Choose Busuu if you want to start for free and pay only if the app works for you. Choose Babbel if you are ready to pay for one plan that includes all 14 of its languages, or want lifetime access. Both apps teach the big European languages, and neither teaches Romanian.
Prices were checked on 18 October 2026. We have not tested either app ourselves. The facts come from Babbel’s and Busuu’s own pages, terms and App Store listings. See how we research.
Babbel vs Busuu at a glance
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Babbel
- App
- Languages: 14
- Languages: 14
- 12-month planShown to us outside the EU; prices in euros depend on your countryUS$107.40/year
- LifetimeUS$299.99 · one-off
from US$107.40/year Go to Babbel -
Busuu
- App
- Free version
- ✓ Free version
- Refunds
- Refund within 14 days, minus what you have used
- Premium and Premium PlusPrice depends on your country; check the official pageprice varies
Prices checked on 18 October 2026. They change often; check the final price before you pay.
| Babbel | Busuu | |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Check the official site | Yes, with a free account |
| Paid plans | 12 months, lifetime | Premium and Premium Plus, 1 or 12 months |
| Price on our check date | $107.40 per year ($8.95 a month), $299.99 lifetime, shown outside the EU | Depends on your country |
| Languages in one plan | All 14 | Check the plan |
| Number of languages | 14 | 14 |
| Romanian | No | No |
| Refund | Check Babbel’s terms | 14 days, minus what you used |
Price
Babbel’s prices page showed us US dollars because we connected from outside the EU. A 12-month plan cost $107.40, about $8.95 a month, and lifetime access cost $299.99. Prices in euros depend on your country, so check them on Babbel’s official prices page.
We could not verify Busuu’s prices: its Premium page showed us a local currency. Busuu sells Premium and Premium Plus for 1 or 12 months. The price depends on your country, so check the official Busuu Premium page.
The practical difference: with Busuu you can use the free version for weeks before you spend anything. With Babbel you pay up front, but according to Babbel one plan covers every language it teaches.
Free version
According to Busuu’s terms, the non-premium service “can be used completely free of charge”. You need a free account, and the free version may show adverts. Premium adds full grammar reviews, full vocabulary reviews, unlimited speaking activities, and grammar units and certificates.
We did not confirm a free plan for Babbel. Check the official site for any free trial lessons before you subscribe.
Languages
Both apps teach 14 languages, but not the same ones.
- Babbel, according to Babbel and its App Store listing: the main European languages, including Polish, Dutch, Portuguese and Russian. No Romanian.
- Busuu, according to its App Store listing: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Arabic, Dutch and Turkish. No Romanian.
If you want Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic, Busuu has them. If you need Romanian, look at Mondly in our best language learning apps guide.
Refunds and cancelling
According to Busuu’s terms, you can cancel a Premium purchase within 14 days of buying it, for any reason. If you have already used Premium, you pay for the part you used. Subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel. If you paid through the App Store or Google Play, you cancel and claim the refund there.
We did not verify Babbel’s refund terms. Read them before you buy, especially for lifetime access.
Pros
- Babbel: all 14 languages in one plan
- Babbel: lifetime access available
- Busuu: free version with a free account
- Busuu: 14-day refund window in its terms
Cons
- Babbel: no free plan confirmed
- Busuu: prices depend on your country and were not verified
- Neither app teaches Romanian
Which one should you choose?
- You are not sure you will stick with it: start with Busuu’s free version.
- You want to learn two or more languages: Babbel, because one plan includes all of its languages.
- You want Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic or Turkish: Busuu.
- You want to pay once and keep access: Babbel lifetime, if you are sure you will use it.
Neither app gives you a real conversation partner. To practise speaking, add a tutor or a language exchange. Our guide on how to choose an online tutor explains what to check, and free ways to learn a language lists options that cost nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Babbel or Busuu better?
Babbel suits learners who want one paid plan with all its 14 languages and an option of lifetime access. Busuu suits learners who want to start for free and upgrade only if they like it.
Is Busuu free?
Busuu has a free version. According to its terms, the non-premium service can be used free of charge with a free account and may show adverts. Premium adds full grammar and vocabulary reviews, unlimited speaking activities and certificates.
How much does Babbel cost compared with Busuu?
Babbel showed us $107.40 for 12 months and $299.99 lifetime from outside the EU on 18 October 2026; euro prices depend on your country. We could not verify Busuu's prices, which also depend on your country.
Can I get a refund from Busuu?
According to Busuu's terms, you can cancel Premium within 14 days for any reason and pay only for what you have used. App store purchases are cancelled through the store.
Do Babbel or Busuu teach Romanian?
No. Neither app offers a Romanian course. Mondly is an alternative that lists Romanian on its App Store page.
Sources
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