Drops

What Drops does

Drops is a gamified mobile language learning platform operating across 55+ languages through short, visually-driven daily sessions of approximately five minutes. The product combines spaced-repetition, visual mnemonics, and contextual learning to teach vocabulary and phrases, with companion apps Scripts (for character-based writing systems such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) and Droplets (for children and teens). The core technology stack is built on React Native for cross-platform mobile deployment, with AI features layered on top using open-source ASR models hosted via Hugging Face and Meta's open-source Llama model as the primary LLM provider for pronunciation assessment (Speak Practice) and AI-assisted custom lesson generation.

The company operates a freemium business model: the basic app is free with limited daily learning time, while Premium subscriptions are offered on monthly, yearly, and one-time lifetime tiers, unlocking unlimited learning time, offline access, all content, and exclusive gameplay modes. Distribution occurs primarily through the iOS App Store and Google Play Store worldwide, supplemented by web access via languagedrops.com, a 2019 partnership with Global Eagle Entertainment for in-flight entertainment, and post-acquisition access to educational institutions and corporate buyers through parent company Kahoot!'s distribution network (Drops for Schools and Drops for Business). Customer segments include individual self-learners (primary), children and parents via Droplets, enterprise and brand partners, educational institutions, and a Ukrainian Refugee Program offering free year-long Premium access.

Drops is incorporated in Estonia as PlanB Labs OÜ and has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kahoot! (Oslo: KAHOT) since November 2020, when it was acquired for up to $50 million. The company employs approximately 30 people and claims a community of 50+ million language learners with a 4.8/5 app store rating across 300,000+ reviews. Founder Frederik Cordes remains as Chief Product Officer and General Manager, preserving product continuity post-acquisition.

Name

Drops

Legal name

PlanB Labs OÜ

Website

https://languagedrops.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drops is a gamified mobile language learning app offering vocabulary and phrase training across 55+ languages through 5-minute daily sessions, serving individual self-learners, children, and brand/enterprise partners via a freemium subscription model. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kahoot! following a 2020 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallinn

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Premium Subscriptions: Freemium model with tiered Premium subscriptions (Monthly, Yearly, Lifetime) that unlock unlimited learning time, ad-free experience, offline access, all content, and exclusive gameplay modes. Basic version is free with limited daily learning time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Drops is a gamified mobile language learning application offering vocabulary and phrase acquisition across 55+ languages through short 5-minute daily sessions. It uses spaced-repetition, visual association, and mnemonic techniques to deliver bite-sized lessons, with AI-powered pronunciation assessment and custom content generation. The platform offers freemium access with Premium subscriptions unlocking unlimited learning time, offline access, and exclusive gameplay modes.

Product overview

Drops is a gamified language learning platform developed by PlanB Labs OÜ (a Kahoot! company) that offers vocabulary and phrase learning across 55+ languages through short, engaging daily sessions. The core Drops app serves as the main product, supplemented by two companion apps: Scripts (for learning character-based writing systems) and Droplets (for children and teens). Premium subscription tiers unlock unlimited time, offline access, and exclusive content. The platform integrates AI features including Speak Practice (pronunciation assessment) and Custom Content (AI-assisted lesson creation). Drops also offers B2B solutions through Drops at Work and Drops at School programs, alongside a Ukrainian Refugee Program providing free Premium access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Droplets: A companion app designed to support kids and teens in learning foreign languages through engaging, gamified content.
• Scripts

