Babbel is a platform that offers language learning courses for 14 different languages. The company has several learning modalities, including the Babbel app, Babbel Live and Babbel for Business.
Here’s what to know about each Babbel offering, plus how much you can expect to pay per month.
How much does the Babbel app cost?
The Babbel app is a language learning platform providing courses for beginners through advanced levels for a subscription fee. Prices below reflect the standard subscription for one language at a time, except for the lifetime subscription, which provides access to all languages and lessons. Courses include supplementary materials on language acquisition topics like culture, vacation phrases and grammar.
The app uses tiered pricing based on subscription length. The longer the subscription duration, the lower the monthly fee:
1-month subscription costs $17.95 per month for all lessons for one language.
3-month subscription costs $15.25 per month for all lessons for one language.
6-month subscription costs $13.45 per month for all lessons for one language.
12-month subscription costs $8.95 per month for all lessons for one language.
Lifetime subscription costs a one-time payment of $349 for all lessons for all languages.
A subscription gets you access to all of the lessons in the language you select. If you opt for the lifetime subscription, it is a one-time fee and does not automatically renew. However, the other subscription tiers will automatically renew once your subscription period ends. So if you sign up for a three-month subscription, expect to be charged again once your three months is up, unless you change your billing preferences or cancel your subscription.
How much does Babbel Live cost?
Babbel Live is available for Spanish, German, Italian and French language learning. Lessons are taught live online with groups of students no larger than six and are led by certified language teachers.
A subscription to Babbel Live ranges from $50 per month to $99 per month, depending on your commitment. Each subscription type comes with unlimited classes. Like the app, the price per month decreases if you increase your membership length:
1-month subscription costs $99 per month.
3-month subscription costs $70 per month.
6-month subscription costs $60 per month.
12-month subscription costs $50 per month.
A Babbel Live subscription includes all of the self-study language courses featured in the Babbel app. Both Babbel Live and the Babbel app come with access to podcasts, games and a review feature, which reminds you when it’s time to practice certain words and phrases.
How much does Babbel for Business cost?
Babbel for Business is for organizations and businesses that want to provide language learning for employees. It consists of three learning options: Babbel Live as described above, Babbel Professional and virtual group classes.
The main difference between Babbel for individual users and Babbel for Business is that Babbel for Business lessons are geared toward everyday work life, practical topic areas relevant to employment and courses specifically designed for business English.
Billing for Babbel Professional and virtual group classes occurs in yearly cycles and is calculated on a per-learner or per-account basis. To receive a quote, you can fill out a pricing form online.
How does Babbel fit into your budget?
A helpful way to think about your budget is using the 50/30/20 framework, where 50% of your income supports needs, 30% supports wants, and 20% goes to savings and debt repayment beyond minimums.
An app like Babbel would likely reside in your wants category, though there could be circ*mstances that could move it into the needs category.
For example, are you traveling to a location that requires you to be familiar with the language enough to communicate? If so, a program to help you learn the language could be a necessity.
If you’re traveling for work, it’s worth checking with your employer to see if they would offer you Babbel for Business.
But if your subscription to Babbel falls into the wants category — something you would use and enjoy but not necessary for your survival — then you may want to consider what other expenses you could adjust to make room for Babbel in your budget.
For instance, could you switch from lattes made by your local barista to whipping up a pot of coffee at home? Or what about making dinner at home instead of getting takeout? You could even look at your shopping habits and see if there are ways to make adjustments, like cutting back on nonessential shopping or switching to consignment or thrift stores for clothing purchases.
How to save money on Babbel
To try out Babbel, you can take advantage of its free lessons. There is no charge to register, and the first lesson in every course is free.
Babbel also offers discounts for select groups. College students, for example, can save 65% on a three-month subscription, bringing the cost down to $15.99 for access to the app for three months. Veterans, military members, educators and healthcare workers can receive a six-month app subscription for $36, a savings of 60%.
If you do decide to try Babbel and determine it’s not for you, you have 20 days from your subscription date to request a full refund.
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