Speeku
Zurich app teaching European Portuguese fully offline, with a one-time payment and no internet permission
Quick Overview
| Company | Data Stand AI GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Language Learning |
| Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Founded | 2024 |
| EU Presence | Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| Data Location | On the user's device (lessons, dictionary and speech checking run locally; no Speeku cloud) |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Speeku is a one-time payment: you buy it once and keep it, with every lesson and every future update included. There are no in-app purchases and no ads. The speeku.com pages do not state an amount; the price is set in the Google Play listing. |
| Replaces | Duolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur |
Detailed Review
Speeku is a single-language product from Data Stand AI GmbH in Zurich: an Android app that teaches the Portuguese of Portugal, not the Brazilian variety most apps default to.
The course runs to more than 1,000 short lessons and 11,500 exercises across 61 exercise types, starting at Olá and ending in conversation, with every word and sentence spoken by recordings made in advance. It also ships a dictionary of over 7,000 entries, with pronunciation and full inflection tables for many words, and flashcards that resurface the words you are closest to forgetting.
What sets it apart in this category is where the work happens.
The lessons, the dictionary and the speech check all run on the phone, and the vendor states that the Android build requests no internet permission at all, which you can check in Android's permission list.
Microphone audio is compared with the expected phrase on the device and discarded. There is no account, no advertising and no streak to protect. Payment is a single purchase with future updates included, closer to uTalk's per-language model than to the subscriptions of Babbel or Busuu.
The trade-offs are real. It teaches one language, so it is no substitute for the breadth of Mondly or uTalk. It is available on Android only for now, with the iOS version marked as coming soon.
The speaking check only confirms that you said the right word and does not grade your accent, which the vendor says openly. There is no live teacher as at Lingoda and no human correction as at Busuu. It is also a young company, registered in 2024, and Switzerland sits outside the EEA under an adequacy decision.
What Speeku does well
- Teaches the Portuguese of Portugal rather than the Brazilian default
- Whole course, dictionary and speech check work offline on the phone
- One-time payment with future updates included, no subscription or ads
- Android build requests no internet permission (vendor claim, checkable in Android settings)
- No account needed and no voice data leaves the device
Where Speeku falls short
- Only one language is available today, against dozens at Mondly or uTalk
- Android only for now, the iOS app is listed as coming soon
- Speech check confirms the right word, it does not assess your accent
- No live teacher or human feedback, and a young company founded in 2024
Standout feature. It is the only tool here built around the Portuguese of Portugal that runs completely on the phone, without an account or an internet connection.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Teaches the Portuguese of Portugal rather than the Brazilian default
- Whole course, dictionary and speech check work offline on the phone
- One-time payment with future updates included, no subscription or ads
- Android build requests no internet permission (vendor claim, checkable in Android settings)
- No account needed and no voice data leaves the device
Cons
- Only one language is available today, against dozens at Mondly or uTalk
- Android only for now, the iOS app is listed as coming soon
- Speech check confirms the right word, it does not assess your accent
- No live teacher or human feedback, and a young company founded in 2024
Alternatives to Speeku
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Speeku?
Speeku is a single-language product from Data Stand AI GmbH in Zurich: an Android app that teaches the Portuguese of Portugal, not the Brazilian variety most apps default to.
The course runs to more than 1,000 short lessons and 11,500 exercises across 61 exercise types, starting at Olá and ending in conversation, with every word and sentence spoken by recordings made in advance. It also ships a dictionary of over 7,000 entries, with pronunciation and full inflection tables for many words, and flashcards that resurface the words you are closest to forgetting.
Where is Speeku based?
Speeku operates from Zurich, Switzerland, which places it under Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA).
What does Speeku cost?
Speeku is a one-time payment: you buy it once and keep it, with every lesson and every future update included. There are no in-app purchases and no ads. The speeku.com pages do not state an amount; the price is set in the Google Play listing..
Who is Speeku best for?
Offline, private learning of European Portuguese. It is the only tool here built around the Portuguese of Portugal that runs completely on the phone, without an account or an internet connection.
What are the drawbacks of Speeku?
Only one language is available today, against dozens at Mondly or uTalk. Android only for now, the iOS app is listed as coming soon. Speech check confirms the right word, it does not assess your accent. No live teacher or human feedback, and a young company founded in 2024.
Is Speeku a good alternative to Duolingo?
Speeku is built as a European alternative to Duolingo: Zurich app teaching European Portuguese fully offline, with a one-time payment and no internet permission. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does Speeku compare to other Language Learning tools?
Speeku is one of several European Language Learning tools we cover. It is most often compared with Duolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur.