Memrise

What Memrise does

Memrise is a privately held language learning platform founded in 2010 and headquartered in London (Memrise Limited, company number 07463911). The company operates a freemium B2C product available across iOS, Android, and web, serving 80 million cumulative learners worldwide. Its catalogue spans 149 languages — 23+ available on the free tier and the remainder, including rare and constructed languages such as Klingon, Na'vi, Quenya, and Dovahzul, available to Pro subscribers. The platform targets individual consumers across persona segments: travelers, exam-prep students (IELTS, GCSE, A-Level, IB, CEFR), professionals working abroad, heritage speakers, and lifelong learners.

The core product architecture combines a spaced-repetition memory engine with a content library of 48,000+ native-speaker videos, scenario-based structured courses, searchable phrasebooks, and community-generated word lists. AI capabilities include MemBot, a generative conversational speaking-practice partner with 75+ scenarios, plus automated pronunciation scoring on voice recordings and a personalised review-scheduling engine. Multi-device progress sync and social sign-in (Facebook, Google, historically Weibo) round out the platform.

Memrise monetises through subscription tiers: Free (limited features), Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, and Lifetime (one-time payment for 100 years of access). Distribution is product-led via app stores and self-serve web sign-up, with earned-media coverage in BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, CNET, and TimeOut, and strong social proof from 1.47M Google Play reviews (4.6 stars) and 177k App Store ratings (4.8 stars). The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, ~$21.8M cumulative funding through a 2018 Series B, and 51–100 employees.

Name

Memrise

Legal name

Memrise Limited

Website

https://memrise.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Memrise is a London-based consumer language learning platform serving 80M learners across 149 languages via iOS, Android, and web, combining spaced-repetition flashcards, 48,000+ native-speaker videos, and AI conversational practice for travelers, students, professionals, and heritage speakers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Learning Software

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Learning Apps & Self-Study Platforms (EDAFAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vocabulary, Flashcards, SRS & Memorization Platforms (EDAFAOAF), Online Language Learning Platforms (Self-Paced) (EDAMAFAC), Education & Learning Personalization (HDAAAGAL)

Keywords

• Language learning app
• Spaced repetition learning
• AI language tutor
• Vocabulary training
• Mobile learning platform

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription - Monthly Plan: Rolling monthly subscription that automatically renews. Users pay monthly fees to access advanced learning courses and content beyond the free tier.
2. Subscription - Quarterly Plan: Rolling quarterly subscription that automatically renews every three months. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Subscription - Annual Plan: Rolling annual subscription that automatically renews yearly. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Lifetime Subscription: One-time upfront payment for lifetime access (100 years or until Memrise ceases commercial operations). No automatic renewals.
5. Freemium - Free Tier: Free access to official courses for 23 languages, video clips, gamified tests, and basic features. Revenue generated from converting free users to paid Pro plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Memrise is a consumer language learning platform delivered via iOS, Android, and web that combines spaced-repetition vocabulary flashcards with 48,000+ native speaker video clips and an AI-powered speaking partner ("MemBot") for conversational practice. The platform offers structured courses across 149 languages (23+ on the free tier), exam preparation aligned to IELTS/GCSE/A-Level/IB/CEFR, phrasebooks, and user-generated community word lists, monetized through freemium monthly, quarterly, annual, and lifetime subscriptions.

