In a Nutshell
pros
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Multiple language options
- Full refund if canceled within 20 days
cons
- Only the first lesson for each course is free
- Each language requires a new subscription
How Much Does Babbel Cost? (Plan Pricing, Service Fees)
A Babbel subscription is necessary to gain access to your chosen language. The first lesson in each course is free, allowing you to test the service before paying. Subscription fees are only for one language, and each new language you select requires an additional subscription payment.
You can cancel your subscription at any time up to one day before the next payment is due. If you cancel within 20 days of subscribing, you can receive a full refund by contacting Babbel support.
There are two payment plans: Babbel App and Babbel App+Live Classes. The Babbel App plan gives access to hundreds of lessons, games, videos, podcasts, and special focused courses—for example, on culture.
Babbel App+Live Classes offers everything in the Babbel App plus small live online classes, with a maximum of six students and available whenever you want. Furthermore, it provides speaking practice with personalized feedback.
Babbel App only - Best for Flexible Learning
3 months
6 months
12 months
Lifetime
Per month
$9.95
$8.45
$6.95
$599
Per subscription period
$29.85
$50.70
$119.40
Babbel App+Live Classes - Best for Advancing Quickly
1 month
3 months
6 months
12 months
Per month
$99
$54.45
$44.55
$34.65
Per subscription period
$99
$297.00
$594.00
$1,188
How Does Babbel Work?
Babbel offers 14 fun and interesting language courses designed by over 150 language experts. Available languages include Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Its learning method involves short, tailored, and flexible lessons that work for you depending on your level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced).
You can study through the app, live online courses, podcasts, text-writing, games, and videos. The Babbel Live courses have certified native-speaking teachers. Babbel Podcasts are available via its app, Spotify, Apple Music, and Spreaker, and they involve native speakers providing full-immersion cultural experiences.
Registering on Babbel is straightforward. Visit the website online or download the app from the Google or Apple Play Store. Create an account using your email address and a unique password. Select a language, skill level, and the time you wish to spend learning per week. You can use Babbel on multiple devices, and it will sync your progress to your account.
The app and platform have a clean, user-friendly interface. You can set learning reminders and receive notifications to take a lesson. Its speech recognition software is a handy feature that enables you to practice your speaking skills and get pronunciation feedback in real time.
Is Babbel Reliable and Safe?
According to its website, it is the most-sold language-learning platform, with 16 million subscriptions. User reviews on the website gave it an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Researchers at Yale University conducted a study of Babbel users learning a language and found that 75% accomplished their learning goals. Fast Company also lauded Babbel as the "Most Innovative Language Learning Company" in 2023.
Babbel has a 3.8-star rating on Trustpilot from 20,815 reviews. A whopping 69% of reviewers give it a 5-star rating, and 22% give it a 4-star rating. The remaining 9% had concerns about customer support delays and continued charges on their accounts.
All transactions for Babbel plans are processed securely through an SSL-encrypted connection. This security feature means the company will keep your personal and financial details safe.
What’s Special About Babbel?
Some standout features on Babbel include:
Babbel Podcasts - listen to experts discussing local cultures.
Babbel Videos - watch discussions on language learning.
Babbel Magazine - read stories from cultures around the world.
Babbel as a gift - purchase a Babbel subscription to gift your friends or family.
Help and Support
Customer support is available through email, chatbot, and Help Center. Email responses take about a day, whereas the app's chat function provides solutions in a few minutes. I liked the Help Center, as it covers many topics, such as getting started or subscribing to Babbel. It also has Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), which provide detailed responses to common queries.
Bottom Line
Babbel is a top-notch language-learning platform with fun courses structured by experts to help you become conversational faster. It offers many teaching options, from app lessons, podcasts, and videos to live online classes with a native-speaking teacher. The app is available on Android and iOS devices, and the download and registration process is straightforward.
I was impressed by Babbel’s Help Center, which has many detailed articles and FAQs to answer your queries. While you must pay for a subscription to use Babbel, you can take some free lessons to familiarize yourself with the platform. Overall, Babbel has the features, the experts, and the reputation for teaching languages effectively, so it’s worth considering at its price.
FAQs
How much does Babbel really cost?
Babbel offers several subscription plans lasting from one month to a year. Prices can start as low as $6.95 per month, depending on the plan. Babbel also offers a lifetime plan.
Which is better, Babbel or Duolingo?
Both Babbel and Duolingo are highly-rated language-learning platforms. Duolingo offers a free version that comes with ads. However, Babbel believes ads distract from the learning experience, so it only offers paid subscriptions and free samples of the first lessons of courses.
Can I use Babbel for free?
Babbel only offers the first lesson of each course free. However, you must select one of the pricing plans to pay for the rest of the chosen language course.
