Babbel German Review: Can It Take You from Beginner to Bilingual? 

Can the foreign language app Babbel take you from beginner to bilingual? Read on to find out what Babbel is, how to use it, and whether it is the right language app. There might also be a better match out there. 

What is Babbel? 

Babbel is a popular online subscription-based language app that offers interactive and practical German lessons for people at the beginner and intermediate levels. If you’re starting from scratch, Babbel’s beginner-friendly content is easy to follow and engaging.

With a flexible learning structure designed to cater to diverse learning needs and objectives, Babbel empowers you to learn at your own pace, effectively achieving your language learning goals on your own terms.

Let’s explore Babbel’s offerings further.

The Babbel German Program Structure 

Here’s how Babbel’s unique platform structures the learning journey, offering a comprehensive approach to learning German.

App Version 

Babbel’s app version stands out with its pre-recorded audio lessons and interactive exercises, offering a flexible alternative to traditional language classes . This unique feature allows you to progress at your own pace and adapt to your unique learning style, making it a standout choice for many language learners.

Live Classes

For those who value live interaction, Babbel Live is a valuable feature. It provides an option to join small-group lessons with fellow students worldwide, aligning perfectly with your schedules and offering the benefits of real-time interaction, making it a great choice for those with busy schedules.

It’s important to note that it’s unclear if native speakers teach all of Babbel’s lessons if that’s important to you when choosing a language app. As native speakers provide an essential aspect of language learning, this could be a drawback for learners who want to learn the most “authentic” German possible. 

Subscription Methods  

Babbel offers two different subscription options for learners to improve their German knowledge. Let’s quickly take a look at both:

Babbel App 

When it comes to subscriptions, Babbel offers two different options for learners to improve their German knowledge. These typically include monthly and yearly plans , both of which grant access to all the app’s features and courses, providing flexibility and value for money.

You pay for how much time you want to use the app instead of the levels, so if you learn quickly, you can advance quite far quickly, thus saving you some money. 

Babbel Live 

For Babbel Live, subscription options may vary depending on the specific live class package you choose. Generally, you can select from different packages based on how long you want to attend live classes. You can take unlimited classes through Babbel Live, which is excellent if you try to learn quickly.

As you can see, Babbel offers options depending on your language goals. It’s also important to note that the Babbel Live membership includes the Babbel App membership.

Subscription Costs 

The cost breakdown of the subscriptions at the time of writing is as follows: 

• A traditional Babbel App membership starts at 16,99 EUR a month. 
• The Babbel Live app starts at 99 EUR a month. 

Curriculum

Babbel’s curriculum covers many crucial aspects of learning German, especially for beginner and intermediate-level learners.  

According to their website, the Babbel App allows users to “sharpen their pronunciation using speech recognition, build their conversation skills with engaging, interactive dialogues, and get helpful grammar tips while reading, writing, listening, and exploring culture bites.”

By teaching all these different aspects of your target language, Babbel aims to help you develop a well-rounded proficiency in German, especially for intermediate and beginner German learners. If you’re a more advanced learner, there might be better options than this learning style. 

You may need more real-world practice and use of the target language daily. In this case, the Babbel Live subscription might be a better choice than the Babbel app. But keep in mind that the Babbel Live app is on the pricier side. Suppose you want to save money or have a more natural language learning experience. In that case, you can download the app Tandem, which lets you look for a language exchange partner based on your interests, location, and language of choice.

All in all, whether you’re focusing on mastering dreaded German grammar, building your basic vocabulary, perfecting your pronunciation, or enhancing your conversational skills, Babbel provides a decent foundation to help guide you through the earlier days of your language learning journey.

If you’re an advanced learner looking for a refresher, the Babbel App offers a perfect opportunity to revisit lower-level lessons. These review sessions help ensure your language journey stays on track. Additionally, consider exploring lingoni GERMAN’s YouTube channel, where you can find beginner and intermediate videos to reinforce your understanding of German language rules. This cost-effective approach guarantees that the lessons are taught by native speakers, providing you with authentic and reliable instruction.

Speech Recognition Technology 

Babbel uses speech recognition technology to help you learn German pronunciation within the Babbel App. In theory, this is a great way to practice your spoken language skills, but the reviews are mixed on their technology. 

Many people report crashes and errors when using speech recognition technology. You might be disappointed if you want the app for this specific feature. 

Tip: There’s another app with similar speech recognition technology at a fraction of the price and a better track record for functioning properly: lingoni GERMAN. If you are curious about our app, check out our website to learn all about the features, levels of instruction, price, etc.

Pros and Cons of Babbel German 

The Babbel app has its strengths, but as you have read, there are also some weaknesses you should be aware of before investing money in an app like this.

Now that we’ve explained the app’s structure, let’s examine some pros and cons of using the Babbel German App and Babbel German Live.

Pros of Babbel German 

Practical lessons focused on real-life language skills

• Babbel’s focus on real-life scenarios equips learners with practical language skills directly applicable to daily situations, making it an ideal choice for those preparing to travel to a German-speaking country.

