Comparison

Babbel vs SAYA

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

SAYA

This app offers a fun and simple way to learn English and Japanese with video lessons, practice exercises, and interactive features. Improve your speaking skills with live classes and master new languages through bite-sized content and flashcards.

Highlights
  • Video lessons for all levels
  • Bite-sized videos
  • Micro reading lessons
  • Flashcards
  • Level tests
  • Character writing practice
  • Live and conversational classes
Read full description

SAYA helps people in Myanmar to learn English and Japanese in a simple and fun way.  The app offers video lessons with practice for all levels, plus extra features like bite-sized videos, micro reading lessons, flashcards, level tests, and character writing practice for Japanese.  You can also join live and conversational classes to improve speaking skills. Every lesson is easy to follow, with fun practice to help you learn better. ---- Download SAYA application now ----

Screenshots

Babbel4 screens
SAYA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: SAYA at free with in-app purchases against Babbel's subscription. SAYA also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (62% vs 44%). Babbel's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (754K vs 1.2K). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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 SAYA sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. 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 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Babbel's written reviews are positive against 62% of SAYA's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Babbel ships an update every 4 days, SAYA every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Babbel versus SAYA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBabbelSAYA
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (754K ratings) — better4.5 (1.2K ratings)
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews61.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings754K — better1.2K
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#9 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size263 MB345 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBabbel GmbHPhyo Aung Kyaw

Customer experience

Babbel

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

SAYA

All ratings1,234 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral8.8%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive61.9%
Neutral4.8%
Negative33.3%

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

SAYA

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Listening experience
  • 👍 Beautiful UI
  • 👍 Nice app
  • 👍 Valuable app
  • 👍 Fun and great supplement to English class

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Units video not working
  • 🐛 Cannot load video lessons
  • 🐛 Level test not working
  • 🐛 App not working on Mac
  • 🚫 No free trial

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

SAYA

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Units video not working
  • Cannot load video lessons
  • Level test not working
  • App not working on Mac

Requested features

2 requests
  • Add US phone number option
  • Improve level test functionality

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
12 purchases

SAYA

One-time12
  • 6 Months$12.00
  • 3 Months$14.00
  • 1 Year$18.00
Show 9 more
  • 6 Months$21.00
  • 3 Months$21.00
  • 1 Years and 6 Months$25.00
  • 2 Years$30.00
  • 6 Months$30.00
  • 1 Year$34.00
  • 1 Year$48.00
  • 2 Years$51.00
  • 2 Years$79.00

Questions

Is Babbel free?
Babbel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SAYA free?
SAYA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Babbel or SAYA?
Babbel is rated higher. Babbel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 754K ratings, while SAYA averages 4.5 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Babbel or SAYA have ads?
Babbel shows ads; SAYA does not.
Which is updated more often, Babbel or SAYA?
Babbel ships an update every 4 days, and SAYA every 5 weeks. Most recently, Babbel was updated on September 24, 2026 and SAYA on September 2, 2026.

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