Who wrote this comparison
We make StroopTaal, one of the apps on this page, so we are not neutral. To keep the comparison fair, everything it says about another app comes from that app's own website or App Store page, linked under Sources and checked on 12 October 2026. We left out prices, because they differ by country and change often, and we list where StroopTaal is not the best choice.
What to look for
- The Dutch of your life. If you live in the Netherlands, you need the GP, the gemeente, your landlord and your colleagues, not only travel phrases.
- Your exam, if you have one. The inburgering exam (A2 or B1) or the Staatsexamen NT2 (B1 or B2). Check whether the app has practice for your exam and level, and in which parts.
- Speaking out loud. Many apps train you to recognise Dutch. Check whether you also have to speak, what feedback you get and who gives it: a person, an AI or automatic speech scoring.
- Your starting level. Some exam trainers are not made for complete beginners.
- The language of the explanations. If English is not your first language, check which languages the app explains in.
- How you pay. Free, a subscription or a one-time purchase, and what the free part includes.
The apps compared
As each app describes itself on its own pages, checked on 12 October 2026.
What each app is for
| App | What it is | Inburgering or NT2 practice | How you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| StroopTaal | Dutch for life in the Netherlands, from complete beginner (A0) to C1 | Yes: the inburgering exam at A2 and B1, including KNM, and the Staatsexamen NT2 at B1 and B2, part by part | Free lesson path; Premium subscription for speaking and exam practice |
| Duolingo | A general course with Dutch for English speakers | Not mentioned on its pages | "Every course is free"; Super and Max subscriptions add features |
| Babbel | A subscription course in which Dutch is one of the languages | Not mentioned on its pages | First lesson free; a subscription for the full course |
| Busuu | A Dutch course from A1 to B2 with more than 375 lessons, plus Dutch for Business | No: its FAQ says it is not a dedicated preparation course for the civic integration exam | Free plan and Premium |
| Memrise | A Dutch course with videos of native speakers | Not mentioned on its pages; it offers no certificates for Dutch | Free, and a Memrise Pro subscription |
Speaking practice and devices
| App | Speaking practice | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|
| StroopTaal | Voice conversations with an AI partner, situations to act out, and automatic pronunciation scores (Premium) | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android; no web or computer version |
| Duolingo | Speaking exercises in the lessons; its announcements of AI Video Call do not list Dutch | App and web |
| Babbel | Speech recognition in the lessons; its AI conversation feature, Babbel Speak, is offered in Spanish, German, French and Italian | App and web |
| Busuu | You can send your answers to its community of native speakers for feedback; it has no live lessons for Dutch | App and web |
| Memrise | AI conversation practice and videos of native speakers | App and web |
Which app for which goal
- You are a complete beginner and want to try for free. Duolingo's Dutch course is free, and so is the StroopTaal lesson path. Try one for a couple of weeks and keep the one you open every day.
- You live in the Netherlands and need Dutch for daily life and the inburgering exam. Choose an app made for life in the Netherlands that also has exam practice, such as StroopTaal, and do the official practice exams as well.
- You already know the basics and your exam is close. Practise each part of the exam on its own with a timer, for example with the exam practice in StroopTaal or a dedicated exam trainer, and do the free official practice exams for a complete exam.
- You need the Staatsexamen NT2 for work or study. Check that the app has practice at your programme's level, B1 or B2. Of the apps above, StroopTaal says so; the official NT2 practice environment is free.
- You want a person to correct you. Busuu lets native speakers in its community give feedback. Otherwise, add a teacher or a language café to whichever app you use.
- You learn several languages at once. A general app such as Duolingo, Babbel or Memrise covers them all in one place.
What StroopTaal has
- Lessons from A0 to C1 that follow life in the Netherlands, with grammar tips, listening, typing and speaking. The lesson path is free.
- Listening scenes of situations such as calling the GP practice or a counter conversation, written with AI and voiced with synthetic voices, with questions and words to save.
