# Mishka: Learn Russian Language — Tutor-Made Stories & Grammar > Interactive Russian language learning app with stories, grammar, and AI conversation practice. (iPhone/iPad app by JAMES RICHARD DRISCOLL.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mishka-learn-russian-language/id6757408307 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [JAMES RICHARD DRISCOLL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1866711307) - Category: Education, Reference - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 82 App Store ratings · 38 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 269 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-27 - Data updated: 2026-11-09 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mishka-learn-russian-language/id6757408307/reviews.md ## What is Mishka? Stuck at intermediate Russian? Mishka helps you move past the plateau and start understanding how Russians actually speak. Built by a certified tutor. Tested with real learners. WHY MISHKA IS DIFFERENT Every lesson comes from a tutor with a certificate in teaching Russian as a foreign language, a bachelor's degree from Moscow State Linguistic University, and a master's in educational sciences from the University of Vienna. Then tested with intermediate learners. Your study time is valuable. Mishka exists because we couldn't find an app that actually met the needs of A1+ students ready to go beyond the basics, so we built one where every lesson counts. • Created by a certified language tutor • You choose what to focus on, not a locked path • Every lesson tested with real learners at the target level • Grammar sequenced so concepts build on each other properly • Hundreds of stories with recurring characters and a consistent world • Exercises that test comprehension, not just recognition • Most content works offline. Learn anywhere • New lessons and features added regularly STORY-BASED LESSONS Learn through short stories featuring Маша, her dog Пряник, wise neighbor Иван Петрович, and a cast of characters who grow with you across levels. At B2, you follow characters who moved to Russia and face real situations like job interviews, banking, and official documents. Tap any word for an instant translation. Listen with professional audio. Then practice with quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence reordering, matching, writing, and more. • Stories across 5 CEFR levels (A1 to C1) • Professional audio with word-by-word highlighting • Tap any word for instant dictionary lookup • 10 exercise types, not just multiple choice COMPLETE GRAMMAR COURSE Hundreds of interactive grammar lessons from basic sentence structure through complex subordinate clauses. Every lesson sequenced intentionally, no random topic jumps. • Cases, aspect, motion verbs, conditionals, and more • 10+ exercise types including sentence building, error correction, and minimal pairs CONJUGATION & DECLENSION TRAINERS Russian has hundreds of word endings and keeping them straight is one of the hardest parts of the language. Mishka has dedicated drill modes for both verb conjugation and noun declension. Pick which endings to practice, choose from built-in words or add your own, and drill until the right forms come naturally. • Choose specific cases or verb forms to focus on • Add your own words to practice with • Instant feedback on every answer CONVERSATION PRACTICE Practice real Russian with AI that adapts to your level. Complete structured missions or have a casual chat with real-time corrections and grammar explanations. • Dozens of guided missions and casual chat scenarios • Real-time corrections and vocabulary building • Three difficulties for each CEFR level (easy, medium, hard) WRITING PRACTICE Practice free writing in Russian with AI feedback, or test your spelling by writing prompted sentences in Russian. SPACED REPETITION FLASHCARDS Save any word from any lesson with one tap. Spaced repetition scheduling surfaces cards at the right time. Speed review and matching modes keep it fresh. ADVANCED CONTENT (B2 to C1) This is where most apps stop. Mishka keeps going with culture deep-dives, idiom lessons, and real slang, all taught through stories, not dry vocabulary lists. • Culture lessons (баня, Масленица, the world's deepest lake, and more) • Idiom lessons taught through context, not definitions • Slang mini-lessons • Full Russian immersion at B2+ NEW TO RUSSIAN? First Steps takes you from the alphabet to your first real story. First two units free. ALSO INCLUDES • Placement test to find your level • Bilingual interface (English or Russian) • Free preview at every level. Built by a teacher. Tested by learners. No shortcuts. Давайте начнём! Privacy Policy: https://getmishka.