Drops Review

Drops supports 45+ languages, including some of the world’s most culturally endangered languages that are at risk of disappearing.

Ainu, Arabic, ASL, Bosnian, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English (American and British), Esperanto, Estonian, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Igbo, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian and European), Romanian, Russian, Samoan, Sanskrit, Serbian, Spanish (Castilan and Mexican), Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Te Reo Maori, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese and Yoruba.

Drops was founded in Estonia in 2015 by Daniel Farkas and Mark Szulyovszky. Its mission was to make a game out of language learning. And it paid off.

By 2020 it had 25 million users and that number has now exceeded the 40 million mark.

Drops is now the fastest growing language app in the world and adds around seven languages a year to its offering. It spans mobile and web-based programs.

Though Drops does use gamification, its designers insist it is a gaming, not just a gamified, app. The difference being that gamification uses rewards to give you external motivation. Whereas being immersed in a game is an internally rewarding experience.

And though it’s fun, years of research have gone into what makes language learning effective and easy.

In November 2020, Drops was acquired by Kahoot!, the world's leading game-based learning platform. Testimony both to the fun and effectiveness of the Drops’ game based approach.

As part of Kahoot!, Drops continues to evolve and find more enjoyable and effective ways to learn new languages. It now has two companion apps: Scripts, which teaches learners how to read and write new alphabet/character-based writing systems, and Droplets, for children.

Drops also has a commitment to protecting culturally endangered languages, such as Hawaiian, Samoan, and Maori and they have worked with UNESCO to support this aim.

Drops is a games based app designed to make language learning a fun part of your daily routine.

You download the app by pointing your phone camera at the QR code, or by using Google Play or the Apple app store, or from your desktop. Then you can use it for free for a limit of 5 minutes a day or subscribe to Premium with a free 7 day trial.

Once you’ve downloaded Drops, you just choose the language you want to learn.

Then you adapt Drops to your needs by answering questions about your goals for learning, your age, your existing knowledge, when and for how long you want to spend learning each day and your personal interests. Drops then designs a program based on your responses. You can change language any time after you’ve started your learning.

Sessions are around 5 minutes long. Each one introduces words from a topic relevant to your interests and reasons for learning. The words will be spoken and written out with a matching visual and you’ll play various games to help you memorize them. You can indicate which words you feel you’ve mastered so the app won’t test you on them as often.

During your session you will be given point scores and encouragement to keep you motivated and, at the end, a summary of your progress so far. If you’re in free mode, you’ll need to wait 10 hours before you can take another session.

Lessons consist of introducing new words and phrases using audio and a matching image.

After 3 or 4 new words or phrases have been introduced, you play a variety of games delivered in quick succession requiring you to:

• Carry out different sorts of matching activities
• Spell out words and phrases by selecting letters or combinations of letters

• Indicating whether what the app is displaying is correct or incorrect

  Words you already know will be repeated and revisited to help commit them to long term memory. You can choose which words you feel you don’t have to review, and the app won’t test you on them as frequently.

There are also a number of review tools such as quiz mode that you can engage with to strengthen your knowledge.

Lessons last 5 minutes and there is a countdown to keep you motivated and engaged.

Drops has three subscription options to give you access to Premium content:

Drops’ price point is competitive with other apps, especially the Premium annual subscription. It works out to under 4¢ a day - and there’s not a great deal you can get for that!

Drops does have a free version. The table below highlights the differences and similarities between the free and premium versions.

Overall, the free version can give you much of what the premium has, with just a few inconveniences. But if you want the upgrade, you can do so at a reasonable price.

There is a seven day free trial of Drops annual Premium membership. You do need to provide payment details, but if you cancel within the 7 days no payment is taken.

I spent a week testing Drops using the 7 day free trial. I completed lessons every day, spending around 15 minutes a day.

I tried 2 different languages including one I didn't know at all (Irish) and one I knew a little (German).

I also explored the platform thoroughly, visiting the Drops blog, FAQs and help centre. Finally I checked out online reviews on platforms like Reddit and Trustpilot.

What I liked about Drops

Effective at teaching vocab in a fun way that sticks

One of the most effective ways to teach a language is to recognize that we all have learning preferences - visual, aural or kinaesthetic. A good app will make use of a mix of all three to help users remain engaged and on task.

Drops’s games do use all three learning styles. The images for each word are consistent across all levels (visual), words and phrases are spoken aloud (aural), and the majority of games require you to move things around (kinaesthetic).

They also make use of spaced repetition, that is within a session, you’ll be tested on the same set of words at different intervals.

This combination of learning styles combined with the consistency and repetition that Drops uses makes learning stick.

Super fun to use with a slick, easy to navigate interface

Drops has a simple, minimalist design which is very appealing. There are no distractions, which helps you focus on the learning.

The app is surprisingly easy to navigate, despite there being very few instructions on the screen. Once I’d completed the first couple of exercises I found I just instinctively knew what to do and what to expect.

Review activities including review quiz and review dojo

Review quizzes are available from the get go and the review dojo is accessible after you learn 50 words.

The quizzes not only test your vocabulary memory but also your comprehension. They do this by asking questions that make you place vocabulary into context such as, which object(s) can be eaten, are soft, or can fit inside something else.

Review dojo uses a learning algorithm to precinct when you need to encounter a word to maximize your chances of remembering it. When you get the message "no words available for optimal learning" it means the system has decided there are no words you need to practice at that time.

Adaptable with the ability to skip learned content

You can adapt Drops to your needs by answering questions about your goals for learning,  your existing knowledge and your personal interests etc. Drops then designs a program based on your responses.

