# Busuu vs Preply

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Preply at none against Busuu's 15. Preply also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Busuu's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 54%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Busuu sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Preply asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Busuu against 4.8 for Preply. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 101K and 44K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Busuu's written reviews are positive against 54% of Preply's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Busuu | Preply |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (101K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busuu-language-learning-app/id379968583/reviews) | **[4.8 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/preply-language-learning-app/id1352790442/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **101K** | 44K |
| Positive reviews | **85.4% of reviews** | 54.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#74** | #116 |
| Size | 267 MB | 237 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Busuu Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/370806574) | [Preply Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1352790441) |

## What reviewers say

### Busuu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busuu-language-learning-app/id379968583)

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Grossing · Education, #135 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Learn new languages through bite-sized lessons and interactive exercises. Connect with native speakers for feedback and practice, and track your progress with personalized study plans and official certificates.

**Highlights:** Learn up to 14 languages, Connect with native speakers, Expert-designed courses, Personalized study plans, Smart review for vocabulary and grammar, Official language certificates, Specialized courses

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Plan | $23.49 | per month |
| 12 Months Premium | $70.00 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $79.99 | per year |
| 14 Day Trial - Premium Plus | $89.99 | per year |
| 12 Months' Premium | $138.99 | per year |
| 12 Months Premium | $138.99 | per year |
| 12 Months Premium Plus | $139.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💯 Best resource for learning
- 🎓 Structured lessons and review
- 👥 Helpful community feedback
- 🎨 Engaging visuals and content
- 🗣️ Realistic native speaker audio

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Inconsistent AI-generated corrections
- 🔒 Limited access without premium
- 🔀 Difficulty navigating between lessons
- 📚 Lack of advanced content and review
- 🔊 Issues with audio and pronunciation

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect or missing translations
- Inconsistent lesson progress tracking
- Bugs with voice recognition and feedback

**Requested features**

- Ability to learn multiple languages simultaneously
- More detailed grammar explanations and practice
- Customizable review and flashcard features
- Improved community features and messaging
- Offline access to downloaded lessons


### Preply

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/preply-language-learning-app/id1352790442)

**Currently charting:** #116 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Connect with professional tutors for live, personalized language classes. This platform offers a structured alternative to gamified apps, focusing on real conversations and customized learning paths to achieve fluency.

**Highlights:** Live, personalized classes, Thousands of expert tutors, Practice real conversations, Flexible scheduling, Study over 90 languages, Track progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for learning languages
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Flexible scheduling and wide range of tutors
- 🤩 Excellent tutors who are patient and knowledgeable
- 📚 Helpful lesson materials and resources

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Technical issues with the app, including freezing, crashing, and audio/video problems
- 🤑 Concerns about the subscription model and hidden fees
- 💤 Lack of customer support responsiveness
- 🤯 Frustration with tutors canceling or not showing up for lessons
- 🤖 Complaints about the app's user interface and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Lessons not properly credited or refunded
- Inability to transfer lesson credits between tutors
- Automatic subscription renewals without user consent
- Inconsistent app functionality across devices
- Tutor profiles and availability not accurately reflected

**Requested features**

- Calendar integration and scheduling improvements
- Better note-taking and lesson history features
- Ability to purchase individual lessons instead of subscriptions
- Improved customer support and communication channels
- More robust tutor vetting and quality control


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Busuu free?

Busuu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Preply free?

Preply is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Busuu or Preply?

Preply is rated higher. Busuu averages 4.7 out of 5 from 101K ratings, while Preply averages 4.8 from 44K ratings.

### Do Busuu or Preply have ads?

Busuu shows ads; Preply does not.

### Which is updated more often, Busuu or Preply?

Busuu ships an update weekly, and Preply weekly. Most recently, Busuu was updated on September 25, 2026 and Preply on September 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Busuu or Preply?

Busuu currently peaks at #74 in the App Store charts, and Preply at #116. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*