Learn Italian with AI: the best AI Italian learning apps, tested & reviewed
As an Italian tutor, I'm always on the lookout for tools that can support my students' in between our classes. With the rise of artificial intelligence in language learning, I've recently delved into the world of apps that help you learn Italian with AI. After extensive research and testing, I'm excited to share my findings with fellow educators and Italian learners alike.
In this article, I'll review the top AI Italian conversation practice apps, discussing their strengths, weaknesses, and pricing. Let's dive in and discover how AI can help you speak Italian with confidence.
The Best AI Italian Speaking Practice Apps
#1: Langua
Ideal for: Committed Italian learners (all levels except beginners)
Langua is my number one pick due to its holistic learning experience, integrating realistic and practical conversation practice with spaced repetition flashcards and more.
Strengths:
- Offers a wide range of conversation scenarios, including practical role-plays, vocabulary practice, and thought-provoking debates.
- Utilizes advanced voice technology to create a highly realistic and immersive conversational experience.
- Provides instant corrections and explanations, facilitating a deeper understanding of mistakes.
- Helps build your vocabulary: translate words and phrases, learn them using spaced repetition flashcards, and read AI-generated stories that incorporate your saved words.
- It will understand you when you switch to your native language, which is particularly useful for A1-A2 Italian learners.
Weaknesses:
- No gamification. Whilst you can receive email reminders with activity suggestions and see your streak, the lack of gamification means it is not as addictive as an app like Duolingo.
- No dedicated mobile app, although the platform works perfectly on mobile browsers and can be added to your phone as a widget for easy access.
- Occasional transcription errors and missed corrections, as with all AI tools.
Pricing: Various subscription plans ranging from $9 to $29/month, including an unlimited AI Italian speaking practice option. A free plan is also available, offering some comprehensible input features but no conversation practice.
You can create a free account on Langua and explore it here.
#2: Univerbal
Ideal for: roleplays and gamification
Univerbal comes in second. Whilst imperfect, I've noticed big improvements in recent months from this AI Italian tutoring app.
Strengths:
- Structured role-plays with real-life scenarios and engaging visuals.
- Gamified learning experience with levels to guide progress.
- User-friendly interface that's relatively easy to navigate.
Weaknesses:
- Univerbal had trouble transcribing my voice at times, even though I'm a native Italian speaker! It would often stop transcribing whilst I was mid-sentence, which would disrupt the conversation experience.
- Limited flexibility for learners who prefer open-ended conversations tailored to their interests. While custom conversation creation is available, the suggested topics are not always practical.
- The AI voices were less authentic than Langua, and a little robotic. I do imagine this will improve over the coming months.
Pricing: $20/month
#3: TalkPal
Ideal for: Learners looking for a mobile app and willing to compromise
TalkPal is a basic app that offers AI conversation practice in Italian and other languages. Whilst not as powerful or intuitive as Langua and Univerbal, it is slightly cheaper, so it may be worth consideration.
Strengths:
- Offers a basic plan with limited access to features and a 10-minute time limit, allowing users to try the app before committing to a subscription.
- Provides a variety of chat options, including roleplays, topic-based conversations, and image description exercises (all only available in the paid version).
Weaknesses:
- Voices aren't as human-like as the other options. Also fewer voices to choose from.
- Only offers conversation practice - it is lacking the ability to save words and learn them with flashcards.
- Mixed reviews on the Google Play store, with a rating of 3.8 out of 5 at the time of writing, suggesting that user experiences may vary. Typical criticisms are that the corrections are confusing and the app can be buggy.
Pricing: $11.99/month for the paid version (slightly cheaper with an annual purchase). No free trial available, but a basic plan with limited features and a 10-minute time limit is offered.
A final word on learning with an AI Italian learning app
AI is improving fast and can be a powerful tool for learners of Italian. However, it's essential to recognize the limitations of learning with an AI Italian tutor. While AI provides valuable conversation practice and feedback, it may lack the nuance and depth of explanations that a human tutor can offer. AI-generated conversations can sometimes feel unnatural or lack spontaneity.
To achieve the best results, I recommend you view learning Italian with AI as just one of several tools in your arsenal, complemented by other resources and methods, such as language exchanges and tutoring sessions.
If you're serious about learning Italian and are interested in taking 1-on-1 classes tailored to your needs, feel free to check out my profile here or explore other Italian tutors. If you don't have the budget or time for classes, I would recommend you check out Langua's AI and try it for yourself to work out whether it's a good fit for you.
Interested in learning other languages with AI? See more:
AI English tutors | AI French tutors | AI German tutors | AI Spanish tutors
