# Learn Russian (Hello vs Babbel

The clearest difference is rating: Babbel at 4.7 against Learn Russian (Hello's 4.2. Babbel also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (754K vs 12). Learn Russian (Hello's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Learn Russian (Hello sells 10 one-off in-app purchases 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.

Babbel holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Learn Russian (Hello's written reviews are positive against 44% of Babbel's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Learn Russian (Hello ships an update every 3 months, Babbel every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on June 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Learn Russian (Hello | Babbel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-russian-hello-hello/id426902605/reviews) | **[4.7 (754K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **754K** |
| Positive reviews | **64.7% of reviews** | 43.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#7** |
| Size | 147 MB | 263 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hello-Hello LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/371655433) | [Babbel GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/357018535) |

## What reviewers say

### Learn Russian (Hello

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-russian-hello-hello/id426902605)

Master Russian with a research-based methodology developed with language professionals. Engage in conversational lessons, build vocabulary with interactive flashcards, and practice pronunciation and writing. Learn offline, anytime, anywhere, with a user-friendly interface.

**Highlights:** Research-based methodology, 30 conversational lessons, Interactive flashcards, Pronunciation and writing practice, Offline learning, User-friendly interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lesson 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 4 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 5 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 6 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 11 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 12 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 24 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lesson 7 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Complete Course | $19.99 | one-time |


### Babbel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Education, #64 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mexican Spanish – 1-month plan | $17.99 | per month |
| Spanish 1 month | $17.99 | per month |
| French 1 month | $17.99 | per month |
| Italian 1 month | $17.99 | per month |
| Mexican Spanish - 1-month plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Mexican Spanish – 3-month plan | $45.99 | per 3 months |
| Learn French – 3-month plan | $45.99 | per 3 months |
| Learn Spanish – 3-month plan | $45.99 | per 3 months |
| All Languages – 3-month plan | $53.99 | per 3 months |
| Mexican Spanish – 1-year plan | $89.99 | per year |
| All Languages – 12-month plan | $107.99 | per year |
| All Languages – 12-month plan | $107.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Learn Russian (Hello free?

Learn Russian (Hello 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, Learn Russian (Hello or Babbel?

Babbel is rated higher. Learn Russian (Hello averages 4.2 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Babbel averages 4.7 from 754K ratings.

### Do Learn Russian (Hello or Babbel have ads?

Babbel shows ads; Learn Russian (Hello does not.

### Which is updated more often, Learn Russian (Hello or Babbel?

Learn Russian (Hello ships an update every 3 months, and Babbel every 4 days. Most recently, Learn Russian (Hello was updated on June 22, 2026 and Babbel on September 25, 2026.

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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.*