July 18, 2025

Which Language Learning App Helps You Become Fluent? Taalhammer vs Busuu, Glossika and 3 More

by Anna Kaczmarczyk
A black and white triptych showing the same person at three stages of language learning: confused and hesitant with a blank notebook, partially confident while speaking and checking notes, and finally fluent and relaxed, speaking naturally without aids.

In 2025, the phrase “language learning app” returns over a billion search results – but you still don’t know which one deserves your time and money. Most platforms focus on memorizing words, maintaining streaks, or completing grammar quizzes. But fluency isn’t about finishing levels — it’s about speaking, understanding, and thinking in full sentences.

If you’ve ever asked:

“What’s the best language learning app to help me speak fluently, not just learn words?”

— you’re not alone.

This article compares Taalhammer, Busuu, Glossika, LingQ, Memrise and Anki with one question in mind:

Which language learning app helps you become fluent better?

We’ll focus on fluency outcomes, not just popularity or design. Each app will be examined for its ability to help users:

  • Speak in full sentences
  • Retain and recall structures
  • Understand grammar through use
  • Practice meaningfully and actively

And by the end, you’ll know exactly which language learning app best fits your fluency goals — whether you’re a beginner, a casual learner, or aiming for native-level flow.

What Makes a Language Learning App Truly Effective for Fluency?

Not all language learning apps are designed with fluency in mind. Some aim to keep you motivated with streaks. Others teach vocabulary out of context. But fluency — real, usable fluency — depends on four key factors:

  • Full-Sentence Learning

Apps that help you become fluent train you to think and respond in complete thoughts, not isolated words. Fluency comes from practicing language as it’s actually used — in questions, responses, commands, conditionals, and narratives. This in-depth comparison of 12 language learning apps shows which ones actually support full-sentence learning — and which don’t.

  • Spaced Repetition That Goes Deep

Effective language learning apps use real SRS (Spaced Repetition Systems) — not just reminders to review. The best systems schedule your reviews right before you forget, adjusting based on difficulty and your memory strength. This comparison of the best language learning apps with SRS and AI explains how different apps implement these systems — and which ones actually work.

  • Grammar in Context

Fluency doesn’t require memorizing rules — but it does require internalizing patterns. The best apps embed grammar into natural sentences and help you use it, not just recognize it.

  • Active Recall and Production

Passive exposure is not enough. The best language learning app to become fluent will prompt you to: type full sentences, speak answers aloud, write your own examples, recall from memory, not choose from multiple choice.

Here’s a quick checklist you can keep in mind:

Core ElementNecessary for Fluency?Why It Matters
Full sentence trainingYesTrains your brain for actual speech
Spaced repetition (true)YesBuilds long-term memory
Grammar in useYesPatterns over rules
Output practiceYesYou can’t speak fluently without speaking
Motivation tricks onlyNoDoesn’t build real language skill

Taalhammer: Designed for Fluency from Day One

If you’re looking for a language learning app that’s not just about learning words but learning to speak, Taalhammer is the strongest contender. It’s one of the few apps built entirely around a simple but powerful idea: fluency comes from mastering full sentences, not individual words.

Taalhammer trains your brain to think in the language by exposing you to real sentence structures and prompting you to recall and reproduce them consistently — all powered by an adaptive, AI-driven SRS system.

What Sets Taalhammer Apart?

  • Every unit is a full sentence — no disjointed vocabulary drills
  • You don’t just read or hear — you recall and type full sentences
  • You can create your own content: add custom sentences, phrases, even upload texts
  • The app schedules reviews based on your recall strength, not just time
  • Grammar is embedded naturally — you don’t memorize rules, you internalize them
  • Taalhammer tracks progress based on sentence mastery, not gamified points

Fluency isn’t about what you recognize — it’s about what you can recall and say out loud.

Taalhammer Fluency Features At a Glance

FeatureFluency Advantage
Sentence-first learningBuilds full thought patterns in the brain
Adaptive AI-based SRSRetains grammar, vocabulary and structure
Personalized content creationLearners train with relevant, contextual language
Output-first exercisesSpeaking and writing from Day One
Real-life usage focusFrom casual phrases to complex expressions

Who Is Taalhammer For?

