My Babbel Review - What the Popular Language Learning App Has to Offer

Krystyna

Language Lover & Writer

Published: February 12, 2024
9:48 am

WHAT IS BABBEL: Babbel is an online language learning platform that offers courses in multiple languages, designed to improve communication skills through interactive lessons.

WHICH LANGUAGES CAN YOU LEARN: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, Indonesian, and English.

Babbel is for people who want to start learning a new language or get better at one. It’s great for travelers, workers, and students who need to use a language in everyday life.

QUICK VERDICT: Babbel is great for beginners or those wanting to improve basic language skills, with its easy-to-use interface and short 15-minute lessons on grammar and conversation. But to become truly fluent, you shouldn’t rely only on Babbel, as it’s more of a starting point than a complete learning solution. Also, learning multiple languages with Babbel can get expensive, so it’s best to use it alongside other resources for a fuller learning experience.

PROs

CONs

Learning languages has always been a favorite hobby of mine. While I speak the 6 languages I know well, I’ve wanted to sharpen my Italian and Turkish language skills. That’s led me to various online learning apps and the pursuit of finding the best one for my learning needs.

You can benefit, too, since some language learning platforms are better than others, and I’m taking the leg-work out of finding the best language learning apps.

Babbel has been around for nearly 2 decades, and it’s a popular app that teenagers and adults can use to learn their language of choice.

I decided to try out Babbel, and here’s my honest and comprehensive review of what the language-learning tool offers. From there, you can determine if it’s the right app for you.

Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!

What Language Did I Try to Learn on Babbel?

I started learning Italian about 10 years ago, and I speak it at a B1/B2 level. Getting married, raising kids, and life has gotten in the way recently, but early in 2023, I decided to increase my language proficiency.

An online learning solution is the best option for a busy lady like me (and let’s face it, you’re busy too). You can learn on the go, making it convenient to fit in a lesson when you have a few minutes to spare.

And even when you don’t have time, you can find 5 to 15 minutes somewhere in a day to brush up your language skills. Babbel offers small, bite-sized lessons, making it easy to fit into your busy schedule.

I’ve been trying various apps, and Babbel was next on my list. After using Duolingo for most of 2023, I was surprised by Babble’s modern and minimalist interface. I felt like such a grown-up brushing up on my Italian with Babbel (after indulging in the animated and game-like Duolingo app).

I set up my Babbel account, chose to learn Italian, started at the Newcomer level, and completed a lesson or two (with some reviews) daily for a week. I can see how Babbel wants to immerse its learners in authentic conversations you’re likely to have with Italian speakers, and that’s a big draw if you want to become fluent.

Excited to learn more? Explore my reviews listed below:

Babbel: Detailed Analysis

Babbel, officially Babbel GmbH, was the world’s first language-learning platform. The German-based company was founded in August 2007 and formally launched to the public in January 2008.

One of the four founders wanted to learn Spanish. With nearly no online options (mainly textbooks and CDs were available), they decided to create Babbel, an online language-learning solution.

Babbel’s focus is teaching languages via real-life conversations and being immersed in a language – thanks to Toucan. This free browser extension helps you build and learn your chosen language while browsing the internet. There are also other ways to learn:

Babbel’s original podcasts
Games
Videos
Review feature
Babbel Magazine
Live classes (only available in Babble Live)

This language-learning app is top-rated, with more than 10 million subscriptions sold (according to the Babbel site). Babble has more than 50 million downloads, just on Google Play. It ranks #2 as a top-grossing education app on Google Play.

The website is available in 9 languages: German, English (US and GB versions), Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Swedish, and Russian.

What Languages Are Available on Babbel?

Babbel only offers 14 languages at the moment.

