Comparison

Lahja vs Kalām

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

Head to head
About

Lahja

Learn five real Arabic dialects with this offline app. It uses spaced repetition and interactive exercises to help you master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Start with the basics or dive into specific dialects for practical communication.

Highlights
  • Five real Arabic dialects
  • Fully offline functionality
  • Spaced repetition learning
  • Interactive flashcards and quizzes
  • Pronunciation practice with scoring
  • Offline translator
Features
Read full description

Speak Arabic the way people actually speak it. Most apps teach only formal Arabic — Lahja teaches five real dialects: Modern Standard, Saudi, Egyptian, Lebanese, and Jordanian. Choose the one you need and learn to be understood from day one. Fully offline. No account, no sign-up, no ads. Learn anywhere. WHY LAHJA • Five real dialects — switch anytime; your progress follows you. • Works fully offline — no sign-in needed, perfect for a plane or off the grid. • Built around how memory works — spaced repetition brings words back right before you forget them. • A warm, friendly design with Hilal, your learning companion. START FROM ZERO • The Arabic alphabet — all 28 letters, their forms, and handwriting you can trace. • Short vowels (harakat) — fatha, kasra, damma and more, with real examples. • Grammar made simple — nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and more, each with examples you can hear. LEARN THE WORDS YOU'LL USE • 1,000+ everyday phrases across topics: greetings, food, travel, family, numbers, directions and more. • Hear every phrase, see the transliteration, and read the Arabic script. • A built-in offline Translator — type English and get the Arabic with audio. • Reading practice — short leveled passages with tap-to-hear audio and comprehension checks. PRACTICE THAT STICKS • Flashcards with smart spaced repetition. • Quizzes — multiple choice, listen-and-pick, matching pairs, and a make-sentences game. • Pronunciation practice — speak out loud and get a score. • Hands-free review — sit back and listen on the go. • Find your level — a quick test that meets you where you are. STAY MOTIVATED • Daily streaks, goals, and a friendly daily coach. • Smart Review and Weak Spots target exactly what you keep missing. • Clear stats to track your progress. FREE TO START Learn the basics for free. Lahja Premium unlocks all five dialects, the daily coach, goal-based courses, smart review, unlimited hearts, and every practice mode. A 7-day free trial is available. Start today — أهلاً وسهلاً (welcome). Questions or feedback? We read every message. Thank you for learning with Lahja. — Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends; manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. A one-time Lifetime option is also available. Lahja Premium subscription • Lahja Premium Monthly — auto-renewable, one-month term • Lahja Premium Yearly — auto-renewable, one-year term • Lahja Lifetime — a one-time purchase (non-recurring) Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your Apple Account is charged on confirmation of purchase, and the price is shown in the app before you buy. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms Of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy https://www.jigsawlab.com/lahja/privacy.html

About

Kalām

Features
Read full description

Speak real Arabic from day one. Kalam teaches conversational Levantine Arabic — the dialect spoken across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. Not textbook Arabic. Not formal recitation. The Arabic that people actually use to talk, joke, shop, and connect. BUILT AROUND SPEAKING Every lesson combines listening, pronunciation practice, and real conversation scenarios. Speak into the mic and get instant feedback. Kalam's AI voice recognition knows when you're right — and helps you correct when you're not. AI VOCABULARY ENGINE Kalam's AI tracks your vocabulary progress and surfaces the words you need to practice. The more you use it, the smarter your review sessions become. No wasted repetition — only the words that matter to you right now. SMART REVIEW WITH SPACED REPETITION Kalam uses a proven Spaced Repetition System (SRS) to resurface vocabulary right before you forget it. Study smarter, remember longer. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • Core Arabic vocabulary: greetings, family, food, travel, numbers, time • Levantine dialect phrases for real conversation • Arabic alphabet and pronunciation fundamentals • Grammar essentials without the overwhelm • Real-world scenarios: markets, restaurants, directions, daily life WHO IT'S FOR • Complete beginners starting from zero • Heritage speakers reconnecting with Arabic • Travelers and professionals preparing for Arabic-speaking countries • Students seeking audio-based conversation practice OFFLINE FIRST No Wi-Fi needed. All lessons are available offline. Your progress syncs automatically when you reconnect. PROGRESS THAT STICKS Streak tracking, daily goals, and a clear unit map keep you motivated. Kalam is designed for five-minute sessions or deep-dive study — whatever fits your day. Download Kalam and say something real in Arabic today. Privacy: https://sites.google.com/view/ngthuyduong/privacy-of-policy Terms: https://sites.google.com/view/ngthuyduong/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Lahja4 screens
Kalām4 screens

Verdict

The call

Lahja and Kalām are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Lahja sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Kalām sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lahja ships an update every 2 weeks, Kalām fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 11, 2026.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Lahja versus Kalām: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLahjaKalām
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperiCometNGUYEN THUY DUONG

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Lahja

Subscriptions2
  • Lahja Monthly Premium$0.991 Month
  • Lahja Yearly Premium$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lahja Premium Lifetime$29.99
2 purchases

Kalām

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Learn Arabic Pro$9.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro access to learning$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Lahja free?
Lahja is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kalām free?
Kalām is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lahja or Kalām have ads?
Neither Lahja nor Kalām shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lahja or Kalām?
Lahja ships an update every 2 weeks, and Kalām fortnightly. Most recently, Lahja was updated on October 11, 2026 and Kalām on October 11, 2026.

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