The use of digital applications has made sweeping changes to the landscape of tertiary education, especially in English language teaching and learning. This study delves into investigating how English learners perceive about the effects of online applications, including Edunext, Quizzi, and MyEnglishLab on the learning of advanced English reading courses. By employing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from FPT University, Vietnam. The students, experienced in using digital tools for their English learning, provided insights into how these digital applications impacted their learning process positively and negatively. The findings revealed key themes related to the benefits brought about by the apps: enhancing learners’ motivation by gamification, progress tracking characteristics; improving vocabulary and comprehension skills through interactive features, customized learning experiences. Challenges were also uncovered, including lack of customization, limited support for digital thinking. Recommendations emphasized the need to add adaptive features and interactive content for the purpose of enhancing efficacy of digital tools.