Comparison

Busuu vs Lingualeo

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

Head to head
About

Busuu

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
Read full description

Busuu helps you communicate with confidence from day one. Combine expertly designed language lessons with feedback and tips from our global community of native speakers and harness the power of learning together. Looking for the best way to learn a new language on your phone? You’ve just discovered it, with Busuu, a Chegg service – we’re the app that makes learning new languages easier, more fun and more effective for all. Whether you’re learning to get confident having new conversations, for a higher grade, a career boost, or for mind-blowing travel experiences, Busuu’s got your back. We’re already helping millions of people overcome their learning struggles, from lack of time and motivation to problems with grammar and vocab. We help our learners achieve their goals, one milestone at a time – and we want to do the same for you. DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW FOR FREE LANGUAGE LEARNING ================ How are we doing this? We’re glad you asked. Whether you’re learning on your iPad or iPhone, Busuu helps you… – Learn up to 14 languages That’s right, 14! We’ve got complete courses in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Polish, Russian, Arabic, Dutch or Turkish with Busuu. – Master languages with real people You want to learn the relevant language, right? You’re in luck: we’ll connect you with our community of native speakers so you can get localized language knowledge and support. Feel even better when you help other learners in return. – Learn from the experts Busuu’s online courses are created by our ingenious language experts. Learn step-by-step with bite-sized lessons, plenty of practice and lots of opportunities to test your progress. – Say hello to useful language skills Learn the language that will really take you places! With regularly updated content, video flashcards featuring real people and useful cultural tips, you’ll be fully immersed in no time. – Kiss goodbye to stressful timetabling We’re serious. We organize your learning time for you with a personalized Study Plan. Simply tell us when you want to study and for how long, and we’ll send you notifications to keep you on track. – Revise with ease There’ll be no forgetting on our watch. Smart Review cleverly saves all the grammar and vocab you learn in lessons and stores them in one handy place, so you can make those tricky words and rules stick. – Show off achievements with official certificates With our Busuu language certificates, you’ll have actual proof of your language capabilities. – Access specialized courses for language lovers You’ve learned the basics, and now you’re hungry for more. Learn about manga, advance your pronunciation or add travel-specific phrases to your skillset, plus much more. ================ DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. See what others have to say about Busuu: ● EDITOR RATING: EXCELLENT - PC MAG ● Named 'Best Buy' language learning app by the Independent in 2021 ● Language Learning App of the Year at the EdTech Breakthrough Awards 2020 ================ PLEASE NOTE A lot of the features are free, but you will need a subscription in order to get access to all features of this app. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current payment period. Your iTunes account will be automatically charged at the same price for renewal within the 24-hour period prior to the end of the current payment period unless you change your subscription preferences in your Account Settings. You can manage your subscriptions through your Account Settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://www.busuu.com/en/privacy/ Terms of Service: https://www.busuu.com/en/terms/

About

Lingualeo

This app offers a fun and effective way to learn multiple languages through interactive lessons, AI-powered exercises, and personalized recommendations. Practice speaking with an AI buddy, track your progress, and learn at your own pace with engaging content.

Highlights
  • Interactive lessons and exercises
  • AI-powered personal language practice buddy
  • Thematic and grammar courses
  • Gamified learning with mini-games
  • Personalized progress tracking
  • Flexible learning for all levels
Features
Read full description

More than 23 million learners worldwide use Lingualeo! Lingualeo is the ultimate language-learning app — making learning English, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese and more languages fun, interactive, and effective. You get personalized recommendations, exercises, and vocabulary suggestions tailored perfectly to your level. Whether you want to improve reading, speaking, writing, or listening skills, Lingualeo provides all the tools you need to reach your goals. Why Lingualeo Stands Out: 1. Interactive Lessons and Exercises Read books, watch videos, and explore articles in their original language. Tap unknown words to translate and save them — expand your vocabulary naturally and in context. Our AI also helps you find content that matches your current level. 2. Leo Chat — your personal language practice buddy Discuss any topic. Easy translate and save new words. The chat actively uses words from your dictionary in conversations, so you can memorize them faster and learn to use fluently in practice. 3. Thematic and Grammar Courses Learn with engaging clips, dialogues, and scenes from popular content. Improve your pronunciation, listening, and speaking skills with dynamically adaptive AI-powered exercises. 4. Games and Challenges Play interactive mini-games, test your skills, and compete with other learners. Gamified exercises make learning fun and highly effective. 5. Personalized Progress Tracking Track your progress in writing, listening, speaking, and vocabulary. Focus on the skills that matter most to you. Leo shows your achievements and suggests the best next steps. 6. Flexible Learning Learn anytime, anywhere — even 5 minutes a day makes a difference. Lingualeo adapts to your level and pace, making it perfect for both kids and adults. Join millions of learners worldwide and turn language learning into an exciting adventure — develop new skills, explore cultures, and learn with fun thanks to Lingualeo! Lingualeo Premium If you choose to subscribe to Lingualeo Premium, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and the subscription will automatically renew within 24 hours before the end of the current period. Auto-renewal can be turned off at any time in your iTunes Store settings. Any unused portion of a free trial — if offered — will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://lingualeo.com/ru/blog/privacy-policy-en/ Terms of Use: https://lingualeo.com/en/blog/terms-of-use-en/