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://getmishka.com/terms ## Key features - Tutor-created stories - Interactive grammar lessons - AI conversation practice - Offline content - Customizable conjugation/declension trainers - Diverse exercise types ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Mishka Pro Monthly | $12.99 | per month | | Mishka Pro Yearly | $89.99 | per year | | Mishka Pro Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days | **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Lifetime Access | $199.99 | one-time | ## Is Mishka safe? Mishka: Learn Russian Language appears safe based on user ratings. The AppsHunter Safety Score for Mishka is 94 out of 100. This assessment is based on 82 user ratings, with an App Store average of 5 out of 5. Of 82 App Store ratings, 98.8% point to a safe experience, 1.2% suggest some concerns, and 0.0% point to a risky experience. ## Is Mishka legit? Mishka: Learn Russian Language has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Mishka is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (10 of 38) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mishka-learn-russian-language/id6757408307/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Just what I was looking for *2026-11-05* Love this, real stories and you can click on each word to understand what they mean. Found the ad on TikTok, thanks so much for making the app ### 5/5 — love mishka 🥹 and the developers *2026-11-05* I mentioned previously that I have invested a lot of time and money (and plan to continue to of course!) and was super sad about the new changes to the app. I’m really thankful they brought back the features I really liked about the previous version!!! It’s REALLY nice to be listened to when you pay for a service 🥹💖 Mishka has helped me with my Russian like no other app or class I have taken on Russian. I can’t stress enough that this was the first time in nearly 7 years of passively learning Russian that I FINALLY understand grammar. I love all the grammar chapters and the stories. I spend so much time listening to the stories and trying to really hear words without reading along with them (to get better at recognizing Russian words being said, not just reading subtitles). But it’s so nice that I AM able to click on any word that has me stumped and save it to my flashcards. I love love love Mishka 💖 And the developers have been so helpful! **Developer response:** Thank you so much for this, and for sticking with Mishka through the changes. You were right, and a lot of what you wrote is already changed for our next update, much of it because of your review: the real character photos are coming back, finished stories and culture lessons get a big, obvious done badge again, the text and colors are back to the softer classic look, the lines on the vocabulary cards are gone, and the four buttons are back in their 2×2 boxes. If anything else bothers you, or if there's anything else you'd like to see us add please email us at support@getmishka.com. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2026-10-28* This app is SO helpful with learning Russian compared to that evil little owl ha ha. I am very happy to see where the stress belongs on words, and grammar rules attached to everything. This app is awesome for anyone who is serious about learning Russian. **Developer response:** Thank you so much! Really glad the stress marks and grammar explanations are helping. More stories and lessons are on the way! ### 5/5 — amazingg!! *2026-10-26* this is like the best app i've ever used to help me learn russian, it's really helpful especially with the stories with the quizzes and how you can pick out individual words from them and study them later, really motivates me to be consistent with practising 🫶 **Developer response:** Thank you so much! Really nice to hear the stories and saving words are keeping you consistent. Lots more stories coming soon🫶 ### 3/5 — unnecessary changes reduce user friendliness *2026-10-21* I do love Mishka. I pay for the app monthly. I’m on a nearly 50 day streak. I’ve invested at least like $20 so far in the app (by far more than any other app) and will continue to do so. But I’m disappointed by how often it changes. I’m really sad because previously, you could easily tell which stories you’ve read, since they were kind of highlighted in a way that indicated you’ve already done them. Now, it’s a small green check box that blends in with the picture on the culture page. And on the main stories page it’s a check on the side which isn’t as obvious as it once was. Also, they changed the way the characters look. Now they look chibi.. I liked before when they looked like actual people. It made me feel more connected to the stories:( now they’re just cartoons. The worst part is just how everything looks now. All the text and stuff. Such an unnecessary change. It’s especially bad in the vocabulary card section. The note lines make the cards harder to look at for long periods of time. (Now I see the lines when I look away from my phone.) Also, the bottom screen got rid of the box shape for the four buttons, now they’re all in a row which I don’t like. I just don’t like unnecessary changes. And this is like the second big unnecessary change Mishka has had. Developers change for the sake of change. Not because it’s actually useful. Who wanted this? :[ Anyway.. I still think this is one of the highest quality Russian apps. Just please no more changes!! **Developer response:** Thank you so