Pick Lingoda for live classes with certified teachers, in small groups or 1-on-1, CEFR certificates, or Android and a computer. Pick Smort to practice speaking without booking a class, to learn Japanese or Mandarin, or to bring your Anki decks.
Publisher disclosure: Smort publishes this page and is one of the two apps in it. We say where Lingoda is the better pick. Smort’s status: Private beta. It requires an iPhone with iOS 26 or later.
Smort vs Lingoda, side by side
How each app gets you talking, what you keep, and how you review it.
| Topic | Lingoda | Smort |
|---|---|---|
| How you talk | 60-minute live classes with certified, native-level teachers, in groups of 3 to 5 students or 1-on-1. Classes run 24/7, and Lingoda recommends booking 7 days ahead. | Live Voice Chat on a topic you pick or type, with captions and translations. Tap Help me or ask Smort to slow down. Up to 100 minutes a month. |
| Languages for English speakers | For English speakers: German up to C1, French and Spanish up to B2, and Italian at A1 to A2. Lingoda also teaches English and Business English. | Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, French, German, and more. |
| Feedback when you speak | Your teacher corrects you and gives personalized feedback in class. AI-driven class reports show you where to focus. | Checks what you said, not your accent. Kana or kanji both count in Japanese. Simplified and traditional characters count as the same word in Mandarin. |
| What you keep after a chat | Download the class materials and use them any time. A quiz after each class helps you practice. | Pick up to 10 words. Smort drafts the flashcards, and you edit them before you save. |
| How you review | A vocabulary trainer, flashcards, and Lingobites grammar practice, online or in the app, tailored to your goals and lessons. | Say or type each card from memory before you see the answer. Spaced repetition brings it back when it’s due. |
| Your own material | Classes and practice follow Lingoda’s CEFR-aligned curriculum, written by its own experts. | Make cards from a topic, your notes, or a screenshot. Import Anki .apkg decks. |
| Price | Group classes cost $69.99 for 5 classes, up to $339.99 for 40, every four weeks. Private classes start at $209.99 for 5. The 7-day free trial has 3 group classes or 1 private class. | Subscription required: $7.99/month or $79.99/year (USD). One plan, with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. |
| Devices | iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later, Android, and a computer. Live classes need a stable internet connection. | iPhone with iOS 26 or later. |
When Lingoda is the better pick
- You want a real teacher
- Lingoda’s live classes are led by certified, native-level teachers, in groups of 3 to 5 students or 1-on-1. Smort’s conversation partner is AI.
- You want a CEFR certificate
- Lingoda gives you a certificate for each CEFR level you complete, and says many institutions worldwide accept them.
- You want a full course to an advanced level
- Lingoda’s German course runs from A1 to C1, and its French and Spanish courses run from A1 to B2.
- You use Android or a computer
- Lingoda runs on Android, iPhone and iPad, and a computer. Smort needs an iPhone with iOS 26.
When Smort is the better pick
- You want to practice speaking without booking a class
- Lingoda’s classes last 60 minutes, and Lingoda recommends booking 7 days ahead. Smort’s Voice Chat starts when you want, on a topic you pick or type, for up to 100 minutes a month.
- You want to learn Japanese or Mandarin
- Lingoda teaches German, French, Spanish, Italian, English, and Business English. Smort’s Voice Chat speaks Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, French, German, and more.
- You have Anki decks
- Smort imports your .apkg decks. Lingoda’s vocabulary trainer and flashcards follow your Lingoda lessons.
Methodology and sources
Criteria: How each app gets you talking, what you keep afterward, how you review, your own material, price, and devices. Lingoda facts come from its own pages, and Smort facts from its App Store description.
What we did not do: We didn’t score either app. Lingoda changes often, so check its own pages for the latest.
Primary sources: Lingoda home pageLingoda pricingLingoda FAQHow Lingoda worksLingoda on the US App Store