Babbel vs LingoDeer: which to choose, and what each costs
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026; Babbel's on 6 Sept 2026 · How we check
Babbel if you want to pay once rather than subscribe.
LingoDeer if you want a free account to learn on.
| Question | Babbel | LingoDeer |
|---|---|---|
| A year costs | $107.40 a year for all 14 languages, or $17.99 month to month | $95.99 a year for all 20 languages, or $14.99 month to month |
| A lesson is | 10 to 15-minute lessons built on short dialogues, with grammar notes in English and speaking exercises. | Short lessons that introduce words and a sentence pattern with native-speaker audio and a grammar tip, then quizzes and flashcards. |
| Try it | The first lesson of every course is free. | A free version with limited lessons; a 7-day money-back guarantee on the website's yearly and longer plans. |
| App Store rating, 10 Oct 2026 and 12 Oct 2026 | 4.7 out of 5 from 755,567 ratings | 4.7 out of 5 from 27,996 ratings |
| Google Play rating, 11 Oct 2026 and 12 Oct 2026 | 4.6 out of 5 from 1.1 million ratings | 4.4 out of 5 from 454,133 ratings |
How a lesson works in each
Both are course apps, so a lesson has the same shape
Side by side
| Compare | Babbel | LingoDeer |
|---|---|---|
| CEFR levels | A1 to C1 | A1 to B1 (by course) |
| A year costs | $107.40 a year for all 14 languages, or $17.99 month to month | $95.99 a year for all 20 languages, or $14.99 month to month |
| What it is | Course app: Short structured lessons with grammar notes and review sessions | Course app: Structured lessons with grammar tips, from absolute beginner to B1 |
| Per month at annual billing | $8.95/mo ($107.40 a year) | $8/mo ($95.99 a year) |
| Monthly plan | $17.99 | $14.99 |
| Lifetime plan | $299.99 once, all languages | No lifetime plan |
| Free tier | Free account; the first lesson of every course is free, and up to 80 free lessons depending on the language. | A free version with limited lessons; a membership unlocks every course and feature. |
| Languages offered | 14 | 20 |
| Speech recognition | Yes | — |
| Live tutoring | No · Babbel Live is no longer available to individual consumers | — |
| Offline mode | Yes · Downloaded lessons, vocabulary review and podcasts in the mobile app | Yes |
| Placement test | Yes · Spanish, French, Italian and German | — |
| Refund or trial | Bought from Babbel in the US: no refund promised if you cancel early. Outside the US: 14 days to change your mind, less what you have used. App store purchases: the store's rules. | A 7-day money-back guarantee on yearly and longer plans bought on LingoDeer's website, one request per person; no refund for part of a period or a renewal you forgot. |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Company | Babbel GmbH (Lesson Nine GmbH), Germany | LingoDeer Pte. Ltd., Singapore |
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$107.40 a year $8.95 a month, billed yearly$17.99 on the monthly plan
Short dialogues and grammar notes help you understand why a sentence works. Speaking exercises let you practise saying it aloud before you need it in conversation.
LingoDeer
Course app
In our comparison: strongest on teaching depth and price, weakest on speaking practice.
$95.99 a year $8 a month, billed yearly$14.99 on the monthly plan
Structured lessons with grammar tips, from absolute beginner to B1. A free account with limits.
Babbel is a course app and LingoDeer is one too. Both teach French, Spanish, German, Italian and 6 more languages.
Which to choose
You would rather pay once than subscribe
Babbel
Babbel can be bought once and kept: $299.99 once, all languages. LingoDeer's paid plans are subscriptions.
You want to learn without paying
LingoDeer
LingoDeer has a free account with limits; Babbel gives only its first lessons free. What each free route includes is in the table above.
You want to practise speaking
Babbel
Babbel: Speech recognition scores how you say words. LingoDeer: Its pages don't say whether it listens to you speak.
