Best Apps Like Duolingo for Quran Memorization

TL;DR. If you want a Duolingo-style learning path for Qur'an memorization (XP, streaks, repetition, a structured roadmap), SABR and Quranly are the closest matches in 2026. Tarteel is the strongest tool for real-time recitation feedback, Quran Companion focuses on spaced revision, and Muslim Pro / Quran.com are reading-and-listening apps rather than memorization apps. Pick based on what you actually struggle with: starting, repeating, or not forgetting.

As of June 2026, "Duolingo for Qur'an" has gone from a meme into a real category. People searching for it are not looking for another reading app — they want the specific feeling Duolingo gives them: a path, a daily target, a streak, and a small win each session, applied to Hifz instead of a language.

The job-to-be-done is narrow: help me show up daily to memorize Qur'an, and stop me from restarting every few weeks. Most apps in this list do something else (read, translate, listen). A few genuinely try to solve memorization. This article separates them honestly.

Founder disclosure

Disclosure: I'm the founder of SABR. SABR appears in this list because it was built specifically to be a Duolingo-style Qur'an memorization app — that's the whole point of the product. I've also done my best to describe the other apps fairly, including where SABR is honestly weaker than them. If something here is out of date or unfair to another team's product, email me at support.sabr@gmail.com and I'll update it.

Key takeaways

• SABR is the closest Duolingo-style app for Hifz — structured path, repetition, XP, streaks, and a free full memorization path.
• Quranly also follows a gamified approach with daily goals and streaks, oriented around memorization and review.
• Quran Companion focuses on spaced-repetition revision, which is closer to Anki than to Duolingo.
• Tarteel uses recitation recognition for review feedback — useful if you need correction signals, not a memorization roadmap.
• Muslim Pro and Quran.com are reading, translation and listening apps, not Hifz tools — they appear on lists like this but solve a different problem.
• Gamification works for Hifz when it rewards consistency (showing up) rather than speed (finishing fast).
• For tajwid and recitation correction, none of these apps replaces a qualified teacher.

What "Duolingo for Qur'an" actually means

In tracking 4,000+ users in SABR's first month, we noticed people describe "Duolingo for Qur'an" using four concrete features, not a vibe:

1. A visible learning path — a roadmap you can scroll, not a blank Mushaf.
2. Daily targets and streaks — something the app expects from you today.
3. Repetition baked in — the app makes you repeat each ayah, you don't have to decide.
4. A free core path — you can start without paying, and the content (the Qur'an) is never paywalled.

An app needs most of those four to be in this category. Apps that only show Arabic + translation + audio are reading apps, not memorization apps — even if they're excellent at what they do.

Key takeaway. "Duolingo for Qur'an" is a feature set, not a marketing slogan: roadmap + daily target + built-in repetition + free core path.

1. SABR — closest match to the Duolingo model for Hifz

A Duolingo-style Qur'an memorization app built specifically around the consistency problem: starting small, repeating ayat, and not forgetting.

Who it's for. Muslims who keep restarting their Hifz, who are busy, who don't have a teacher available daily, or who responded well to Duolingo / habit apps and want that same loop applied to Qur'an.

Strengths

• Structured ayah-by-ayah roadmap with XP, streaks, hearts/lives and daily goals.
• Adjustable repetition count per ayah (default around 20), so you can match your level.
• Built-in daily revision so older surahs surface alongside new ones — the part most people skip.

Pricing facts. The standard learning path covers the full Qur'an for free. Premium unlocks convenience (offline downloads, free picking outside the standard path, extra flexibility). The Qur'an itself is never paywalled. Exact Premium pricing varies by region — [source: SABR pricing page on get-sabr.com].

Best for. P1 (busy Muslim), P2 (the restarter), P3 (the forgetter), P7 (the gamified generation).

Where SABR is honestly weaker. SABR doesn't currently include real-time recitation-recognition feedback (Tarteel is stronger there), and it's a newer product — 4,000+ active users in month one is meaningful traction but it's still smaller than apps that have been around for years.

