Turkey is a dream travel destination for many. It is vibrant, it is beautiful, and the food is to die for. Students from all over the world look to Turkey for their Bachelors, Masters or PhD programs and oftentimes the universities require them to know at least some level of Turkish so that they can hold a decent conversation during their stay. If you’re someone who is trying to pursue studies in Turkey, vacation there, or just want to learn Turkish as a hobby, here are the 5 options you can try out to choose the best website to learn Turkish.
Top 5 Best Websites to Learn Turkish
Having sifted through numerous reddit threads about people’s go-to sites for learning Turkish and trying out several of them for myself. Here are my top 5 picks
Babbel
Babbel is one of the first sites you’ll come across if you open your search engine and look up “How can I learn Turkish”. It gained popularity for its bite-sized lessons and grammar tips that people can follow along.
It is probably one of the more structured learning platforms which makes it the perfect tool for Turkish learning for beginners.
It features interactive dialogues to help you practice whatever words and phrases you’d use the most in every-day conversation. The grammar tips and cultural notes are sprinkled into the lessons in little tid-bits so they’d be easy to remember.
You can correct your pronunciation using the speech recognition feature. Babble keeps a track of your progress and keeps you motivated by showing you how far you’ve come.
Features
Languages Available: Babbel offers lessons in 14 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Polish, English, Indonesian, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian.
Bite-Sized Lessons: The lessons are short and manageable, just 10 to 15 minutes so it’s easy to fit learning into even the busiest day.
Speech Recognition: Babbel’s smart speech recognition gives you real-time feedback, helping you fine-tune your pronunciation as you go.
AI Conversation Partner: Practice speaking naturally with an AI conversation partner, designed to boost your confidence in real-world conversations.
Spaced Repetition System: The app’s review manager uses proven techniques to help you remember grammar and vocabulary for the long term.
Multi-Device Syncing: You can seamlessly switch between your phone, tablet, or computer so that your progress always stays up-to-date.
Offline Access: Babble allows you to download lessons ahead of time and keep learning wherever you are.
Flexible Plans: You can choose from a range of subscription options, 3-month, 6-month, or lifetime, to match your goals and schedule.
Price
There are several plans to choose from, you might get even get discounts on some of the longer subscriptions
Pros
Cons
Personally, when I first started learning Turkish, I found babbel to be extremely helpful in terms of grammar. The structured approach helps keep everything tracked and easy to follow. I will say it requires some discipline to get through as I didn’t find it as fun as some other apps. It reminded me of a kindergarten for Turkish learning.
Duolingo
Very rarely have I come across someone who doesn’t know about Duolingo. It is known to cause a ruckus online, their social media team is always making rounds for their twitter (X) feuds. The Duolingo bird will either be your best friend or your worst bully depending on your approach to language learning.
It is a gamified learning app offering bite-sized lessons in the form of games, it keeps track of your progress through streaks and rewards you on every milestone. You can view some of the best performances on a leadership board, which makes it all the more competitive.
Plus, because the site and the mobile app is so popular you have a massive online community that can help you whenever you need or guide you when you have questions.
Features
Gamified Learning: Duolingo keeps you engaged with daily streaks, XP points, and leaderboards that add a fun sense of competition. You’ll collect badges and achievements along the way, and the app’s skill tree helps guide your progress one step at a time.
AI Powered Personalization: The app adjusts lessons based on how you're doing, so the difficulty matches your skill level. You can also practice speaking with an AI conversation partner, though this feature is available only to premium users.
Language Practice Tools: Duolingo uses speech recognition to help fine-tune your pronunciation. Each lesson blends listening, reading, writing, and speaking to give you a well-rounded language experience.
Instant Feedback & Explain My Answer: You’ll get real-time feedback and corrections as you learn. If you’re ever unsure why an answer was right or wrong, you can ask for a detailed explanation to help you understand better.
Multifaceted Learning: The app offers short interactive stories to improve comprehension, audio lessons to sharpen your real-world listening skills through podcasts, and in some courses, the option to learn with songs.
Accessibility & Flexibility: You can use Duolingo on iOS, Android, or in a web browser. Premium users can also download lessons for offline learning, and your progress stays synced across all your devices.
Price
Duolingo has a free version available that contains ads. If you'd like to access more features and continue ad-free, consider getting the Duolingo Super which has a subscription package of $6.99 a month.