Obviously, you’ll learn some words more quickly. Especially cognates - words that sound the same in your target and native language. So Drops allows you to hide those words to focus on the words you do need to practice. This is done by scrolling down when an exercise is complete and clicking on the … after a word, followed by clicking on the eye.

I’ve used this feature a number of times during my trial and it meant I was able to cover content much more quickly.

Large Variety of Topics

Drops’ vast vocabulary bank is spread throughout a wide range of topics. These include greetings, travel, food, and other everyday basics. But also more unusual ones such as cosmetics and gardening. This means there is a very diverse and fascinating selection of words to learn with the app.

Free version has a daily 5 minute limit

The free version gives you a very good idea of how Drops works with the same mini games featuring in both. It’s possible that, for some learners, a 5 minute limit is a positive.

However, for me 5 minutes just did not feel enough to learn and remember new vocabulary. Plus, as a game based app, Drops is very compelling. So, whilst I didn’t want to be saturated with new words and terms, I was left wanting more after my time limit was up.

Does not teach sentences or grammar

Drops was built to encourage users to learn a wide variety of words. So that is exactly what it does. And it does it well.

But if you’re wanting a more comprehensive approach to language learning that includes sentence construction, grammar tips and conversational practice, Drops is not for you.

That said, there is a travel talk category that does give you useful phrases and sentences to use for an informal visit to a country.

No voice recognition software for pronunciation practice

Drops does provide audio pronunciations for the words you are learning, but there is no voice recognition for you to rehearse and perfect your accent.

This also means you can’t practice conversation in your target language. This is definitely worth bearing in mind if you are thinking of using Drops as your sole language learning tool.

Desktop version a little glitchy

I put Drops through its paces using both the desktop and mobile version. Whilst using the desktop version, I selected a topic by accident and pressed ‘back’. This led to me not being able to access my account.

The good news is that Live Chat on Drops is just that - you chat with a person and not a bot. The solution was to reinstall the app on my mobile. This leads me to think that, although it is available on both, Drops is better suited to mobile than it is to desktop use.

Bearing in mind that Drops is a vocabulary learning app, I would say it would suit anyone who:

• Wants to learn another language from scratch and would like a head start by mastering some basic vocabulary
• Wants to supplement another more comprehensive method of learning with a reliable and effective vocabulary app
• Enjoys learning through game play

• 45 Languages
• Review tools
• Game based approach
• Gamification and challenges
• Supplementary Apps

Number of languages

Compared to most of its competitors, Drops offers a generous range of languages. Only Pimsleur and italki offer more.

Review tools

Drops has a number of tools to help you master new vocabulary. Quiz Mode tests your  vocabulary memory and language comprehension, Review Dojo uses an algorithm to detect which words you need to practice and the optimum moments for you to encounter them, Word Collection enables premium users to review or search for all learned words.

Game based approach

Drops uses a simple game based approach to make learning easy and fun. The games touch all learning styles - visual, aural and kinaesthetic to keep learners engaged, on task, and learning without realizing it.

Gamification and challenges

You can earn points, keep track of your streaks and keep track of your progress on the achievement board. Drops also lets you earn badges for words learned, sessions with 100% accuracy and maintaining streaks.

Supplementary apps

Drops has two companion apps. For those interested in learning to write character-based languages or languages with a different writing system, Drops has Scripts. You learn the new alphabet or characters by manually drawing them on screen, thereby training your muscle memory. For kids aged 7-17 Drops offers Droplets.

Drops key facts:

• Our score: 7.87/10
• Number of users: 40 million downloads
• Avg lesson length: 5 minutes
• Number of lessons: N/A
• Downloadable lessons: Yes for premium users
• Starting proficiency test: No
• Provides certificate: No
• Adaptive to user: Yes
• Number of languages taught: 45+
• Pricing: From $7.50 per month
• Desktop: Yes
• Mobile: Yes
• IOS: Yes
• Android: Yes

• Our score: 7.8 /10
• Trustpilot 3.1 /5 based on 5 reviews
• Apple App Store 4.7 /5 based on 75k reviews

• Google Play 4.3 /5 based on 262k reviews

  “When I first started using Drops to learn Swahili I thought it was great…However, I have since realised that I am largely learning individual words and not phrases. So, my vocabulary is expanding, but I have no idea how to form sentences.” (Google Play)

As I’ve stressed throughout, it’s important to understand what Drops is for, and that the platform is very up front about this. It is a vocabulary app. It is really designed to be used in conjunction with other forms of language learning, as this user appreciates:

“I like the style of the app and the categories. Great to just blast through learning a bunch of words, at the same time as using something else to practice sentences and listening skills.” (Google)

And I think this user sums it up well:

“It’s a great app for learning words. The pictures, repetition and different ways of recalling the words are great for learning. But without a way of putting words into sentences it could never be used on its own. [but]  I’m going to give it 5 stars for being great at what it has been designed for.” (Apple App Store)

If you’re looking to learn a ton of vocabulary in a super fun way that really sticks then yes.

I found the app to be very compelling, it really holds your attention. I really enjoyed all the games and found I was learning tons without even noticing. And it’s not just fun, but visually appealing with a clean, easy to use interface.

But if you’re looking to learn a language in the round, with sentences, conversation, spoken exercises and cultural sensitivity, Drops is not for you.

I would say Drops is best for someone wanting to get into pole position in a new language by learning key vocab. Or those needing a fast and fun recap in a language prior to travel. It would also sit well alongside another more comprehensive language learning resource.

That said, the freemium version is available to you for five minutes a day. And if you love it, you can trial the app for 7 days before commiting to a subscription. So there’s nothing to lose by giving it a try.