Comparison

Babbel vs Idyoma

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

Head to head
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.

About

Idyoma

Connect with native speakers worldwide for authentic language practice. Engage in short conversation sessions, find pen pals, and join group chats to improve fluency and cultural understanding. Build confidence through real-world interactions.

Highlights
  • Connect with native speakers
  • Short conversation sessions
  • Pen Pal program
  • Group chats
  • Instant message translation
  • Customizable profile
  • Track progress
Features
Read full description

Open the Door to the World of Languages with Idyoma! Ready to start real conversation practice that actually makes you fluent? Step into Idyoma, the global language learning app that connects you with friendly native speakers and language partners around the world Whether you're learning Spanish, Korean, or any other foreign language, Idyoma helps you speak confidently like a local. Chat, practice speaking, and share cultures in a fun, authentic way — it's like having a personal Speaky Langmate right in your pocket! Speak, Connect, and Learn Take 6-minute Speaky Langmate sessions to practice conversation with real people Join our Pen Pal program to connect with long-term partners for deeper learning Say "Hi" to the world with the Hello World chat feature — meet American, Korean, Spanish, and global speakers! Build friendships and grow your confidence through authentic daily speaking Why Idyoma? Swipe to discover language learners nearby or worldwide Not a dating app — no rejection, just connection Choose up to 3 languages you speak and 3 you're learning Create a custom profile, add photos, and track your conversation progress Instantly translate messages from other users Join group chats, meet verified users, and explore local meetups Discover language exchange partners anywhere using "Worldwide" Login easily via Facebook or Email Support Independent Learning Idyoma is built by passionate language learners, not big investors It's free to download, and after a trial period, there's a small fee that helps cover our servers and maintenance — so we can keep improving your learning app experience You can choose from flexible monthly, 6-month, or yearly plans to continue initiating conversations and growing your fluency at your own pace. Extra Info Push notifications alert you to new messages and comments GPS helps find nearby users (may reduce battery life) Contact: info@idyoma.com Twitter / Facebook: @IdyomaApp Terms: idyoma.com/terms-of-service Privacy: idyoma.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Babbel4 screens
Idyoma4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Idyoma at free with in-app purchases against Babbel's subscription. Idyoma also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Babbel's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support 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. Babbel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and Idyoma sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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 235, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Babbel's written reviews are positive against 45% of Idyoma's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, Idyoma every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Babbel versus Idyoma: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBabbelIdyoma
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (754K ratings) — better4.2 (235 ratings)
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews45.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings754K — better235
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#11 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size263 MB98 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBabbel GmbHIdyoma, LLC

Customer experience

Babbel

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

Idyoma

All ratings235 ratings
Positive79.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative17.4%
Written reviews99 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral7.1%
Negative47.5%

User reviews

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

Idyoma

From 235 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
  • 💬 Effective language exchange with real speakers
  • 🤖 Helpful chatbot for building confidence
  • 🌍 Connects language learners worldwide
  • ✨ Modern, aesthetically pleasing design

Room to improve

  • 💰 Misleading free/paid model and hidden charges
  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and errors
  • 👥 Small user base and inactive community
  • 🚫 Poor safety features and harassment issues
  • ⚠️ Broken blocking and reporting functionality

Bugs and requests

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

Idyoma

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • App crashes on 'Get Started' button with error message
  • Unable to complete account creation/onboarding process
  • Login failures with Apple Account (expired token error)
  • Monthly conversation limit doesn't reset
  • Photo verification screen shows black screen
Show 11 more
  • Block and delete conversation feature broken
  • Blank profile accounts cannot be removed
  • App reinstalls automatically after deletion
  • Chat notifications missing or delayed
  • Slow message loading between conversations
  • Audio not working for Mandarin lessons
  • Multiple choice answers showing duplicate options (e.g., 'Food', 'Food A', 'Food B')
  • Stuck on welcome/onboarding screens indefinitely
  • Charged despite claiming free lifetime offer
  • Unable to restore purchases after phone reset
  • Keeps returning to first onboarding screen after purchase

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add more languages (Hebrew, Yiddish, Esperanto, Italian, Hindi, Thai, Bulgarian, etc.)
  • Advanced filtering by age, interests, location, and language proficiency
  • Online status indicator
  • Audio message functionality
  • Ability to search by country
Show 5 more
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved notification system
  • Better scammer/bot detection and verification
  • French language version of app
  • Allow users to add custom languages

In-app purchases

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
12 purchases

Idyoma

Subscriptions9
  • Weekly Premium Subscription$1.997 Days
  • Premium Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Premium Subscription$3.491 Month
Show 6 more
  • Weekly Premium Subscription$3.997 Days
  • Monthly Premium Subscription$6.991 Month
  • 6 Monthly Premium Subscription$19.996 Months
  • Yearly Premium Subscription$19.991 Year
  • 6-Monthly Premium Subscription$39.996 Months
  • Yearly Premium Subscription3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time3
  • ID Verification$4.99
  • Lifetime Premium Sub 50%$49.99
  • Lifetime Premium Subscription$99.99

Questions

Is Babbel free?
Babbel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Idyoma free?
Idyoma is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Babbel or Idyoma?
Babbel is rated higher. Babbel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 754K ratings, while Idyoma averages 4.2 from 235 ratings.
Do Babbel or Idyoma have ads?
Babbel shows ads; Idyoma does not.
Which is updated more often, Babbel or Idyoma?
Babbel ships an update every 4 days, and Idyoma every 4 weeks. Most recently, Babbel was updated on September 26, 2026 and Idyoma on September 24, 2026.

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