much for this, and for sticking with Mishka through the changes. You were right, and a lot of what you wrote is already changed for our next update, much of it because of your review: the real character photos are coming back, finished stories and culture lessons get a big, obvious done badge again, the text and colors are back to the softer classic look, the lines on the vocabulary cards are gone, and the four buttons are back in their 2×2 boxes. If anything else bothers you, or if there's anything else you'd like to see us add please email us at support@getmishka.com. ### 5/5 — Great and fun! Also serious *2026-10-20* Everyone learning Russian try this app! It’s the one for us! I’m John an American guy. I wish I found Mishka sooner! -John. Earthcow on IG **Developer response:** Thank you so much:) ### 5/5 — I like it *2026-10-20* I have been loving Mishka!!! Thank you for no adds even if you don’t pay. I am an intermediate learner and the levels you have are very nice. ### 4/5 — Free mode with ads would be sooo cool *2026-10-13* This app is so much better for learning Russian than Duolingo, but the free version doesn’t take you very far. So I really hope that in the future the free mode will be extended. I would take add brakes for a free mode of this app, it’s sooo good **Developer response:** Thank you, and it's great to hear it's working better for you than Duolingo! Thanks for the idea. The first stories and grammar lessons at every level stay free, so you can always keep practicing with those. Really glad you're enjoying it:) ### 5/5 — This app is amazing *2026-10-08* This app is the best study app i have found for russian. Ive been learning russian for 2 years primarily without apps like this. They often feel like entertainment more than education and were only good for killing time while learning a few random words and phrases. This app is so much less gamified and mindless. I love how lessons are simply reading and answering questions about russian stories. Every word you don’t know in a story can be clicked on and easily added to your flashcards. You get to effortlessly build a vocabulary list of words that are important/relevant to you, instead of memorizing vocab lists with dozens of unimportant words. The amount of content is crazy: the app has tons of russian texts to practice where you learn russian culture, idioms, and slang. The only downside is that it is quite expensive ($12 a month). But if you are going to use it every day, it is definitely worth it. Theres also a few issues and inconveniences in the app but overall it is by far the most efficient way to practice russian language with realistic scenarios, words, context, & culture. **Developer response:** Thank you, this made our day! Building your own vocab list from the stories instead of memorizing random word lists is exactly how we wanted Mishka to work. If you can tell us what the issues and inconveniences were, we'd love to fix them. You can use the feedback button in the app or email support@getmishka.com. ### 5/5 — Affordable and helpful! *2026-10-08* I’ve been using Duolingo for a couple years which really only got me so far but the game aspect at least kept me practicing my words. Saw an add for this on instagram and immediately loved it, it is very engaging and immersive, so many ways to learn and explains things well. Finally I can expand on my grammar and I didn’t have to pay a ton or put in a bunch of extra effort 😂 **Developer response:** Thank you so much! It's great to hear you're finally getting into the grammar after Duolingo. And we're happy the Instagram ad found you:) If there's anything you'd like to see in Mishka, just let us know through the feedback button in the app. ## Frequently asked questions about Mishka ### What is Mishka's learning methodology? Mishka uses a story-based approach with lessons created by certified language tutors. It focuses on building grammar concepts sequentially and tests comprehension through various interactive exercises, aiming to help learners understand how native speakers communicate. ### Does Mishka offer progress tracking? While not explicitly detailed as a feature, the app's structured lessons and diverse exercises are designed to facilitate learning progression. Users can choose what to focus on, allowing for personalized progress through the curriculum. ### What are the subscription tiers for Mishka Pro? Mishka Pro offers weekly ($4.99/P7D), monthly ($12.99/P1M), and yearly ($89.99/P1Y) plans. The monthly and yearly plans include a 7-day free trial. ### How does Mishka handle grammar instruction? Mishka provides hundreds of interactive grammar lessons covering topics from basic sentence structure to complex clauses. Lessons are intentionally sequenced so that concepts build upon each other properly, with over 10 exercise types available. ### Can I use Mishka offline? Yes, most of Mishka's content works offline, allowing you to learn anywhere without a constant internet connection. This includes stories and grammar exercises. ### What age rating does Mishka have? Mishka has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of learners. ### How often is Mishka updated? New lessons and features are added regularly, with the latest version being 2.2.0, last updated on 2026-11-09. