Comparison

Babbel vs French Learning for Beginners

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

French Learning for Beginners

Master everyday French with this app's beginner-friendly lessons, real-life dialogues, and instant speaking practice. It's designed to make learning natural, fast, and fun, whether for travel, study, or relocation.

Highlights
  • Beginner-friendly lessons
  • Instant speaking feedback
  • Smart review system
  • Real-life dialogues
  • Practical phrases
  • Offline conversations
Features
Read full description

If you are trying to learn French, this app will give you the opportunity to learn French effectively. French Learning for Beginners helps you master everyday French through friendly lessons, real-life dialogues, and instant speaking practice. Whether you’re traveling, studying, or starting a new life in France, this app makes learning natural, fast, and fun. Key Features: - Beginner-Friendly Lessons — Simple, clear explanations with examples anyone can understand. - Speaking Practice Made Easy — Speak freely, get instant and accurate feedback, and build confidence fast. - Smart Review System — Focus on what you need to improve most. - Real Conversations — Listen and speak with authentic dialogues based on real French life. - Practical Topics & Phrases — Learn what you’ll actually use, from greetings to everyday situations. You can also practice your French speaking and listening with offline French conversations by native speakers, designed for practicing daily French listening and speaking. These conversations in French were developed for novice, intermediate and advanced students and each dialogue includes both French and English translations. Start speaking French today — confidently, naturally, and faster than you thought possible. The best app to practice your French conversation. Try for yourself and start improving today! ==================

 Terms of Service: https://www.freeprivacypolicy.com/live/5cd1e0b8-5692-4ef9-b1d8-6a8092f5a185 Privacy: https://www.websitepolicies.com/policies/view/5yoF067W

Screenshots

Babbel4 screens
French Learning for Beginners4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: French Learning for Beginners at free with in-app purchases against Babbel's subscription. French Learning for Beginners also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Babbel's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (754K vs 965). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Babbel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and French Learning for Beginners sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 965, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 44% and 43% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, French Learning for Beginners every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Babbel versus French Learning for Beginners: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBabbelFrench Learning for Beginners
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (754K ratings) — better4.4 (965 ratings)
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews — better43.5% of reviews
Number of ratings754K — better965
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 6 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#7 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size263 MB33 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBabbel GmbHVinh Tran

Customer experience

Babbel

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

French Learning for Beginners

All ratings965 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral7.6%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive43.5%
Neutral13.0%
Negative43.5%

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

French Learning for Beginners

From 965 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤩 Awesome
  • 👍 Fun and easy

Room to improve

  • 🤬 Too many ads
  • 🐢 Audio is too fast for beginners
  • 🤯 Confusing and not useful for beginners

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

French Learning for Beginners

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Freezing and crashing issues
  • Spelling mistakes

Requested features

2 requests
  • Ability to slow down audio speed
  • More beginner-friendly content

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
4 purchases

French Learning for Beginners

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Premium$0.991 Month
  • 3-Month Premium$1.993 Months
  • 6-Month Premium$2.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • Annual Premium$3.991 Year

Questions

Is Babbel free?
Babbel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is French Learning for Beginners free?
French Learning for Beginners is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Babbel or French Learning for Beginners?
Babbel is rated higher. Babbel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 754K ratings, while French Learning for Beginners averages 4.4 from 965 ratings.
Do Babbel or French Learning for Beginners have ads?
Both Babbel and French Learning for Beginners show ads.
Which is updated more often, Babbel or French Learning for Beginners?
Babbel ships an update every 4 days, and French Learning for Beginners every 6 months. Most recently, Babbel was updated on September 24, 2026 and French Learning for Beginners on September 23, 2026.

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