Babbel vs Preply: which is better? Comparison 2026
By our public methodology Babbel scores 76 out of 100 and Preply scores 67. Below: the factors and facts where they differ, each fact with its source.
Score breakdown
| Babbel | Preply | |
|---|---|---|
| Learning | 91 | 83 |
| Price | 25 | 0 |
| Guarantees | 100 | 100 |
| User ratings | 85 | 85 |
| Transparency | 100 | 97 |
Pros and cons
Babbel
- Published refund policy
- Real-time lessons with a human teacher
- You can start for free
- The company publishes learning efficacy research
Preply
- Published refund policy
- Many languages to learn
- Real-time lessons with a human teacher
- The company publishes learning efficacy research
Facts side by side
| Fact | Babbel | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Languages to learn | 14 babbel.com | 90 preply.com |
| Lessons with a human teacher | Yes babbel.com | Yes preply.com |
| Speaking practice (speech recognition or AI partner) | Yes babbel.com | Yes preply.com |
| CEFR-aligned levels or certificate | Yes babbel.com | Not verified |
| Free plan or free trial | Yes babbel.com | Not verified |
| Teacher vetting described | Not verified | Yes preply.com |
| Refund policy | Yes babbel.com | Yes termsofuse.preply.com |
| App Store rating | 4.7★ itunes.apple.com | 4.8★ itunes.apple.com |
| App Store ratings | 757,116 itunes.apple.com | 45,462 itunes.apple.com |
| Company founded | 2007 babbel.com | 2012 preply.com |
| Efficacy research published | Yes babbel.com | Yes preply.com |
| Company country | Germany babbel.com | United States termsofuse.preply.com |
| Company | Babbel GmbH babbel.com | Preply, Inc. termsofuse.preply.com |
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