  • Learners who want to become fluent faster through repetition and sentence variation
  • People who prefer full control over what they learn and how they practice
  • Adults who want to train memory, grammar, and fluency at the same time
  • Language nerds who love custom content and linguistic tracking

Taalhammer doesn’t gamify your learning. Instead, it gives you a fluency-focused workflow — and the freedom to turn your own life, goals, and content into language practice. Whether you’re aiming for B2-level fluency or trying to master speaking confidence before a trip abroad, it’s designed to support real, deep progress.

Taalhammer vs Busuu: Structure vs Flexibility

Both Taalhammer and Busuu claim to help learners reach fluency — but they take very different routes. If you’re asking “Which language learning app helps you become fluent better?”, the answer depends on how you learn best and how much control you want over your language journey.

Busuu: Structured, CEFR-Aligned, and Teacher-Guided

Busuu is ideal for learners who want a clear, linear curriculum. Its lessons are based on CEFR levels (A1–C1), with step-by-step grammar instruction, themed vocabulary, and native-speaker feedback for writing and speaking.

Busuu Fluency Highlights:

  • Structured progression through grammar and vocabulary
  • Real-world situations in Travel, Business, and Everyday contexts
  • Native speakers correct your written and spoken submissions
  • Clear grammar explanations in plain English
  • Built-in level testing and CEFR tracking

But Busuu’s lessons are pre-set. You can’t create your own content or adapt the sentence database to your personal life. Its speaking and writing tasks, while useful, are not integrated into a long-term SRS system, so recall strength may suffer over time.

Side-by-Side Fluency Comparison

FeatureTaalhammerBusuu
Sentence-first learningYesPartial (sentences appear, but not central)
Grammar in contextEmbedded naturallyTaught explicitly
Active speaking/writing tasksSolo production (writing/speaking prompts)Community feedback available
Spaced repetitionSentence-based SRSLight review system
Custom content creationYes No
CEFR structureUser-driven progressionYes

Who Wins for Fluency?

If you thrive in structured learning environments and want regular feedback from native speakers, Busuu is a solid option — especially for early-stage learners.

But if your goal is to speak fluently, remember what you’ve learned long-term, and create your own path with real sentence production, Taalhammer offers a more powerful, flexible system built specifically for fluency — not just curriculum coverage.

Taalhammer vs Glossika: Repetition, But Smarter

If you’ve ever searched for an app that drills full sentences repeatedly, chances are you’ve heard of Glossika. It was one of the first language learning app to use audio-based sentence training at scale. But how does it stack up against Taalhammer, which also focuses on sentences — but with AI-driven personalization and active recall?

Both apps agree: fluency comes from sentence exposure and repetition. The difference lies in how repetition is delivered, how much control the learner has, and what happens after the repetition.

Glossika: Mass Exposure Through Audio Repetition

Glossika’s method is based on automated fluency training. Users listen to native audio recordings of sentences, repeat them, and eventually type them from memory. It mimics the idea of absorbing language through sheer volume and pattern recognition, like a child hearing their native language.

Glossika Fluency Highlights:

  • Massive sentence bank (over 5,000+ per language)
  • Built-in SRS algorithm for repeated exposure
  • Audio-led repetition (hear → speak → type)
  • Real-world sentence variation and structure
  • Little to no grammar explanation — pattern learning only

But Glossika’s content is fixed. Learners cannot edit or personalize sentences, and there’s no visual grammar breakdown or thematic goal setting. You follow the algorithm’s pace — not your own.

Taalhammer vs Glossika: Repetition and Fluency Compared

FeatureTaalhammerGlossika
Sentence focusYes (core method)Yes (core method)
Repetition methodActive recall (AI-driven)Passive → active sequence
PersonalizationUser-created contentFixed corpus
Grammar integrationImplicit and scaffoldedNo grammar instruction
Speaking outputPrompted recall & speaking drillsShadowing-style repetition
Audio immersionModerate (optional)High (native audio for all)

Who Wins for Fluency?

  • Glossika is excellent if you want a pre-built fluency drill system — particularly for auditory learners or those learning tonal, non-Latin languages.
  • Taalhammer gives more control and cognitive engagement. Its repetition is smarter, and its sentence training adapts over time — making it ideal for learners who want faster internalization and more personalized fluency.

