# Babbel vs MTL Learn Russian

The clearest difference is monetization model: MTL Learn Russian at free with in-app purchases against Babbel's subscription. MTL Learn Russian also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 44%) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 17.0). Babbel's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (754K vs 93). On price, rating, 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 MTL Learn Russian sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Babbel against 4.8 for MTL Learn Russian. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 93, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Babbel's written reviews are positive against 64% of MTL Learn Russian's.

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, MTL Learn Russian every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Babbel | MTL Learn Russian |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (754K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759/reviews) | **[4.8 (93 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtl-learn-russian/id1447009943/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **754K** | 93 |
| Positive reviews | 43.7% of reviews | **63.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 14 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | — |
| Size | 263 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Babbel GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/357018535) | [Meta Language Pro SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1286836195) |

## What reviewers say

### Babbel

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

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Grossing · Education, #70 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


### MTL Learn Russian

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mtl-learn-russian/id1447009943)

This app offers a straightforward way to learn Russian, suitable for all skill levels. It's ideal for travelers and includes high-quality translations and offline access.

**Highlights:** High-quality Russian translations, Create favorite lists, Offline access, Suitable for beginners and advanced users, Ideal for travel

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Babbel free?

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

### Is MTL Learn Russian free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Babbel or MTL Learn Russian?

MTL Learn Russian is rated higher. Babbel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 754K ratings, while MTL Learn Russian averages 4.8 from 93 ratings.

### Do Babbel or MTL Learn Russian have ads?

Both Babbel and MTL Learn Russian show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Babbel or MTL Learn Russian?

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, and MTL Learn Russian every 14 months. Most recently, Babbel was updated on September 25, 2026 and MTL Learn Russian on September 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*