So here's the thing — you've been meaning to learn a language. Maybe it's Thai because you're planning a trip. Maybe it's Georgian because your partner's family speaks it. Maybe it's Serbian, or Mongolian, or Māori, and you've already spent forty minutes on Google realizing that basically no app actually teaches it.
That's where Ling quietly steps in.
I spent a good chunk of time actually using the app, poking through its lessons, reading through what other real users have said, and comparing it to the bigger names in the language-learning space. Here's what I found — the honest version, not the marketing version.
Ling is a language-learning app made by a company called Simya Solutions, based in Thailand. It was started back in 2017 by a German guy named Simon Bacher who moved to Thailand and realized there were basically zero good apps for learning Thai. So he built one. Fast forward to today, and the app has grown into a platform covering over 60 languages — with a pretty serious focus on the ones that other apps ignore.
The big selling point isn't Spanish or French (though those are on there too). It's languages like Thai, Korean, Serbian, Georgian, Kannada, Māori, and dozens of other languages that most apps either don't offer at all or treat like an afterthought.
One subscription gets you access to all of them. All 60+. That alone is worth paying attention to.
Each language course is broken into five levels — Beginner, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. Each level has ten modules, and every module has a mix of activities: vocabulary lessons, speaking exercises, and an exam at the end.
The lessons feel more like mini-games than study sessions, which is kind of the point. You're matching words, filling in blanks, putting sentences in order, listening to native speakers, and practicing pronunciation — all wrapped up in short, bite-sized chunks that take maybe five to ten minutes each.
And here's something that actually matters: every single audio track is recorded by real native speakers. Not text-to-speech. Not AI-generated voices. Actual humans speaking the language naturally. If you've ever sat through a language app that sounds like a robot reading a phone book, you'll notice the difference immediately.
There's also a chatbot feature — a dialogue system where you practice conversation by selecting responses. It's not a free-flowing AI chat, but it does give you a structured way to get used to how conversations actually flow in your target language.
👉 Start your 7-day free trial on Ling
I went through app store reviews and independent review sites to get a feel for what people actually think once the marketing buzz wears off. Here's the honest picture:
The good stuff people keep coming back to:
One long-time user on the App Store mentioned they first downloaded Ling back in 2017 specifically for Thai — and years later, they're still on it, now learning Georgian. They noted that the audio quality is genuinely good and that the app has improved massively over the years.
On Google Play, multiple users pointed out that Ling feels like a solid step up from Duolingo for anyone wanting to learn less common languages. One reviewer specifically called out the native speaker audio as a reason they stuck with it.
A reviewer at The Linguist Magazine noted that Ling's strength is exactly where it's supposed to be: in lesser-learned languages where options are genuinely scarce. They recommended the yearly plan for focused learners and the lifetime plan for anyone juggling multiple languages.
The honest gripes:
Voice recognition can be hit or miss — sometimes it accepts your pronunciation, sometimes it doesn't, and it's not always clear why. This is a pretty common issue across language apps, but it's worth knowing about.
Some reviewers found that certain language courses (particularly for less popular languages) occasionally have content errors. The good news is that Ling has an in-app error reporting feature, and users have reported getting responses from the team within days.
Grammar isn't explicitly taught — you're meant to pick it up from context. That works great for some learners and frustrates others. If you need someone to walk you through grammar rules step by step, you'll probably want to pair Ling with another resource.
This is where Ling makes a pretty compelling case. The current pricing on their website (as of early 2026) looks like this:
| Plan | Total Price | Monthly Cost | Free Trial | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $16.99/mo | $16.99 | ❌ | Trying it out month-to-month |
| 6 Months | $64.99 | $10.83/mo | ❌ | A solid mid-term commitment |
| 12 Months | $7.50/mo | ✅ 7 days | The sweet spot for most learners | |
| Lifetime | $149.99 (one-time) | $0 after purchase | ❌ | Polyglots and long-term learners |
👉 Get the Yearly Plan at $89.99 — includes 7-day free trial
The yearly plan is currently running at a 40% discount off its listed price, bringing it down to $7.50 a month. That's less than a single coffee in most cities, for access to every single language on the platform.
The lifetime plan deserves a special mention. At $149.99, it's literally the same price as one year at full price. If you're even remotely thinking about learning more than one language over the next few years — or if you just don't like the idea of recurring charges — the lifetime plan pays for itself pretty fast.
What you get with Pro vs. Free:
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Access | First beginner unit only | All lessons, all levels |
| Dialog Practice | Limited | Unlimited |
| Ads | Yes | Ad-free |
| Languages | 60+ (limited content) | 60+ (full access) |
| Flashcards & Exams | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cross-device Sync | ✅ | ✅ |
Ling doesn't run flashy coupon campaigns very often, but a couple of codes have been floating around that users have reported working:
- FUNNY50 — reported to give 50% off (most recently verified by users in late 2025)
- KAZAI50 — another 50% code that's been spotted in the wild
These aren't officially confirmed by Ling on their website, so there's no guarantee they'll work at any given moment. Worth a shot at checkout though — worst case, they just don't apply.
The most reliable discount is simply the yearly plan itself, which is already marked down on the pricing page. And the 7-day free trial on the annual plan means you can try before you pay anything.
👉 Try Ling free for 7 days — no credit card hassle
Let's be real — Duolingo is the 800-pound gorilla in this space. But Ling isn't really trying to beat Duolingo at its own game. They're playing a different one.
| Feature | Ling | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Total Languages | 60+ | ~42 |
| Rare/Endangered Languages | ✅ Strong focus | Very limited |
| Native Speaker Audio | ✅ Real recordings | Mix of native + TTS |
| AI Chatbot Practice | ✅ | ❌ (not the same way) |
| Gamification | Moderate | Very heavy |
| Grammar Explanations | Implicit only | Implicit (some tips) |
| Free Tier | First unit per language | Full course with ads |
| Yearly Price | $89.99 (discounted) | ~$79.99 (Super Duolingo) |
If you want to learn English, Spanish, or French — Duolingo is fine. If you want to learn Thai, Georgian, Tagalog, Serbian, or basically anything that isn't in the top ten most-spoken languages — Ling is one of the very few serious options out there, and arguably the best one for gamified, self-paced learning.
Ling hits the sweet spot for a few specific types of learners:
You're a good fit if you're moving abroad and need to pick up a language fast. You're reconnecting with a heritage language. You're curious about a less common language and can't find anything good. You like gamified learning but want something with more substance than just streaks and leaderboards.
You might want to look elsewhere if you need deep, structured grammar instruction. You're already at an advanced level and want to push toward true fluency. You're learning English, Spanish, or French and want the biggest, most polished course available.
The sweet spot for Ling is roughly the A1-A2 level — early beginner through basic conversational ability. It's a great foundation builder, especially when you pair it with other resources as you advance.