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and content expansion. ### Does Mishka have ads? No, Mishka does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use with optional in-app purchases for premium features. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.2.0 — 2026-11-09 We've added new lessons to Mishka! • 5 new culture lessons: tea, Knowledge Day, Kazan, okroshka and Sochi, each with an easy version and audio. • 29 new stories with audio, from A1 to C1. Also in this update: • Tap any word to see its gender right away, and its case when it's clear. • Small improvements and fixes. ### 2.1.0 — 2026-11-03 Some old favorites are back! You told us what you missed from the old Mishka, so we brought it back: • Character photos in Stories • Big green ticks on lessons you've finished • Simpler flashcards with four grade buttons Plus lots of new lessons: • 40 new stories, from A1 all the way to C1 • 23 easy slang lessons for A2+, plus 3 new words in Upper slang • 5 new idiom lessons iPhone Duo support: Mishka now works on both screens, folded or open. Help us choose what's next: tap the mailbox at the top right of Home to vote in polls and send us your ideas. When the flag is up, a new poll is waiting. Plus smaller fixes, like flashcards staying centered when you flip them. Thank you for learning with Mishka! ### 2.0.1 — 2026-10-22 Minor bug fixes and improvements. ### 2.0.0 — 2026-10-18 Mishka 2.0: a whole new look Everything is where you left it, and it all looks new. Every screen is now a warm storybook page with all-new illustrations. Your progress, streak, honey and saved words are all still there. Also new: - We added 1,338 more verbs to our conjugation tables, so almost every verb you tap now shows its conjugations - Today's Plan keeps your grammar at your own level until you've finished it - Quiz answers are clearer, and level ups and Perfect Days get a proper celebration - Better on iPad and with large text Plus lots of small fixes. Thanks for learning with Mishka! ### 1.2.2 — 2026-10-03 Meet First Steps, a new course for complete beginners. Never studied Russian, or found Mishka's lessons too hard? First Steps starts from zero and takes you all the way to reading your first real story: - Learn the alphabet by sound, a few letters at a time, with recordings from a native-speaking tutor - Read and say everyday words and phrases from day one - Short conversations and stories with audio. In stories, each word lights up as it's read - A daily plan with a lesson, a quick review and speaking practice - Your first two units are free Already read some Cyrillic? Take the placement test or skip the alphabet. You can skip ahead any time. Also in this update: - Conjugation tables: tap a verb, then Conjugation, to see every form - New results screens - iPad: a new full-screen button in Stories, Grammar, Culture, Slang and Idioms - Flashcards now show stress marks on the review card, the card list and Speed Review - Fixes and polish throughout ## Apps similar to Mishka | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Russian Stories: Read & Learn](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/russian-stories-read-and-learn/id6740998772) | 4.8 (44) | Free | Education | | [BeFluent - Learn Russian](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/befluent-learn-russian/id6759158682) | 4.3 (7) | Free | Education | | [Bootstrap Russian Grammar](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bootstrap-russian-grammar/id1620305043) | 4.4 (15) | Free | Education | | [Infinite Russian](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/infinite-russian/id1341692031) | 4.8 (473) | Free | Education | | [Russian Readers: Learn Russian](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/russian-readers-learn-russian/id1535989222) | 4.7 (587) | Free | Education | | [Learn Russian with Flashcards!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-russian-with-flashcards/id1615737294) | 4.8 (52) | Free | Education | ## Related topics [mishka](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/mishka) · [russian grammar](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/russian-grammar) · [russian grammar and vocabulary](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/russian-grammar-and-vocabulary) · [avario babushka](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/avario-babushka) · [ruflex pro russian inflection](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ruflex-pro-russian-inflection) · [declensions](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/declensions) · [russian](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/russian) · [jack and the beanstalk russian](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/jack-and-the-beanstalk-russian) · [free language learning apps russian](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/free-language-learning-apps-russian) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-11-09.*