How many words you remember correlates with your skill in the target language. But you can’t just cramp up new vocabulary and expect to improve. Every new word must be learned bit by bit. That’s what the Drops app aims to achieve.
This Drops review covers how this language-learning app makes acquiring new vocabulary enjoyable. It’s one of the most user-friendly apps we have reviewed. Is it enough for this vocabulary app to suit your language learning goals? Read on to find out.
8.8
TOTAL SCORE
Perfect for learning new vocabulary in a fun and easy way
Drops app is a unique learning experience that will have you speaking a new language in no time with its brief lessons, vibrant graphics, and simple interface. Most intermediate-level users will find new vocabulary to learn. With over 40 languages available, Drops is definitely worth a try.
Drops App Review Summary
| ⭐ Rating: | 8.8★★★★★ |
| 🥇 Available languages: | 46 (see below) |
| 📈 Suits best for: | Intermediates |
| 🛒 Payment options: | Monthly/12 Months/Lifetime |
| 💵 Price: | $13 – $159.99 |
| ⌚ Hours of lesson time: | 250+ |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 14-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
List of Languages Available on Drops App
Arabic, Korean, British English, Castilian Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, European Portuguese, US English, Brazilian Portuguese, Mexican Spanish, Greek, Hungarian, Hebrew, German, Italian, Bosnian, French, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Esperanto, Estonian, Russian, Finnish, Hawaiian, Hindi, Igbo, Icelandic, Indonesian, Maori, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Samoan, Sanskrit for Yoga, Serbian, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, Yoruba, Ainu, Ukrainian.
Our Evaluation
Total score:
8.8
PROS
- Extremely simple to use
- Large vocabulary
- Motivates to learn
- Game-like features
CONS
- Solely emphasizes vocabulary
- Lacks audio and conversation exercises
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Related Language Apps
Table of Contents
- Perfect for learning new vocabulary in a fun and easy way
- Drops App Review Summary
- List of Languages Available on Drops App
- Recommended Apps for Other Languages
- Our Evaluation
- About The Drops App
- Drops App Review: Key Features
- Quality of The Learning Material
- Drops App Review: Simplicity of Operation
- What Areas Could Be Improved?
- Drops Price
- Drops Ratings from Other Users
- Drops Review: Assistance to Clients
- Drops App Review: What Sets it Apart?
About The Drops App
The Drops language app was first launched in 2015 by Daniel Farkas and Mark Szulyovszky. In 2020, Kahoot, a Norwegian company, acquired Drops, which expanded its reach further and helped innovate in the language learning space.
Its dynamic layout is noteworthy and distinguished by a minimalist and bright style. Drops primary goal is to teach vocabulary, hence the straightforward approach. It makes the program more manageable and suitable for language learners who focus primarily on acquiring individual words and phrases.
Drops use repetition and mnemonics to assist you in learning vocabulary quickly. Within each category, the app displays words multiple times. You’ll see and hear the words in different formats, such as text, visuals, and audio.
You can choose which words to skip during exercises, and the app will not quiz you on them as frequently. You’ll have to wait 10 hours after your session to begin the next round of learning.
A comprehensive understanding of writing systems is crucial for language learning, but it’s a different task. That’s why Drops goes together with an app called Scripts, which allows users to practice writing in their target language. You’re in luck if you want to learn Thai, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, or Korean.
Drops App Review: Key Features
The Drops language app offers an innovative, intuitive, and fun way to learn a new language. Its highly visual approach makes it easy for users to quickly pick up the basics and have fun. With its bite-sized lessons and gamified approach, Drops is designed to make language learning an enjoyable experience.
It also provides several essential features that differentiate it from other language apps. Let’s take a closer look at these features.
5 Minutes Lesson
The 5-minute lesson is designed to help you learn and retain new vocabulary. During this brief time, you will be introduced to various words accompanied by images and their pronunciations. You can pronounce the words yourself and engage in an interactive game where you match each picture with its corresponding name.
If you are already familiar with some words, you can skip them and move on to new ones. Additionally, you can progress at your own pace, ensuring the learning experience is tailored to your needs.
The timer count motivates language learners to complete the lesson within the given time frame. If any interruption arises, you can pause and resume the lesson when ready.
In comparison, other language learning apps offer longer lesson times, which may be too long for some people. The shorter lessons in Drops allow learners to fit language learning into their busy schedules without feeling overwhelmed.
Track Your Progress
Tracking your progress when learning is critical to stay motivated. The Drops app makes it simple to track your progress. The language learning app displays the number of words learned, the percentage of accuracy, and the recommended wait period before resuming use.
