Pricing: Free with ads, or about $7–$13/month for the premium version.
Rating: 4.7/5 in the App Store
Babbel
Babbel is a solid option for learners who want something structured but still easy to navigate. The platform is straightforward, and the lessons tend to feel practical and approachable for beginners.
If you like having a clear path to follow and want something a little more guided than a free app, Babbel can be a strong middle-ground option.
Pricing: About $9–$18/month, depending on the plan.
Rating: 4.7/5 in the App Store.
Rocket Languages
Rocket Languages combines audio lessons, reading practice, and interactive exercises, which makes it a good fit for people who want a more well-rounded study experience. It can feel like a bigger commitment than some of the lighter apps, but it also offers more depth.
One nice bonus is that it includes cultural content alongside the language lessons, which can be especially helpful if you are preparing to live in Spain and want more context beyond vocabulary alone.
Pricing: Around $99.95 for the current Rocket English one-time package shown on its pricing page, with a free trial and payment plan options.
Rating: 4.7/5 based on Rocket’s site reviews; the iOS app listing also shows about 4.5/5.
Ouino Spanish
If you really want to take a deep dive into the grammatical intricacies of Spanish such as verb tense conjugation (which is one of the most difficult elements for native English-speaking learners), then Ouino Spanish.
What differentiates Ouino Spanish from competing online Spanish crash courses is that it does not necessarily follow a fixed path. Instead, the user is allowed the leeway to navigate the course on his or her own. This curriculum design, depending on your preferences, can be either a net benefit or drawback. If you are well-disciplined, then charting your own path forward is probably an attractive prospect. But if you rely on external structure to keep you on track, you might prefer the fixed-course model that most language applications run on.
Pricing: $99 one-time for lifetime access. Includes: 450+ lessons, 1,300+ exercises, 60 short stories, offline use, and free lifetime upgrades.
Rating: Ouino is sitting on a solid 4.8/5-star rating on TrustPilot based on hundreds of reviews, so it’s one of the most highly touted programs out there.
Hotel Borbollón
Hands-down, Hotel Borbollón is the most unique, intriguing of all Spanish-language prep courses. Rather than relying on the standard format, which tends to vary relatively little between courses, Hotel Borbollón takes a bold approach to language acquisition.
Instead of tedious drills, Hotel Borbollón teaches through story-telling, the oldest of all human arts. You learn as you work through a fictitious account of a Buenos Aires surgeon who inherits a Madrid hotel. The content is broken up nicely into digestible, short lessons lasting about 15 minutes.
Personally, I enjoyed the diversion from dry, academic work greatly and I appreciate the novelty that Hotel Borbollón injects into the often-stale Spanish training game.
Pricing: Start with a free trial.
Rating: 4.7/5 in the App store.
Contact RVF International for more Spanish-learning tips
We specialize in placing North American future ESL teachers in rewarding positions throughout Spain. Our clients often have questions related to learning Spanish, and we’re happy to supply answers. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact RVF International.
Ben Bartee is a Bangkok-based American journalist, grant writer, political essayist, researcher, travel blogger, and amateur philosopher. Contact him on Linkedin and check out his Portfolio.