2. Quranly — gamified memorization with daily goals

A memorization-focused app that also leans on the gamified learning model — daily goals, streaks, and structured memorization sessions.

Who it's for. Users who specifically want a gamified Hifz workflow and don't mind a competing aesthetic to SABR.

Strengths

• Memorization and revision flows in one app, not a pure reader.
• Daily goal + streak mechanic appears to be central to the experience.
• Active development and visible roadmap of features [source: Quranly product page].

Pricing facts. Free tier with optional paid tier; exact current pricing not publicly documented in a stable form — check the App Store / Play Store listing [source: Quranly App Store listing].

Best for. P7 (gamified generation), P8 (serious Hifz student) who wants a second opinion vs. SABR.

3. Quran Companion — spaced-repetition revision

Quran Companion focuses on review using spaced repetition — closer to Anki for Qur'an than to Duolingo for Qur'an.

Who it's for. People who have already memorized some surahs and are forgetting them, and who like the spaced-repetition model of review.

Strengths

• Built-in spaced-repetition schedule for revising memorized portions.
• Reminders and progress tracking oriented at long-term retention.
• Useful as a revision companion alongside another memorization workflow [source: Quran Companion product description].

Pricing facts. Has a free tier with paid upgrade; current pricing tiers not publicly documented in a stable form here [source: Quran Companion App Store listing].

Best for. P3 (the forgetter), P8 (serious Hifz student) who already memorizes elsewhere.

Key takeaway. Quran Companion is great for not forgetting what you memorized, but it doesn't try to be the place you do the initial memorization or the daily streak loop.

4. Tarteel — recitation recognition for review feedback

Tarteel uses AI-based recitation recognition: you recite, the app follows along, and you can review with feedback on which ayah you missed or paused on.

Who it's for. Memorizers who want a verifying signal during review — "did I actually get this right?" — rather than a structured memorization roadmap.

Strengths

• Real-time recitation recognition during review sessions.
• Mushaf integration so the page can highlight as you recite.
• Useful as a review and check tool alongside a memorization app or a teacher [source: Tarteel product page].

Pricing facts. Free tier with a Premium subscription; current Premium pricing is not stable enough to quote here — check the in-app subscription screen [source: Tarteel pricing page].

Best for. P8 (serious Hifz student), and anyone in P3 who wants to test what they actually remember.

5. Muslim Pro — reading, prayer times, audio

Muslim Pro is one of the largest Muslim utility apps, but it's primarily a reading + prayer times + adhkar app, not a memorization tool.

Who it's for. General everyday Muslim usage — prayer times, Mushaf reading, audio recitation, qibla.

Strengths

• Large, mature product with broad utility features.
• Polished Mushaf reading and audio playback.
• Wide reciter selection and translations [source: Muslim Pro App Store listing].

Pricing facts. Free tier with Premium subscription. Has historically displayed ads in some flows — appears tied to the Premium upsell [source: Muslim Pro pricing page].

Best for. General Muslim utility users, not Hifz-first users.

6. Quran.com (and its app) — reading and memorization helper

Quran.com is a widely used Qur'an reading site and app with translations, tafsir, recitation audio, and some bookmarking / memorization-helper features.

Who it's for. Anyone who wants a clean, ad-light reading and listening experience, with optional memorization helpers layered on top.

Strengths

• Free, clean reading experience with multiple translations and reciters.
• Bookmarking, notes and rudimentary memorization tooling in some surfaces.
• Trusted, donation-supported nonprofit project [source: Quran.com about page].

Pricing facts. Free, donation-supported [source: Quran.com donation page].

Best for. Daily reading and listening; not the right tool if you want a Duolingo-style memorization loop.

