Babbel and Busuu share many similarities: both were launched over a decade ago in Europe and follow similar teaching methods. Moreover, their apps cover the most popular languages (Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Russian) and consider cultural aspects as well. Even so, there are a few differences between the two. One provides courses for Nordic languages, while the other covers some Asian ones, such as Japanese and Chinese. On top of that, they also come with unique pricing structures, which means that only one will be worth your hard-earned money.
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Babbel is a fun language learning app that covers the most popular courses and some unique ones too, like Indonesian, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. All courses are designed to build up to an immersive experience. In other words, instructions will be written in English at first, but by the time you’re doing more advanced tasks, everything will be written in your target language. The software tackles all types of exercises. From listening to writing, everything you need to learn a new language is provided, and there are also a few videos throughout the course to make it more engaging. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t include any reading material, meaning that you’ll have to find your own sources. If you have already studied your target language before, you’ll be happy to know that Babbel allows you to take a placement test when you create an account. Better yet, you can personalize your studying route to efficiently achieve your language learning goals.
Prices start at $6.95 per month with an annual billing cycle, but you only get access to one language course. This means that you’ll have to pay for two subscriptions if you want to learn two languages simultaneously. You can try the first lesson for free, and Babbel gives users 20 days to ask for a full refund, no questions asked.
Busuu is a comprehensive language learning app that covers 12 language courses, including Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese. The courses are built to teach you up to B2 level, so if you’re already at a proficient level, you won’t learn much on this platform. Even so, you can personalize your course structure by sharing your goals, schedule, and the level you want to achieve. The software also offers users the ability to take a placement test when you create an account and provides official certificates at the end of each level. Busuu takes advantage of flashcards to teach you vocabulary, but goes a step further by integrating other types of exercises to enhance your learning efficiency. There are writing exercises where you need to place words in the correct spot, native-speaking dialogue for you to listen to, reading material, and more.
The best part is that you can use Busuu to your heart’s content at zero cost. However, the free plan comes with some limitations, and upgrading your account is worthwhile. You can either get full access to one course for as low as $5.41 per month or learn all languages available for $6.28 per month. Finally, you can take advantage of the 14-day money-back guarantee to test the paid subscription with no strings attached.
Since Babbel and Busuu are so similar, it’s difficult to decide which one will work best for you. While both apps are reliable and will help you learn a new language in no time, there are a few aspects that may make you choose one over the other. The very first factor is the language courses provided. Their portfolios may include the most popular courses, but Babbel is the only one that teaches Nordic languages, whereas Busuu covers Chinese and Japanese. When it comes to engaging lessons, Babbel comes out on top due to its videos with tips, tricks, and ways to stay motivated. Pricing-wise, Busuu is more affordable. Not only can you get a lower monthly bill by getting a 2-year subscription, but you can also have access to all courses available for as low as $6.28 per month. On top of that, it even comes with a free version that you can use forever.
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