Finding good apps to learn Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) can sometimes feel a bit difficult.

Unlike Spanish or French, which have thousands of resources, Indonesian is often overlooked by major language companies.

However, this is changing.

Now, there are several high-quality apps that can help you master the language, whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to polish your conversation skills.

But just remember: Indonesian has two “faces”.

There’s formal Indonesian (Bahasa Baku), which is used in news, government, and textbooks.

Then, there’s colloquial Indonesian (Bahasa Sehari-hari or Bahasa Gaul), which is what we actually speak on the street.

Most apps focus on the formal side. This is great for understanding the structure, but you need to be careful not to sound like a robot when talking to friends.

In this guide, I’ll show you the best apps to use and what each one is best for.

Talk In Indonesian (Best overall)

To start with, you really should being with Talk In Indonesian.

It’s the most comprehensive audio course online for Indonesian, and it works as a web app.

This interactive app covers pretty much everything from the absolute basics up to an intermediate level.

Duolingo (Best for beginners)

You’ve probably heard of Duolingo.

It’s the most famous language learning app in the world, and luckily, they have an Indonesian course.

Is it good?

Yes, it is excellent for building a habit. The lessons are short, gamified, and easy to do on your commute to work or school. It teaches you basic vocabulary and sentence structure.

However, Duolingo teaches extremely formal Indonesian.

My advice: Use Duolingo to learn new words and the basic order of sentences, but don’t memorize the phrases to use in casual conversation.

Babbel (Best for grammar)

If you want something a bit more serious than Duolingo, Babbel is a great choice.

Babbel’s Indonesian course is structured more like a traditional textbook but in app form. It explains why the grammar works the way it does.

Indonesian grammar is actually quite simple (we have no verb conjugations!), but we do use prefixes and suffixes.

For example, the base word makan (eat) can become makanan (food) or memakan (to eat something). Babbel helps explain these changes better than most other apps.

It is not free, but the quality of the audio and the lesson structure is worth the price if you are serious about fluency.

Pimsleur (Best for listening)

Pimsleur is different from the others because it is an audio-based course. You don’t look at a screen; you listen and repeat.

This is perfect for Indonesian because pronunciation is key. Indonesian is a phonetic language, meaning we say words exactly how they are spelled.

Pimsleur forces you to speak out loud. It uses a method called “Spaced Repetition,” where they ask you to recall a word just before you are about to forget it.

If you want to get your accent right and feel comfortable speaking, this is the best app.

HelloTalk (Best for speaking and slang)

Remember how I mentioned that formal Indonesian and street Indonesian are different?

HelloTalk is how you learn the street version.

This app connects you with real people. You can find Indonesians who want to learn English, and you help each other. You can text, send voice notes, or even call them.

This is essential for learning regional variations.

If you are chatting with someone from Jakarta, you will learn Bahasa Gaul (slang). If you chat with someone from Java, you might hear Javanese loan words.

Using HelloTalk is the bridge between studying an app and actually living the language.

Mondly (Best for vocabulary)

Mondly is very similar to Duolingo but often feels a bit more practical for travelers.

It focuses heavily on daily topics like ordering food, checking into a hotel, or asking for directions. If you are planning a holiday to Bali next month and need to learn fast, Mondly is a good pick.

They also have a feature where you can chat with a “chatbot.” This is great if you are too shy to talk to a real person on HelloTalk yet.

KBBI (Best dictionary)

This is not a course, but it is an app you must have.

KBBI stands for Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia. It is the official dictionary of the Indonesian language.

There are many free dictionary apps, but the KBBI app (there are several versions on the app store) gives you the official definitions.

When you see a word in a sentence and Google Translate is giving you a weird answer, check KBBI. It is essential for intermediate and advanced learners.

Comparison table

Here is a quick summary of the apps mentioned above so you can decide which one fits your budget and learning style.

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No single app will make you fluent in Indonesian.

If you rely only on Duolingo, you will know a lot of words but you might struggle to understand a real conversation in Jakarta. If you only use HelloTalk, you might lack the grammar rules to build your own sentences.

My recommendation? Mix them up.

Start with Talk In Indonesian.

Use Duolingo or Mondly for 10 minutes a day to keep your brain active. Use Pimsleur while you are driving or washing dishes. And when you are brave enough, jump onto HelloTalk and make some Indonesian friends.

Selamat belajar! (Happy learning!)