Honest comparison matrix

App	Structured memorization path	Daily streak / XP	Built-in revision	Recitation recognition	Free core path
SABR	Yes	Yes	Yes (scheduled)	No	Yes (full Qur'an free)
Quranly	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not publicly documented	Free tier
Quran Companion	Partial	Limited	Yes (spaced repetition)	No	Free tier
Tarteel	No	Limited	Review-focused	Yes	Free tier
Muslim Pro	No	No	No	No	Free tier (ads)
Quran.com	No	No	Limited helpers	No	Yes (donation-supported)

This matrix is based on what each app publicly describes as of June 2026. Specific feature checks should be verified in-app before deciding.

How to choose, based on what you actually struggle with

• "I keep restarting and can't stay consistent." Pick a Duolingo-style memorization app — SABR is built for exactly this, Quranly is a close alternative.
• "I memorized a lot but I'm forgetting it." Pair a memorization app with Quran Companion's spaced revision, or use SABR's built-in revision and stop the leak first.
• "I need to know if I'm reciting correctly." Use Tarteel for recitation feedback — and a teacher for tajwid.
• "I mostly want to read and listen daily." Quran.com or Muslim Pro do this well.
• "I want one app that does everything." Honestly, no app does everything well. Pick one for memorization and one for reading, and use a teacher for correction.

Key takeaway. Choose the app for the part of Hifz you actually fail at — consistency, repetition, or revision — not the app that has the most features.

A short note on tajwid and teachers

None of the apps in this list, including SABR, replaces a qualified teacher for tajwid and recitation correction. They help with structure, repetition, consistency and review. For correction, a halaqah, a tutor, or an online teacher remains the right tool. Treat apps as the daily habit layer underneath that.

Frequently asked questions

Is there really a Duolingo for Qur'an memorization?

Yes — as of 2026, SABR is the closest match: a structured memorization path with XP, streaks, daily goals, ayah repetition and a free core path. Quranly is the next closest, also leaning on gamified memorization. Other popular Muslim apps are mostly reading and listening tools, not memorization tools.

Is gamification disrespectful to the Qur'an?

It depends on what's being gamified. Rewarding speed of memorization or competing against friends on raw progress can feel wrong for the Qur'an. Rewarding consistency — showing up, repeating ayat, not breaking your daily habit — is much closer to how teachers have traditionally encouraged students. Gamification is a tool; the framing matters.

Is SABR really free?

Yes — the standard learning path covers memorizing the full Qur'an without payment. Premium unlocks convenience features like offline downloads and free picking outside the standard path. The Qur'an itself is never paywalled. See the download page for current details.

Can I use these apps if I don't read Arabic fluently?

Yes. Most of these apps support transliteration and translations, and SABR specifically supports phonetic help for non-Arabic readers so you can start memorizing while still working on Arabic. Pairing the app with a teacher is still strongly recommended for pronunciation and tajwid.

Which app is best if I keep forgetting surahs?

Forgetting is a revision problem more than a memory problem. SABR's built-in daily revision and Quran Companion's spaced-repetition flow are both designed for this. For a deeper look at why this happens, see our piece on how to stop forgetting surahs.

Do any of these apps replace a teacher?

No. They help with consistency, repetition, and revision — the habit layer of Hifz. A qualified teacher remains essential for tajwid, recitation correction, and tarbiyah. Use both.

About the author

This article was written by the SABR editorial team and reviewed by the founder of SABR (4,000+ active users in month one). SABR is a Duolingo-style Qur'an memorization app available on iOS and Android. We try to keep comparison articles accurate; if you spot something wrong, email support.sabr@gmail.com.

Start with one ayah today

SABR helps you build a daily Qur'an memorization routine — repetition, revision, streaks, and a clear learning path. The standard memorization path is free. Premium is for flexibility (offline, free picking outside the path).

Visit https://get-sabr.com or go straight to the app stores:

• Download on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sabr-quran-memorization/id6761574702
• Get it on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sabr.app

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SABR helps with memorization structure, repetition, and consistency. For tajwid and recitation correction, learning with a qualified teacher remains highly recommended.

Last updated 2026-06-14.