You can learn any of the following languages when you sign up to Babbel:

Brazilian Portuguese
Danish
Dutch
English
French
German
Indonesian
Italian
Norwegian
Polish
Russian
Spanish (Europe)
Spanish (Latin
America and Mexico)
Turkish

IMPORTANT The language course you choose may be tailored to your native language because how an English speaker learns Spanish differs from how an Italian speaker does. The app doesn’t ask what your native language is from the get-go, but you can select your native tongue in Settings.

Babbel's Learning Approach

Babbel’s language courses are designed by more than 150 experts in their field to get you to hold real-life conversations as quickly as possible (in as little as 3 weeks). This obviously depends on how much time you dedicate to learning and if you have a native speaker to practice with.
The Babbel Method is all about:

Keeping it real. The language lessons are based on real-world conversations.
Teaching you authentically. The voices in every lesson are those of native speakers, and while you learn pronunciation, you learn about the local culture.
Proven cognitive techniques that help you learn, review, and retain. Babbel helps new vocabulary move through the memory stages so it stays in the long-term memory area.

Every learner is welcome to use Babbel because it doesn’t just want to help you read, write, listen to, or speak a language.

Krystyna

Language Blogger & Culture Lover

Babbel wants you to truly understand every aspect of a language, and that’s why you can learn via the self-study app with lessons and games, podcasts, stories, live classes, and more.

A Look into Babbel's Language Courses and Exercises

When you’ve chosen the language you want to study with Babbel, you can do a placement test, and the app can tell you where the ideal place to start learning is. You can, of course, begin anywhere, regardless.

Alternatively, start learning a language at the Newcomer (A1) level or anywhere you fancy. You can access all the self-study courses and supplementary lessons on culture, grammar, helpful vacation phrases, and more.

Since I’ve been reviewing my Italian, I decided to start as a beginner (or Newcomer). The first lesson was pretty introductory, focusing on 4 vocabulary terms (i.e., greetings). I definitely have the ability to learn more terms in one go, and conservatively, you can learn between 5 to 8 new words a day.

The First Lesson in the Italian Newcomer Class

The first set of exercises in the first lesson was about guessing the meaning of the Italian word. I saw the Italian word written and heard the pronunciation so I could copy it. Then, I clicked on what the Italian word meant in English.

The next set of exercises had me choose the correct missing word.

I liked that there was a usage hint section on “ciao.” I feel like this is really helpful for newbies, and if I was totally new to learning Italian, I’d make a big note of this in my notebook.

I also had to build words to practice writing them. I liked that the vocabulary terms were broken up into syllables or sounds, making learning the word easier.

The last exercise was an immersion in a real-life conversation to test my understanding of the Italian terms I had just learned. There were extra phrases here, too, which I noted.

While there were 6 main exercises in the first Newcomer lesson on Italian, I actually answered 18 questions (which the “ottimo lavoro” or “excellent work” screen revealed).

The lesson first presents important vocabulary before you dive into various interactive exercises. You also get information about grammar rules, important usage notes, and vocabulary extensions. There’s also a conversation practice where you pick up a few more Italian words and phrases.

I liked that the pronunciation wasn’t animated by AI characters but spoken by real Italian natives.

After the lesson, the phrases you learn are added to the Review tab under “My Vocab,” and you can save these or review them at any time.

I like this feature and the fact that I can see the Italian word/phrase, the English translation, and listen to the pronunciation for practice – on one screen. A progress bar tells you how many times you’ve reviewed or practiced the Italian term.

And I can also do any lesson again for even more practice. Practice really does make perfect!

What Are Babbel’s Live Classes Like?

The live classes are 55 minutes long and have a student limit, so only 6 people can participate. When I wanted to book a free live lesson, most of the classes were fully booked.

If I was a complete newbie, I noticed that I wouldn’t have “advanced” enough yet with 8 lessons under my belt to talk about topics like:

“what I like to do” (Learn this in Newcomer, Course 9)
“what is and isn’t allowed” (I couldn’t find where you learn this in the Newcomer course)
“ordering dishes” (Learn this in Newcomer, Course 3)
“Sizes and patterns” (Learn this in Newcomer, Course 5)

So, the options were limited and, honestly, a little daunting.
When I did manage to secure a lesson on “introduce someone and greet people formally,” the class wasn’t congruent with the AI lessons.