Products and services

• Drops Core App The main Drops language learning application offering vocabulary and phrase learning through gamified 5-minute daily sessions across 55+ languages. Includes 5,000+ words and phrases, pronunciation practice, grammar content, and multiplayer modes using spaced-repetition and visual association techniques.
• Drops Premium Paid subscription tier offering unlimited learning time, ad-free experience, offline access, all game modes, all content, and exclusive gameplay features. Available as monthly, yearly, or lifetime one-time purchase plans.
• Scripts Companion app for learning to write character-based languages and languages with different writing systems such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
• Droplets Companion app designed specifically for kids and teens learning foreign languages. Offers age-appropriate content and interface with parent-controlled settings through a parental companion app.
• Drops for Business B2B partnership offering including custom content integration for brands, special offers for communities, and content creation services for corporate language training programs.
• Drops for Schools Educational institution licensing program for schools and academic settings to use Drops language learning content for classroom language instruction.
• Ukrainian Refugee Program Free one-year Premium subscription offered to Ukrainian refugees to help them feel at ease in new surroundings without language barriers. Includes Ukrainian language support in the app.

Quantifiable outcome

• Learners progress 2x faster on average with Drops Premium
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Kahoot!flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2020In November 2020, Kahoot! acquired Drops for up to $50 million, making Drops a Kahoot! company. Kahoot! is the world's leading game-based learning platform with a mission to make learning awesome. The acquisition enables Drops to leverage Kahoot!'s distribution network across schools and corporations while maintaining its focus on language learning innovation.
• Amber LiuminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2020K-pop idol Amber Liu (of f(x)) collaborated with Drops to create a custom Korean language course. The partnership brought her fanbase to the platform and provided culturally authentic content for Korean learners.
• Global EaglecoreTechnology or Integration · 20 June 2019Partnership to provide Drops language learning content through Global Eagle's in-flight entertainment platform. Allows airline passengers to access language learning during flights, expanding Drops' reach in travel and hospitality contexts.
• Hugging FacecoreTechnology or IntegrationDrops uses Hugging Face as its main LLM provider for AI features, utilizing the open-source Llama model (by Meta). Drops integrates with Hugging Face through its backend infrastructure to process AI features without sending user data. Open-source ASR models hosted via Hugging Face power the Speak Practice pronunciation assessment feature.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• italki: Marketplace for 1:1 online language tutors across many languages. Represents the human-tutor alternative to Drops' AI-driven Speak Practice, appealing to learners seeking deeper conversational fluency.
• HelloTalk: Language exchange app connecting native speakers for practice. Complementary to Drops' vocabulary focus — serves the conversational practice gap that Drops addresses via AI rather than human tutors.

Direct peers

• LingoDeer: Language learning app particularly strong in Asian languages (Japanese, Korean, Chinese), structurally similar to Drops' Scripts companion app. Direct overlap in target learner and gamified vocabulary approach.
• Babbel: Subscription language learning app focused on conversational proficiency. Targets adult learners with structured curricula — directly comparable to Drops' premium subscription product and similar mobile-first delivery.
• Mondly: Freemium language learning app with daily lessons, AR/VR features, and 40+ languages. Closely matches Drops' mobile-first, bite-sized session model and broad language portfolio.
• Memrise: Vocabulary-focused language learning app using spaced repetition and video clips of native speakers. Closely aligned with Drops' science-backed retention methodology and freemium mobile experience.
• Duolingo: The leading gamified language learning app, directly competing with Drops across vocabulary, grammar, and now conversation. Both target self-learners via mobile-first freemium models; Duolingo operates at much larger scale but shares the same core mechanic.
• Busuu: Subscription language learning platform with structured courses and community feedback. Comparable to Drops in freemium consumer model, with overlap in B2B/enterprise distribution via McGraw-Hill partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Pimsleur: Audio-based language learning method focused on speaking and pronunciation. Comparable to Drops' Speak Practice AI feature; operates as an established subscription/one-time-purchase alternative.
• Rosetta Stone: Long-established language learning brand offering immersive instruction across many languages. A broader incumbent with overlapping language portfolio; competes in the same consumer and institutional segments as Drops.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/language_drops
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPmB02w4yhh5sXONKcfrAQQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LearnwithDrops
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/languagedrops
• Instagraminstagram.com/language_drops
• TikToktiktok.com/@language_drops

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Drops