Alternatives to Busuu
Courses with community corrections
Busuu ranks #2 of 10 in Language learning apps, with an Alt Score of 73. It is proprietary, freemium from $70/year (~$5.83/month) and available on Web, iOS and Android. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Adult self-learners who want to build real proficiency in a new language at their own pace, from complete beginners to advanced speakers, including teams using Busuu for Business.
Structured, expert-designed courses covering speaking, listening, reading, and writing in short daily lessons. AI-powered tools support conversation practice, personalized study plans, and grammar feedback. A global community of native speakers reviews your writing and speaking exercises and offers corrections. Progress tracking and certified assessments (e.g., McGraw Hill) mark advancement through proficiency levels.
Pick a target language and level, work through bite-sized lessons and exercises, then submit speaking and writing tasks for review by native-speaker community members (and AI tools) who give corrections and feedback you can act on.
Where Busuu stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Busuu
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Language learning apps checklist (14 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Language learning apps checklist | Busuu | Babbel | Duolingo | LingQ | Rosetta Stone | Clozemaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Languages count | ||||||
| Speaking practice | ||||||
| Grammar explanations | ||||||
| Offline lessons | ||||||
| Live tutoring | ||||||
| Free tier limits | ||||||
| Placement tests | ||||||
| Spaced repetition | ||||||
| Kids mode | ||||||
| One-time purchase option |
Every fact and feature listed for Busuu is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Starts at $70/year (~$5.83/month) verified 2026-07-11
12 Months Premium $70.00
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/busuu-language-learning/id379968583 -
Platforms Web, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
Offline mode is a Premium feature which is available in our iOS and Android apps
https://www.busuu.com/en/how-to/offline-mode -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
The Service and the Premium Services are owned and operated by Busuu Limited, registered in England and Wales under company number 08172044 and with its registered office at 5th Floor, Business Cube,
https://www.busuu.com/en/terms -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-11
A lot of the features are free, but you will need a subscription in order to get access to all features of this app.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/busuu-language-learning/id379968583 -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
NEW FEATURE: Speak confidently with Busuu Conversations
https://blog.busuu.com/new-conversations-release/ -
Languages count Yes verified 2026-07-11
Learn up to 14 languages
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/busuu-language-learning/id379968583 -
Speaking practice Yes verified 2026-07-11
launching our ground-breaking new feature to give you 360° of speaking support
https://blog.busuu.com/new-conversations-release/ -
Grammar explanations Yes verified 2026-07-11
this Premium-only tool offers bonus exercises, explanations and tips for each grammar topic
https://blog.busuu.com/grammar-review-web-release/ -
Offline lessons Partial verified 2026-07-11
Offline mode is a Premium feature which is available in our iOS and Android apps
https://www.busuu.com/en/how-to/offline-mode -
Live tutoring Partial verified 2026-07-11
get feedback from people in the Community who already know that language
https://www.busuu.com/en/how-to/corrections -
Free tier limits Yes verified 2026-07-11
A lot of the features are free, but you will need a subscription in order to get access to all features of this app.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/busuu-language-learning/id379968583 -
Placement tests Yes verified 2026-07-11
Test your vocabulary, grammar, listening, and reading skills. Test all of these essential skills in one, easy-to-complete 5-minute test.
https://www.busuu.com/en/english/placement-test -
Spaced repetition Yes verified 2026-07-11
Smart Review uses spaced repetition to help you remember grammar and vocabulary. The AI knows what words and grammar you struggle with.
https://www.busuu.com/en/languages/spaced-repetition -
Kids mode No verified 2026-07-11
Busuu launched Keep Kids Learning in 2020 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as an initiative to help support students and parents affected by worldwide school closures.
https://www.busuu.com/en/keep-kids-learning -
One-time purchase option No verified 2026-07-11
Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current payment period.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/busuu-language-learning/id379968583
FAQ
Yes. Duolingo, LingQ and Clozemaster have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.