Drops keep students updated on their progress by displaying their daily updates, including accuracy rate, amount of new words introduced, and more. It makes tracking progress easier and provides a clear picture of student development.
Many language apps, such as Babbel, offer progress monitoring tools too. But they are more concerned with finishing individual lessons and modules than with the number of words learned.
Tough Word Dojo
Drops offer a function called the Tough Word Dojo that helps language learners focus on the words that they find difficult. After acquiring knowledge of approximately 50 words, Drops provides access to the Tough Word Dojo.
With the help of an algorithm, Drops identifies the words you struggled with and lets you focus on them by gathering them in one convenient location. The Tough Word Dojo especially benefits students with difficulty learning proper pronunciation or complete phrases. It can help them overcome these difficulties more rapidly, especially if you want to learn Japanese or Korean languages.
Other apps like Memrise have a similar option for focusing on difficult words. But Memrise’s feature is only available to premium subscribers, and it’s limited to a certain number of new words daily.
Premium Features
The Drops app has several premium features that make language learning more convenient and effective. With a premium subscription, users can access every language the app offers without restrictions, so they can explore and learn as many languages as they want.
Premium subscribers also get to enjoy an ad-free experience, as well as offline access. This feature is handy for those who are constantly on the go or have limited access to the internet.
All vocabulary topics are available from the beginning, so premium subscribers can learn the needed words and phrases. They also have access to the Drops app listening game, which helps improve listening comprehension skills by testing the ability to recognize and understand spoken words.
With premium, there is no time limit for learning sessions, allowing subscribers to learn at their own pace without any pressure. They can also choose the words they want to review, making it easier to focus on the words they struggle with the most. Additionally, premium subscribers can adjust the length of each session to suit their preferences and learning style.
Quality of The Learning Material
The lessons in Drops are fun and engaging, with colorful graphics, audio pronunciations, and interactive exercises.
The app’s instructions and programs are clear and easy to understand. The app offers over 100 topics and 3000+ words across its language courses. Drops language app recommends spending 10-15 minutes daily on it to make progress.
It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete a lesson, so finding time to learn a language with Drops is easy. While the lessons are good for building vocabulary, they could teach grammar and sentence structure to help language learners improve their skills.
We don’t think learning new vocabulary is enough to form complex sentences. Let’s look into all parts of the learning material to get the complete picture.
Grammar Instruction
The Drops language learning app does not include any grammar lessons. While it does teach vocabulary words and proper pronunciation, it does not provide explicit instruction on grammar. Rather, Drops relies on a more intuitive approach, using interactive games and visuals to help users develop a feel for the language.
Some learners find this method effective, particularly those who are more visual or auditory in their learning style. However, the approach may be less helpful for those who need a structured introduction or languages with difficult grammar, like Japanese.
Verbal Practice
The Drops language learning app doesn’t have voice-to-text functionality or specialized speech practice assignments. Complete beginners will need it to learn proper pronunciation.
However, advanced learners can still benefit from the app’s high-quality audio recordings of native speakers pronouncing words. Drops are not ideal for learners who want a lot of speaking practice.
Reading
Drops primarily focus on vocabulary acquisition and retention, helping learners improve their spelling skills, which is crucial for reading effectively.
Drops help with spelling by providing learners with visual and auditory cues. For example, when learning new words, Drops display an image or an animated graphic that explains its meaning. It tells the result or recommends information we should remember by reading it out loud.
Writing
The Drops language app is not a tool for learning writing systems primarily. Despite this, the software may help you improve your spelling and vocabulary. These skills are important when it comes to writing competency.
Vocabulary
Drop helps users expand their vocabulary with engaging learning activities that are fun.
The program has pictures and animations that illustrate words and concepts. It also has audio pronunciations of words, which can help users improve their speaking and listening skills.
The app helps users learn vocabulary by presenting relevant and challenging activities. They can also create learning objectives and track their progress over time.
Other language learning apps like Rosetta Stone, Lingopie, Busuu, or LingQ, can teach you grammar better, but with Drops app you will expand your vocabulary rapidly.
Repetitiveness
Many language learning apps have limited exposure to new words, only showing them once or twice during each session. However, Drops takes a different approach by repeating each new word multiple times during its 5-minute sessions.
They use quizzes to test your understanding of meaning, spelling, and pronunciation. While Drops doesn’t offer visible or adjustable repetition intervals like Anki, it uses your performance to adjust which words are shown when.
Sessions are organized around specific topics, allowing for more focused learning. However, you may still encounter previously difficult words from other topics thanks to spaced repetition. This keeps the learning experience engaging and effective.
