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This app puts a textbook-like emphasis on grammar and offers one key feature that Duolingo doesn’t: classes with human instructors.
Babbel’s approach to learning is different from the other apps we tested in that it emphasizes direct instruction, with pop-ups explaining grammatical and cultural concepts. In many ways Babbel feels the most like an interactive language-learning textbook of any of the apps we evaluated.
And it goes even further, offering a virtual classroom to match. Babbel Live, the app’s premium subscription, costs a lot more than the paid tiers of our other picks, but for a clear reason: The service supplements the app with actual human teachers and one-on-one or group classes. Most people would do better finding a local, in-person class at, say, a community college, but if that’s not realistic for you, Babbel Live offers a convenient alternative.
The service provides live classes. Smartphone applications alone can’t turn you into a native speaker—that requires using the language in real-world situations and learning from feedback. Babbel Live offers online classes with actual language teachers from around the world, allowing you to get real-time feedback to supplement the learning you do in the app.
Other apps allow you to learn from native speakers—Memrise’s lessons are built around videos recorded by native speakers, and Busuu allows other users to provide feedback on phrases you write or say out loud. But real-time interaction with a native speaker helps a lot more than either of those approaches, at the expense of an additional time commitment.
Its app-based learning is really helpful, too. The lessons, which are a little longer than those of our other picks, seamlessly weave audio, video, and text-based learning. In any given lesson, for example, you may be asked to quickly translate a sentence and then be tasked with deciding which words you would use to navigate an everyday situation or travel scenario. In our testing, this variety did a great job of keeping us engaged.
Both Duolingo and Babbel offer compelling lessons, but they differ in several respects. Duolingo’s standard lessons are shorter and tend to stick to the same blend of exercises—it reserves the longer, conversation-based content for special story- and podcast-based exercises. Babbel, in contrast, blends everything together, so a single lesson goes from practicing quick phrases to reviewing an entire conversation. Some people may prefer Babbel’s approach.
Interactive features are woven into the lessons. Partway through a lesson, you might find yourself hearing a conversation between two people or interacting with an imaginary text-message thread. Injecting these exercises and stories in the middle of lessons puts the concepts you’re learning into context and is also more fun than constant repetitive exercises.
It puts emphasis on teaching grammatical concepts. Outside of the video classes, Babbel’s lessons regularly provide English grammatical context, explaining to you how the language you’re learning works. That stands in contrast to the approach of competitors such as Duolingo or Rosetta Stone, which depend on your figuring out these concepts from context over time.
Both approaches are valid, but some learners will appreciate straight-up instruction in the middle of lessons. Occasionally Babbel also provides valuable cultural information—facts about how words are used differently in different places, for example.
It includes interactive reviews. The app regularly reminds you to review concepts that you learned earlier, allowing you to choose between flash cards and listening, speaking, or writing exercises. It prompts you to do these reviews on a regular basis, which is a great way to make sure you’re not forgetting concepts you learned earlier.
It isn’t as gamified as Duolingo. Although Babbel isn’t as intensely focused as our top pick on keeping you engaged, it has some basic features to draw you back day after day. Daily streaks and reminder notifications, for instance, make it easier to remember to stick to your learning habit. Some people might prefer this less-intense approach.