And I had to sit and listen to poor pronunciation from my fellow students – not that my pronunciation is perfect.

However, the other students took up much time in the lesson, and I didn’t feel like I learned anything or practiced what I had learned on Babbel so far.

Is Babbel Really Effective?

After spending a week on Babbel, I revised greetings, introductions, the Italian alphabet (which also helps with pronunciation), pronouns, and the verb “to be.” While I reviewed the lessons when I had extra time, I didn’t feel the Babbel lessons were as effective as Babbel promised.

Babbel claims that they have various studies backing the effectiveness of their product. For example, Yale researchers found that 100% of students increased their language efficiency by using Babbel for 3 months.

Experts at the University of South Carolina and the City University of New York state that beginners learning Spanish needed only 15 hours of study on Babbel to meet one college semester’s requirements.

I personally find these claims to be an overstatement, as how quickly you advance depends on:

Whether you have a natural talent for learning languages
How much time you spend studying
Whether you are a true beginner or have some previous knowledge about or exposure to the language (e.g., Spanish or Ukrainian) or a related one (e.g., Italian or Russian)
Whether you are supplementing your learning with other resources like living in a foreign country, spending time with foreign friends, or using
YouTube videos, books, and podcasts

Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!

Does Babbel Help You Become Fluent?

Sadly, you can’t solely rely on one language learning method to become fluent. True fluency is acquired only with a complete immersion in a language and culture, and to become somewhat fluent, you must supplement your learning with other sources.

Join a language school or get a tutor, find a “pen pal” and practice what you learn (and learn more), and invest in language learning books. Watch foreign movies and TV shows and listen to music in the language you are learning. The more you immerse yourself in the language, the better.

Babbel’s Pricing and Subscription Options

Unlike other language learning platforms (like Duolingo), Babbel doesn’t have a free trial or a freemium version. Or, well, so it seemed. After signing up for a month’s subscription, I only found out that the first couple of lessons and 2 Live classes are free. Babbel could have been more upfront about that.

You must choose between Babbel Self-Study or Babbel Live, as each has different subscription costs. Babbel Live is like the premium version where everything in Self-Study, plus additional features, are included.

Here’s a breakdown of what you get when you opt for Babbel Self-Study vs Babbel Live:

Luckily, the one-month subscription options for Babbel Live and Babbel Self-Study aren’t too pricey to check Babbel out. If you aren’t happy, write to the customer service team within 20 days of subscribing and request a full refund.

Plus, the subscriptions are valid to learn only one language (except for the Lifetime plan with Babbel Self-Study).

Krystyna

Language Blogger & Culture Lover

Babbel Self-Study Subscription Costs

You need to sign up for one of the 5 subscription options to start your language-learning journey – but that also means you can’t completely test Babbel out to see if it’s right for you.

Here are the Babbel subscription options (without a discount) and the cost of each (at the time of writing):

1 month – US$13.95 per month
3 months – US$9.95 per month (a once-off US$29.85)
6 months – US$8.45 per month (a once-off US$83.70)
12 months – US$6.95 per month (a once-off US$167.40)
Lifetime – US$599.99

Note: The prices may differ on the App Store and Google Play.

Babbel Live Subscription Costs

The options for Babbel Live subscription plans are as follows:

1 month – US$99 per month
3 months – US$59 per month
6 months – US$50 per month
12 months – US$30 per month

Does Babbel Offer Discounts?

