blas. App Review 2026: What It Does and Doesn't Do

blas. is a language learning app for Irish (Gaeilge) and Welsh (Cymraeg). It's built specifically for these two Celtic languages, not adapted from a template designed for Spanish or French. This review covers what blas. actually does, what it doesn't do, who it's built for, and whether it's worth your time.

Full disclosure: this review is on the blas. blog, so take it with appropriate scepticism. We'll be as honest as we can, including about things the app doesn't do well or doesn't do at all.

What blas. Actually Is

blas. is a structured learning app that covers grammar, vocabulary, mutations, reading, conversation practice, writing, and exam prep, all tied together with spaced repetition. It's available on iOS, Android, and web, and progress syncs across devices.

The name means "taste" in both Irish and Welsh. The app launched with Irish and Welsh support: two languages that share structural features (especially mutations) that generic language apps handle poorly or ignore entirely.

Grammar Lessons

Grammar is the core of blas. Each topic (verb conjugation, the copula, prepositional pronouns, word order, noun gender) gets a structured lesson followed by drills. Lessons explain the rule clearly with examples, then the drills test whether you can apply it.

The grammar coverage starts from absolute basics (what VSO word order means, how "to be" works in Irish/Welsh) and progresses to advanced topics. For Irish, this includes the full grammar roadmap from the copula to the conditional mood. For Welsh, it covers everything from bod to clause structures.

This is the main thing that distinguishes blas. from most other language apps for Irish and Welsh. Duolingo teaches grammar implicitly. SSiW avoids it deliberately. blas. puts it front and centre with explicit explanations and targeted drilling.

Mutation Drilling

Mutations are the signature challenge of Celtic languages. Irish has four mutation types (séimhiú, urú, h-prefixing, t-prefixing). Welsh has three (soft, nasal, aspirate). Both languages require you to change the first letter of words based on grammatical context.

blas. has dedicated mutation sessions: not just grammar lessons that mention mutations, but focused drilling that systematically covers every trigger and every consonant change. Sessions are scheduled with FSRS spaced repetition, so you revisit the mutations you struggle with more often than the ones you've mastered.

This is, as far as we know, unique. No other app drills Celtic language mutations with spaced repetition scheduling.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary is taught in grammatical context. Words appear alongside the grammar patterns they're used in, so you learn gender, mutation behaviour, and usage patterns at the same time. Review sessions use FSRS to schedule recalls at optimal intervals.

The vocabulary coverage is not as broad as dedicated vocabulary apps like Drops or Memrise. If your primary goal is raw word count, those tools may serve you better. blas.'s strength is depth per word rather than breadth.

Graded Reading

blas. includes reading passages graded from A1 to C1. These are multi-paragraph texts with comprehension questions, not single sentences. Topics range from everyday situations at lower levels to cultural and historical content at higher levels.

Reading is one of the most effective ways to build passive vocabulary and internalise grammar patterns, and it's something most competing apps simply don't offer. The Irish app comparison and Welsh app comparison show that graded reading is a genuine gap in the landscape.

Conversation practice

The conversation feature lets you practise Irish or Welsh in text-based dialogues. You type responses, you get a reply in the target language, and you get grammar feedback on your output. Conversations can be guided (structured around a topic) or open.

It's useful for bridging the gap between drill exercises and real conversation, but it has limitations. It's text-based: no spoken input or output. And it's automated, not a human tutor. For spoken practice, tools like Pimsleur, SaySomethingInIrish, or SaySomethingInWelsh are better.

Writing and Exam Prep

blas. includes writing exercises and exam preparation content. For Irish, this covers Leaving Certificate and university exam formats. For Welsh, it covers relevant exam structures. Writing prompts are graded by level and reviewed with grammar feedback.

Exam prep is a niche feature, but it's genuinely useful for the learners who need it: school students, university students, and adult learners taking formal qualifications.

Spaced Repetition (FSRS)

Everything in blas. (grammar drills, mutation sessions, vocabulary) is scheduled using FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler). FSRS is the same algorithm used in modern Anki and is backed by published research on memory and retention. It adapts to your performance: items you struggle with appear more often; items you know well are spaced further apart.

This matters more for Irish and Welsh than for many languages, because mutations especially benefit from consistent, spaced drilling. Getting séimhiú right once doesn't mean you'll get it right next week, unless you review it at the right interval.

Placement Test

blas. includes a placement test so returning learners can skip past material they already know. If you studied Irish in school for 14 years or took Welsh classes, you don't have to start from zero. The test places you at your actual level and lets you focus on filling gaps rather than repeating basics.

What blas. Doesn't Do

Honesty requires acknowledging gaps. Here's what blas. does not offer:

• Audio-only lessons. There's no Pimsleur-style listen-and-repeat mode. If you want audio-only learning for your commute, blas. isn't the tool.
• Live tutoring. No 1-on-1 lessons with a human tutor. The conversation feature is useful but not a substitute for a real teacher.
• Large community forum. blas. doesn't have a community feature. If social learning and peer interaction are important, SSiW (for Welsh) has a much stronger community.
• Gamification. No streaks, no XP, no leagues. If those mechanics are what keep you opening an app daily, blas. relies on the learning itself to motivate you, which works for some people and doesn't for others.
• Dozens of languages. blas. teaches Irish and Welsh. That's it. It's purpose-built, not a platform. If you also want to learn Spanish, you need a different app.

Who blas. Is Built For

Adults coming back to the language. If you studied Irish in school and forgot most of it, or took Welsh classes years ago and want to restart, blas. is designed for exactly this. The placement test, structured grammar review, and mutation drilling address the specific needs of returning learners.

Learners who've outgrown Duolingo. If you've hit the A2 plateau on Duolingo and feel stuck, blas.'s explicit grammar and mutation drilling cover the ground Duolingo skips.

People who want to understand the system. If you're the kind of learner who needs to know why before you can remember what, blas.'s explicit teaching approach will suit you better than implicit methods.

Exam students. The grammar coverage, writing exercises, and exam prep content are directly relevant if you're taking the Leaving Cert, university exams, or formal Welsh qualifications.

Who It's Probably Not For

People who only want to speak. If your sole goal is spoken fluency and you don't care about reading or writing, an audio-first tool like SSiW or Pimsleur is a better primary tool.

People who need gamification. If streaks and leagues are what keep you consistent, Duolingo's gamification is genuinely effective and blas. doesn't offer an equivalent.

People looking for a large social community. blas. is a solo learning tool at this point. If community matters, add SSiW or join a Dysgu Cymraeg class.

Pricing

Free tier: First two stages of grammar and mutations, unlimited sessions, full FSRS spaced repetition. No time limit, no ads.

Premium: Unlocks all grammar stages, graded reading (A1-C1), conversation practice, writing exercises, exam prep, and all vocabulary content.

The free tier is genuinely usable. It's not a teaser. You get real grammar depth and mutation drilling with no expiry. Premium is for learners who want the full range of features.

Verdict

blas. fills a specific gap in the Irish and Welsh learning landscape: structured, explicit grammar teaching with systematic mutation drilling, tied together by research-backed spaced repetition. It does this well.

It doesn't try to be everything. It's not an audio course, not a community platform, not a gamified habit app. If you want those things, other tools do them better. But if you want to understand how Irish or Welsh actually works (the grammar, the mutations, the reading) blas. is the most focused tool available for that purpose.

The free tier is worth trying. It costs nothing, takes five minutes to start, and you'll know within a couple of sessions whether the teaching approach clicks for you.