Pros
Cons
I have tried Duolingo before, frankly, as a game for other languages but never Turkish, this gave me the opportunity to try out Turkish as well. From a language learner’s perspective I found it particularly helpful to build vocabulary. It helped me build a routine where I incorporated Turkish language lessons in my day-to-day life.
However, some of my friends tried it as well and they have friends in Turkey, they tell me that it is great as a conversational language teacher and for building vocabulary, but not grammar. For grammar focused learning I had to look towards other resources.
Memrise
Memrise is the platform you approach when things get serious. It is a language learning app that involves actual native speakers for a connected experience. It follows that with repetitive learning and memorizing so that you don’t forget your lessons before moving onto the next topic.
The lectures are recorded and what makes it special is the added touch of native experience and expertise. It is great for improving listening and comprehension skills especially if that is what you’re primarily going to be doing on a student visa. You need that skill to get through life in Turkey.
Features
Spaced Repetition: Helps you remember new vocabulary by reviewing it at the right moments, making it easier to commit words to long-term memory.
Native Speaker Videos: Shows real people speaking the language so you can get comfortable with natural pronunciation, slang, and everyday expressions.
AI-Powered Chatbot (Membot): Lets you practice conversations with an intelligent chatbot, helping you build confidence in speaking through realistic interactions.
Gamified Learning: Keeps you motivated with points, streaks, and leaderboards that make the learning process fun and rewarding.
Offline Access: Lets you download lessons so you can study anytime, even without an internet connection which is perfect for learning on the go.
Official Courses: Offers language courses created by professionals, with structured lessons and interactive content in more than 30 languages.
Cultural Insights: Gives you helpful cultural context so you can understand how the language is really used in everyday situations.
Wide Language Coverage: Supports a broad range of languages, from major global ones to regional, rare, and even endangered languages, making it a great resource for all kinds of learners.
Price
Like Duolingo, Memrise has a free version with basic functions and a premium for about $8.99 a month.
Pros
Cons
Memrise is where my experience shifted because it replaced my bot teacher with an actual human native speaker. Even if the lectures were recorded the difference is huge.
Perhaps it is our natural instinct to lean more towards human-to-human connection but I did feel that the experience was more immersive, it kept my attention all the way till the end. Understanding natural phrasing and getting to listen to the correct pronunciation from the locals was a huge plus.
Busuu
Busuu is probably one of the “hidden-gems” in the language learner world. You get free unlimited access to their complete Turkish course and learn through bite-sized lessons. You can set aside a few minutes a day for each of the lessons. You can build your skills with writing and speaking challenges.
The writing aspect is what makes this website unique but that’s not even the best part. It has live sessions with native speakers instead of recorded lectures. If you’re looking for Turkish language courses online, free with certificates, Busuu is your university away from campus.
You get your performance reviewed in AI-powered review sessions and by the end of the course you get a course completion certificate which you can add to your resume or application for universities for an extra feather in your cap.
Features
Spaced Repetition: Helps you retain new vocabulary by reviewing it at the right intervals, so words and phrases stick in your memory over time.
Native Speaker Feedback: Lets you submit your written or spoken exercises for review by native speakers, giving you real-world corrections and tips.
AI-Powered Personalized Study Plan: Builds a tailored study plan based on your goals, skill level, and availability, helping you stay on track and motivated.
Interactive Conversations: Offers dialogue-based exercises that help you practice speaking and listening in realistic scenarios.
Offline Access: Busuu lets you download lessons so you can keep learning anytime, anywhere, even without an internet connection.
Official Language Courses: Provides expertly designed courses across 14+ languages, with a focus on practical vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills.
Price
Busuu has multiple packages to choose from as well. There is a free limited version which does host quite a few features and is the best way to learn turkish for free but for the full experience you can try out the following premiums as per your budget.
Pros
Cons
I must say this is my first experience with a language learning website that values writing as well. I liked the corrections from the native speakers and the live sessions as well. Like Memrise it is very helpful to have human teachers but the live aspect takes it a notch above.
AmazingTalker
If you’re looking for a more personalized experience where instructors are not just pre-recorded but actually present with you to guide you through your Turkish learning journey, consider Amazing Talker. It’s one of the few online Turkish classes not directly affiliated with universities that offers 1-on-1 lessons with tutors who are often native speakers of the language they teach.
Are they world-class experts? Not necessarily, but they are very good at helping you learn. As with any 1-on-1 learning option, Amazing Talker is one of the pricier choices out there, but in many ways, it’s worth the investment.
