If you are planning a visit to “Wonderful Indonesia” and want to get the most out of your time there, you should probably consider learning a few words and phrases before you step off the plane. Luckily, language learners have never been better equipped for getting to grips with a new language than they are today, and we will be looking at the best app to learn Indonesian out there to get you started.
It may come as a surprise to some, but Indonesian is one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet. Actually, this isn’t such a surprise as Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world. And what better reason for learning Indonesian as a new language than you will have at least 270 million native speakers to chat with?
Indonesian, or Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language), is the nation’s national language and is derived from Malay, which has been the lingua franca across the Indonesian archipelago for many centuries. Another reason for choosing to learn Indonesian online is because the Indonesian language has been heavily influenced by languages you might already be familiar with, such as English, Dutch, and Arabic.
As well as speaking the native language, many native Indonesian speakers will use one or more of around 700 indigenous languages, such as Sundanese or Javanese, when they are with friends and family. However, when at school, visiting the bank, or watching television, nearly everyone will revert to Bahasa Indonesia.
But that’s enough of the background, you are here to find out which app is best for you to start learning this wonderful language. Here are 7 of the best apps that will have you speaking like a native in no time.
| Apps | Why Is It The Best? | Pricing |
| Babbel | Best Overall App | $12.95 per month, $83.40 per year |
| Pimsleur | Best Conversation App | $14.95 per month per course. $19.95 per month for all courses. $119.95 one-time payment for a complete language course |
| italki | Best One-On-One App | Lessons range from $5.00 to $10.00 per hour |
| Mondly | Best Beginner’s App | $9.99 per month. Free trial before you pay a subscription |
| IndonesianPod101 | Best Listening App | $4.00 to $8.00 per month, 7-day free trial |
| Duolingo | Best Free App | Free with ads, $12.99 per month without ads |
| Ling App | Best Gamification App | $8.99 per month |
Babbel
Babbel is the best language-learning app out there for those who want to get fully immersed in Indonesian. Unlike many other apps on the market, Babbel tailors each of its courses specifically to the language rather than just creating a single course and translating it into various different languages. With Babbel, you will master speaking, listening, reading, and writing while constantly developing your communication skills. Babbel is also great for all skill levels, as you will be given an assessment before you begin so the app can give you lessons tailored to your proficiency.
Features
- A proficiency assessment means you will enter at a level that best suits your language skills.
- Provides an in-depth Indonesian course that covers all aspects of the language.
- The lessons are created to have you improve your communication skills at your own pace, as you can study wherever and whenever you want.
Customer Review
★★★★★
“I have found Babbel to be a useful and affordable option to continue language learning for those that don’t have time or money to attend an in-person class. They also include some culture and slang that helps to learn the selected language more holistically.” — Joseph Pappas
Pricing: Monthly subscription $12.95. A yearly plan will set you back $83.40.
Devices: iOS and Android.
Pimsleur
If you want to quickly improve your Indonesian speaking skills, Pimsleur is the app for you. Pimsleur offers audio lessons consisting of conversations between native speakers. The conversations are then broken down into easy-to-learn bite-sized chunks. Repeating the phrases not only helps improve your Indonesian vocabulary and Indonesian grammar but ensures your pronunciation is spot on. Pimsleur gets you up and running by creating conversations you will experience in everyday life when you are in Indonesia, such as how to shop at the market, how to introduce yourself to new friends, and how to get yourself around.
Features
- Pimsleur will have you speaking Indonesian in your very first lesson, and each subsequent lesson is tailored to build on what you have already learned.
- Lessons are no longer than 30 minutes long, so you won’t feel overwhelmed. And because they are exclusively audio lessons and there is a hands-free mode, you can listen and learn while you are on the go.
- Bonus learning materials, flashcards, and games are available to boost your learning experience.
Customer Review
“Pimsleur dances. It prompts, cajoles, teases, prods you into saying stuff. It is witty. It keeps you constantly on your toes, getting you to think how to use parts of one sentence you’ve learned in combination with parts of another sentence.” — Ellen Jovin
Pricing: $14.95 per month for Audio-Only, $19.95per month for Premium (with Bonus Materials), $20.95 per month for All Access.
Devices: iOS and Android.
italki
Learning a foreign language is always easier when you are learning from a native speaker. There are dozens of Indonesian tutors on italki waiting to connect with you and help you master your Indonesian pronunciation and listening skills. The language app allows you to filter your teachers so that you can find the perfect partner to learn with for a price that suits your pocket. The platform prides itself on being safe and secure, and every tutor is approved by the italki team.
Features
- Customized lessons created by legitimate teachers so you can learn Indonesian at a pace that suits you.
- A secure platform where you can safely communicate with a wide selection of teachers and other learners with confidence.
