# Babbel vs Learn Spanish

The clearest difference is monetization model: Learn Spanish at free with in-app purchases against Babbel's subscription. Learn Spanish also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). Babbel's advantage is ratings volume (754K vs 1.6K) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Babbel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and Learn Spanish sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Babbel holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Babbel's written reviews are positive against 48% of Learn Spanish'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, Learn Spanish every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Babbel | Learn Spanish |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (754K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-spanish-learning-game/id1436857824/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **754K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | 43.7% of reviews | **48.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 263 MB | 223 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Babbel GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/357018535) | [Cognitico Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1410703460) |

## What reviewers say

### Babbel

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

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Education, #66 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


### Learn Spanish

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-spanish-learning-game/id1436857824)

Embark on an exciting language learning journey through Spanish-speaking countries. This app uses a unique game-based approach, combining educational principles with engaging mechanics to help you absorb words and grammar effectively. Practice listening, translation, and grammar skills in just a few minutes a day.

**Highlights:** Learn Spanish through a world trip game, Absorb words and grammar with language immersion, Improve listening comprehension and translation, Smart algorithm based on forgetting curve, Unlock new game modes and mechanics, Play anytime, anywhere with no restrictions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM access | $6.99 | per month |
| PREMIUM access, 3 days free | $7.99 | per month |
| PREMIUM access, 7 days free | $7.99 | per month |
| PREMIUM access | $18.99 | per year |
| PREMIUM access, 3 days free | $19.99 | per year |
| PREMIUM access, 85% off | $19.99 | per year |
| Handful of Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Special offer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Resume saving | $0.99 | one-time |
| Learner Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Wallet of Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Backpack of Coins | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and engaging game
- 📚 Helpful for learning vocabulary
- 🤩 Addictive and enjoyable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Aggressive monetization tactics
- 🔇 Sound issues and lack of audio
- 🤖 Robotic and unnatural voice

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to restore purchases and lost progress
- Inconsistent word translations and matching
- Freezing and crashing issues, especially at higher levels

**Requested features**

- More levels and content updates
- Better progress tracking and review options
- Improved customer support and communication


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Babbel free?

Babbel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Learn Spanish free?

Learn Spanish is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Babbel or Learn Spanish?

Babbel is rated higher. Babbel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 754K ratings, while Learn Spanish averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Babbel or Learn Spanish have ads?

Both Babbel and Learn Spanish show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Babbel or Learn Spanish?

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, and Learn Spanish every 9 days. Most recently, Babbel was updated on September 24, 2026 and Learn Spanish on September 23, 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.*