Drops alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Drops: mostly vocabulary, not a full course, and free version caps daily practice time. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Drops, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Memrise currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Memrise	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	66.5
2	Anki	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +3	5 of 5	62.6
3	Duolingo	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	4 of 4	59.6
4	Lingvist	Paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	57.2
5	Clozemaster	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	55.3

1. MemriseTop pick
Best for: Learners who want to hear and copy how native speakers really talk
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Drops
Vocabulary taught through native-speaker videos and spaced review.
Pros
Real native-speaker video for every phrase
Record yourself and compare pronunciation
Spaced review helps vocabulary stick
Cons
Little grammar teaching
Community courses are no longer in the main app
Best features need the paid plan
Visit Memrise Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Memrise a good Drops alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Free tier
Yes, paid plan adds features
Checked Oct 25, 2026memrise.com(opens source in a new tab)
Native-speaker videos
Thousands of short clips
Checked Oct 25, 2026memrise.com(opens source in a new tab)
AI practice
Private AI conversation practice
Checked Oct 25, 2026memrise.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Anki
Best for: Self-directed learners who want free, customisable spaced-repetition flashcards
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Drops
Free, fully customisable flashcards for serious vocabulary building.
Pros
Free and open source on desktop and Android
Highly customisable cards and scheduling
Large library of shared decks and add-ons
Cons
Dated interface and steep learning curve
Official iOS app is paid
You must build or choose decks yourself
Visit Anki Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Anki a good Drops alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Sync
Free AnkiWeb sync
Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
Desktop price
Free on Windows, Mac and Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
Android app
AnkiDroid, free
Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
iOS app
AnkiMobile, paid, funds development
Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
Deck size
Handles 100,000+ cards
Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.ankiweb.net(opens source in a new tab)
3. Duolingo
Best for: Beginners and casual learners who want a free, fun daily habit
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Drops
Full free course that also teaches sentences and grammar.
Pros
Full course path is free
Streaks and leagues make daily practice stick
Huge choice of languages and courses
Cons
Little explicit grammar teaching
Hard to reach advanced levels with it alone
Free tier has ads and limits on mistakes
Visit Duolingo Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Duolingo a good Drops alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Max tier
Subscription tier above Super
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Super benefits
Unlimited energy, no ads, personalised review
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)
AI features
Video Call and Roleplay (Max)
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)
Max availability
188 countries on iOS and Android
Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.duolingo.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. Lingvist
Best for: Learners who want to grow useful vocabulary quickly in context
PaidWeb, iOS, Android
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Drops
Adaptive vocabulary learning in sentence context.
Pros
Teaches the most frequent words first
Words always shown in real sentences
Custom AI decks on your own topics
Cons
Mostly vocabulary, light on speaking
Typing drills can feel dry
Subscription needed after the trial
Visit Lingvist Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Lingvist a good Drops alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Downloads
7 million
Checked Oct 25, 2026lingvist.com(opens source in a new tab)
Courses
60+ language courses
Checked Oct 25, 2026lingvist.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
Yes, no charge during trial
Checked Oct 25, 2026lingvist.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. Clozemaster
Best for: Post-beginner learners who want to grow vocabulary in real sentences
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from Drops
Learn words in context through fill-in-the-blank sentences.
Pros
Learn words in real sentence context
170+ language pairings
Free daily play
Cons
Some sentences and translations are awkward
No grammar instruction
Unlimited play and listening need Pro
Visit Clozemaster Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Clozemaster a good Drops alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Languages
50+, with 170+ pairings
Checked Oct 25, 2026clozemaster.com(opens source in a new tab)
Pro guarantee
30-day money-back
Checked Oct 25, 2026clozemaster.com(opens source in a new tab)
Listening practice
Over 30 languages (Pro)
Checked Oct 25, 2026clozemaster.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Drops alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Drops alternative for most people

Memrise

Vocabulary taught through native-speaker videos and spaced review.