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App comparisons

Babbel vs Duolingo for Italian learners

  • Score: Babbel 7, Duolingo 5.
  • Pricing: Babbel 13.95 US$, Duolingo 12.00 US$.
  • Platforms: Babbel Web, iOS, Android; Duolingo Web, iOS, Android.

Decision

Score

Babbel
Better here
7
Duolingo
5

Pricing

Babbel
Monthly: 13.95 US$; Free trial: Not available
Duolingo
Better here
Monthly: 12.00 US$; Free trial: Available; Credit card needed; 14 days

Best suited for

Babbel
Beginners to intermediate learners seeking an Italian course with structured grammar and vocabulary practice.
Duolingo
Beginners looking to practice Italian vocabulary and grammar in a very gamified environment.

Pros

Babbel
Elegant and organized design, Integrated grammar explanations, Live classes available
Duolingo
Fun and engaging design, Intuitive website navigation, Effective spaced repetition

Details

  • Babbel scores 7/10; strongest area: User experience, weakest area: Course quality.
  • Best suited for: Beginners to intermediate learners seeking an Italian course with structured grammar and vocabulary practice.
  • Main upside: Elegant and organized design; main tradeoff: Limited focus on speaking exercises.

Made by: Babbel GmbH

  • Duolingo scores 5/10; strongest area: User experience, weakest area: Course quality.
  • Best suited for: Beginners looking to practice Italian vocabulary and grammar in a very gamified environment.
  • Main upside: Fun and engaging design; main tradeoff: Limited speaking exercises.

Made by: Duolingo, Inc.

Babbel

Pros

  • Elegant and organized design
  • Integrated grammar explanations
  • Live classes available
  • Customizable review options

Cons

  • Limited focus on speaking exercises
  • Speech recognition issues
  • Live classes feel like an extra service

Duolingo

Pros

  • Fun and engaging design
  • Intuitive website navigation
  • Effective spaced repetition
  • Motivating achievements

Cons

  • Limited speaking exercises
  • Restricted lesson navigation
  • Overemphasis on translation

Features