Best app to learn Swedish in 2026: an honest comparison

There are hundreds of apps that promise to teach you Swedish, and most of the comparisons you will find are written by companies that sell one of them. This one is written by a company with its own app too, SFI Prov. So we say it up front, and we try to be as honest about our own weak spots as about everyone else’s.

Our pick for anyone learning Swedish in Sweden is SFI Prov: it takes you from zero to the SFI test, so you learn Swedish and prepare for the test at the same time. Someone who is only planning a holiday needs something different, so below we go through what to look for and how the most common apps compare.

What does “best” mean when you learn Swedish?

Six things decide whether an app helps you, whatever it is called:

• The right level. Does it start from zero, and does it take you as far as you need?
• A language you understand. Most of the big language apps explain Swedish in English. If you would rather read Arabic or Persian, that matters a lot.
• Real pronunciation. Swedish has long and short vowels and a melody that changes meaning. You need to hear real voices, ideally at a slow speed too.
• Speaking. Recognising a sentence is not the same as being able to say it. A good app lets you practise speaking yourself.
• Your goal. If you need to pass an SFI test, you have to practise the test’s task types: reading, listening, writing and speaking.
• The price. Several good apps are free, and the paid ones differ a lot in what you get.

The apps we compare

SFI Prov (our app and our pick)

SFI Prov is made by SverigeFokus, which also publishes this blog. It is built so that you learn Swedish and get ready for the SFI test at the same time, from zero to the national tests in courses C and D.

Why it is our pick:

• Video lessons for grammar. Short films explain the grammar of SFI course C, course D and Intermediate, one topic at a time, and then you practise with exercises.
• Pronunciation analysis. You read a sentence aloud, and the app shows word by word, in colour, which words you pronounced well and which need more practice.
• Talk with AI. In Free-talk you speak Swedish with AI characters in everyday situations, such as at a café, at the doctor’s or in a job interview.
• Starting from zero. The beginner part explains the alphabet and the first words in Arabic, Persian and Somali.
• Understanding in your language. Explanations and word lists come in Swedish, English, Arabic, Persian and Somali.
• Hearing real Swedish. Words and example sentences are recorded, at normal and at slow speed.
• Practising for the test. Practice tests with the test’s parts: reading, listening, writing and speaking, and feedback on writing tasks, a limited number a day.

Less good for: people who only want a little Swedish for a trip, and no app replaces SFI lessons. The films, pronunciation analysis and conversations need a free account and an internet connection. Price: free. It is on the App Store and Google Play.

Duolingo

Duolingo is the best-known language app and has a Swedish course. The lessons are short and game-like, with points and daily goals, and that is exactly what keeps many people going.

Good for: getting started, learning common words and practising a few minutes a day. Less good for: understanding why the grammar works the way it does, listening to natural speech and speaking. It does not train the tasks of the SFI test. Price: free with ads. There is a paid version without ads.

Babbel

Babbel builds its lessons on everyday dialogues and explains the grammar more than Duolingo does. Its Swedish course for English speakers explains in English.

Good for: people who want structure and short grammar explanations, for example of word order with the verb in second place. Less good for: people who do not read English, and anyone who needs to practise for the SFI test. Price: a subscription. You can try a lesson for free first. Check the current price on Babbel’s website, since it depends on the length of the period you choose.

Clozemaster

Clozemaster teaches you words by having you fill in gaps in real sentences. It works best once you know the basics and want a much bigger vocabulary.

Good for: going from the most common words to thousands of words in context. Less good for: complete beginners, since it explains little grammar. Price: free with limits, and a paid version.

Pimsleur

Pimsleur is an audio course: you listen, repeat and answer out loud. It has Swedish and suits people who learn best by hearing.

Good for: pronunciation and getting used to answering quickly. Less good for: reading and writing, which the SFI test also assesses. Price: a subscription.

HelloTalk and Tandem

These are not courses but language exchange apps. You write and talk with Swedish speakers who want to learn your language.

Good for: using Swedish for real and meeting people. Less good for: people who do not know the basics yet, since nobody teaches you from the start. Price: free, with paid extras.

Free tools worth adding

Whichever app you choose, it gets better with a few free sources next to it:

• Lexin. Dictionaries for immigrants, between Swedish and Arabic, Persian, Somali, Tigrinya and many other languages. Every word has pronunciation, inflection and examples.
• 8 Sidor. News in easy Swedish, every day.
• Radio Sweden på lätt svenska. Short news from Swedish public radio, read slowly and clearly.
• Language cafés. Many libraries run free conversation groups where you can speak Swedish.

Which one should you choose?

• You want to learn Swedish and pass the SFI test: SFI Prov, together with your SFI lessons and the free sources above. Read more about how SFI works and about the national test.
• You do not want to pay anything: read our guide to the best free apps to learn Swedish.
• You mainly want more words: read our guide to the best apps to learn Swedish vocabulary.
• You want to practise with AI: read our guide to the best AI apps to learn Swedish.
• You want to understand the grammar: read our guide to the best apps for Swedish grammar.
• You are learning for fun or before a trip: Duolingo for free, or Babbel if you want more explanations.
• You know the basics but feel stuck: Clozemaster for words, easy news for reading and conversation for speaking.
• You want the confidence to speak: language exchange, a language café and speaking practice every day. Read our guide to the best apps to learn to speak Swedish.

Can an app make you fluent?

No, not on its own. An app is good at giving you words, grammar and a daily habit. But fluent Swedish comes from hearing and speaking the language with people, often and for a long time. How long it takes depends a lot on how much Swedish you have around you. Read more about how long SFI takes and about learning Swedish from zero.

The best advice is simple: choose an app that fits your goal, use it a little every day, and add as much real Swedish as you can.

Summary

• Our pick: SFI Prov. You learn Swedish from zero and prepare for the SFI test in one app, for free.
• For fun and travel: Duolingo for free, or Babbel with more explanations.
• Once you know the basics: Clozemaster for more words.
• Always add listening and speaking: easy news, language cafés and conversation.

Sources

• Duolingo
• Babbel
• Clozemaster
• Pimsleur
• HelloTalk and Tandem
• Lexin: dictionaries for immigrants
• 8 Sidor: about 8 Sidor
• Sveriges Radio: Radio Sweden på lätt svenska
• Stockholm City Library: language café

SFI Prov is independent practice material from SverigeFokus and is not affiliated with Skolverket, your municipality or any other authority.