Busuu Review
A course with native speakers attached
The best pick when the goal is a measurable level — a certificate, a university requirement, or a visa language condition.
Where Busuu shines
- Explicit CEFR levels, so you always know where you stand
- Native-speaker community corrections on your own writing
- Official McGraw Hill certificates on completion
- AI-generated study plan adapts to your target date
- Free tier is quite restricted
- Community feedback quality varies by language
- Only 14 languages
- Speaking practice is less fluid than Speak's
Busuu is the app that takes the CEFR framework seriously. Lessons are grouped into A1 through C1, the study plan asks when you need to reach your target, and completing a level earns a McGraw Hill certificate you can put in front of an employer or admissions office.
The community layer is its most distinctive feature. You record or write an answer, and native speakers of that language correct it — usually within hours. You return the favour in your own language. Automated feedback has become very good, but a human still catches the things that are technically correct and simply not what anyone would say.
It is less fun than Duolingo and less polished on speaking than Speak, and the free tier is thin enough that you will need Premium to get real value. But for anyone whose goal has an exam or a paper attached to it, it is the most direct route.
Are Busuu certificates recognised?
They are issued with McGraw Hill Education and are useful as evidence of study, though they are not a substitute for an official exam such as DELE or Goethe.
Is Busuu free?
There is a free tier, but core features including offline mode, certificates and grammar review need Premium.
How far does Busuu go?
Up to B2 in most languages and C1 in the largest courses.
See how Busuu stacks up
vs Duolingo
vs Babbel
vs Rosetta StoneTechnology behind Busuu
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