Why learn a new language through boring flashcards when there are apps offering visually appealing lessons like Babbel and Mondly? Both companies provide reliable language learning platforms that offer intuitive drag-and-drop exercises, speech recognition for pronunciation evaluation, and more. They also offer certifications that you can automatically download when you reach a certain level of fluency. That being said, Babbel and Mondly provide their services in distinct ways. Although they may seem similar on the surface – especially because they use similar teaching methods – the truth is that only one will work best for you.
| Overview | Babbel | Mondly |
| Logo |  |  |
| Rating |  |  |
| Reviews | Reviews | Reviews |
| Visit | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial |
| Coupons | Coupons | Coupons |
| Headquarters | Germany | RO |
| Founded | 2007 | 2013 |
| Main Features | Babbel | Mondly |
| # of Languages | 14 | 40+ |
| Languages | ES, FR, DE, IT, PT, RU, SW, NL, PL | FR, ES, DE, RU, IT, BR, ZH |
| Placement Test | ||
| Interactive Games | ||
| Audio | ||
| Videos | ||
| Live Tutoring | ||
| Average Duration of Lessons | 10 mins | 5 mins |
| Cultural Context |
| Language Skills | Babbel | Mondly |
| Vocabulary | ||
| Grammar | ||
| Writing | ||
| Reading | ||
| Speaking | ||
| Listening |
| Platforms | Babbel | Mondly |
| Browser Version | ||
| Windows | ||
| Mac | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS |
| Pricing | Babbel | Mondly |
| Lowest Price | $6.25/mo | $4/mo |
| Monthly Subscription | $13.95/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Quaterly Subscription | $9.05/mo ($27.16) | |
| Biannual Subscription | $7.65/mo ($45.91) | |
| Yearly Subscription | $6.25/mo ($75) | $4/mo |
| One-Time Purchase | $199 | |
| Free Trial | 1 lesson | 7 days |
| Free Version | ||
| Money-Back Guarantee | 20 days |
| Payment Methods | Babbel | Mondly |
| Visa | ||
| Mastercard | ||
| American Express | ||
| PayPal | ||
| Wire Transfer | ||
| Discover | ||
| Amazon Payments | ||
| Google Checkout |
| Customer Supporter | Babbel | Mondly |
| 24/7 | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Community | ||
| On Call |
Babbel
Babbel offers comprehensive courses for more than ten languages, with a special focus on cultural context. In other words, when you learn a new language with Babbel, the app explains the reasons behind a phrase’s construction. Taking Japanese as an example, the app teaches you the different honorifics and when to use formal language.
Things don’t end there, though. Babbel's course structure is designed to develop into an immersive experience by slowly substituting English explanations for ones in your target language. This forces you to think in the language you're studying, which translates into quicker results. Moreover, Babbel offers various ways to keep you engaged, such as videos, podcasts, and reading material.
Babbel Cultural Context
Babbel Extra Courses
Babbel Mobile App
Prices start at $6.95 per month, but unfortunately, there isn't an option to unlock all the different language courses available with one subscription. On the bright side, you always get 20 days risk-free to test the language learning app through the company's money-back guarantee.
Mondly
Mondly is a fun language learning app that provides a free version of its services to use forever. While this means only doing a few exercises each day, it’s a good option for those who don’t want to spend a dime and are tired of using flashcards. Despite this, taking full advantage of Mondly by getting a premium account is extremely worthwhile. For as low as $4 per month, you get access to a full language course and Mondly’s AR mobile app. This is by far one of the most engaging language learning apps out there, as you’ll learn new pieces of vocabulary while seeing the objects right there in your living room.
Mondly Exercise Example
MondlyAR App
Mondly Course Structure
Unlike most language learning platforms that focus on individual words, Mondly focuses on full phrases. This is a double-edged sword, though. While you’ll learn vocabulary and how to construct phrases, some exercises can be too challenging, and you may end up not retaining most of the lesson’s material. Even so, with a portfolio including over 30 language courses, Mondly can be the language learning app for you. Better yet, you can try out all the premium features (AR included) for seven days through the company’s free trial.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you opt for Babbel or Mondly, you’ll be in good hands. However, the former provides a better course structure overall. Although it can be more daunting to spend time studying the basics, Babbel prepares you better for more advanced exercises. On the other hand, Mondly boasts a wider array of language courses and a free version that you can use forever. Moreover, Mondly’s premium price is lower and the company offers recurrent discounts that provide access to all courses for as low as $4 per month. On top of this, Mondly offers a seven-day free trial, whereas Babbel only provides a 20-day money-back guarantee. Bear in mind that, unlike Babbel, Mondly will never be enough for you to achieve fluency. In short, if you want to learn a new language to have basic conversations while traveling, Mondly is the better and more affordable option. If you wish to learn a language to its full extent with cultural context, then Babbel is the one to go for.