Babbel currently offers discounts on 4 of its Self-Study subscription plans, meaning each plan costs:

3 months – US$29.85 for the period (30% off)
6 months – US$50.70 for the period (40% off)
12 months – US$83.40 for the period (50% off)
Lifetime – US$299.99 (less US$300)

For Babbel Live, here’s a breakdown of the current discounts:

3 months – US$178.20 for the period (40% off)
6 months – US$297.00 for the period (50% off)
12 months – US$356.40 for the period (70% off)

There are also options for discounts if you are a student, a healthcare worker, an educator, or part of the military.

While you can scour the web for discount codes on sites like Groupon, Babbel is one step ahead. With a cheeky message on its site, Babbel offers a discount code so you don’t waste time trying outdated promo codes that don’t work anymore.

The con is that you don’t get 55% off every Babbel subscription option. Clicking on the “GET 55% OFF” link takes you to the subscription page with the discounts you see when you get there directly.

How to Cancel Your Babbel Subscription (A Mini Guide)

Canceling your Babbel subscription is relatively easy. You must cancel your subscription according to the method you signed up to Babbel.

For example, if you signed up via the Babbel website, that’s where you need to cancel, or if you used the mobile app to subscribe, cancel on the Google Play Store or App Store.

Pro Tip #1: Check your original Babbel invoice to see how you subscribed if you’re unsure.

Pro Tip #2: Don’t think deleting the Babbel app off your device will cancel your subscription. It won’t.

Canceling Babbel via the Website

Visit the Babbel website and log into your account.
Click on the profile icon (that looks like half a person) on the top right.
In the drop-down menu, click on “Profile and settings.”
Click on “Account Information” on the menu bar that’s on the left.
Choose “Cancel auto-renewal.”
You’ll get a confirmation of the cancellation via email.

Canceling Babbel via the Google Play Store (Android Users)

Open the Google Play App.
Go to your profile.
Tap on “Payments & Subscriptions,” and then go to “Subscriptions.”
Choose Babbel, the subscription you want to cancel, and tap “Cancel.”
Follow further instructions.

Canceling Babbel via the App Store (iOS Users)

Go to “Settings” on your iOS device’s home screen.
Tap on your Apple ID profile.
Go to “Subscriptions.”
Tap on Babbel and then “Cancel Subscription.”
Confirm that you want to cancel this subscription, and it’s done.

What Do We Love About Babbel?

It’s easy to find most information on the Babbel website, like the subscription cost, discount codes, and FAQs.
A clear structure to learning, and you’re empowered to choose your own learning path.
Constant supply of new language content, podcasts, and games.
You can set weekly goals based on your motivation for learning the language, the level you want to reach (basic, independent, or proficient), how long you want to take to get to that level, and how much time you want to dedicate to learning per day. The goal is to help encourage you to stick to your language-learning objectives.
You can use the Babbel browser version or mobile app (iOS and Android) to learn.
Download content on the app and use it to practice offline.
Quite an affordable option to supplement your language-learning adventure.
20-day money-back guarantee if you aren’t happy.

Excited to learn more? Explore my articles listed below:

What Don’t We Like About Babble?

Not upfront that the first couple of lessons of a language are free, and each subscription (except the Lifetime plan) is only valid for one language.
Only some languages have access to all the features.
Live classes, for example, are only available for those learning German, French, Spanish, and Italian.
With a more streamlined and grown-up (not entirely user-friendly) interface, Babbel isn’t ideal for kids. It’s best suited for teens and adults.
Different prices on the app stores compared to Babbel’s website.
The lessons don’t build on each other, so you can easily skip to a new lesson and not miss anything. But I like the “i + 1” principle of learning (also called the input hypothesis), where you learn something extra based on what you already know to make learning more effective.
There is no search function to easily find specific lessons or what you want to learn.
Can’t enjoy the games (Phrase Maze and Word Trax) or live classes until you’ve made progress on the app.
Intermediate and upper intermediate courses don’t further your learning as extensively as they should.
Not all languages have the same content. For example, the Italian course goes up to the Upper Intermediate level, while the Turkish and Indonesian courses only go to the Beginner level.

