Comparison

Ling vs Umi

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ling

Master over 70 languages with fun, bite-sized lessons. Develop speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills with native speaker audio and cultural insights. Science-backed methods ensure retention, making even difficult languages accessible.

Highlights
  • 70+ languages available
  • Bite-sized lessons
  • Native speaker audio
  • Cultural insights
  • Speaking, reading, listening, writing skills
  • Science-backed learning methodology
Features
Read full description

Finally, a language-learning app that helps beginner to advanced learners speak, read, write, and listen in 70+ languages. Download Ling for FREE and start learning… Afrikaans • Albanian • Amharic • Arabic • Armenian • Azerbaijani • Bengali • Bosnian • Bulgarian • Burmese • Cantonese • Catalan • Cebuano • Chinese Simplified • Chinese Traditional • Croatian • Czech • Danish • Dutch • English • Estonian • Finnish • French • German • Georgian • Greek • Gujarati • Hebrew • Hindi • Hokkien • Hungarian • Icelandic • Ilocano • Indonesian • Irish • Italian • Japanese • Javanese • Kannada • Kazakh • Khmer • Korean • Lao • Latvian • Lithuanian • Macedonian • Malaysian • Malayalam • Maori • Marathi • Mongolian • Norwegian • Nepali • Polish • Portuguese • Pashto • Persian • Punjabi • Romanian • Russian • Serbian • Sinhala • Slovak • Slovenian • Somali • Sorbian • Spanish • Sundanese • Swahili • Swedish • Tagalog • Tamil • Telugu • Thai • Turkish • Ukrainian • Urdu • Uzbek • Vietnamese • Yoruba Build speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills all in one place, plus… - Hard languages made easy: Find languages not commonly featured in other apps and enjoy lessons that make learning simple - Cultural insights: Understand the beautiful cultures behind lesser-known languages with our Culture Notes feature - Native speaker guidance: Learn correct pronunciation with audio from native speakers - Science-backed learning: Our methodology ensures you retain what you learn, making even the most difficult languages stick - Motivating: Track your progress, set language goals, and earn rewards as you practice and grow - Daily practice: Turn language learning into a habit with daily lessons that fit into your routine Experience more of Ling... https://ling-app.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ling_app/ https://www.youtube.com/@LingLearnLanguages https://www.tiktok.com/@ling_app?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/Ling.learn.languages/ https://www.quora.com/Ling-Language-Lessons If you have any comments, suggestions, or concerns, please feel free to reach out at support@ling-app.com Terms of Use: https://ling-app.com/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://ling-app.com/privacy-policy/

About

Umi

Master a new language through engaging TV clips, from beginner to fluent in a year. This app offers a fun, scientifically backed immersion method with vocabulary, listening, and reading practice. Learn from native speakers in real-life contexts without textbooks or lectures.

Highlights
  • Learn languages from 0 to fluency
  • Watch TV clips for learning
  • Vocabulary, listening, and reading practice
  • Immersion method
  • Learn from native speakers
  • 24 free lessons
Features
Read full description

Learn a language from 0 to fluency in 1 year, by watching TV clips! 24 lessons for free! Learn Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German or English! Vocabulary, listening, and reading all in one app... and it's fun! A revolutionary scientifically backed method; natural exposure with short videos is the best way to gain REAL comprehension. No textbooks. No boring lectures. Learn from native speakers! Understand how people talk in real life situations. Start learning today with the revolutionary immersion method, and actually achieve fluency! Privacy: https://www.umiapp.co/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Ling4 screens
Umi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: Ling at #62 against Umi's unranked. Ling also leads on ratings volume (16K vs 2.4K) and review sentiment (61% vs 53%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Ling sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Umi sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Umi holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ling has 16K ratings behind it against 2.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Ling's written reviews are positive against 53% of Umi's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ling ships an update weekly, Umi every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Ling versus Umi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLingUmi
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (16K ratings)4.8 (2.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews — better52.8% of reviews
Number of ratings16K — better2.4K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 10 days
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#62 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size177 MB79 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperSIMYA LABS COMPANY LIMITEDImmersely Inc.

Customer experience

Ling

All ratings16,391 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews2,187 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral12.3%
Negative26.6%

Umi

All ratings2,362 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral1.9%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews288 reviews
Positive52.8%
Neutral14.9%
Negative32.3%

User reviews

Ling

From 16K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Bite-sized lessons
  • 🎮 Gamified learning
  • 📚 Offers rare languages
  • 🗣️ Good pronunciation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, glitchy
  • 💰 Expensive, pay to learn
  • 🤖 Robotic voices
  • 🧠 Lessons not in logical order
  • 🔍 Lack of basic vocabulary and grammar

Umi

From 2.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Engaging and immersive learning experience
  • 👍 Helpful for improving listening and comprehension
  • 💡 Unique approach using real-world media clips
  • 🤩 Fun and enjoyable way to learn vocabulary

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inaccurate translations and subtitles
  • 🐛 Inconsistent clip quality and content
  • 💰 Paywall limits free access to full features
  • 🤔 Lack of structured learning progression

Bugs and requests

Ling

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Progress resets to zero
  • Incorrect translations and pronunciations
  • Lessons skipping ahead unexpectedly
  • Microphone issues, can't record properly
  • Sync issues across devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow retry/go back in lessons
  • Improve speech recognition
  • Add grammar explanations
  • Provide more review and practice options
  • Introduce alphabet/writing system first

Umi

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent app crashes and loading issues
  • Inability to delete account or access full free version
  • Inconsistent performance and playback problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more language options like Mandarin and Russian
  • Improve spaced repetition and word review system
  • Provide more detailed grammar and conjugation explanations
  • Add a search function to find specific vocabulary

In-app purchases

20 purchases

Ling

Subscriptions19
  • Ling Monthly Subscription$7.991 Month
  • Monthly Language Learning Plan$10.991 Month
  • Ling Monthly Subscription2 variants$14.991 Month
Show 16 more
  • Ling Pro 1 Month Subscription$16.991 Month
  • Ling Half Yearly Subscription$39.996 Months
  • Ling 3 Month Subscription$39.993 Months
  • Learn Language Pro Yearly 77 Days trial$48.991 Year
  • Ling Pro Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$54.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription$59.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Black Friday Offer7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription7 Days trial2 variants$79.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription$79.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription14 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Ling Pro 12 Month Subscription7 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Ling Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$119.991 Year
One-time1
  • Ling Pro Lifetime Plan$199.99
15 purchases

Umi

Subscriptions14
  • Umi Plus + Monthly7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Umi Plus - Monthly3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Umi Premium - Monthly3 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 11 more
  • Umi Pro - Monthly3 Days trial$17.991 Month
  • Umi Professional - Monthly3 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Umi Plus - 6 months3 Days trial$34.996 Months
  • Umi Plus + 6 Months$34.996 Months
  • Umi Premium - 6 Months$39.996 Months
  • Umi Plus + Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Umi Plus - Annual3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Umi Pro - 6 months$59.996 Months
  • Umi Premium - Annual3 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Umi Pro - Annual3 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Umi Professional - Annual3 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Umi - Plus$149.99

Questions

Is Ling free?
Ling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Umi free?
Umi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ling or Umi?
Umi is rated higher. Ling averages 4.6 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Umi averages 4.8 from 2.4K ratings.
Do Ling or Umi have ads?
Both Ling and Umi show ads.
Which is updated more often, Ling or Umi?
Ling ships an update weekly, and Umi every 10 days. Most recently, Ling was updated on October 21, 2026 and Umi on October 21, 2026.

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