Freedom251 › Language Pronunciation Apps
Forvo
What Forvo is
Forvo is a pronunciation guide built around recordings of words and phrases in their original languages. Its community database contains nearly 6 million words in more than 430 languages, with native speakers contributing and maintaining pronunciations. Users can access Forvo on the web and through iOS and Android apps; an API also provides pronunciation audio and translations, with results filterable by language, location, gender, or user. A free account lets members add words, vote on pronunciations, create favorites lists, track additions, and download MP3s. Only registered users can add words or record pronunciations, and contributions cannot include words over 40 characters, onomatopoeias, or made-up words. API plans have daily request limits that reset at 22:00 UTC, and each audio playback through an application counts as a request. Generated audio links last two hours, and caching is not allowed. The Non-Profit API plan costs $2 a month; Commercial Small Business costs $28.95 a month. Corporate pricing is available by contacting Forvo.
Who it suits
Forvo suits language learners and others who want to hear pronunciations from native speakers. Its API plans are for individuals, academic use, or commercial applications, depending on the plan.
What it does well
- Nearly 6 million words across more than 430 languages.
- Free account includes favorites and MP3 downloads.
- API provides audio and translations with filters.
- Available on web, iOS, and Android.
What to know first
- Only registered users can contribute pronunciations.
- API requests have daily limits that reset at 22:00 UTC.
- API audio links last two hours; caching is not allowed.
Limits
The free account covers community features and MP3 downloads. API plans impose daily quotas: 500 requests on Non-Profit, 10,000 on Commercial Small Business, or 100,000 on Commercial Corporate; each application playback counts toward the limit.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Profit | per month · 500 requests/day · commercial use not allowed · Forvo attribution · no SLA | $2 a month |
| Commercial Small Business | per month · 10,000 requests/day · commercial use allowed · Forvo attribution · no SLA | $28.95 a month |
| Commercial Corporate | Contact us! · 100,000 requests/day · commercial use allowed · attribution not required · SLA included | On request |
As forvo.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open Forvo on the web or install its iOS or Android app
- Create a free account for community features
- Search for a word or phrase
- Use the API for application access to audio and translations
- Choose the Non-Profit or Commercial Small Business API plan if applicable
Verdict
Forvo combines a large community pronunciation collection with mobile apps and API access. API users should account for plan limits, per-playback requests, and restrictions on audio links.
Questions
Is Forvo free?
Forvo has a free plan and paid access from $2 a month.
Which platforms are supported?
Forvo is available on the web and through iOS and Android apps, with API access for applications.
What does the Non-Profit API plan cost?
Non-Profit costs $2 a month and allows 500 requests per day. Commercial use is not allowed, attribution to Forvo is required, and there is no SLA.
What does Commercial Small Business include?
It costs $28.95 a month and allows 10,000 requests per day for commercial use, with Forvo attribution and no SLA.
How long do API audio links remain valid?
API-generated audio links remain valid for two hours, and caching audio pronunciations is not allowed.
Facts from Forvo's own pages
- Analytics and advertising integrations
- The privacy policy names Google Analytics and Google Ad Manager as services used by the website or app. · forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API audio limitation
- Generated audio links remain valid for two hours and the documentation forbids caching pronunciation audio. · api.forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API audio links
- API-generated audio links remain valid for two hours, and caching audio pronunciations is not allowed. · api.forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- API capabilities
- The API provides access to audio pronunciations and translations, with results filterable by language, location, gender, or user. · api.forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- API coverage
- Forvo says its API provides access to about 6 million audio pronunciations and translations in more than 430 languages. · api.forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API documentation
- The documentation covers general information, attribution, word pronunciations, standard pronunciation, language lists, popular languages and several search methods. · api.forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API formats
- The words-search API accepts XML or JSON output, with optional JSONP callback parameters. · api.forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API key policy
- An application may use only one API key and may not ask end users to supply their own keys. · api.forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API request accounting
- API usage limits reset daily at 22:00 UTC and every audio playback from an application counts as a request. · api.forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API service limitation
- Forvo states that the API is supplied without uptime or error-free guarantees and that it may close the service. · api.forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API usage limits
- API request limits vary by plan and reset daily at 22:00 UTC; each audio playback through an application counts as a request. · api.forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Community content
- Native speakers create and maintain Forvo's database of nearly 6 million words pronounced in over 430 languages. · forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Community recordings
- Registered users can add words, record pronunciations, vote on recordings, follow additions, save favorites and download MP3 files. · forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company facts from Crunchbase
- Crunchbase lists Forvo as a private, active, for-profit company in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, with 1–10 employees and Felix Vela as CEO and co-founder. · crunchbase.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The owner is Forvo Media S.L., registered at Txirrita Maleo 1, Renteria, Gipuzkoa, Spain. · forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Content restrictions
- Words exceeding 40 characters, onomatopoeias, and made-up words are not allowed. · forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Content rules
- The FAQ allows most dictionary words but excludes onomatopoeia, made-up words and entries over 40 characters. · forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Contributions
- Only registered users can add words and record pronunciations. · forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Data controller
- The privacy policy identifies FORVO MEDIA S.L. as the data controller and gives its address in Rentería, Gipuzkoa, Spain. · forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Forvo Kids
- Forvo Kids targets children aged 3–6 with vocabulary games covering five languages, ten topics and more than 135 basic words. · forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- Forvo says it was founded in 2008. · forvo.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Free account
- Users can sign up free to add words, vote on pronunciations, create favorites lists, track additions, and download pronunciation MP3s. · forvo.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Google Play app details
- Google Play lists Forvo Travel at $2.99, with 10K+ downloads, an Everyone content rating and an August 28, 2024 update. · play.google.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Rentería, Spain · forvo.com, 28 Sept 2026
Where Forvo stands on Freedom251
- Language Pronunciation Apps#2 of 33