Seven Thai learning apps side by side: how they teach, whether they give you any feedback on your speaking, whether they teach Thai script, and what you can use for free.
The short answer: there isn't one best app to learn Thai. There's the one that fits your goal. If you want to listen on a commute, learn to read, or build vocabulary in five minutes a day, different apps do each of those well.
If your goal is to speak Thai and be understood, the hard part is the tones. That is what Ravela is built around.
We make Ravela, so we're not neutral, and you should read this page knowing that. What we've tried to do is describe every app fairly, using only what each company says about itself on its own website or app store listing. The sources are listed at the bottom. Where we couldn't confirm something, we left it out.
Competitor details are as each company describes them on its own site or app store listing, checked in September 2026. Prices change often, so treat them as a rough guide.
| App | Best for | Format | Speaking / pronunciation feedback | Thai script | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravela Thai | Learning to speak Thai and get your tones right | App lessons with Thai audio on every word, spaced review, real-life missions; AI tutor for roleplay (members). iPhone, Android and web | Tone checker draws your pitch over a native reference line and scores how closely it matches; you can send a recording to Kru Pook, a Thai teacher, to check. The AI tutor corrects what you say, not your tones | Optional. Speaking-only mode in romanised Thai, or a reading & writing track | First 24 lessons and the Pronunciation Lab, no card. Membership £6.99/month or £59/year |
| Ling | Short, game-style lessons across speaking, reading and writing | Gamified bite-sized lessons with native-speaker audio, flashcards, tracing and dialog practice | Ling says its speech-recognition technology helps you develop accurate pronunciation of the five Thai tones | Yes. Ling says you learn to speak, read and write Thai | Two free units for new users; Pro from $16.99/month or $149.99/year (list price) |
| Pimsleur | Audio-first listening and speaking, for example on a commute | 30 conversational audio lessons of 30 minutes each for Thai Level 1, plus flashcards and games | Pimsleur says it includes Voice Coach with AI pronunciation feedback and a Speak Easy Challenge | Pimsleur says its subscription covers both spoken and written Thai; the core lessons are audio | 7-day free trial |
| ThaiPod101 | A large library of audio and video lessons to work through | Podcast-style audio and video lessons with transcripts, word lists and flashcards | ThaiPod101 says you can compare yourself with natives using voice-recording tools; its top plan adds 1-on-1 access to a teacher | Yes. It offers lessons focused on reading and writing | Free account (survival phrases course, first 3 lessons in each pathway); paid plans from $4/month on a 24-month plan |
| StudyThai.ai | A structured, level-by-level course that includes reading and writing | 8 levels and 136 units, spaced repetition, games, grammar centre and an AI tutor | StudyThai says its AI tutor gives pronunciation feedback (Pro), alongside pronunciation training with native-speaker audio | Yes. A dedicated reading & writing level | Free beginner units; Pro $11.99/month or $79.99/year |
| Drops | Building vocabulary in five minutes a day | Illustrated vocabulary games in short daily sessions | Drops describes audio from professional voice talent; its Thai pages don't describe speech feedback | Drops says it added a Thai alphabet topic | Drops says it is free for casual learners; Premium unlocks unlimited learning time |
| Mondly | Learners studying several languages in one app | Short lessons across 41 languages, including Thai | Mondly says it offers a chatbot, hands-free learning and voice recognition | Not stated in its listing | Free to download with in-app purchases; monthly plan listed at $15.90 with a 1-week free trial |
Duolingo isn't in the table because it doesn't have a Thai course. If you're wondering why, we wrote about it: why isn't Thai on Duolingo? Competitor prices are in US dollars as listed; some sites were showing sale prices when we checked.
Ravela started because its designer was learning Thai himself and kept hitting the same three walls: the tones, not being understood when he spoke, and having no one to practise with between lessons. So the app is built around those three problems.
It's built with a Thai teacher. Kru Pook teaches in Bangkok and has taught more than 2,000 lessons. Pook reviews everything learners see in the app, so the Thai you learn is Thai people actually say, with the right politeness. You can also book lessons with Pook 1-to-1.
You can see your tones. The tone checker in the Pronunciation Lab records you saying a word, draws your pitch line over a native reference line, and scores how closely your tone matches. It then tells you, in plain words, whether your voice moved in the right direction, far enough, and at the right height. It calibrates to your own voice, so deep and high voices both work. You can try it free, with no signup, in our Thai tones guide.
A real teacher's ear when you want one. When you're not sure about an attempt, tap Ask Kru Pook to check it and the recording goes to Pook.
You don't have to read Thai to start. Speaking-only mode puts everything in romanised Thai, with the tone marked on every syllable. If you'd like to read and write too, there's an optional track, and you can switch any time. More on this in our Thai pronunciation guide.
Someone to practise with. Members get an AI tutor for roleplays in restaurants, markets, taxis and shops, by typing or speaking. It corrects what you said (the words, grammar and politeness), not your tones. Tone feedback lives in the Pronunciation Lab.
A small team that listens. The app is carefully designed and deliberately uncluttered, and we read every message learners send. A lot of what's in Ravela came from those messages. Learners asked to practise the words from their own lessons, so now you can add them and practise them in the app.
The first 24 lessons and the Pronunciation Lab are free, with no card. Membership is £6.99 a month or £59 a year on our pricing page.
Honestly, Ravela isn't the right fit for everyone. Here's when we'd point you elsewhere:
Plenty of learners use two apps: one for listening or vocabulary, one for speaking practice. That's a perfectly sensible way to do it.
No. Duolingo doesn't have a Thai course, so you'll need a different app. Everything in the table above teaches Thai.
It depends what you want from the free part. Drops says it's free for casual learners and focuses on vocabulary. ThaiPod101 has a free account with a survival phrases course. StudyThai.ai offers free beginner units. Ravela gives you the first 24 lessons and the Pronunciation Lab free, with no card.
Several say they give pronunciation feedback: Ling mentions speech recognition for the five tones, Pimsleur has Voice Coach, and ThaiPod101 has a voice-recording tool. Ravela's tone checker shows your pitch line against a native one and scores how closely it matches, with notes on what to change.
An app can take you a long way: clear audio, lots of repetition, and feedback that shows where your pitch drifts. It works best alongside real conversations, and a teacher's ear now and then. That's why Ravela lets you send a recording to Kru Pook.
Not if your main goal is to speak. Romanised Thai with tone marks gets you talking straight away, and you can add the script later. If you're moving to Thailand long term or want to read menus and signs, starting the script early is worth it.
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Free to start. The Pronunciation Lab and the first 24 lessons, no card needed.
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