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Compare language-learning apps

Pick up to four apps and compare scores, features, pros, and cons.

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App	Babbel	Duolingo
Overall score	90	88
Tagline	Lessons written by actual linguists	The habit machine
Best for	Travel-ready basicsWork & businessConversation fluency	Travel-ready basicsFamily conversation
Use-case fit	8	6
Level fit & AI tutor	Beginner Intermediate Fluent No AI tutor	Beginner Intermediate Fluent AI tutor
Verdict	If you want to actually understand the language rather than pattern-match your way through it, Babbel is the best-designed course app for European languages.	The best place to start and the worst place to finish. Use it to build a daily habit and a first thousand words, then graduate to something with real conversation.
Pros	Courses are built per language pair, not translated from one template Grammar is explained in plain language at the moment you need it Dialogues are realistic and immediately usable	Free tier is genuinely usable — no other app comes close Streaks and daily goals build the habit that actually drives progress Max adds AI roleplay and per-answer explanations
Cons	Only 14 languages, all European plus Indonesian and Turkish No AI conversation partner in the core app Content runs out around upper-intermediate	Weak above intermediate — courses thin out fast at B2+ Sentences can be artificial and rarely teach connected speech Grammar is inferred rather than taught unless you pay for Max
Full review	Read review →	Read review →

Quick takeaway

Babbel leads this comparison with an overall score of 90. It is strongest for Travel-ready basics and Work & business. Duolingo is the closest alternative at 88. Choose Babbel if courses are built per language pair, not translated from one template; pick Duolingo if free tier is genuinely usable — no other app comes close.