SparkAI Language Learning at a glance
SparkAI is a free web app for English speakers learning French, Spanish, German or Mandarin Chinese, from complete beginner (A0) to C2, and for anyone learning English, from A1 to C1. Each day it plans a short session for you, mixing grammar explained in plain English, flashcards that come back when they're due, reading, listening and speaking practice with an AI partner.
Key facts
- Price: free. Every feature, no ads, no paid tier, no payment details. See pricing.
- Languages taught: French, Spanish, German, Mandarin Chinese and English.
- Taught in: English. The English course explains in simple English, with notes in Spanish, Portuguese or French at A1 and A2.
- Levels: A0 (complete beginner) to C2, following the CEFR, in French, Spanish, German and Mandarin. English: A1 to C1, with a first C2 unit.
- Platform: a web app at sparkailanguage.com for any modern browser on phone, tablet or computer; it can be added to the home screen. No App Store or Google Play app.
- Account: not needed to start. AI chat gives three guest prompts, then needs a free account (email and password, or Google). Accounts are for people 16 or older.
- Made by: SparkAI Language Learning, Paris. See about SparkAI.
The five courses
| Course | Grammar lessons | Practice questions | Flashcards | Graded stories | Classic books |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | 159 | 2,593 | 5,474 | 38 | 21 |
| Spanish | 158 | 3,766 | 6,769 | 42 | 21 |
| German | 140 | 3,294 | 5,616 | 39 | 16 |
| Mandarin Chinese | 82 | 1,345 | 2,847 | 19 | 9 |
| English | 53 | 935 | 5,704 | 54 | 0 |
- French: Standard French as spoken in France. The course level by level · Learn French online free · Free French level test
- Spanish: Spain's Spanish by default; Latin American forms are explained and accepted. The course level by level · Learn Spanish online free · Free Spanish level test
- German: Standard German as spoken in Germany; Austrian and Swiss usage explained and accepted. The course level by level · Learn German online free · Free German level test
- Mandarin Chinese: Standard Mandarin in Simplified characters with pinyin; answers in either. The course level by level · Learn Mandarin Chinese online free · Free Mandarin Chinese level test
- English: For learners of English, A1 to C1 with a first C2 unit. British and American English are both accepted; notes in Spanish, Portuguese or French at A1 and A2. The course level by level · Learn English online free · Free English level test
What's included
- A daily plan. One Continue button picks the next step: reviews that are due, a lesson to re-test, the next lesson, new words, reading or speaking.
- Grammar lessons explained in plain English with tables and spoken examples. A lesson counts as learned only after correct answers on separate days; a wrong answer shows the rule that decides it.
- Flashcards scheduled with the FSRS spaced-repetition algorithm, plus your own cards and words saved from reading.
- Reading: graded stories and complete public-domain books in a reader with tap-to-translate and audio.
- Listening and speaking: hands-free audio lessons, natural neural voices, pronunciation feedback on what you read aloud, and an AI conversation partner for chat and role-play at your level.
- Placement and level tests from A0 to C2.
- DELF B2 preparation (French): timed mock exams in the current format, a quick diagnostic, reading and listening practice, writing and speaking graded by AI on the official grids (estimates, not yet checked against examiners), a study plan and progress. See DELF B2 preparation.
- Progress: the level shown is based on what you've demonstrated (lessons passed on separate days, words confirmed, listening accuracy, level tests), not on time spent. Sync across devices, optional reminders and a weekly email, data export and account deletion.
The full list is on the features page.
Who it suits
- English speakers who want a structured course, from their first words to C2.
- Learners who want grammar explained, not only practised.
- People moving on from a gamified app who want to read, listen and speak more.
- Anyone who can't or doesn't want to pay for a subscription.
Limits
- Five languages, all taught through English. The Mandarin Chinese and English courses are smaller than the others.
- Web only, with no App Store or Google Play app.
- Speaking exercises need speech recognition in the browser (Chrome, Edge or Safari); Firefox doesn't support them.
- AI features are limited to 150 messages per device per day. Natural voices have a monthly budget; when it runs out, the device's own voice is used until the next month.
- No live human teachers or tutoring, and no leaderboards or learner forums.
How it compares
SparkAI's position is a complete course, from A0 to C2, with every feature free. Bigger apps have more languages, native mobile apps, larger communities and longer track records; several keep key features for paying users. Duolingo says its French, Spanish, German and Chinese courses now teach through B2.
- Free alternatives to Duolingo for French, Spanish, German and Chinese
- Free alternatives to Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu and Memrise for French
- SparkAI vs Duolingo for French
- The best French learning apps and sites
Questions
What is SparkAI Language Learning?
A free web app for English speakers learning French, Spanish, German or Mandarin Chinese, from complete beginner (A0) to C2, and for anyone learning English, from A1 to C1. It plans a short daily session that mixes grammar lessons, spaced-repetition flashcards, reading, listening and speaking practice.
How much does SparkAI cost?
Nothing. Every feature is free, with no ads and no payment details. AI features have a fair-use limit of 150 messages per device per day.
Do I need an account?
Not to start: lessons, flashcards and reading work straight away, with progress kept on the device. AI chat gives three guest prompts, then needs a free account, which also syncs progress across devices.
Is there a SparkAI app in the App Store or Google Play?
No. SparkAI runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, and can be added to the home screen.
Contact
Corrections and questions: michael@sitebatch.com.