The Best Language Learning Christmas Gifts To Buy

Our Top Gift Picks

• Best overall gift: Rocket Languages gift voucher – our top-rated program with lifetime access starting around $60 when discounted (regularly $150).
• Best for beginners: Babbel gift cards – short 10-15 minute lessons starting around $81 for 6 months.
  

  

Best Language Learning Gifts For Christmas

Best Subscription Gifts For Language Learners

Digital subscriptions make excellent language learning gifts. They’re especially great for last-minute shoppers, since they deliver instantly via email.

Rocket Languages Gift Voucher

If you’re looking for the most comprehensive language learning gift available, Rocket Languages consistently ranks as our top pick across multiple categories. After testing just about every language program on the market, I can confidently say that their Rocket gift vouchers deliver the most well-rounded and effective option for serious learners.

What makes Rocket special as a gift? The interactive audio lessons simulate real conversations rather than just drilling vocabulary, which is genuinely effective for building speaking confidence under pressure. The program includes reinforcement drills, grammar lessons, and Google-powered speech recognition that grades pronunciation on a scale from 1 to 100.

Rocket sells lifetime access, rather than monthly subscriptions. Their gift vouchers come in three tiers: Level 1 alone, Levels 1-2 combined, or all three levels together. Level 1 regularly lists around $150 but often drops to about $60 during promotions. Levels 1-2 range from around $300 down to $120. Keep in mind that the full package drops from roughly $450 to about $180 after discounts.

Best for: Serious learners, people planning extensive travel or relocation, and anyone who prefers comprehensive audio-based instruction with strong grammar support.

View Rocket Languages Gift Vouchers

Babbel Gift Cards

For beginners or anyone who might feel overwhelmed by hour-long lessons, Babbel is our top budget-friendly recommendation. It consistently ranks as the best app for people just starting out. Babbel gift cards and gift subscriptions deliver short (10-15 minutes), engaging lessons packed with practical vocabulary you’ll actually use.

Babbel takes a straightforward approach to gifting with actual gift vouchers. You choose either a Standard subscription, which gives you access to just one language at a time, or a Premium subscription that lets you switch between languages. For Standard plans, you can subscribe for 6 months for about $81 or 12 months for around $108. For more committed learners, their lifetime plan costs around $300 MSRP but can usually be found on sale for less. 

What I love about Babbel for gifts is that the lessons are genuinely fun without feeling gimmicky. Each lesson moves through quick-hit exercises, and the grammar instruction is woven in smoothly without being overwhelming.

Best for: Beginners, people with limited study time, and travelers who need practical conversation skills.

See Babbel Gift Options

Pimsleur Gift Subscription

Pimsleur gift subscriptions offer big flexibility. When you purchase their All Access gift option, the recipient gets access to all 51 languages, from Spanish and French to Ojibwe and Haitian Creole. Pimsleur ranks right alongside Rocket as one of the best programs for audio-based learning and conversation development.

There’s no auto-renewal on the recipient’s end. They simply activate the gift subscription whenever they’re ready to start, choose their language, and enjoy the service until the gift period ends. What I like best about Pimsleur: the 30-minute audio lessons use spaced repetition to build conversational skills under pressure, plus the app includes driving mode for hands-free learning during commutes.

Gift subscriptions start around $50 for 3 months, $100 for 6 months, or $200 for 12 months.

Best for: Auditory learners, people who haven’t committed to a specific language, and busy professionals with commutes.

Check Pimsleur Gift Options

Rosetta Stone Gift Subscription

Rosetta Stone ranks as our top recommendation for visual learners. Their Rosetta Stone gift plans make excellent presents for anyone who processes information best through imagery. The program teaches through pattern recognition rather than translation, forcing learners to think in their target language from day one.

Their gift plans include single language subscriptions or unlimited language lifetime plans. The 12-month subscription runs around $120 when discounted (regularly $240), while lifetime plans range from around $100 for a single language to $150 for all 25 languages after discounts (regularly $400). The speech recognition technology provides accurate feedback on a syllable by syllable basis. I know firsthand just how embarrassing it can be to try to improve your pronunciation in live conversations with native speakers, so to me, getting that in-depth pronunciation practice is invaluable for boosting confidence.

Best for: Visual learners, people planning long-term language study, and anyone wanting to explore multiple languages.

View Rosetta Stone Gift Plans

Lingopie Subscription Gift

For anyone who’s tried traditional language apps and quit after two weeks, Lingopie offers a completely different approach that’s genuinely entertaining. A Lingopie gift subscription lets recipients learn languages by watching actual TV shows and movies with interactive subtitles – think Netflix for language learning.

The platform includes content in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, and Japanese. Features include dual subtitles, click-for-definition on any word, instant flashcard creation, and speech recognition for pronunciation practice. The annual subscription runs around $84, while their lifetime plan goes for about $230 when discounted (regularly $760).

Lingopie works best as a supplement to structured learning, but for intermediate learners who need more exposure to natural speech, it’s an excellent standalone option. As we note in our comprehensive review, entertainment-based learning keeps people engaged longer than traditional drills.

Best for: Entertainment lovers, people who’ve struggled with traditional apps, and intermediate learners needing exposure to natural speech.

Check Lingopie Gift Options

Best Unusual Gifts For Language Lovers

Live online classes with native speakers provide conversation practice that apps can’t replicate. Lingoda offers structured group classes and private lessons taught by certified teachers, giving learners real-time practice and immediate feedback on pronunciation and grammar.

Cultural experiences also create memorable connections – cooking classes taught in the target language, foreign film festival tickets, or gift cards to authentic restaurants for ordering practice. Board games in the target language (Scrabble in Spanish, Monopoly in French) turn game night into low-pressure vocabulary building.

Best Language Learning Gifts For Children

Educational subscriptions make excellent gifts for kids. As a parent, I’m all about turning screen time into productive learning. For comprehensive early learning, ABCmouse covers reading readiness and foundational skills for ages 2-8 at around $15 per month. Reading Eggs focuses specifically on literacy through games and phonics for ages 2-13, while Hooked on Phonics takes a systematic approach perfect for children who need structured phonics guidance. For children learning foreign languages, check out our guide to the best language learning apps for kids, which covers age-appropriate options for Spanish, French, Mandarin, and more.

How To Choose The Right Language Learning Gift

• Age matters. Young children need engaging platforms like ABCmouse. Teenagers respond to content-based learning like Lingopie. Adults appreciate flexibility for busy schedules.
• Match their level. Complete beginners need structured programs with clear explanations (Babbel, Rocket). Intermediate learners benefit from immersion and conversation practice.
• Consider learning style. Audio learners thrive with Pimsleur’s conversation-based approach. Visual learners need image-heavy programs like Rosetta. Anyone who has quit one kind of app before needs a different format entirely.
• Think sustainability. Will they actually use it after the first month? Shorter subscriptions work better for less committed learners, while lifetime plans are ideal for serious language learners.

Christmas Discounts And Subscription Offers

Language learning companies run their biggest sales around holidays, from Black Friday all the way through New Years Week. 

Pimsleur’s All Access starts around $50 for 3 months. Rosetta Stone’s lifetime plans often drop from $400 to $150 during the holidays. Babbel’s lifetime subscription sees discounts from $300 to around $240. Rocket Languages runs aggressive promotions, often discounting lifetime plans by 60% or more. Lingopie’s lifetime plan drops from $760 to around $230.

Watch for flash sales through Christmas and New Year’s for the steepest discounts.

Frequently Asked Questions