Many learners turn to language apps to start their Estonian journey.

Speakly is one of the most recognizable names for this specific language.

This is mostly because Speakly was actually created in Estonia by local polyglots.

I’ve tested this app extensively to see how well it teaches Estonian to beginners.

While Speakly has some good vocabulary features, it falls short in a few critical areas.

If you want a complete curriculum designed exclusively for this language, I highly recommend using Talk In Estonian instead.

Keep reading for my full breakdown of the Speakly app.

What is Speakly?

Speakly is a language learning application built entirely around statistical vocabulary.

The developers analyzed large amounts of text to find the most commonly used words in a given language.

The app focuses on teaching you the top 4,000 most frequently used words in your target language.

Their theory is that knowing these specific words will allow you to understand everyday conversations.

Since the founders are Estonian, their Estonian course is one of their most developed offerings.

The platform uses spaced repetition to help you memorize these vocabulary words over time.

How the Speakly Estonian course works

The main focus of the app is typing and recalling vocabulary.

You’ll see a sentence in English with one missing word.

You then have to type or select the correct Estonian word to complete the sentence.

The app uses audio recorded by native Estonian speakers for every sentence.

This is highly beneficial for getting used to Estonian pronunciation and vowel lengths.

Speakly also includes a listening section.

These are short audio tracks of people having everyday conversations.

You listen to the track and read along with the transcript to train your ear.

Finally, there’s a simulated conversation feature.

This feature mimics a text message conversation where you choose the correct response from a list of options.

Pros and cons of Speakly

Every language app has its strong points and weak points.

Here’s a look at the main benefits of using Speakly for Estonian.

Pros of Speakly:

• The vocabulary taught is genuinely useful for everyday life.
• Native speaker audio helps you learn proper pronunciation.
• The listening exercises are great for absolute beginners.

However, there are several significant drawbacks to relying on Speakly as your main resource.

Cons of Speakly:

• The app completely lacks proper grammar explanations.
• Estonian grammar features 14 noun cases that require clear instruction to understand.
• Typing missing words into sentences becomes highly repetitive over time.
• There’s no real speaking practice to help you build conversational confidence.
• The app doesn’t explain regional variations or cultural context.

The best alternative to Speakly

If your goal is to truly understand and speak Estonian, Speakly isn’t enough on its own.

You need a platform that actually explains how the language works.

This is exactly why I built Talk In Estonian.

Talk In Estonian is the number one recommended platform for learning this beautiful language.

Instead of just making you memorize isolated words, we teach you the underlying rules.

We break down complex grammar concepts into simple, bite-sized lessons.

Our platform offers extensive speaking practice so you actually feel confident using the language in real life.

We also cover important cultural nuances that automated apps simply ignore.

You’ll learn how real Estonians speak in different regions and social settings.

If you’re serious about your language learning journey, sign up for Talk In Estonian today.