Customer Review
★★★★★
“It’s a great platform/app to practice conversation, and grammar and teachers are very kind and always glad to help you in any way possible. Give it a try!” — Monica Souza
Pricing: Lessons usually range from around $5.00 to $10.00 per hour, depending on the tutor. Discounted trial lessons start as low as $1.00 per hour to help you choose a tutor.
Devices: iOS and Android.
Mondly
If you are looking to get to grips with basic Indonesian, Mondly has you covered. A great app for beginners, Mondly offers lessons that are short and to the point. Because you are able to pick and choose the order of the lessons, you can skip straight to the topics you are interested in. To keep you motivated, Mondly tracks the progress you are making so you can see how much you have already learned.
Features
- Short, easy lessons mean you will quickly pick up the basics and learn lots of new words.
- Allows you to choose the topics you want to learn and tracks your progress so you know where you are at all times.
Customer Review
“Learning feels like playing a game, very addictive. Thank you Mondly.” — Dave B
Pricing: $9.99 per month, $47.99 per year. You can access the first few lessons of every course for free.
Devices: iOS and Android.
IndonesianPod101
Off all the language apps on our list, IndonesianPod101 is the best for students wanting to improve their Indonesian listening skills. There are hundreds of audio and video lessons on offer covering a wide range of subjects that will have you prepared for all eventualities of everyday life. Because there are so many topics on offer, you will always be able to find something to grab your interest. Plus, there are new lessons added to the platform every week.
Features
- Allows you to learn at your own pace, with lessons on a wide range of subjects that are added every week.
Customer Review
“I spent in Indonesia about 1.5 year. Before leaving to Indonesia I was learning Indonesian for a few months. This was wonderful experience. I was able to communicate in Indonesian not only in a very simple topics, but also I could conduct more complicated conversations. Indonesian are very interesting people with a very surprising mentality. To have a possibility to communicate with them directly, means to have opportunity to meet their culture without any kind of impurity. Continuation with IndonesianPod101 gives me opportunity keeping in touch with the language.” — Malgorzata Nowicka
Pricing: Between $4.00 to $8.00 per month. There are also Premium and Premium+ subscriptions available. 7-day free trial.
Devices: iOS and Android.
Duolingo
Duolingo is the ideal app for those who want to try out Indonesian before investing their cash in a course of lessons. The app is completely free and offers users a comprehensive course that will not only help you speak Indonesian but also have you reading and writing the language in no time. The learning process is also geared towards providing essential vocabulary and basic grammar. Duolingo may not be aimed at the advanced student but is ideal for those just starting to learn Bahasa Indonesia – and it’s free!
Features
- Complete access to your target language course for free.
- Short lessons that teach a range of ways to communicate in Indonesian, covering everyday topics you will be able to use as soon as you arrive.
Customer Review
★★★★★
“My daughter enjoys the app on her Ipad. She uses it to learn some languages. She especially likes using it while in the car and it keeps her busy and happy. It’s easy to use so she does not need my help.” — Violet S
Pricing: Free to use with ads. Super Duolingo is $12.99 per month with no ads.
Devices: iOS and Android.
Ling App
Ling app is the perfect language tool for those who like to have fun while learning. Engaging lessons that include quizzes, puzzles, and games ensure you are always entertained while getting a great grounding in Indonesian vocab, grammar, everyday phrases, and proper pronunciation. Speaking with an AI chatbot helps you improve your conversational skills, and you can practice your writing with Ling app’s smartphone finger-tracing feature. Loads of free blogs are also available, covering all aspects of Indonesian culture.
Features
- Ling app helps you learn a wide range of topics and language skills while keeping you entertained and wanting more through gamified lessons.
- An AI chatbot is always available when you want to practice your pronunciation and conversation skills.
Customer Review
★ 5.0
“This is an incredible app. I consider myself to be language-challenged (even in my native tongue, sometimes!), but the programmers have made this app fun, challenging, but possible. I don’t plan on mastering Thai by anymeans, but this will help me understand and speak better if I have my way and get to visit someday. Thank you Ling app developers for your time spent in creating this fun application.” — Megan Kizer.
Pricing: Premium access to all modules starts at $8.99/month.
Devices: iOS and Android.
Do You Agree With Our Pick Of The Best App To Learn Indonesian?
Well, that’s our list of the best apps to learn Indonesian available at the moment. Be sure to keep checking in with us, as there are always new apps popping up that we will be sure to review in the future.
If you are interested in getting to grips with a new language or are just interested in learning more about a country and its culture, why not give Ling app a visit? As well as having more than 60 languages on offer, Ling app has hundreds of blogs covering all sorts of topics about different languages, people, and cultures from around the globe.
Ling uses a range of methods for teaching new languages, including interactive games and quizzes. An AI chatbot is available for whenever you want to practice your conversation and pronunciation.
Join us on social media or check out our languages on Google Play or the App Store today for all your language learning needs.