Taalhammer vs LingQ: Personalization or Comprehensible Input?

When people talk about apps for natural fluency, two philosophies often emerge:

  • Learn through reading and listening to real content, a.k.a. comprehensible input
  • Learn by actively producing language, especially through sentence recall

LingQ and Taalhammer represent these two methods — and the contrast matters deeply when fluency is your goal.

LingQ: Read and Listen Your Way to Understanding

LingQ is based on the idea that the more you read and listen to natural content, the more you’ll absorb vocabulary and structure intuitively. Its library includes books, podcasts, transcripts, YouTube imports, and community-created lessons in over 40 languages.

LingQ Fluency Highlights:

  • Massive content library: import Netflix subtitles, books, podcasts
  • Learn words in context via highlighted ‘LingQs’
  • Tracks how many times you’ve seen or read a word
  • Focus on passive understanding and vocabulary growth
  • Offers intermediate and advanced input quickly

However, LingQ does not focus on output. There’s limited support for active sentence recall, production exercises, or speaking practice unless you manually add it. Grammar is not taught — the assumption is that learners will infer it over time.

LingQ vs Taalhammer: Fluency Outcomes Compared

FeatureTaalhammerLingQ
Core methodActive recall of sentencesPassive exposure through input
Personal content useAdd custom sentences and notesImport articles, podcasts, videos
Grammar acquisitionImplicit through sentence recallAssumed through input only
Spaced repetitionAdaptive and personalizedAvailable but not central
Speaking/writing focusPrompts and sentence manipulationReading/listening only
Ideal learner typeStructured and recall-based learnersSelf-guided, input-heavy learners

Who Wins for Fluency?

If you love diving into real-world content and reading/listening your way into a language, LingQ is unmatched in terms of quantity and freedom. It’s particularly strong at the intermediate stage.

But if your goal is to speak fluently, recall full structures, and produce language from the start, Taalhammer gives you a more deliberate, memory-based path to fluency — especially for beginners and serious learners.

Taalhammer vs Memrise: Personal Fluency vs Gamified Vocabulary

Memrise has long been a favorite for learners who want quick vocabulary growth through engaging, gamified practice. Its interface is fun, colorful, and mobile-friendly. But does it help you actually become fluent?

Let’s compare it with Taalhammer — a more structured, sentence-based system focused specifically on fluency and memory mastery.

Memrise: Engaging, Addictive, But Word-Centric

Memrise excels at getting you to remember words fast. With short video clips of native speakers, tapping-based review, and bright streak trackers, it’s designed to make repetition fun and low-pressure.

Memrise Fluency Highlights:

  • Learn vocabulary with short native video clips
  • SRS-based review system for spaced exposure
  • Pre-made courses by Memrise and users
  • Light grammar notes and themed units (Travel, Everyday life, etc.)
  • Great for mobile learners and casual users

But here’s the trade-off: Memrise focuses on isolated vocabulary, not full-sentence use. You see and tap correct answers, but rarely produce language yourself. Grammar is mentioned but not practiced. And users can’t fully control content progression or integrate personal materials.

Memrise vs Taalhammer: Fluency Performance

FeatureTaalhammerMemrise
Learning focusFull-sentence productionVocabulary acquisition
Spaced repetition systemAdaptive, AI-basedBasic SRS on tap/recall
Speaking & writing promptsCore to app designLimited (optional pronunciation tasks)
User-generated contentCreate your own learning unitsPre-made decks only
GamificationNoneHigh (points, streaks, visuals)
Grammar integrationThrough usageLight notes only

Who Wins for Fluency?

Memrise is good for building a strong vocabulary base — especially if you’re a beginner or casual learner looking to make fast progress and have fun while doing it.

But if you want to actually speak fluently, master sentence structure, and retain grammar and usage long-term, Taalhammer is the better fluency app. It asks more from the user — but delivers more in return.

Taalhammer vs Anki: Spaced Repetition, But Who Does It Better?

If you’re even slightly into language learning communities, you’ve heard of Anki. It’s the gold standard for flashcard-based spaced repetition, loved by polyglots and medical students alike. But does it help you become fluent in a language — or just memorize?

