Best apps to learn Egyptian Arabic in 2026

Most Arabic apps teach Modern Standard Arabic, the formal Arabic of news and books. If you want to talk with people in Egypt, you need Egyptian Arabic (Masri), and far fewer apps teach it. Here are the ones that do, with what each is good at. We make Cairo Street, so it is on this list, and we have tried to be fair to the others.

Quick answer

App	Best for	Teaches Egyptian?
Cairo Street	A full course from zero to advanced, through a story	Yes, only Egyptian
Pimsleur (Egyptian)	Learning by listening, e.g. while driving	Yes (Cairo dialect)
Rocket Arabic (Egyptian)	Audio lessons with notes and quizzes	Yes
Mango Languages	Conversation basics, often free through public libraries	Yes, a separate Egyptian course
Talk In Arabic	Videos with real speakers in many dialects	Yes, among 8 dialects
Duolingo	Formal Arabic and the alphabet	No, Modern Standard Arabic

1. Cairo Street (iPhone)

A complete Egyptian Arabic course told as a story: you land in Cairo with Mishmish, a cat in round glasses, and learn by ordering koshari, bargaining in the market and answering the phone. It has 840 lessons over 10 seasons (A1 to C1), every line in Arabic script, pronunciation and English, real Egyptian voices, speaking and writing practice, and the alphabet built in.

Good to know: iPhone only for now. The first 2 chapters at your level are free; the full course is a subscription. There is no live teacher, so pair it with conversation practice when you can.

2. Pimsleur Egyptian Arabic

A well-known audio method: 30 half-hour lessons where you listen, answer out loud and build sentences. It teaches the Cairo dialect and is great for pronunciation and confidence speaking.

Good to know: the Egyptian course has one level, so you will need something else after it. It focuses on listening and speaking, with little reading.

3. Rocket Arabic (Egyptian)

Audio lessons in Egyptian Arabic with written notes, culture lessons and quizzes, sold as a one-time purchase.

Good to know: it feels more like an online course than a game, which some learners prefer.

4. Mango Languages

Mango has a separate Egyptian Arabic course built around short conversations, with native audio and culture notes. Many public libraries give free access, so check yours.

5. Talk In Arabic

A large library of videos and lessons with native speakers in 8 dialects, including Egyptian. Good for hearing how people really talk.

Good to know: reviewers describe it as a resource library rather than a step-by-step course, so it works best alongside one.

6. Free tools worth adding

Lisaan Masry: a free Egyptian Arabic dictionary.
Anki: free flashcards; search for Egyptian Arabic decks.
A tutor (for example on italki or Preply): even one conversation a week makes a big difference.

What about Duolingo?

Duolingo teaches Modern Standard Arabic, not Egyptian. It is a fine way to start the alphabet, but the everyday words are often different in Cairo (see the differences). For alternatives that teach Egyptian, see Duolingo alternatives for Egyptian Arabic.

How to choose

Total beginner who wants a full path: a structured course like Cairo Street, plus a few minutes of listening each day.
Mostly in the car or on walks: Pimsleur.
On a tight budget: Mango through your library, Lisaan Masry and Anki.
Already know some Arabic: Talk In Arabic videos and a tutor.

Checked in November 2026. Apps change, so check each app's page for current prices and features.