Comparison

Babbel vs Hilokal

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

Hilokal

Learn languages like Korean and English with an AI tutor and a global community of learners. Practice speaking, writing, and listening with real-time feedback and interactive tools. Engage in themed chats and games to make learning fun and practical.

Highlights
  • AI-powered language tutoring
  • Real-time grammar and pronunciation correction
  • Interactive transcripts with AI insights
  • Word tracking and pronunciation analysis
  • Global language exchange community
  • Themed chat rooms and language games
  • Community-led learning sessions
Features
Read full description

Learn a new language like Korean or English with Hilokal—your AI language tutor paired with the opportunity to practice with an active community of 1.5 million real language learners worldwide. Whether you’re advancing your career, planning your next adventure, or diving into K-pop and international cinema, Hilokal combines the power of AI tutoring with authentic human interaction to make language learning practical, educational, and fun. ▶ AI-Powered Language Tutoring ◀ [Goguma: Your Advanced AI Tutor] • Practice speaking, writing, and listening in 26 languages, including English and Korean, with our low-latency, GPT-4o powered AI tutor that provides real-time text and audio conversations. [Real-Time Language Mastery] • Receive immediate corrections on grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, ensuring you sound like a local and grasp nuanced expressions. ▶ Learning Tools ◀ [Interactive Transcripts with Insights] • Record your learning sessions to get text and audio transcripts; analyze your pronunciation with heat maps and leverage AI insights for targeted improvement. [Word Tracking & Analysis] • Monitor every word you speak, analyze pronunciation accuracy, and review your speaking speed. [Performance Leaderboards] • Compare your language progress with others on a weekly leaderboard to motivate and enhance your learning experience. ▶ Community-Driven Language Practice ◀ [Language Exchange] • Connect with over 1.5 million users learners worldwide, practicing and refining your language skills through real conversations. [Interactive Language Games & Themed Chats] • Engage in fun games and themed chats about popular topics like K-pop, travel, or international cinema, enhancing your language skills in a context you love. [Community-Led Sessions] • Participate in sessions led by experienced speakers and tailored to all skill levels—from beginners to advanced learners. [Instant Audio Chat Rooms] • Jump into audio chat rooms at any time, perfect for spontaneous practice sessions with native speakers and fellow language enthusiasts. ▶ Subscription Options ◀ [Access Full Features with Subscription] • Start with a 7-day free trial and continue your language learning journey with our Premium Plus subscription for full access to AI features and community interactions. [Exclusive Subscriber Benefits] • Enjoy advanced learning materials, detailed analytics, and personalized feedback to accelerate your path to language proficiency. Hilokal isn’t just an app—it’s your gateway to global fluency. Embrace a new language with tools designed for young adults seeking career growth, cultural immersion, and personal connections. Join Hilokal today and start speaking like a native! For more information and support, visit https://www.hilokal.com/. To see Terms of Service: https://www.hilokal.com/en/app/terms.html

Screenshots

Babbel4 screens
Hilokal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Hilokal at freemium against Babbel's subscription. Hilokal also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Babbel's advantage is ratings volume (754K vs 768) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). 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 Hilokal sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 768, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 44% and 45% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, Hilokal every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Babbel versus Hilokal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBabbelHilokal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (754K ratings) — better4.4 (768 ratings)
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews44.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings754K — better768
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
Best chart rank#8 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size263 MB219 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperBabbel GmbHHilokal

Customer experience

Babbel

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

Hilokal

All ratings768 ratings
Positive82.3%
Neutral7.0%
Negative10.7%
Written reviews168 reviews
Positive44.6%
Neutral10.1%
Negative45.2%

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

Hilokal

From 768 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent for language exchange and practice
  • 👍 Diverse community of users from around the world
  • 🌟 Helpful and knowledgeable teachers/tutors
  • 💡 Innovative features like AI tutor and role-playing
  • 🤝 Great for making new friends and cultural exchange

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent bugs, crashes, and connection issues
  • 🔊 Volume control problems, echo, and audio distortion
  • 🤖 Inconsistent performance of AI tutor feature
  • 🔒 Weak security and moderation, allowing harassment
  • 💰 Expensive subscription, lack of affordable options

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

Hilokal

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inability to log in or create account
  • Sudden loss of audio/voice functionality
  • Incompatibility with older iOS/Android devices
  • Disappearing user profiles and conversation history
  • Inconsistent performance after recent app updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow selecting multiple target languages
  • Add option to save/review conversation transcripts
  • Implement better filtering and search for tables
  • Improve moderation system to address harassment
  • Provide more affordable subscription plans

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
26 purchases

Hilokal

Subscriptions14
  • Hilokal Premium$2.991 Month
  • Hilokal Premium$4.991 Month
  • Hilokal Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
Show 11 more
  • Premium Plus 1 month$10.991 Month
  • Premium Plus 1 month7 Days trial$10.991 Month
  • Premium Plus 1 month$19.991 Month
  • Premium Plus 1 month7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Hilokal Premium 1 year$24.991 Year
  • Hilokal Premium7 Days trial$24.996 Months
  • Hilokal Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium Plus 6 months7 Days trial$41.996 Months
  • Premium Plus 12 months7 Days trial$64.991 Year
  • Premium Plus 12 months$73.001 Year
  • Premium Plus 12 months7 Days trial$73.001 Year
One-time12
  • Hilokal 140 Beans$1.99
  • Hilokal Premium bundle 1$2.99
  • Hilokal Premium(1mo) Gift Card$4.99
Show 9 more
  • Hilokal 500 Beans$6.99
  • Premium Plus bundle 1$10.99
  • Premium Plus bundle 1$11.49
  • Hilokal 1500 Beans$18.99
  • Hilokal Premium bundle 5$24.99
  • Premium Plus bundle 3$37.00
  • Hilokal Premium(1yr) Gift Card$39.99
  • Hilokal 5000 Beans$64.99
  • Premium Plus bundle 10$110.99

Questions

Is Babbel free?
Babbel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hilokal free?
Hilokal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Babbel or Hilokal?
Babbel is rated higher. Babbel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 754K ratings, while Hilokal averages 4.4 from 768 ratings.
Do Babbel or Hilokal have ads?
Both Babbel and Hilokal show ads.
Which is updated more often, Babbel or Hilokal?
Babbel ships an update every 4 days, and Hilokal every 9 days. Most recently, Babbel was updated on September 24, 2026 and Hilokal on September 4, 2026.

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