Comparison

LingQ | Learn Languages vs Babbel

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LingQ | Learn Languages

Learn languages naturally by reading and listening to real content. Expand your vocabulary and improve comprehension with interactive tools and AI-powered features. Supports over 50 languages and offers a global community for support.

Highlights
  • Massive content library
  • Import your own content
  • Interactive reader with word definitions
  • AI-powered learning tools
  • Progress tracking
  • Offline learning
  • Community support and tutoring
Features
Read full description

Experience Language Learning with LingQ — the natural and effective way to learn a new language. LingQ is a language learning app that lets you grow your vocabulary and improve comprehension through meaningful exposure to the language with real content. Follow your interests and enjoy an immersive learning experience in over 50 languages. Learn Spanish, English, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Arabic, and other languages. Trusted by Learners Worldwide: ◆4.7 star rating from over 45000 reviews. ◆Featured in CBC, Men’s Health, La Vanguardia, El País. Designed for Real Language Learning LingQ uses an input-based approach: you learn languages by reading and listening to real, interesting content at your level. ◆ Massive Content Library: Thousands of lessons from podcasts, books, interviews, videos, articles, and more — all with matching text for easy listening and reading. ◆ Follow Topics You Enjoy: Choose content you love and progress naturally through immersion, not drills. ◆ Import Your Favorite Content: Turn Netflix, YouTube, podcasts, books, and articles into personalized lessons. ◆ Powerful Reader: An effective, optimized reader that tracks every word you encounter to boost your vocabulary. ◆ Interactive Learning: Listen, read along, tap words for instant definitions, and learn naturally as you go. ◆ Advanced Progress Tracking: Monitor your listening, reading, study time, and vocabulary growth. ◆ Learn Anytime, Anywhere: Study offline and sync your progress automatically. Learn whenever you want. AI Language Learning Tools • AI Audio Transcription: Turn podcasts and audiobooks into interactive lessons. • AI Voices: Make your lessons, reviews and chats more immersive with natural sounding text-to-speech voices. • Advanced Chatbot: Get detailed tutor responses and real-time web search with our advanced Lynx AI Chatbot. • AI-Simplified Lesson: Take advantage of more interesting content earlier on in your learning journey by generating simplified versions of lessons. Read and Listen with Interactive Tools • SRS vocabulary review for long-term retention; • Mini Stories that build a strong foundation at any level; • Grammar guides with clear, accessible explanations; • Audio playlists for hands-free listening; • Karaoke Mode to follow the text while listening; A Global Community to Support You • Writing Exchange for real corrections from native speakers; • Tutoring sessions tailored to your goals; • Community forum for questions, guidance, and motivation; • Challenges that help you stay consistent and build strong habits; Built by Language Learners LingQ was co-founded by Steve Kaufmann, a polyglot who learned more than 20 languages using this same natural approach. Learn Multiple Languages LingQ supports more than 50 languages, including Spanish, English, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Arabic and more. Get LingQ Premium and Accelerate Your Learning • Unlimited vocabulary lookup and SRS review; • Comprehensive word tracking to boost your progress; • Unlimited content imports; • Access to AI features; Start learning from real content. Download LingQ and begin today. Feedback? Let us know. Send suggestions and feedback to iosapp@lingq.com. Terms of Service - https://www.lingq.com/terms/

About

Babbel

Master a new language with expert-designed, bite-sized lessons that fit your schedule. Build conversational confidence quickly through interactive practice and a smart review system. Learn Spanish, French, German, and more for travel, work, or fun.

Highlights
  • Bite-sized lessons
  • Expert-built courses
  • Interactive conversation practice
  • Smart review system
  • Grammar in context
  • Offline mode
  • Learn 14 languages
Features
Read full description

Speak a new language with real-life conversations. 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. Because lessons are built for speakers of your language, an English speaker learning Spanish gets different lessons than a French speaker does. You learn to speak, listen, and understand grammar in context, then practice real conversations with Babbel Speak, an AI conversation partner that gives you personalized feedback. Learn a new language faster with bite-sized lessons designed to fit your everyday life. With Babbel’s proven method, you could start having real conversations in as little as 3 weeks. Your language learning adventure starts with a lesson. WHY BABBEL WORKS • Tailored to your native language: Courses are created by language experts and tailored to your native language, so you learn naturally and efficiently. • Real-life conversations: Learn the language people actually speak, for travel, work, and everyday life. • Speak with confidence: Practice out loud with speech recognition and Babbel Speak, an AI conversation partner to improve your pronunciation. • Research-proven results: Efficacy backed by researchers at Yale University: 100% improved their oral proficiency in 3 months.* TRUSTED BY MILLIONS • 25 million subscriptions sold • 1.5 million 5-star ratings (based on App store ratings) • After 10 hours with Babbel, 96% of learners saw better test scores on grammar and vocabulary** BUILT FOR REAL LIFE • Short, effective lessons: Learn in as little as 10 minutes a day • Lessons for every motivation: Learn for travel, work, or fun • Listen, speak, write: Options for every learning style • Stress-free conversation practice: Build confidence with Guided Conversations, then practice freely with Babbel Speak (Beta) • Smart review system: Boosts learning and retention • Grammar in context: Clear explanations exactly when you need them • Offline mode: Download lessons and learn anywhere, anytime • 5,000+ courses: Over 60,000 lessons across all languages LEARN 14 LANGUAGES Spanish (Latin American or Spain), French, Italian, German, Portuguese, English (American or British), Russian, Polish, Turkish, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, and Indonesian. TRY BABBEL TODAY Download Babbel now and take a free lesson. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS A subscription is required to access full courses for one language. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your Apple account. Available plans: • 1 month • 3 months • 6 months • 12 months Privacy policy: https://about.babbel.com/en/privacy/ Terms of use: https://about.babbel.com/en/terms/ LEARN MORE Read Babbel Magazine for tips and insights: https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babbelusa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Babbel.usa CONTACT US Questions or feedback? Email: support-mobile@babbel.com *Based on a study conducted with Babbel users learning Spanish. Available at http://bit.ly/BabbelYale. **Based on a study conducted with Babbel users learning Spanish. Available: http://bit.ly/BabbelMSU.