Structured and organized course progression

• Babbel’s well-organized course structure, taught by language experts, guides learners through a logical sequence of lessons, ensuring a systematic and efficient learning journey. Clear objectives and milestones facilitate progress tracking and goal attainment. 

Interactive exercises for active learning

• Somewhat engaging exercises promote active learning and retention, allowing learners to reinforce their understanding through hands-on practice.  
• Babbel tries to incorporate different learning styles and preferences, which will increase participation in practice time. However, these activities can be monotonous, so be aware. 

Speech recognition technology for pronunciation practice

• Including speech recognition technology enhances the effectiveness of pronunciation practice, enabling language learners to receive instant feedback and improve their spoken language skills. 
• However, as previously stated, the actual use of this tool might be better in theory than in practice. Be prepared for errors while using this speech recognition technology.

Accessible on multiple devices for learning on-the-go 

• Babbel’s compatibility across various devices enables seamless learning experiences, whether at home, on the go, or during downtime. This flexibility allows learners to incorporate language learning into their daily routines, maximizing their learning potential and fitting their language learning into their limited time during the day.

Cons of Babbel German 

Limited advanced-level courses 

• While Babbel offers comprehensive resources for beginners and intermediate learners, advanced users may need more advanced-level courses. Additional content catering to advanced proficiency levels could enrich Babbel’s offerings.  

Lack of live classes for interactive learning in the regular Babbel App

• The absence of live classes on Babbel may be a drawback for learners who thrive in interactive environments with real-time feedback and interaction. Supplementing self-paced learning with live instruction from qualified instructors could enhance the learning experience for some users. 
• You could do this supplementary advanced work with a tandem partner. 

The subscription-based model may be costly for some users

• While Babbel’s subscription model offers a decent number of resources and features, the slightly higher-than-average costs may be too high for some learners, particularly those on a tight budget. Exploring alternative programs might be your best bet if the budget is tight.  
• A traditional Babbel App membership costs 16,99 EUR a month, and the Babbel Live app costs 99 EUR a month. 

Alternatives to Babbel German 

If you aren’t convinced that Babbel is the language platform for you, there are alternatives. For those looking for a different approach to learning German online, these programs might be better suited for you: 

1. lingoni 

lingoni is a worthwhile alternative to Babbel. We offer a variety of German video courses with native instructors for interactive learning and tons of downloadable material, such as worksheets and podcasts. 

lingoni also offers FREE video lessons on the lingoni GERMAN YouTube channel for beginner to advanced German learners. 

The lingoni pronunciation tool also functions without error, so you can practice pronunciation without the added stress of tech issues. 

Best for: Learners who want a more personal experience with fun and relevant content. 

2. Duolingo

Duolingo is known for its gamified approach and accessibility. They offer free language courses with interactive exercises and progress tracking. 

Duolingo is a more vocabulary-oriented app, which some users might find more practical for what they are learning. 

Best for: People who want to play games and learn in smaller windows (on the bus, during a commercial break on the couch). 

3. Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is famous for its immersive learning approach. It offers courses focusing on intuitive language acquisition using pictures and sounds. 

Although significantly more expensive than other apps, its method is tried and true (albeit a bit old-school for some learners). 

Best for: Learners who want a more traditional experience with repetition and memorization. 

FAQs 

Is Babbel good for learning German? 

Babbel is an excellent resource for learning German, especially if you’re looking for structured lessons, interactive exercises, and a focus on practical language skills. It covers essential aspects such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation practice, making it a valuable tool for language learners aiming to build a strong foundation in German. While it might not take you to complete fluency, it’s a good starting point for anyone serious about mastering the basics and beyond.

Just remember – Babbel targets beginner and intermediate learners, so if you’re more advanced, you might need to look elsewhere. 

Which is better? Babbel or lingoni? 

lingoni is better than Babbel if you are looking for a language-learning experience with a more personalized approach.

lingoni’s cost-effectiveness also wins over Babbel. You get even more content for a smaller price tag, taught ONLY by native speakers. Also, Linguini is a small business, which means it is more customer-oriented than a giant corporation such as Babbel.

Can you become fluent with Babbel?

You will likely not become fluent with Babbel. Babbel’s app caters to beginner and intermediate language learners, so advanced speakers might be left unfulfilled. There needs to be more helpful speaking practice, and many things that make you a fluent language speaker aren’t there, such as conversations. This is challenging to do over an app, so supplementation is necessary for fluency. 

Is Babbel suitable for advanced German learners? 

Babbel is more geared towards beginners and intermediate German learners, but it can still be helpful for advanced learners looking to improve specific language skills.  

Conclusion 

Babbel is suitable for beginners and intermediate learners, offering practical lessons and interactive features for structured learning. However, achieving fluency may require extra resources.  

Consider lingoni GERMAN for more diverse learning opportunities, including podcasts and worksheets. Sign up for a free to explore our app. We cater to various learning styles, making language learning enjoyable and effective.  

Ready to start your German journey with lingoni? Check out the trial to see if lingoni is right for you.