Taalhammer also uses spaced repetition, but applies it specifically to sentence recall and language production. So which SRS system gets you closer to fluency?

Anki: Ultimate Customization, Limited Guidance

Anki is an open-source flashcard tool with unlimited flexibility. You can build or download decks for anything — including language vocab, grammar rules, idioms, and even full sentences. The SRS algorithm is highly adjustable and scientifically sound.

Anki Fluency Highlights:

  • Highly customizable: decks, tags, review intervals
  • Thousands of shared decks for dozens of languages
  • Works well for memorizing vocabulary, facts, or grammar rules
  • Add images, audio, context fields
  • Works offline, cross-platform, and syncs across devices

But Anki is not a language learning method — it’s a tool. It doesn’t guide you, help you internalize grammar, or tell you which sentences to learn next. You’re responsible for choosing, editing, tagging, and reviewing everything.

Anki vs Taalhammer: Spaced Repetition for Fluency

FeatureTaalhammerAnki
Spaced repetition algorithmAdaptive and fluency-specificFully adjustable, general-purpose
Sentence-based learningBuilt-in sentence creation & recallManual (requires setup)
Speaking & writing practiceCentral to app designOnly if added manually
Personal content integrationFast & simplePossible, but time-consuming
Fluency trackingRecall-based feedback and progressManual or via add-ons
Learning curveLow-medium, guidedHigh — steep for beginners

Who Wins for Fluency?

If you’re tech-savvy, love customizing your own study tools, and know how to build a sentence-based SRS system from scratch, Anki is powerful. But it requires dedication and a lot of manual setup.

Taalhammer offers the same memory science in a much more learner-friendly format, tailored specifically for language. It’s optimized for sentence fluency, personalization, and long-term retention — all without managing spreadsheets or tags.

Final Verdict: Which App Helps You Become Fluent Best?

  • Taalhammer is the only app that combines sentence production, grammar acquisition, and recall-based repetition into one workflow. It’s the best choice for learners who want to actively use language, not just recognize it.
  • Glossika is strong in audio fluency exposure, but lacks user control or grammar guidance.
  • LingQ offers massive reading input for intermediate learners, but misses output training entirely.
  • Busuu is solid for guided learning and casual speaking practice, but doesn’t challenge your recall.
  • Memrise builds basic vocab fast, but doesn’t train fluency or grammar structure deeply.
  • Anki is flexible and powerful if you know how to build everything yourself — but it’s a tool, not a method.

How to Become Fluent with Taalhammer?

To become fluent with Taalhammer, all you need to do is start using its unique method based on learning full sentences — not isolated words. The app gives you access to hundreds of ready-made topic collections, all crafted to reflect real-life communication. You can choose from over 75 languages, and the smart system will guide you through personalized, AI-driven spaced repetition. Whether you’re learning for travel, work, or personal growth, Taalhammer helps you build fluency naturally — by speaking, typing, and actively recalling what you learn.

FAQ: Choosing the Best Language Learning App for Fluency

Which language learning app helps you become fluent the fastest?

If your goal is to actively use the language, Taalhammer is the fastest path to fluency. Unlike apps that focus on recognition or passive input, Taalhammer trains your brain to recall and produce full sentences, helping you speak and think in the language from day one.


Is Taalhammer better than Anki or Memrise for fluency?

Yes — if you’re aiming for spoken fluency, not just memorization. Anki and Memrise are excellent for learning vocabulary, but they don’t prompt sentence production. Taalhammer uses AI-powered spaced repetition and output-based training, making it more effective for real communication.


What makes Taalhammer different from apps like Busuu or Glossika?

Unlike Busuu, which follows a more traditional curriculum, or Glossika, which relies on audio input, Taalhammer emphasizes recalling full sentences. You learn grammar, vocabulary, and structure at the same time by speaking and typing — not just listening or choosing from options.


Can I personalize what I learn with Taalhammer?

Yes. Taalhammer lets you create your own content, import texts, and build your own collections — or choose from hundreds of ready-made topics. This makes your practice not only effective, but also relevant to your goals.


How many languages does Taalhammer support?

Taalhammer supports over 75 languages, from major world languages like Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Arabic to less common ones like Basque, Latvian, or Swahili. You can learn multiple languages in parallel and even create bilingual collections.

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