You want a trial, or your money back if it doesn't suit you
LingoDeer
LingoDeer: A 7-day money-back guarantee on yearly and longer plans bought on LingoDeer's website, one request per person; no refund for part of a period or a renewal you forgot. Babbel: Bought from Babbel in the US: no refund promised if you cancel early. Outside the US: 14 days to change your mind, less what you have used. App store purchases: the store's rules.
Where they really differ
- Price: Babbel: $107.40 a year for all 14 languages, or $17.99 month to month. LingoDeer: $95.99 a year for all 20 languages, or $14.99 month to month.
- A lesson: Babbel: 10 to 15-minute lessons built on short dialogues, with grammar notes in English and speaking exercises. LingoDeer: Short lessons that introduce words and a sentence pattern with native-speaker audio and a grammar tip, then quizzes and flashcards.
- A real person: Babbel has no live tutors. LingoDeer doesn't mention live tutors.
- Levels: Babbel states CEFR levels A1 to C1. LingoDeer states a CEFR range for each course, up to B1.
- Speaking: Babbel listens to you speak. LingoDeer doesn't say whether it listens to you speak.
- Trying it: Babbel: The first lesson of every course is free. LingoDeer: A free version with limited lessons; a 7-day money-back guarantee on the website's yearly and longer plans.
- Both: Work offline.
Plans and prices
Babbel
| Plan | Billing | Price | Per month | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 monthsSold as "Save 50%" against $215.40, which is twelve months at the monthly price. Apple's US App Store sells the same plan for $107.99. | Annual | $107.40 | $8.95/mo | all languages |
| 3-month plan (iOS in-app purchase)Apple's US App Store price for one language. | Every 3 months | $45.99 | $15.33/mo | one language |
| 1-month plan (iOS in-app purchase)Apple's US App Store price for one language. | Monthly | $17.99 | $17.99/mo | one language |
| LifetimeBabbel sells Lifetime for less during sales: a Labor Day sale offered it for $199. | Lifetime | $299.99 | one-time | all languages |
LingoDeer
| Plan | Billing | Price | Per month | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-Year PremiumPremiumOne payment for six years of every language and feature, marked as a limited offer against a crossed-out $969.99. | 72 months | $239.99 | $3.33/mo | all languages |
| 3-Year PremiumPremiumOne payment for three years of every language and feature, shown at 60% off a crossed-out $479.99. | 36 months | $189.99 | $5.28/mo | all languages |
| AnnuallyPremiumShown at 40% off a crossed-out $159.99; renews automatically. | Annual | $95.99 | $8/mo | all languages |
| QuarterlyPremiumRenews automatically. | Every 3 months | $39.99 | $13.33/mo | all languages |
| MonthlyPremiumRenews automatically. | Monthly | $14.99 | $14.99/mo | all languages |
| FreeA free version with limited lessons; LingoDeer does not say how many. | Other | $0 | — | all languages |
What will Babbel cost you for the months you study?
Total billed over 12 months
$108.48 less on annual billingOne yearly payment of $107.40.
What each plan covers. Monthly: one language. Yearly: all languages.
Questions people ask
Is Babbel better than LingoDeer?
Neither is better for every learner. Choose Babbel if you want to pay once rather than subscribe and more speaking practice. Choose LingoDeer if you want a free account to learn on and a trial or money back. In our comparison, Babbel is strongest on teaching depth, weakest on the free tier, and LingoDeer strongest on teaching depth and price, weakest on speaking practice.
Which is cheaper, Babbel or LingoDeer?
LingoDeer costs less by the year: $95.99 for all 20 languages, where a year of Babbel is $107.40 for all 14 languages. Month to month, and with any lifetime plan, the plans tables above give both.
Do Babbel and LingoDeer teach the same languages?
Babbel lists 14 languages and LingoDeer 20, each counting varieties its own way; 10 languages are taught by both. Each app's page here lists its languages, with a page for each language two or more apps teach.