Duolingo vs Babbel vs Busuu: which language app do learners fault?
Shared report · refreshed weekly · updated Oct 26, 2026
Babbel is the award-winning language learning app with courses tailored to your native language, built by 200+ language experts and trusted by millions worldwide.
Education · Free · out since 2014 · from the App Store descriptionBabbel's missing-feature complaints come down to the languages on offer: reviewers say their own language is not available as a starting language, and some say few languages can be chosen.
OneStar read 2,299 App Store and Google Play reviews of Babbel posted from Oct 2025 to Oct 2026. Of the 2,299 people who reviewed Babbel in OneStar's sample, 69% complain and 50% praise it. The top complaints about Babbel are missing feature (28% of complaints), pricing and fees (22%) and content quality (19%). In OneStar's sample of Babbel reviews, 5% of reviewers say they're quitting. OneStar's report on Babbel was last updated on Oct 26, 2026.
What goes wrong
At first, it asked what language do I speak and unfortunately it didn't have my country's language in the options.
this app is bad as a person who is underage and doesn't have money how am I supposed to learn the language if I need to do a subscription to do anything??
"Ella es Ana" was "Ejja es Ana." Turns out they are inserting different accents in random places without saying which it is.
The first assessment won’t scroll whatsoever. Deleted the app and reinstalled new. Same issue. Unusable.
the auto renewal hit that I could've sworn i canceled.
What goes well
I always thought all language learning apps were the same, but using Babbel, only a month in and its genuinely showing real usable progress.
Fantastic App
Easy to use and understand.
It's fun and interactive. Makes you want to pay attention and learn more!
This language app is really fantastic.
Reasons for quitting
The main complaint of the 103 reviewers who say they stopped or are quitting
Their categories
Yes or no questions the person who shared it asked of each review
Paywall Hell
Now I can't get into the app.
Fraudulent renews after cancellation and no way to contact them
the auto renewal hit that I could've sworn i canceled.
Find it a chore to do this in comparison to so many other ways to learn.
What they use it for
177 of 2,299 reviewers said; shares are of them
Es muy bueno. Estoy aprendiendo tan mucho, además la app está bonita y divertida! I have a lot of time on my hands so I use Babbel on both my phone and desktop for up to two hours a day, and I’m...
Well structured activities with a good balance of grammar, listening and speaking. The progression through sentences seems natural, and the content is all relevant to a beginner who is looking to...
I really like this app, good to supplement my school and I enjoy the focus on grammar. I appreciate the option of a onetime purchase instead of just a subscription model.
What they ask for
358 reviews ask for something
Who is saying it
The biggest clear differences between audiences; 6 more with a free account
TenureNew user: say they're quitting 2.5x as often as everyone (11% vs 5%).
Star rating1 star: mention privacy and notifications 1.9x as often as everyone (4% vs 2%).
Made with OneStar's App Store and Google Play review analyzer. Run one on your own app or a competitor's, free with no card.