Drops App Review: Simplicity of Operation
The design of the Drops language app prioritizes usability, minimalism, and simplicity. The app’s interface is simple and clutter-free, making it easy for first-timers to use and navigate. The app stands out from other language apps due to its sleek, straightforward, and engaging visual design.
A single-color screen with faint gradients, stark white text, and photos create excellent contrast and color. The app’s mellow yet appealing appearance, which is easy on the eyes, keeps users glued to the screen. The app employs bright colors that change throughout the games.
The Drops app features original photographs and graphics in its content. The program includes one-of-a-kind and custom-made colorful, humorous, and engaging graphics. They complement its aesthetic and approach to language learning.
The application has stunning visuals, including immersive animations and high-quality images. Regarding app load speeds, Drops is fast and responsive, even on older devices.
In addition to the mobile app, Drops has a website that users can access from their desktop or laptop computers. The website offers many of the same features as the app, including various language courses, interactive lessons, and progress-tracking tools.
Settings and other customization options are also easy to access, and most users should be able to get started with the app without needing to tweak anything too extensively.
What Areas Could Be Improved?
There are several areas that can be improved. Here are some of them:
Lack of Grammar Explanations
Drops language app focuses primarily on vocabulary, often neglecting grammar explanations. It can make it difficult for learners to understand how words are used in context, especially in more complex sentences. Drops should consider incorporating more grammar explanations into its lessons. It will provide learners with a better understanding of the language.
Too Much Gamification
While gamification can keep learners engaged and motivated, Drops may have taken it too far. Some learners may find the constant emphasis on points, streaks, and achievements distracting or overwhelming. Drops should consider toning down the gamification elements to provide a more focused and streamlined learning experience.
Difference Between Free and Premium Versions
Drops offer both a free and a premium version, but the difference between the two can be unclear. The free version has limited access to lessons and features, but it’s unclear what learners will gain by upgrading to the premium version.
Drops should provide more information about the benefits of the premium version. It is to help learners make an informed decision about whether or not to upgrade.
Drops Price
The free version of the Drops app is limited to five minutes of daily use. It includes ads and doesn’t allow offline access. On the other hand, the premium version offers access to all 46 languages, no advertisements, offline access, unlimited review time, and the ability to choose and skip words you want to learn.
The Drops app offers flexible subscription options, including a monthly plan for $11, a yearly plan for $69.99, or a lifetime subscription for $150. If you are an intermediate-level learner serious about improving your vocabulary, the premium version may be a good investment.
| Subscription | Price | Payment |
| 1 Month | $13 | Charged monthly |
| 12 Months | $69.99 | 7 days free, then billed annually |
| Lifetime | $159.99 | Charged once |
Free Trial
The Drops free trial is seven days long with the option to upgrade to a premium. During the free trial, consumers have free access to premium services. Unless canceled, the subscription renews at a yearly rate of $69.99 after the trial period.
Drops Coupons and Discounts
Drops provide various discounts and coupons throughout the year. The discounts are often associated with major holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, and other occasions.
These discounts enable users to pay less than the regular price for the premium subscription of the Drops app. They also provide limited-time discounts, so follow them on social media on subscribe to the newsletter.
Refund Policy
Drops provide a 14-day money-back guarantee for its premium subscription. The refund policy applies to purchases made directly through the Drops website or mobile app.
If you decide to cancel your premium subscription within 14 days of the original purchase, you are eligible for a full refund. However, refunds are not available for purchases made through the Apple App Store since those purchases are managed solely by Apple. The Google play store they do offer refunds.
Drops Pricing Compared to Competition
The cost and available features of the Drops app are competitive compared to other language learning resources like MosaLingua, Mondly, and Glossika. Drops, however, doesn’t have a quarterly membership, which some users may find bothersome.
The Drops app isn’t so flexible in its pricing policy. Most competitors, such as Rosetta Stone or Babbel, also have a three-month subscription. The Drops subscription is only available for a month or a full year.
Drops Ratings from Other Users
- Google Play Store – 4.6 (5M+ downloads)
- Apple App store – 4.7 (60.5K ratings)
- G2 – 5
- Trustpilot – 3.3
Drops Review: Assistance to Clients
Drops let you fill out a form if you want to contact the customer support team, and response times vary based on the query. Most consumers describe the response times as swift and helpful.
The Drops language app has an accessible live chat feature, and there are email contacts as well. Their website includes a comprehensive FAQ section.
Drops App Review: What Sets it Apart?
Drops is an excellent app platform with a focus on visual learning and gamification. The wide range of languages and comprehensive vocabulary ensures learners can acquire practical skills useful in real-life situations. Drops is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a fun and effective way to learn a new language.