Considering the last point, I don’t believe paying the same price for a language subscription on Babbel is fair when you don’t have access to as much content as other courses offer.

If you opt for a monthly subscription (US$13.95/month), you can access 22 level courses and 48 special courses if you learn Italian. In comparison, there are 13 level courses and 21 special courses if you study Indonesian, and you have to pay another subscription for the same price – for fewer courses.

Turkish, for example, has 17 level courses and 43 special courses, and Norwegian has 15 level courses (also until Beginner level) and 33 special courses.

Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!

Who Is Babbel’s Target Audience

Babbel is a good choice if you are a teenager or an adult. The interface is geared toward an older user and won’t appeal to young kids.

Similarweb reveals key statistics about Babbel’s users:

Male (49.17%) and female (50.83%) users have an almost equal distribution.
Most of the users are in the 25-34 age group (24.88%), followed by those aged 18-24 (20.04%) and 35-44 (19.31%).
America is the top country using Babbel (26.34%), followed by Germany (18.42%), Italy (7.32%), France (6.97%), and Ukraine (5.65%).

Also, Babbel is best if you are a complete newbie to learning a specific language or want to sharpen your language skills (until intermediate level or on a particular topic). Babbel’s exercises aren’t in-depth and extensive enough if you want to advance from an intermediate level.

If you are keen to become proficient in a language, Babbel alone won’t get you there, but it’s a good place to start.

Krystyna

Language Blogger & Culture Lover

How Can You Contact Babbel's Customer Service?

If you need to contact Babbel’s customer service team, you can. There’s a link to their email address at the very bottom of the website under “More Babbel” (when you aren’t signed in). Or submit an online form on the “Submit a Request” page.

When logged in on your desktop or smart device, there’s no quick-access option to contact a customer service team member.

If you need help, visit the comprehensive Help/FAQ center.

Review Verdict: Is Babbel Worth It?

WHY I RATE BABBEL WITH 8.5/10

Babbel is an accessible and convenient language-learning solution if you are a beginner student or want to revise the A1/A2 and B1/B2 levels of a language you’ve learned or started learning.

It can be a valuable learning tool, and the clean, minimalistic interface was refreshing. The quick, roughly 15-minute lessons and reviews were helpful.

The app does give you some explanations of grammar, language usage, and an idea of what real-life conversations with a native are like. However, you can’t rely only on Babbel to become fluent or fully proficient in your language of choice.

The main con is you have to pay for new subscriptions if you want to learn multiple languages – one for every language and you don’t get the same content (unless you have a few hundred dollars to fork out for Lifetime access).

In conclusion, it’s best to pair Babbel with other language-learning tools to make the most of it. The app is only a supplementary tool to teach you vocabulary and some grammar and give you a taste of real-life conversations at best.

Curious about other language-learning solutions? Check out my review on Mondly.

Krystyna

Language Learning Blogger

If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!

Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.

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My Babbel Review - What the Popular Language Learning App Has to Offer

WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS REVIEW

What Language Did I Try to Learn on Babbel?

Babbel: Detailed Analysis

What Languages Are Available on Babbel?

Babbel's Learning Approach

A Look into Babbel's Language Courses and Exercises

The First Lesson in the Italian Newcomer Class

What Are Babbel’s Live Classes Like?

Is Babbel Really Effective?

Does Babbel Help You Become Fluent?

Babbel’s Pricing and Subscription Options

Babbel Self-Study Subscription Costs

Babbel Live Subscription Costs

Does Babbel Offer Discounts?

How to Cancel Your Babbel Subscription (A Mini Guide)

Canceling Babbel via the Website

Canceling Babbel via the Google Play Store (Android Users)

Canceling Babbel via the App Store (iOS Users)

What Do We Love About Babbel?

What Don’t We Like About Babble?

Who Is Babbel’s Target Audience

How Can You Contact Babbel's Customer Service?

Review Verdict: Is Babbel Worth It?

If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!

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