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With vocabulary trainers, you can expand your personal vocabulary quickly and effectively. That’s the goal – and to help you reach this goal as easily as possible, we have looked at and used several vocabulary builders over an extended period. Here are our recommendations of the best trainers for learning vocabulary.
Table of Contents
Best Vocabulary Trainers: Overview
– Our Top Pick –
Mosalingua
1st Place: Mosalingua
The most flexible vocabulary builder with brilliant AI features.
Also the vocabulary app we’ll be using ourselves in 2025.
2nd Place: Lingq
For advanced learners with extensive reading skills!
3rd Place: Mondly
The long-term motivator among vocabulary trainers.
As of: July 2025
Best Vocabulary Builders in Detail
Foreword: The following recommendations on vocab trainers reflect what we consider to be the best programs for learning vocabulary. Of course, which vocabulary learning solution is most suitable heavily depends on your learning goal. More on this after the detailed description of each vocabulary trainer.
Important! Especially with language learning apps and vocabulary trainers offered through app stores, you can quickly overpay with in-app purchases. This is because most providers add the 30% fee from the respective app store to their prices. You can save real money by going through the provider’s website. All the links below to the language learning apps automatically direct you to the most affordable offer available.
1. Mosalingua
Wow, that was our first impression when we put Mosalingua to the test again last November. We could hardly believe our eyes, and it quickly became clear: Mosalingua is the most improved app. It impressed us so much that we will now be using it ourselves in 2025. Respect, Mosalingua!
The app offers a range of authentic materials in various formats, illustrated grammar explanations, and a customizable vocabulary trainer. A brand new feature is that you can directly import unknown words from a dialogue with an artificial intelligence. This allows you to always incorporate the most relevant vocabulary for you into your learning process.
The learning process consists of several steps: listening, pronunciation, comparison, learning, writing, and self-assessment. Another very positive aspect of this app is that the learning progress is projected over three months and constantly shown to the users, which increases motivation.
We also find it clearly appealing in terms of didactics and value for money, and it is now a firm recommendation. Of course, there are a few minor points of criticism, as you can read in our review. Nevertheless, you can learn vocabulary effectively with Mosalingua.
2. Lingq
LingQ stands out from the crowd primarily due to its huge range of authentic learning materials. And that’s exactly what we like very much, as we have been recommending for years to learn with your own content whenever LingQ stands out from the crowd primarily due to its huge range of authentic learning materials. And that’s exactly what we like very much, as we have been recommending for years to learn with your own content whenever possible. Because when we are interested in the content, we also learn faster and better. LingQ offers this on a much larger scale than other vocabulary trainers.
The learning texts are always voiced by native speakers and enable sustainable learning with different senses. It relies on a special scientific learning approach called “Extensive Reading,” which is based on Stephen Krashen’s learning theories. From the texts in the target language, you create so-called LingQs, which then form the basis for the vocabulary trainer. Our review explains this in detail.
Due to the presentation and the type of learning, we recommend having some prior knowledge of the target language. However, this knowledge can be rusty. LingQ is therefore a top recommendation for advanced learners who are looking for a vocabulary builder that can keep up with their language level.
3. Mondly
If you are looking for a good combination of a vocabulary builder and a language course, Mondly is the right choice. To learn new words, Mondly uses the so-called Spaced Repetition System. This way, vocabulary is repeated just before you forget it. The new words are trained in various exercises. Whether listening, writing, or reading, all skills are practiced.
Unfortunately, you cannot enter your own vocabulary in Mondly. However, the words are not only quizzed individually but sometimes also in context. So I don’t just learn a new word in isolation, but also in its linguistic context. Very good, because that’s exactly what the latest brain research on vocabulary learning suggests. (More on this in our MemoryHACK on the HACKlist.)
So why did Mondly secure the 3rd place among vocabulary trainers? Quite simply, Mondly is a master of motivation. Through so-called gamification elements, they ensure that I always continue learning with fun. In our opinion, they do this better than others, which is why they also won the “Motivation” category in our review. Since long-term motivation is so crucial, especially for vocabulary learning, we recommend Mondly!
Savings Tip! With the vocabulary trainer Mondly, there is a premium version that unlocks all languages for a lifetime! This comes as a one-time payment and not as an (annoying and expensive) subscription! Especially for those who learn over several years (for school, etc.), you can save real money here. However, this special offer cannot be purchased through the app. You can get it by clicking the orange button above.
Tip! When learning languages, it’s always worthwhile to focus on the most frequently used words of the respective foreign language. You can find them here in so-called frequency dictionaries.
More information on this can also be found in our FocusHACK.
The Advantages of Vocabulary Trainers
Anyone learning a new language cannot avoid learning new words. A classic for years has been learning vocabulary with flashcards. And this is where vocabulary trainers come into play. These are electronic programs, for example, for the smartphone. And they take a lot of work off the learner’s hands, because…
- Flashcards are always with you, as they are always available on your mobile phone.
- You can download ready-made sets of vocabulary (for example, from other learners).
- The correct repetition function is integrated directly into the software.
- and much more.
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At the same time, many vocabulary trainers are more fun, as they offer playful elements or already include images so that we can remember the new words better.
Differences in Vocabulary Trainers
This also brings us to the important point of the differences between the various offerings. Vocabulary builders like Mondly offer a complete language course, and the very good vocabulary trainer is just one component of the entire program.
Other solutions, for example, are directly linked to school textbooks, so you can learn the words for the upcoming vocabulary test directly. Still others are completely open, and you can enter your own words, phrases, or sentences. The latter, by the way, is excellently suited for the transREAL method, which completely replaces classic vocabulary cramming. More on this in our specially developed course.
This means that you must be clear in advance about what you need a vocabulary trainer for. In the above list of the best vocabulary builders, we have made a point of highlighting the individual special features of the various solutions, so that you can easily find the optimal vocabulary trainer for you.
Maybe a Full Language Course After All?
Vocabulary trainers are a great supplement to almost any existing learning plan. But sometimes you just want a complete language course. And this is where our Top 10 come into play! You can’t go wrong with these courses.
Conveniently: In this article, we present the best as well as the most popular language courses in a price comparison – at a glance. Hours of researching and comparing offers are a thing of the past.
By the way, language learning doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are the best vouchers and discounts so you can start your language adventure cheaply. It pays to be quick. In addition to the many great vocabulary trainers, you’ll find other providers with innovative concepts here. Definitely take a look!
Conclusion on Best Vocabulary Builders – Many Good Solutions with Different Strengths
Whether you’re on a tight budget or looking for pre-made language courses, from word games to classic flashcards, you’ll find a wonderful variety in our recommendations of the best vocabulary trainers. Just the right thing for everyone to choose their optimal solution.
Which vocabulary trainer do you use, and what experiences have you had with the various solutions? We look forward to your reports in the comments.