Did you know that speaking more than one language may help delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s? Or that bilinguals have the tendency to make better, more rational financial decisions? Learning a second language itself can even make you a better English speaker!

All these show how awesome languages are, and not only for your CV. Of course, that’s a much-welcome benefit, seeing as being bilingual makes your resume stand out.

So, why not join the 572 million Spanish-speaking folks out there? Take the first step now by using the best apps for learning Spanish.

We’ve outlined the top seven of them below. Check them out now, and you’ll say “gracias” to us later.

1. Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the top apps to learn Spanish from scratch. You only need to download it – yes, for free – and you can start right then and there.

Signing up for an account is an option. We recommend you do though. Having an account gives you access to the app’s progress tracking feature.

Spanish isn’t the only language you can learn with this app. From French to Japanese, German to Italian, Dutch to Czech – you have 30 languages to choose from!

One of Duolingo’s main benefits is that runs on a lot of visual aids. With 65% of the entire population being visual learners, this is a great and fun way to learn.

Lessons aren’t 100% images though. They also come with texts and audio, which you can associate the translation’s sound (AKA proper pronunciation) to.

From here, you translate what you learned using your mother tongue. This then helps with new word recall.

Also, it’s much like a fun game wherein you need to “level up.” You first need to complete a task before you can take on the next “boss.” By that, we mean lessons for the advanced learners.

With regular use of the app, you’ll find it easier to build your Spanish vocabulary. Soon enough, you’ll hear yourself conversing in it!

2. Memrise

Memrise, another popular app to learn Spanish, also offers courses for other languages–Vietnamese, Dutch, French, and Italian to name a few. What makes it stand out, though, is that you can use the app not only for free but also offline!

It’s more than a Spanish pronunciation app. Although that in itself already makes it great for first-timers. It also offers various learning and practicing lessons, as well as a huge collection of phrases you’ll hear in everyday conversations.

It even has a library of videos showcasing some of the 360 million native speakers using the language in conversations.

3. StudyBlue

93% of teachers swear by flashcards’ effectiveness in language learning. That’s because these visual aids stimulate the brain’s active recall abilities.

As a result, you learn languages faster. That, and better recall of your Spanish verbs, nouns, pronouns, so on and so forth.

No wonder then that Spanish flashcard app StudyBlue has become one of the best programs to learn this language! It’s like any other effective flashcard. The main difference is, it’s in digital form.

That means you can learn from any device, be it your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Best of all, it lets you practice or review previous flashcards offline. Oh, and did we mention it’s free?

4. Learn Spanish Podcast

Another of the visual apps to learn Spanish, Learn Spanish Podcast caters to every learner level. The videos are all in Spanish, with some covering basics, like the “Fun for All!” video and the “Spanish in Three Minutes.” Even the vocabulary lessons are in video format!

For the intermediate and advanced learners, the app also features videos of everyday, relevant Spanish conversations. Make sure you also check out the app’s coverage for grammar rules.

It’s also a great tool for those about to head to one of the 20 countries where Spanish is the official language. It also has a “holidays” or “travel” section, which you’ll find useful during your trip.

5. Busuu

You can get Busuu for free or opt to upgrade to the Premium package. It’s up to you, although you may want to try the free version first since it’s already helpful.

The easy-to-understand app offers full courses in Spanish among five other languages. You’ll hear native speakers conversing with each other using their native tongue. Hearing them pronounce words the right way and use them in proper context can help you learn the language faster.

You can access the lessons while you’re offline, so that’s a bonus too. The app tests what you’ve learned through quizzes. You need to pass these before you can progress to the next level.

6. FluentU

FluentU’s main strength is its use of real-world visual and audio content. From commercials to inspirational speeches, the app transforms these videos into a fun way to learn Spanish amongst many other languages.

This new take on “teaching” language is far from the boring textbook-like approach that can make anyone want to give up. Aside from all the rich, interesting, and fun videos, you can also download and save audio files. This means you can listen to and review them even when you’re offline.

7. Gritty spanish

Ever listened to a conversation in the street and wondered, “what the heck are they talking about?“.

Our very own app, Gritty Spanish will get you more than few steps closer to understanding Spanish used in the street. Gritty Spanish is all about listening, reading and learning Spanish through super entertaining and engaging stories.

If you’re looking for an app that has some more advanced dialogues used in the street, then Gritty Spanish is for you.

The app gives you the ability to slow down the conversations and quickly rewind to listen to words and phrases used in the lively conversations.

Gritty Spanish is more than a simple app, it really puts you in the middle of a dark, Spanish speaking world; nothing else on the market is like it.

The app also gives you the chance to read the words spoken in the stories in English and Spanish side by side.

Download the free app here:

Gritty Spanish On iOS | Gritty Spanish on Android

8. Google Translate

With more than 500 million users, many people consider Google Translate as one of, if not the best Spanish learning app. It’s also up for a massive update, which will make its offline abilities even more powerful.

The app has long since taken over traditional dictionaries, including those for Spanish to English. Whether you type the words in, speak them aloud, or even photograph them, Google Translate will do the job for you.

You can even listen to the translation’s pronunciation, as well as save the translations for later use.