Comparison

Babbel vs Airlearn

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

Airlearn

Master over 25 languages with concise lessons, cultural insights, and practical dialogues. Engage in weekly leagues and track your progress to achieve fluency. Start learning for free today.

Highlights
  • Master 25+ languages
  • Concise grammar and vocabulary lessons
  • Rich cultural insights
  • Practical dialogues and real-life situations
  • Spaced repetition for memory retention
  • Weekly leagues and XP for motivation
  • Progress tracking with daily goals and streaks
Read full description

Master 40+ languages fast! Learn Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Turkish, Swedish + English fluency courses for Hindi, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese speakers. Start free today! OUR APPROACH • Learn First, Practice Next: We teach key grammar, vocabulary, and cultural context before you dive into quizzes. Gain real understanding instead of guessing. • Rich Cultural Insights: Explore history, customs, and local expressions. Language is more than words - Airlearn helps you appreciate its cultural essence. • Clean & Minimalist: No overblown gamification or cluttered screens. Lessons stay focused, so you can learn at your own pace without distractions. • Weekly Leagues & XP: Motivate yourself by competing with others studying the same language. Earn XP from each lesson and climb the leaderboard for extra fun. WHY AIRLEARN • Concise Lessons: Each module covers grammar rules, vocabulary, and examples in bite-sized slides. • Practical Dialogues: From casual greetings to deeper conversations, practice relevant situations. • Spaced Repetition: Lock new words into long-term memory with our smart revision approach. • Track Progress: Daily goals, streaks, and achievements keep your momentum alive. • Community Feel: Join like-minded learners, share study tips, and celebrate mutual achievements. DIVE INTO 12 LANGUAGES 1. Spanish: Vibrant dialogues for travel, work, or fun. 2. German: Master precise grammar for Europe’s economic hub. 3. French: Absorb its romantic flair and cultural legacy. 4. Italian: Savor the melodic flow and culinary charm. 5. Dutch: Expand career options in a globalized world. 6. Portuguese: Explore Brazil’s rich diversity or Portugal’s historic roots. 7. Japanese: Conquer kanji, hiragana, and katakana with confidence. 8. Korean: Learn Hangeul, K-pop phrases, and daily expressions. 9. Chinese: Build listening and reading skills in one of the world’s most spoken tongues. 10. Hindi: Unlock India’s cultural treasure, cinema, and business potential. 11. English: Hone global communication for travel, work, or personal growth. 12. Russian: Tackle Cyrillic and immerse in a language of literary tradition. HOW IT WORKS 1. Install Airlearn: Begin with the basics or jump into advanced modules anytime. 2. Learn: Study essential grammar and vocabulary in short, clear lessons. 3. Practice: Tackle engaging quizzes and drills to reinforce your knowledge. 4. Compete: Earn XP and measure your progress in our fun Weekly League. 5. Flourish: Speak, read, and write with newfound fluency and cultural understanding. WHAT SETS US APART • Genuine Learning: We prioritize understanding over memorization. • All Levels Welcome: From novices to pros, our modules adapt to you. • Regular Updates: New lessons and features keep it fresh. • Lifestyle Friendly: Learn anytime - during breaks, commutes, or weekends. GET STARTED FOR FREE Airlearn transforms language study into an immersive experience. Whether you’re planning a trip, boosting your résumé, or simply curious about global cultures, we’ll guide you step by step. Enjoy short lessons that fit smoothly into your day, gather XP, and watch your language skills skyrocket. Join thousands of motivated learners worldwide. Download Airlearn now for Spanish, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, English, or Russian. Experience the spark of real progress, gain cultural know-how, and feel the thrill of community-powered learning. Go beyond translations - master languages in a way that truly sticks. With Airlearn, you’ll open doors to new friendships, opportunities, and an expanded worldview. Welcome to your next adventure in language mastery!

Screenshots

Babbel4 screens
Airlearn4 screens

Verdict

The call

Babbel and Airlearn both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of Airlearn's written reviews are positive against 44% of Babbel's. Airlearn also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). Babbel's advantage is ratings volume (754K vs 46K) and chart position (#8 vs #146). On price, rating, update cadence 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 Airlearn sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Babbel against 4.8 for Airlearn. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Babbel has 754K ratings behind it against 46K, 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 82% of Airlearn's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Babbel versus Airlearn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBabbelAirlearn
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (754K ratings)4.8 (46K ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews81.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings754K — better46K
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 4 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#8 — better#146
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size263 MB594 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBabbel GmbHUNACADEMY INC

Customer experience

Babbel

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

Airlearn

All ratings46,204 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews4,374 reviews
Positive81.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative11.0%

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

Airlearn

From 46K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use and learn
  • 🚀 Effective language learning
  • 💡 Explains grammar and culture
  • 🎨 Beautiful art and visuals
  • 🗣️ Good pronunciation practice

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Limited free lessons per day
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 📚 Lacks more language options
  • 🔍 Needs better review/progress tracking

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

Airlearn

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Lessons getting stuck on certain questions
  • Words/sentences not registering correctly
  • App freezing or crashing after completing lessons

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more languages like Korean, Portuguese, Italian
  • Implement spaced repetition for better vocabulary retention
  • Allow users to toggle romaji/kana display for Japanese
  • Add placement tests to determine starting level

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
15 purchases

Airlearn

Subscriptions14
  • Pay monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pay monthly (7 days free)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Monthly plan$4.991 Month
Show 11 more
  • Pay 6 months (14 days free)14 Days trial$24.996 Months
  • Pay 6 months (14 days free)14 Days trial$29.996 Months
  • Pay for 1 year$39.991 Year
  • Pay yearly (14 days free)14 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Annual Plan$39.991 Year
  • Pay yearly (14 days free)14 Days trial2 variants$47.991 Year
  • Airlearn Pro - Family Plan14 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Airlearn Pro - Family Plan$49.991 Year
  • Pay yearly (14 days free)14 Days trial$74.991 Year
  • Annual Plan$79.991 Year
  • Pay yearly (7 days free)7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pay for 5,000 coins$1.99

Questions

Is Babbel free?
Babbel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Airlearn free?
Airlearn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Babbel or Airlearn?
Airlearn is rated higher. Babbel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 754K ratings, while Airlearn averages 4.8 from 46K ratings.
Do Babbel or Airlearn have ads?
Babbel shows ads; Airlearn does not.
Which is updated more often, Babbel or Airlearn?
Babbel ships an update every 4 days, and Airlearn every 4 days. Most recently, Babbel was updated on September 25, 2026 and Airlearn on September 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, Babbel or Airlearn?
Babbel currently peaks at #8 in the App Store charts, and Airlearn at #146. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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