# Babbel vs Idyoma

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.

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.

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 240, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Babbel's written reviews are positive against 47% of Idyoma's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, Idyoma every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Babbel | Idyoma |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (754K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759/reviews)** | [4.2 (240 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idyoma-language-exchange-app/id1236608549/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **754K** | 240 |
| Positive reviews | 43.7% of reviews | **46.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | — |
| Size | 263 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Babbel GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/357018535) | [Idyoma, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039636716) |

## What reviewers say

### Babbel

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

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Grossing · Education, #59 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


### Idyoma

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idyoma-language-exchange-app/id1236608549)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $3.49 | per month |
| Weekly Premium Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| 6 Monthly Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| 6-Monthly Premium Subscription | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| ID Verification | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Sub 50% | $49.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Subscription | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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 240 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 27, 2026 and Idyoma on September 26, 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.*