Product overview

Memrise is a language learning platform offering a core app with spaced-repetition flashcards, native-speaker videos, and AI-powered speaking practice. The platform provides structured courses across 23+ languages with scenario-based lessons, phrasebooks for vocabulary reference, and community word lists. Premium access (Memrise Pro) unlocks 45,000+ videos and full feature access. Unique offerings include exam preparation aligned to IELTS, GCSE, A-Level, IB & CEFR standards, and an AI language partner (MemBot) for conversational practice. The platform targets travelers, students, professionals, and heritage speakers with personalized, goal-oriented learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Memrise App (Core Platform) A consumer language learning application using spaced-repetition flashcards, 48,000+ native speaker video clips, and gamified lessons for vocabulary acquisition, available on iOS, Android, and web for individual learners worldwide.
• Memrise Pro (Premium Subscription) Paid subscription tier unlocking 45,000+ native speaker videos, full access to all languages, removal of ads, and advanced AI speaking practice features for individual learners.
• Language Courses Structured language courses for 23+ languages featuring scenario-based lessons, native speaker videos, vocabulary building, and progressive skill development across topics like Travel, Work, Food, and Relationships.
• Phrasebooks Searchable reference collections of words and phrases with native speaker videos and audio files, organized alphabetically for quick vocabulary lookup.
• Memrise Community Word Lists User-generated vocabulary lists created by the Memrise community, allowing learners to find and study word lists tailored to specific goals such as exams, job-specific terms, or media-based content.
• Memrise Exam Prep Exam preparation feature aligned with IELTS, GCSE, A-Level, IB, and CEFR standards, offering practice tests under real exam conditions with AI-generated feedback on improvement areas.
• AI Speaking Practice (MemBot) AI-powered language partner feature enabling private speaking practice through conversational interactions, helping users build confidence before real-world conversations with 75+ AI conversation scenarios.

Quantifiable outcome

• Learners who spend 15 minutes a day can confidently have a basic conversation in 2 months
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Duolingo: Duolingo is the dominant direct competitor in mobile-first language learning apps. Both target self-paced learners with freemium subscription models, gamified lessons, and multi-platform distribution (iOS/Android/web). Duolingo is significantly larger (~40M MAU, ~$700M revenue) but Memrise differentiates via native speaker videos and AI speaking practice.
• Babbel: Babbel is a Berlin-based subscription language learning app directly competing with Memrise in the same self-paced, freemium-to-paid segment. Both emphasize real-world conversational skills, target adult learners, and offer tiered subscriptions. Babbel's ~14 language catalog and conversational pedagogy overlap with Memrise's scenario-based learning approach.
• Busuu: Busuu is a London-based (same HQ city as Memrise) subscription language learning platform offering ~14 languages. Both target self-paced learners with freemium models and community features, and both were early adopters of AI-powered personalization. Busuu's smaller scale and similar geographic origin make it a close comparable for competitive dynamics.
• Drops: Drops is a mobile-first vocabulary-focused language learning app with a freemium subscription model. Both Memrise and Drops target casual learners with bite-sized lessons, gamification, and visual learning approaches. Drops has ~50 languages and competes directly in the vocabulary-acquisition use case.
• Mondly: Mondly is a mobile-first language learning app offering ~40 languages with VR/AR and AI chatbot features. It directly competes with Memrise on freemium mobile language learning, broad language catalog, and AI conversation practice, making it a relevant direct comparable.

Broad incumbents

• Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone is a legacy language learning brand now owned by IXL Learning, offering subscription and one-time-purchase language courses. It competes broadly with Memrise in adult language learning but lacks Memrise's mobile-first PLG model and native speaker video differentiation, positioning it as a broad incumbent rather than a direct PLG competitor.
• Pimsleur: Pimsleur is an audio-based language learning method (now owned by Simon & Schuster/HarperCollins) offering subscription and one-time-purchase courses. It overlaps with Memrise in adult language learning but emphasizes audio-only lessons rather than Memrise's mobile video + AI approach.

Emerging players

• Quizlet: Quizlet is a flashcards and spaced repetition study platform with significant language learning usage. While not exclusively a language app, its SRS methodology, user-generated content model, and freemium subscription overlap meaningfully with Memrise's vocabulary acquisition approach and community word lists feature.
• italki: italki is a global online tutor marketplace connecting language learners with human teachers. It represents the human-tutoring alternative that Memrise's AI speaking practice (MemBot) is positioned to disrupt, and is referenced in Memrise's competitive comparison content.
• Preply: Preply is an online language tutor marketplace directly named in Memrise's competitive content (Preply vs Memrise comparison articles). Both serve serious language learners, with Preply focused on human tutoring and Memrise on self-paced AI practice — making them adjacent competitors for the learner's wallet share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/memrise
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCG4K8z2qzEXYzVg5O1U1ITA
• Facebookfacebook.com/memrise
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memrise
• Instagraminstagram.com/getmemrise

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Memrise