Best free app to learn Swedish in 2026: what is actually free
Short answer
Our pick is SFI Prov. It is completely free, with no ads and no subscription, and takes you from zero to the SFI test with video lessons for grammar, pronunciation analysis, conversations with AI and explanations in Arabic, Persian, Somali and English. We make the app ourselves. If you only want a daily word habit, Duolingo also fits, free with ads.
Plenty of apps say they are free, but many are free only for the first few days. Here we go through which apps for learning Swedish are actually free in 2026, what you get without paying and where the limit is. We make one of the apps ourselves, SFI Prov, so we say that up front.
Our pick is SFI Prov: it is completely free and takes you from zero to the SFI test, so you learn Swedish and prepare for the test at the same time. If you want to compare every app, including the ones that cost money, read our comparison of the best apps to learn Swedish.
Are free apps really free?
When an app says it is free, it can mean three different things:
- Completely free. Nothing in the app costs money, and there are no ads.
- Free with ads or paid extras. The basics are free, but you get ads, or some parts are in a paid version.
- Free to try. You can try a lesson or a few days, and then you have to pay to continue.
All three can be worth downloading, but it helps to know which kind you are choosing.
Quick overview
| App | Free | Costs money |
|---|---|---|
| SFI Prov | Everything | Nothing |
| Duolingo | The whole course, with ads | A version without ads |
| Anki | On computers and Android | The iPhone app |
| Clozemaster | The basics, with limits | A paid version |
| HelloTalk and Tandem | Writing and talking | Paid extras |
| Babbel | A trial lesson | A subscription |
The free apps
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.
What you get for free:
- 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.
- Explanations in your language. Grammar and word lists come in Swedish, English, Arabic, Persian and Somali, and the beginner part starts with the alphabet.
- Recorded Swedish. Words and example sentences are recorded, at normal and at slow speed.
- Practice tests. The test’s parts: reading, listening, writing and speaking, with feedback on writing tasks.
What costs money? Nothing. There are no ads and no subscription. The films, pronunciation analysis and conversations need a free account and an internet connection, and feedback on writing tasks is limited to a number per day. Download: App Store and Google Play.
Duolingo
Duolingo has a Swedish course. The lessons are short and game-like, with points and daily goals, which makes it easy to practise a few minutes a day.
Free: the whole course, with ads. Costs money: a paid version without ads and with extra features. Best for: a daily habit and common words. It does not train the tasks of the SFI test.
Anki
Anki is a flashcard app that shows each card again just before you would forget it. You can make your own cards, for example with the words from your SFI book, or download decks that other people have made.
Free: on computers and on Android, where the app is called AnkiDroid. Costs money: the app for iPhone and iPad. Best for: remembering words in the long run. It does not explain grammar.
Clozemaster
Clozemaster teaches you words by having you fill in gaps in real sentences.
Free: the basics, with limits. Costs money: a paid version. Best for: people who know the basics and want to learn many more words in context.
HelloTalk and Tandem
These are not courses but language exchange apps. You write and talk with Swedish speakers who want to learn your language.
Free: writing and talking with others. Costs money: paid extras. Best for: using Swedish for real once you know the basics.
Free things to listen to and read
These are not courses, but they give you real Swedish every day at no cost:
- Nyheter på lätt svenska. Short TV news in easy Swedish from SVT, the Swedish public broadcaster, free in SVT Play.
- Radio Sweden på lätt svenska. News from Swedish public radio for people who are new in Sweden, in the Sveriges Radio app and on the web.
- 8 Sidor. News in easy Swedish to read, free on the web.
- Lexin. A free dictionary between Swedish and Arabic, Persian, Somali, Tigrinya and other languages, with pronunciation, inflection and examples.
- The library. You can borrow easy-to-read books for free, and many libraries also lend e-books and audiobooks.
Is SFI free?
SFI is free, and so are the books, if you are entitled to it. An app helps you practise between lessons, but a teacher who corrects you and classmates to talk with give you things no app can. Read more about what SFI is and who can study it.
Two more things cost nothing:
- Old test tasks. Some example tasks from the national tests are public. Read how to practise with old SFI national tests.
- Language cafés. Many libraries run free conversation groups where you can speak Swedish.
Apps that are only free to try
- Babbel. Costs a subscription, but you can try a lesson for free. Its Swedish course explains in English.
- Pimsleur. An audio course that costs a subscription.
Both can be good, but they are not free apps. How they compare with the others is in our comparison of the apps.
How can you learn Swedish for free?
This is what a week can look like without paying anything:
- Every day, 15 minutes: a lesson in the app and a few new words.
- Every day, 5 minutes: one news story in easy Swedish, ideally with audio.
- Three times a week: read a few sentences aloud and check your pronunciation.
- Once a week: a language café or a conversation with someone who speaks Swedish.
What matters is not how long you practise each time, but that you do it almost every day.
Summary
- Best free app: SFI Prov. Completely free, from zero to the SFI test, with video lessons, pronunciation analysis and conversations with AI.
- For a daily habit: Duolingo, free with ads.
- For remembering words: Anki, free on Android and computers.
- Free to listen to and read: Nyheter på lätt svenska, Radio Sweden på lätt svenska, 8 Sidor and Lexin.
- The most important free tool: SFI, and speaking Swedish with people.
Sources
- Duolingo
- Anki: download the app
- Clozemaster
- HelloTalk and Tandem
- Babbel
- Pimsleur
- SVT Play: Nyheter på lätt svenska
- Sveriges Radio: Radio Sweden på lätt svenska
- 8 Sidor: about 8 Sidor
- Lexin: dictionaries for immigrants
- Skolverket: the Education Guide on SFI
- 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.
The app for SFI and Swedish
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free app to learn Swedish?
Our pick is SFI Prov. It is completely free, with no ads and no subscription, and takes you from zero to the SFI test with video lessons for grammar, pronunciation analysis, conversations with AI and explanations in Arabic, Persian, Somali and English. We make the app ourselves. If you only want a daily word habit, Duolingo also fits, free with ads.
Is there a completely free app to learn Swedish?
Yes. SFI Prov is completely free, with no ads and no in-app purchases. Anki is free on Android and computers, but the iPhone app costs money. Duolingo, Clozemaster, HelloTalk and Tandem have free versions with ads or limits, and paid extras.
Is Duolingo free for Swedish?
Yes, the Swedish course is free with ads, and there is a paid version without ads. The free version goes a long way for a daily habit, but it does not train the tasks of the SFI test.
Is Babbel free?
No. Babbel costs a subscription, but you can try a lesson for free first.
Can you learn Swedish completely for free?
Yes. SFI is free if you are entitled to it, and you can add free apps, news in easy Swedish, dictionaries and language cafés. What it costs is mostly time: hearing and speaking Swedish every day.
Is SFI free?
Yes. SFI and the books you need are free. However, you cannot get student finance from CSN while you study SFI.
Is there a free app that explains Swedish in Arabic?
Yes, SFI Prov explains grammar and words in Arabic, Persian, Somali and English, for free. For single words there is Lexin, a free dictionary between Swedish and Arabic, Persian, Somali and other languages.