Duolingo vs Babbel, Which App is better for you 2025
Today, we will be making an interesting comparison of the two giants of language learning applications leading the industry, it’s Duolingo vs Babbel. If you are wondering which application is better for you, I got the answer.
Both applications are suitable in their own ways. Duolingo is more like learning with games and fun. Babbel is more like a professional tool, so if you want to use an application that is more fun, and Babbel is more like an experienced English language class, people who want to learn with fun prefer Duolingo, and Those who just want to know the language they go with babbel.
Duolingo users claim that Duolingo is the best app, while Babbel fans claim that Babbel is the best app to go far. Still, we will briefly compare these giants in this article, and by reading that, you will have a complete idea about what application is right for you.
Duolingo Overview
Duolingo is an innovative language learning application that helps you learn any language in gamified and fun ways. Duolingo has over 42 languages you can learn with the help of creative lessons, quizzes, and many more activities. Duolingo is the best in vocabulary and basic grammar for any language, which makes it the best choice for hobbyists who want to learn new languages. With over 500 million annual users, Duolingo is meant for business. Their creativity and quality make them the pioneers of language learning.
Babbel Overview
On the other hand, Babbel is a language-learning application tool that provides curriculum-based learning that is more like real-world tutoring and is very different from Duolingo. Babbel Provides 14 languages to learn, and they believe they have very in-depth knowledge of these languages, so they are sticking to these languages only. One of the most surprising things about this application is that it does not provide anything for free; it is a paid tool only available if you pay.
Babbel covers all the fields of language learning, such as grammar and conversational skills, and also gives a sneak peek at the culture of the language.
A Brief Comparison: Duolingo vs Babbel
These aspects of the applications will be head to head against each other so you can see which one is better.
Languages: Duolingo vs Babbel
Duolingo has over 42 languages, which makes it a versatile application. Duolingo not only has many languages but also unique languages, such as Hawaiian and Navajo.
Duolingo has one flaw besides English and Spanish it does not have a deep knowledge of the other languages. These two languages cover every aspect, but the rest of the languages are not well taught.
List of the languages Duolingo teaches.
- Spanish
- French
- Japanese
- Korean
- German
- Italian
- Hindi
- Chinese
- Russian
- Arabic
- Portuguese
- English
- Turkish
- Dutch
- Vietnamese
- Greek
- Polish
- Swedish
- Latin
- Irish
- Norwegian
- Hebrew
- Ukrainian
- Indonesian
- Finnish
- Romanian
- Danish
- High Valyrian
- Czech
- Hawaiian
- Zulu
- Welsh
- Swahili
- Hungarian
- Scottish Gaelic
- Haitian Creole
- Klingon
- Esperanto
- Navajo
- Yiddish
Meanwhile, Babbel has 14 languages, and Babbel has very in-depth knowledge about these languages, including grammar, Conversation skills, speaking to hear, and everything else about the languages, which makes it a go-to choice for students who prefer more seriousness and more chances of learning.
The list of languages Babbel provides
Babbel provides courses for the following languages:
- Danish
- Dutch
- English
- French
- German
- Indonesian
- Italian
- Norwegian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Turkish
Learning Approach: Duolingo vs Babbel
Babbel has a different learning approach, keeping it very professional and kind of like a school type. Babbel focuses on every field of learning, such as communication skills, structured curriculum with daily lessons, practices and much more.
Douling, on the other hand, is a very gamified way of learning that makes it very interesting. Duolingo focuses on vocabulary lite grammar and especially emphasizes the streak to maintain so you learn more efficiently
Subscription fee: Duolingo vs Babbel
Duolingo has different premium plans, such as Duolingo Max, Duolingo Super, and Duolingo Family. The average price is $12.99/month, which gives you unlimited access to different features, such as AI-powered conversations, video calls, and more XP ANs.
Babbel has only a premium plan, which is 14$ a month,h which is more than Duolingo Max ANd Duolingo Super. Babbel does not have a variety of plans like Duolingo.
Accessibility: Duolingo vs Babbel
Duolingo is a very responsive application that works fine on both desktops and computers, which makes it very accessible. You can not use Duolingo offline for free. If you want to use it online, subscribe to the premium version, Duolingo Max.
Babbel also works fine on both desktop and mobile, but let me tell you it is no way near to Duolingo in the user interface competition. You can also use Babble offline if you are a premium user.
Target Audience: Duolingo vs Babbel
This section will show the typical difference between these two applications. You will find people who want to learn a new language as a beginner or a casual learner who want to learn a new language as a hobby and not something on deadline.
On the other hand, Babbel is a very professional tool preferred by people who are shifting to a new country and want s to learn the language at any cost. The target audience is adults who are serious about learning a language for different reasons.
Free vs. Paid Features: Duolingo vs Babbel
The best thing about Duolingo is that it gives you so much freedom in the free version that you can learn a language while sticking to the free version, yes, the paid version indeed offers a lot more. Still, you have to appreciate that the free version has so many features that you will rarely find somewhere else for free.
Now, if you look at Babbel, there is no free version. You must have a premium subscription to continue learning, which is surprising if you are a Duolingo user. Every feature you will find in Duolingo for free can be found in Babbel behind a paywall.
Strengths: Duolingo vs Babbel
Duolingo has strengths in grammar-focused learning, with a conceptual understanding of new language that is creative and unique in its own way. A wide range of languages is also a strength of Duolingo, and learning through games and fun quizzes with interesting characters makes Duolingo a unique application.
Babbel, on the other hand, has its strengths, such as its learning methodology is based on real-life conversations covering all the little details about learning new languages that can be crucial. Grammar with a deeper understanding is also a Babbel strength.
Weaknesses: Duolingo vs Babbel
Duolingo does not have many weaknesses, but it is not perfect. Duolingo’s weaknesses include not having a deep knowledge of grammar. Those who learn from Duolingo always make grammatical mistakes and do not have excellent conversation skills, as they mispronounce many words. Also, this learning through gamification is not suitable for serious learners.
Babbel also have some significant weaknesses, the biggest of them all is not having enough languages. I was so disappointed when I first subscribed to Babbel now, knowing that it does not have Chinese. Another flaw is that you need a subscription to access Babbel, which is ridiculous. It does not have any discounts or concessions for students.
Which App is Best for You?
By reading all these differences, you will know which app is right for you, but let me conclude it.If you want structured learning with proper lessons and deep knowledge of grammar in a severe environment and want to pay to learn, then Babbel is your go-to option.
If you want a free application where you want to learn through fun and games and a casual start to learning a language, then Duolingo can be the right option for you.
