Mobile appEducation & e-learningOriginal by Memrise
Memrise moved vocabulary learning away from rote memorisation and tied it to real people. Words and phrases are taught through short videos of native speakers filmed on the street, so learners hear how things are actually said rather than reading them in a book. A memory engine built on spaced repetition brings learned words back just before they would be forgotten, making the learning stick.
Building something similar requires a large video and audio content library, word-to-video matching, a spaced-repetition algorithm, listening and writing exercises and AI conversation practice. Alongside the mobile app, you set up a panel where the content team tags videos, video compression and CDN infrastructure, subscription management and progress analytics. Filming and editing the content is as big a work item as the software.
How Memrise works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Mobile learner app
The app where users take video vocabulary lessons, do review sessions and practise conversation.
Content and video panel
A panel where filmed videos are uploaded, tagged with words and phrases and linked to courses.
Admin panel
A panel for managing subscriptions, campaigns, learning metrics and app settings.
Critical features of a product like Memrise
Native-speaker video clips
For each word or phrase, short videos from speakers of different accents and ages are played.
Memory engine
A learning strength is calculated for every word, and review times are scheduled along the forgetting curve.
Listening-focused exercises
Comprehension improves through fast speech, noisy settings and different accents.
AI conversation scenarios
Written or spoken practice with a language model in scenarios such as ordering food or asking for directions.
Personal word lists
Users build their own lists, and the memory engine adds them to the review schedule too.
Video compression and caching
Short videos open quickly with low data use, and frequently used ones are cached on the device.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Levelled vocabulary course for one language
- Learning with native-speaker videos
- Spaced-repetition review sessions
- Content and video tagging panel
- Subscription with premium courses
Later releases
- AI conversation partner
- User word lists
- Listening and pronunciation modes
- Offline mode and a web version
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 24 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 165 person-days for the full scope and 104 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Subscriptions and recurring billing | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Video / voice calls | First version |
| File, photo, video upload | First version |
| AI features (LLM, RAG, recommendations) | Later release |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Offline mode and sync | First version |
| Content management / blog | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €550 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Video content production
Filming, obtaining permission for and tagging thousands of short videos is a serious operation; image-use permissions from the people filmed must be in writing.
Bandwidth cost
Video-heavy content raises CDN costs; adaptive quality and a caching strategy are essential.
Algorithm tuning
If review intervals are too frequent users get bored, and if too sparse they forget; constant fine-tuning with data is needed.
Business model
In a Memrise-style product, freemium subscription is the main revenue: starter courses and limited reviews are free, while premium members get all courses, AI chats, offline mode and advanced statistics. A lifetime membership option and bulk licences for schools can also be added to the revenue model.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Memrise
Most people searching “build an app like memrise” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Memrise name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like Memrise?
A first version with the memory engine and video lessons can be developed in a few months. Filming and tagging the video content is a separate work plan that has to run in parallel.
Should we film the videos ourselves?
The differentiating value usually comes from original content, so your own footage is the healthiest route. Image-use consent must be obtained from the people filmed and stored in line with GDPR.
Are there copyright or trademark issues?
The video vocabulary learning and spaced-repetition model is free to use. The name, logo, interface, videos and code cannot be copied; this information is not legal advice.
How many separate applications are needed?
A mobile learner app, a content/video panel and an admin panel are enough. A web version can be added in a second phase.
