Memrise alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Memrise: little grammar teaching, and community courses are no longer in the main app. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Memrise, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Duolingo currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

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

1. DuolingoTop pick
Best for: Beginners and casual learners who want a free, fun daily habit
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Memrise
Free, gamified full course path with more structure.
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 ×0.3100
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 Duolingo a good Memrise 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)
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 Memrise
Free flashcards where you control every card and review setting.
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 Memrise 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. Drops
Best for: Busy learners who want quick visual vocabulary practice in many languages
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Memrise
Quick visual vocabulary games in five-minute sessions.
Pros
Beautiful, quick visual games
55+ languages including rare ones
Short sessions are easy to fit in
Cons
Mostly vocabulary, not a full course
Free version caps daily practice time
Little sentence or conversation practice
Visit Drops 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 Drops a good Memrise alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Languages
55+
Checked Oct 25, 2026languagedrops.com(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
Kahoot! (acquired November 2020)
Checked Oct 25, 2026languagedrops.com(opens source in a new tab)
Kids app
Droplets
Checked Oct 25, 2026languagedrops.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Memrise alternative for…

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

Best Memrise alternative for most people

Duolingo

Free, gamified full course path with more structure.