Hand Talk vs Babbel
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hand Talk
Learn and practice American, Brazilian, and British Sign Language with virtual translators. Translate text or voice into signs, access a dictionary of thousands of signs, and practice through interactive characters. Offers offline access and customizable features.
- Text and voice translation to sign language
- Learn ASL, Libras, and BSL
- Virtual translators Hugo and Maya
- Offline dictionary with thousands of signs
- 360-degree sign viewing
- Customizable translation speed
- Educational videos
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Practice Sign Language in a fun and free way with Hugo and Maya, our virtual translators, through the Hand Talk App, elected by the UN as the best social app in the world! Developed by experts, the app not only works as a pocket dictionary, but also helps you learn and practice Libras (Brazilian Sign Language), ASL (American Sign Language), and BSL (British Sign Language), whether to communicate with those you love, to connect with deaf people in your daily life, to reinforce your vocabulary, or to develop in a new language. Why use the Hand Talk App? Translate text or voice into Sign Languages anywhere and anytime, for free. Practice Libras, ASL, and BSL in a fun and efficient way, with the support of characters designed to facilitate your learning. Consult thousands of signs to expand your vocabulary, even offline, through updated dictionaries and educational videos. Translations are performed automatically through artificial intelligence, trained with more than 38,000 words validated by specialists. Personalize your experience and adapt the app to your needs! Adjust the translation speed, view the signs in 360 degrees, consult your history, create a favorites list, and customize Hugo and Maya with exclusive items! If you like the Hand Talk App, try becoming a subscriber! Practice Libras, ASL, and BSL without ads, translate text contained in images, earn coins, and get exclusive access to new features. In addition, you also support our mission to keep education free for thousands of people! Download now and start learning a new language today! Hugo and Maya are already super excited to meet you! Frequently Asked Questions: Who is the app recommended for? The app can be used by anyone interested in learning and practicing Libras, ASL, or BSL in an effective and fun way! What are the available languages? Hugo and Maya master Libras, ASL, and BSL! They translate content searched in Portuguese into Brazilian Sign Language and in English into American Sign Language. To access the ASL version of the app, just click on the arrow next to the Brazilian flag in the lower-left corner and select the ASL option, identified by the design of the United States flag. To access BSL, select the British flag. How to use the Hand Talk App? Using the Hand Talk App is super easy. On the home screen, you can already perform your translations, just type or record an audio with the words you want to consult, send it, and right after, Hugo or Maya will perform the translation of your sentence into Sign Language. You can also explore other functions of the app in the menu at the bottom of the screen, such as the Dictionary, which groups signs within the same context for you to consult, the Store to customize the Hand Talk App as you prefer, and the Education section, which contains our series of educational videos #HugoTeaches. Follow Hand Talk: Website: https://www.handtalk.me/en/ Blog: https://www.handtalk.me/en/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handtalkapp/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hand-talk/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HandTalkTV/videos Do you have any suggestions to improve the app? Send them to us! Access your profile by clicking on Account, go to the Suggestions area, and send us yours. Privacy Policy: https://suporte.handtalk.me/kb/article/240748/politica-de-privacidade?menuId=25979-69987-240748&ticketId=&q= Terms of Use: https://suporte.handtalk.me/kb/article/240749/termos-de-uso?menuId=25979-69987-240749&ticketId=&q
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.
- Bite-sized lessons
- Expert-built courses
- Interactive conversation practice
- Smart review system
- Grammar in context
- Offline mode
- Learn 14 languages
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Babbel at 4.7 against Hand Talk's 4.1. Babbel also leads on ratings volume (754K vs 846) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). Hand Talk's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ads 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
Both are free to download. Hand Talk sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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.
Babbel holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 846, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 44% and 44% positive.
Hand Talk ships an update fortnightly, Babbel every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.
| Parameter | Hand Talk | Babbel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (846 ratings) | 4.7 (754K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 44.3% of reviews — better | 43.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 846 | 754K — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #12 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 263 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Hand Talk Servicos Ltda | Babbel GmbH |
Customer experience
Hand Talk
Babbel
User reviews
Hand Talk
From 846 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helpful for learning sign language
- 🚀 Great for communication
- 💡 Customizable avatar
- 👍 Useful for working with special needs children/adults
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Inaccurate sign language translations
- 🐛 Lacks diversity in sign language models
- 🐛 Outdated and incorrect signs
- 🐛 Slow performance and lag
Babbel
From 754K App Store ratingsWhat 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
Hand Talk
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes on launch
- Translations not working correctly
- Inability to open or use the app
- Incorrect sign language representations
Requested features
6 requests- Add more sign language options (e.g. BSL, SSL)
- Improve sign language accuracy and grammar
- Allow pasting text for translation
- Provide visual cues for sign language
- Offer free trial for subscription
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- Improve overall stability and performance
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
Hand Talk
- Premium(1 month)$4.991 Month
- Premium (1 Year)$44.991 Year
- 10 HTCoins$2.99
- 30 HTCoins$7.99
- 50 HTCoins$12.99
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- 100 HTCoins$24.99
- 200 HTCoins$39.99
Babbel
- Mexican Spanish – 1-month plan$17.991 Month
- Spanish 1 month$17.991 Month
- French 1 month$17.991 Month
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- 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 Hand Talk free?
Is Babbel free?
Which has better reviews, Hand Talk or Babbel?
Do Hand Talk or Babbel have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hand Talk or Babbel?
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