Thursday, January 23rd
2025 Language Learning Program Reviews
Babbel
- Yearly fee of $107 for the Self-Study plan
- Live classes start at $50 a month
- Lessons in 14 different languages
- Provides cultural insights from the start
- Freedom to learn and review according to your interests
- Babbel Live drop-in classes capped at 6 students for personalized attention
Babbel, a subscription-based language learning app from Germany, offers language lessons in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Polish, Norwegian, Indonesian, and Danish. You can access Babbel from the web, Android, and iOS.
Paywall can be bypassed for a little while
When you land on Babbel's website and choose a language, they'll ask you to answer questions about why you're learning your target language (enjoyment, brain training, travel, school), your current abilities, how fluent you want to be, how much time you want to commit each day, and your preferred learning style. Don't think too hard about this quiz - it's not really a placement test, although one of these is available later. When you're finished, they'll show you pricing for either Babbel Self-Study or Babbel Live based on how you answered and the language you chose. It may look like you can't continue without choosing a plan and paying, but visiting Babbel's main web address will bring you to your dashboard.
Cultural insights keep you engaged from the start
From our first Norwegian lesson, as an example, we were already being taught helpful and fascinating insights into the language, pronunciation, and culture. For example, did you know that there are two written forms of Norwegian? Bokmål (literally "book language”) is used by nearly 90% of Norwegians, and Nynorsk (literally "new Norwegian”) is most common in Western Norway. (Babbel teaches Bokmål, if you're curious.)
Learn according to your interests
If you're looking for grammar instruction, go to the Explore tab, then choose "Learn by Topic”. Here you'll find full courses grouped into categories like Countries and Traditions, Specials, Words and Sentences, and, yes, Grammar. We love that Babbel gives you this level of self-determination over your learning - if you get bored with vocabulary review, you can switch topics and learn about Norwegian (or Polish, or Turkish, or French…) culture. If you become aware that the dative case in German is a weak point for you, you won't be prevented from giving it some extra focus.
Choose how you review, but be aware of pronunciation limitations
Babbel understands that everyone learns differently, so when you begin a Review session, you can choose between flashcards, listening, speaking, or writing activities - the same activities you'll get in each main lesson. Just as a head's up - Babbel's pronunciation tool is not our favorite. We think the most effective way to hone your accent is to listen to your own pronunciation compared to a native speaker's example, then redo it until you sound as similar as you can. With Babbel, you'll repeat the word into your microphone, then be instantly graded and moved along to the next question. The problem with this is speech recognition software is not very good at detecting different accents or articulating the improvements you could be making, and that means you can get away with a pretty thick American accent without any negative feedback.
$107 a year for self-study lessons
A free account on Babbel doesn't get you very far. We were able to make it through one lesson and one review session before we were prompted to choose a plan. For a Lifetime account, you're looking at paying $299. One year costs $107.40, and 6 months will run you $80.70. All plans let you access all of Babbel's languages, which is nice, but probably only practical with a Lifetime account - you wouldn't want to mix up your new Spanish vocabulary with Italian by trying to do both at once.
Babbel Live will be too expensive for most
In addition to the self-study courses, Babbel Live allows you to attend small group classes remotely, organized by topic and by level (A1-C1). We like that the class size is capped at 6 (so everybody gets a bit of the teacher's attention) and that you can drop in last-minute (great for busy schedules). Unfortunately, Live is only available for select languages right now: German, French, Spanish (Spain), and Italian. Live starts at $50 a month for 12 months, or you can pay $99 one month at a time. If you pay a bit more, you also gain access to one-on-one lessons. If all you're looking for is speaking practice with qualified instructors, though, you have much cheaper options available to you (hint: look at the #1 program on our list).
Rated well, but pricing is not competitive enough
If you decide to sign up for Babbel, you'll be in good company: over 20,000 people have reviewed them on Trustpilot. There are a handful of complaints about minor inconveniences on the mobile app (like buttons that don't respond right away) and some 1-star reviews from disgruntled customers who didn't realize their subscriptions would auto-renew, but most reviews carry 4- or 5-star ratings. While we like the freedom to learn in the way that best suits our style and interests, we think Babbel Self-Study is a bit too expensive for what we get. We'd recommend you check out one of their more budget-friendly competitors first.
More Language Learning Program Reviews
What is the Best Language Learning Program?
Language learning programs are great for all kinds of people. Students often find them useful for supplementary learning in tandem with their school coursework. Professionals might use them to gain an edge in the global job market, where knowing more than one language can be a big advantage. Travelers can use these programs to learn the basics of a language before visiting a new country.
Online language learning programs can solve several problems. Traditional classes can be expensive, time-consuming, and inflexible, with fixed schedules that can be hard to fit into a busy life. Language learning programs, on the other hand, are often more affordable and can be used anytime and anywhere you have an internet connection. They offer different ways to learn, such as interactive exercises, games, and conversation practice, making learning more engaging and effective.
Language Learning Program FAQ
Continued from above...
Imagine this: In high school, you struggled through Spanish class, barely passing and feeling frustrated every step of the way. The rigid schedule and overwhelming, boring homework of the traditional classroom setting just didn't work for you. Years later, as an adult, you find yourself wishing you could speak another language fluently.
Maybe you want to try again with Spanish, or branch out to something new, like French, German, Italian, or even Arabic. You realize there must be a better way to learn than those old high school methods, and you start exploring language learning programs designed to fit into your busy life.
Language enthusiasts and lifelong learners can use these tools to explore new languages and cultures. There are many types of language learning programs, each with its own strengths. Some focus on "immersive” learning, using pictures and audio to teach you in a way similar to how babies acquire their first languages. Others use games and competition with other students to make learning fun. Some programs offer audio-based instruction, which is great if you prefer to listen and practice speaking while on the go.
There are a handful of things to keep in mind when choosing the best language learning program for you:
- Learning style. Think about how you learn best. Do you prefer seeing, hearing, or interacting with what you are learning? Pick a program that matches your learning style to help you stay interested and retain more information.
- Language focus. Not all programs offer every language. Make sure the program you choose has good resources for the language you want to learn, including conversation practice, grammar lessons, and cultural insights.
- Cost. Language programs can be free, paid, or a combination of both. Consider what you can afford and compare the cost with the features and benefits. Free programs can be great, but paid services often offer more comprehensive and structured content.
- Flexibility. Look for programs that fit into your schedule. Mobile apps are good for learning on the go, while desktop versions might offer more detailed resources. Some platforms offer a combination of both. Whatever you choose, you want to make sure the program's format works with your lifestyle, or you won't use it.
- Difficulty. Some language learning programs are so much fun that you don't find it difficult to get some practice in every day. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you're actually learning to speak the language. Look for a program that challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone and provides you with opportunities to test how much you really know.
- User experience. A user-friendly interface can make learning a new language much easier and more enjoyable. Read reviews and, if possible, try a demo.
The language-loving experts at Top Consumer Reviews have evaluated and ranked the best language learning programs available. We hope this information helps you find the right service for you, making your journey to fluency in a second (or third, or fourth) language enjoyable and successful.
Compare Language Learning Programs
Select any 2 Language Learning Programs to compare them head to head
Trending Language Learning Programs News
Related Language Learning Program Reviews
Since you're interested in Language Learning Programs, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.
Newest Reviews