Screenshots

LingQ | Learn Languages4 screens
Babbel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: LingQ | Learn Languages at free with in-app purchases against Babbel's subscription. LingQ | Learn Languages also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 44%) and ads (none vs shown). Babbel's advantage is ratings volume (754K vs 10K) and chart position (#8 vs #113). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. LingQ | Learn Languages sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Babbel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for LingQ | Learn Languages against 4.7 for Babbel. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 10K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of LingQ | Learn Languages's written reviews are positive against 44% of Babbel's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LingQ | Learn Languages ships an update every 5 days, Babbel every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
LingQ | Learn Languages versus Babbel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLingQ | Learn LanguagesBabbel
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (10K ratings)4.7 (754K ratings)
Positive reviews80.2% of reviews — better43.7% of reviews
Number of ratings10K754K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#113#8 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size345 MB263 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperLingQ Languages LtdBabbel GmbH

Customer experience

LingQ | Learn Languages

All ratings10,219 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews1,172 reviews
Positive80.2%
Neutral6.1%
Negative13.7%

Babbel

All ratings753,872 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral3.8%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews2,638 reviews
Positive43.7%
Neutral13.9%
Negative42.3%

User reviews

LingQ | Learn Languages

From 10K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent for reading and listening practice
  • 👍 Customizable content and learning experience
  • 🚀 Efficient vocabulary acquisition
  • 👍 Helpful for improving comprehension and fluency
  • 👍 Engaging and enjoyable way to learn

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app with sync and performance issues
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🤔 Limited free version functionality
  • 🤔 Confusing user interface and navigation
  • 🤔 Inconsistent quality of translations and definitions

Babbel

From 754K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent structured learning
  • 🚀 Effective vocabulary and grammar teaching
  • 👍 Helpful pronunciation guides
  • 👍 Engaging and practical lessons
  • 👍 Useful review and repetition features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent voice recognition
  • 🐛 Lack of flexibility in lesson progression
  • 🐛 Confusing user interface and navigation
  • 🐛 Overly strict scoring and lack of forgiveness for minor errors
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly

Bugs and requests

LingQ | Learn Languages

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Sync issues between app and web version
  • Incorrect translations and definitions
  • Unreliable streak tracking and progress reporting

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved user interface and navigation
  • Better sync and performance across devices
  • More content and language options
  • Enhanced vocabulary management and review tools
  • Affordable subscription plans

Babbel

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Lessons sometimes freeze or crash the app
  • Subscription cancellation process is overly complicated
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between languages
  • Keyboard issues and inability to use system keyboard

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more language options, especially Asian languages like Japanese, Korean, and Chinese
  • Improve review and practice tools to better reinforce learned material
  • Provide more customization options for lesson pacing and content
  • Implement a more forgiving scoring system and allow users to revisit past lessons
  • Add a dark mode and optimize the app for better readability

In-app purchases

12 purchases

LingQ | Learn Languages

Subscriptions12
  • LingQ Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • LingQ Premium (Monthly)$14.991 Month
  • Premium Plus Monthly$29.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • LingQ Premium (6 Months)7 Days trial$80.996 Months
  • LingQ Premium (6 Months)$80.996 Months
  • LingQ Premium$89.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium$99.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium$101.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium2 variants$109.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium (12 Months)7 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • LingQ Premium (12 Months)$119.991 Year
  • Premium Plus Yearly7 Days trial$269.991 Year
12 purchases

Babbel

Subscriptions12
  • Mexican Spanish – 1-month plan$17.991 Month
  • Spanish 1 month$17.991 Month
  • French 1 month$17.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • Italian 1 month$17.991 Month
  • Mexican Spanish - 1-month plan$19.991 Month
  • Mexican Spanish – 3-month plan$45.993 Months
  • Learn French – 3-month plan$45.993 Months
  • Learn Spanish – 3-month plan$45.993 Months
  • All Languages – 3-month plan$53.993 Months
  • Mexican Spanish – 1-year plan$89.991 Year
  • All Languages – 12-month plan$107.991 Year
  • All Languages – 12-month plan7 Days trial$107.991 Year

Questions

Is LingQ | Learn Languages free?
LingQ | Learn Languages is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Babbel free?
Babbel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LingQ | Learn Languages or Babbel?
LingQ | Learn Languages and Babbel are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 10K and 754K ratings respectively.
Do LingQ | Learn Languages or Babbel have ads?
Babbel shows ads; LingQ | Learn Languages does not.
Which is updated more often, LingQ | Learn Languages or Babbel?
LingQ | Learn Languages ships an update every 5 days, and Babbel every 4 days. Most recently, LingQ | Learn Languages was updated on September 24, 2026 and Babbel on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, LingQ | Learn Languages or Babbel?
LingQ | Learn Languages currently peaks at #113 in the App Store charts, and Babbel at #8. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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