Your instructors will tailor the lessons to your needs, the scheduling is flexible, and you’re matched with a teacher through a smart algorithm. It’s also been a great way for local tutors to find international work opportunities, helping connect learners with people who have the skills they need.
Features
Personalized Learning: Instead of generic lessons, AmazingTalker builds courses and lesson plans around your level, interests, and goals, so you can focus on exactly what matters most to you.
Flexible Scheduling: You’re in control of your schedule, you can choose between private 1-on-1 sessions or small group classes, and book lessons at times that fit your life.
AI-Powered Matching: An intelligent AI pairs you with tutors who match your background, language level, and learning style, helping you start strong and stay motivated.
Native Speaker Tutors: Most tutors are native speakers, so you’ll naturally pick up authentic pronunciation, common expressions, and cultural context that go beyond textbook learning.
Diverse Language and Subject Offerings: AmazingTalker covers a wide variety of languages from English, Spanish, and French to Turkish free courses and many more along with other valuable subjects.
1-on-1 Attention: In one-on-one lessons, your tutor’s full focus is on you. You’ll have more chances to practice speaking, ask questions, and receive personalized feedback, all at a pace that works for you.
Price
Lesson prices typically range from $10 to $30 per hour, depending on factors like your tutor, chosen language, preferences, and overall demand. The tutors you’re matched with offer different pricing options, and the system helps connect you with one that fits your budget.
Pros
Cons
I loved the experience of being matched with a teacher just right for me. Learning Turkish from a native is a joyful experience, the way they explain their language and cultural contexts with so much depth and respect is worth appreciating, which is something that makes the fee structure worth it.
A Quick Breakdown
To give you a side-by-side comparison of all 5 websites, here is a breakdown of everything that they have to offer.
Website | Babbel | Duolingo | Memrise | Busuu | Amazing talker |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Features | - Structured lessons - Grammar tips - Progress tracking | - Gamified lessons. - Community support. | - Native videos - SRS - Flexible courses | - All reviews - Native feedback - Live practice | One-on-One live tutoring |
Price | 13.95/month | Free + $6.99/month | Free + $8.99/month | Free + 13.99/month | $10-$30/hour |
Pros | - Professional content - Offline access | - Highly engaging - Great for beginners | - Excellent listening practice fun | - Real interactions - Speaking practice | - Personalized lessons Real interaction |
Cons | Limited free content | Shallow grammar coverage | Weak grammar instruction | Limited free version | - Potentially expensive |
The Best Language Learning Helper:AnyDoc Translator
Let’s say you want to work with Turkish source materials, maybe to practice or challenge yourself by reading authentic texts and seeing how much you can understand. But it’s not always easy to tell if your translation is accurate, and manually checking it with a guide can take a lot of time.
That’s where AnyDoc Translator might be of help. It’s completely free and supports more than 30 file types for translation. You can use it with websites, PDFs, Word documents, whatever you please. There are no ads and no sign-up required.
AnyDoc Translator is a fantastic tool for learners who want to add more authentic materials to their studies, including Turkish content. Toolsmart AnyDoc can really enhance your Turkish learning experience and help you do more without spending extra money. It is particularly useful for students studying in Turkey.
The tool also preserved the original formatting, which made my study sessions even easier. It’s a great way to test yourself beyond your usual language learning apps. This is a must-have for anyone looking for high-quality translations to complement their learning.
How to use AnyDoc to Study a Foreign Language Document
Step 1: Launch your browser and go to the AnyDoc Translator website.
Step 2: From the homepage, click on “Translate File”.
Step 3: Open the “Language” drop-down and choose “Turkish”.
Step 4: Upload your PDF file using “Select from your Computer” or drag it into the upload section.
Step 5: Let AnyDoc process and translate your document.
Step 6: Use the side-by-side view to compare the original with the translation by hovering over sections.
Step 7: Download the file by clicking “Download”, then choose between bilingual or translated only.
FAQs
1. What Learning Method Does Busuu Use?
Busuu combines AI-powered review sessions with interactive lessons and feedback from native speakers. This method encourages practical speaking and writing practice.
2. Is Duolingo Enough for Learning Turkish?
Duolingo is great for building vocabulary and daily practice, but it lacks in-depth grammar instruction. It’s best used alongside more comprehensive resources.
3. What’s the Advantage of Using AnyDoc Translator?
AnyDoc Translator allows you to translate and study authentic Turkish materials for free, giving you access to a broader range of real-world language content.