Screenshots

Busuu4 screens
Lingualeo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Lingualeo at none against Busuu's shown. Lingualeo also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Busuu's advantage is ratings volume (101K vs 753) and chart position (#85 vs unranked). 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. Busuu sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Lingualeo sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 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 Busuu against 4.6 for Lingualeo. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Busuu has 101K ratings behind it against 753, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Busuu's written reviews are positive against 74% of Lingualeo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Busuu ships an update weekly, Lingualeo every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Busuu versus Lingualeo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBusuuLingualeo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (101K ratings) — better4.6 (753 ratings)
Positive reviews85.4% of reviews — better74.2% of reviews
Number of ratings101K — better753
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 10 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#85 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size267 MB444 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBusuu LimitedLinguaLeo

Customer experience

Busuu

All ratings100,718 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews5,376 reviews
Positive85.4%
Neutral5.8%
Negative8.8%

Lingualeo

All ratings753 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral1.7%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews275 reviews
Positive74.2%
Neutral6.2%
Negative19.6%

User reviews

Busuu

From 101K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Lingualeo

From 753 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app for learning English
  • 👍 Effective for improving vocabulary and grammar
  • 🌟 Helpful for self-study
  • 💡 Useful features like personal dictionary and training exercises

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs with audio and login issues
  • 💰 Concerns about premium subscription activation and billing
  • 🔍 Outdated or limited content for advanced learners
  • 🔧 Frustrations with app updates and changes

Bugs and requests

Busuu

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect or missing translations
  • Inconsistent lesson progress tracking
  • Bugs with voice recognition and feedback

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Lingualeo

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Network errors and login problems
  • Issues with vocabulary addition and training
  • Inconsistent performance and crashes
  • Incorrect translations and grammar exercises

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add progress tracking and training history
  • Improve pronunciation and audio quality
  • Expand content and courses for advanced language levels
  • Enhance user interface and customization options

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Busuu

Subscriptions9
  • Monthly Subscription$6.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Premium Plan$23.491 Month
Show 6 more
  • 12 Months Premium$70.001 Year
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • 14 Day Trial - Premium Plus14 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • 12 Months' Premium7 Days trial$138.991 Year
  • 12 Months Premium7 Days trial2 variants$138.991 Year
  • 12 Months Premium Plus7 Days trial2 variants$139.991 Year
18 purchases

Lingualeo

Subscriptions15
  • Premium L 1m$6.991 Month
  • Premium L trl 1m7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Premium S 1m$6.991 Month
Show 12 more
  • Lingualeo Premium$7.991 Month
  • Lingualeo Premium 1 Month7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Lingualeo Premium 2021.1 1m$9.991 Month
  • Premium M 1m$9.991 Month
  • Premium 3 Months + 7-day trial7 Days trial$9.993 Months
  • Premium 1 months7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Lingualeo Premium 12 Months$11.991 Year
  • Premium 12m$13.991 Year
  • Premium 12 Months + 7d trial7 Days trial$35.991 Year
  • Premium 12m 30%7 Days trial$37.991 Year
  • Premium 12 Months + 7d trial7 Days trial$44.991 Year
  • Premium 12 Month + 7-day trial7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • 12m Lingualeo Premium$12.99
  • Lingualeo Premium for 12 month$25.99
  • Lingualeo Premium for 12 months$54.99

Questions

Is Busuu free?
Busuu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lingualeo free?
Lingualeo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Busuu or Lingualeo?
Busuu is rated higher. Busuu averages 4.7 out of 5 from 101K ratings, while Lingualeo averages 4.6 from 753 ratings.
Do Busuu or Lingualeo have ads?
Busuu shows ads; Lingualeo does not.
Which is updated more often, Busuu or Lingualeo?
Busuu ships an update weekly, and Lingualeo every 10 days. Most recently, Busuu was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lingualeo on September 23, 2026.

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