- Taalmaatje, an AI conversation partner you call and speak to out loud, and situations to act out, such as registering at the gemeente. It is software, not a person.
- Exam practice for the inburgering exam at A2 and B1 and the Staatsexamen NT2 at B1 and B2, each part on its own with a timer. For the inburgering exam it also shows a readiness score for each part, as an estimate.
- Explanations in seven languages: English, Turkish, Polish, Ukrainian, Arabic, German and Spanish.
- A free KNM practice test on this website, with no account: KNM practice test.
The store rating, when the app came to the App Store and what is free are on the About page, with the date those facts were checked.
Where StroopTaal is not the best fit
- You want to learn on a computer. There is no web or computer version.
- You need to learn offline. The app needs an internet connection.
- You do not want to pay at all. The lesson path is free, but speaking practice and exam practice come with Premium.
- You want a full mock exam. The exam practice goes part by part. For a complete exam, use the official practice exams.
- You want your spoken answers judged on content. The speaking score in exam practice rates pronunciation and fluency automatically and rewards longer answers. It does not judge whether your answer does what the task asks.
- You want a human teacher. StroopTaal has no teachers; its conversation partner is an AI.
- You use the app in German or Spanish. Part of the content, such as the word list, still appears in English.
No app, including StroopTaal, can promise that you will pass an exam.
Questions and answers
What is the best app to learn Dutch for expats?
It depends on your goal. For daily life in the Netherlands together with the inburgering exam or the Staatsexamen NT2, an app made for life there with exam practice fits best, such as StroopTaal (made by the team that wrote this comparison). For a free general start, Duolingo has a free Dutch course.
Is there a free app to learn Dutch?
Yes. Duolingo says every course is free, and Busuu and Memrise have free plans. The StroopTaal lesson path is free, while its speaking practice and exam practice come with Premium. The official practice exams for the inburgering exam and the Staatsexamen NT2 are free as well.
Which apps have practice for the inburgering exam?
Of the apps compared on this page, StroopTaal has practice for the inburgering exam at A2 and B1, including KNM, and for the Staatsexamen NT2 at B1 and B2. Duolingo, Babbel and Memrise do not mention exam practice on their pages, and Busuu says its Dutch course is not a dedicated preparation course for the civic integration exam. There are also apps and websites made only for exam practice. Whichever you use, also do the free official practice exams.
Does Duolingo teach Dutch?
Yes, Duolingo has a Dutch course for English speakers. Its pages do not mention practice for the inburgering exam or the Staatsexamen NT2, and its announcements of the AI Video Call feature do not list Dutch.
Can I learn Dutch with an app alone?
An app can teach you words and grammar and get you practising every day, and some let you speak with an AI. Most people still need to talk with people to become fluent: colleagues, neighbours, a language café or a teacher. Use an app for the daily practice and add real conversations.
Who made this comparison, and can I trust it?
The StroopTaal team made it, so read it knowing that. Every statement about another app comes from that app's own pages, which are listed under Sources and were checked on 12 October 2026, and the page says where StroopTaal is not the best fit. Prices are left out because they differ by country and change often.
Sources
We checked this guide against these pages on 12 October 2026. Rules, prices and exam formats change: the official page is always the one to follow.
- Duolingo on the App Store
- Duolingo: Learn Dutch
- Duolingo blog: Video Call languages (2024)
- Duolingo blog: Video Call for beginners (January 2026)
- Babbel: Learn Dutch
- Babbel on the App Store
- Babbel Live and Babbel Speak languages
- Busuu: Learn Dutch online (course and FAQ)
- Memrise: Learn Dutch
- Memrise on the App Store
- Inburgeren.nl: official practice exams
- Staatsexamen NT2: practice environment
StroopTaal is an independent app. It is not DUO or any other government service, and it cannot register you for an exam. What this guide says about the app comes from the app as it is on 12 October 2026; the About page and the FAQ describe it in full.
This article was drafted by AI and edited by a person before it was published.
