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Babbel German
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Our Score
9.4
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Pros
- Extremely engaging and varied exercises that are fast-moving and fun
- Lessons take just 10-15 minutes, making them quick and easy to complete
- Inclusion of English directions and translations improves experience
- Babbel's use of frequent reviews boosts language retention
- Top-notch speech recognition technology
Cons
- Not as much emphasis on verbal practice as other language apps
- Not well-suited for advanced learners (better for beginner-to-intermediate)
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Outline: Babbel Review German
- Babbel German Program Structure
- What The German Lessons Are Like
- Babbel German Live Classes
- Babbel German Cost
- What We Like About Babbel German
- What We Don’t Like About Babbel German
- Verdict: Babbel German App Review
As this is a lengthy review, find helpful jump-to links above for convenience.
Video Review: Learning German With Babbel
In the above video, team member John breaks down everything you need to know about the Babbel German program from a high level. For more detail, please continue reading our written review below.
Babbel German Program Structure
To help provide some context for our thoughts on the Babbel German app as whole, let’s kick this review off by breaking down how the Babbel German program is structured and what the lessons look like.
From a high level, the Babbel program is broken down into around 15 different overarching levels, such as Newcomer, Beginner I, Beginner II, Intermediate and so. And there’s even some levels that cover more thematic topics like Business German and Traditions.
Within each of these 15 or so levels, there are usually somewhere between 2 and 8 courses. Then within each course, there are 5 to 15 lessons which each take around 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
These lessons are the building blocks of the program and your goal, more or less everyday, will be to complete a lesson or two.
And if that’s a lot to visualize, I’ll use an example. Right after you sign up, the first overarching level will be “Newcomer,” and the first course you’ll complete under that level is “Newcomer Course 1” (I know real original).
Under that first course there are 14 different lessons to complete before you move on to “Newcomer Course 2.”
That’s a pretty fair example of what to expect. In any event, across all of these different levels and courses, there are about 250 hours or so worth of lessons to complete.
And though that sounds like a lot, remember that you are learning an entirely new language and there is a ton of content to cover. In a nutshell, that’s how the Babbel German program is structured at a high level.
What The Babbel German Lessons Are Like
Next, getting into what the actual lessons are like (which you’ll be working on a daily basis), I’ll start with this: they’re very short. Each lesson is only about 10 to 15 minutes long, and they go by super fast.
The main reason the lessons go by quickly is that each is made up of several quick-hit, interactive drills. Basically, each lesson is comprised of around a dozen short exercises that come in a wide variety of formats.
You’ll see digital flashcards drills, fill-in-the-blanks, matching pairs, listen-and-repeat exercises, matching phrases to images, completing mock conversations, short grammar exercises, and more.
It’s a very diverse, blended approach that moves fast. Frankly, as I’ll discuss in greater detail below, I love how Babbel throws the same content at you in a variety of different ways and forces you to interact with the material.
This is contrast with other language apps out there, like Rosetta Stone for example, which just sort of hit you over the head with the same type of exercise over and over again.
Honestly, you never get bored during the Babbel lessons and this fast-paced, blended approach makes the app pretty fun. So from an overall lesson perspective, Babbel definitely gets high marks.
Babbel German Live Classes
One other thing I should mention about Babbel’s program is that they also offer live classes. Now, to be clear, these classes are not part of the standard subscription – they are an add-on. However, in my opinion, they can offer a ton of value.
What you’ll start to notice is that as you get farther along into the course, you’ll have the ability to start speaking conversationally, but you’ve got no one to practice with. Unless your partner, in-laws, or a friend knows how to speak German, it will just be you and your online lessons.
Yet the best way to accelerate your learning and get over the hump is regularly practicing speaking. And that’s where Babbel’s live classes come in. Essentially, the company offers hundreds of small-group live classes per week across all different learning levels.
Each class is capped at just 6 students and you’re grouped with people from your own learning level. As a result, the classes feel very intimate and there’s very little pressure because you are with others at the same level, struggling through the same pain points as yourself.
Honestly, these classes are an awesome way to really speed up your fluency, and my favorite part is that because there are so many classes, you can basically pick the days and times that work for you, and drop in and out of the classes as you want.
Again though, these classes are not included in Babbel’s standard subscription and do cost extra. And that’s probably a good segue into pricing, which can be a very important point.
Babbel German Cost
Babbel offers several different subscription options ranging from $7 to $14 per month, depending on the length of access you choose.
In addition, if you want to add on those live classes that I just discussed, you’re looking at around $50 to $100 per month based on which package you go with, as well as current discounts.
From an overall price perspective, if you stack Babbel up against competitors, they’re somewhere in the middle of the pack. They are more expensive than companies like Duolingo and Memrise, but cheaper than Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone.
Overall, for $7 to $14 per month, Babbel is on the affordable end of the spectrum, and I would consider their German course to be a strong value.
Plus, if you want to kick the tires on this app before fully committing, Babbel does have a 20-day money back guarantee. It’s not as good as a free trial, but basically serves the same purpose.
Also, those are just the full retail prices and Babbel does frequently offer deals and special promos, so be sure to grab a coupon code or discount before buying if Babbel does end up being your choice.
What We Like About Babbel German
Now that we’ve covered pricing and you know what the lessons and program are all about, let’s get into the juicy part: what I like and what I don’t like about Babbel’s German program. Let’s begin with the things I really like.
Fun, Fast Lessons
I love the design of Babbel’s lessons. They’re fast moving, diverse, and just plain fun. For people that don’t have an hour straight to work through a lengthy lesson and are trying to squeeze their language learning in around life, Babbel is awesome in this respect. I just really like that lessons only take about 10 or 15 minutes to complete.
Subtle Grammar Instruction
I really like how Babbel weaves grammar instruction into their lessons. Honestly, grammar is a tough aspect for language apps to master. I personally think it’s incredibly important to establish the basic grammar building blocks as you learn a new language, but if you put too much emphasis on grammar, it can actually slow your progress and stunt your learning.
All things considered, I think Babbel has done a really nice job balancing this part of the teaching. Their grammar snippets are short, and they do an excellent job subtly weaving these quick teaching points into the lessons.
Regular Review Sessions
My third pro is the regular review sessions. Basically, every time you log in to do a new lesson, Babbel will hit you with a quick review session. They’re usually really fast and only take 3 or 4 minutes, but they’re great for refreshing your German vocabulary and making the material stick.
Seeing vocab time and time again like this is what makes it sink into your long term memory.
Easy To Follow
Next, I love the guidance that Babbel provides. From the second you log in, it’s clear exactly what lesson you’re on and what you need to learn. I personally hate those kinds of courses that are self-driven and up to the user to decide what to study and when. Frankly, I kind of want my hand to be held through the process, and Babbel is great about that.
Your progression through the course is clear as day, and you never feel lost or confused. It’s just a very smart, streamlined setup. Plus, their user experience is awesome with a modern interface and sleek look.
Plenty of English Directions
Lastly, I like that Babbel uses a lot of English directions and translations in their program. Not all language companies out there do this. Rosetta Stone, for example, is big on immersion, meaning very little English is used.
I understand the merits of the immersion argument, but when you’re learning a new language like German (which is very different from English), and you’re just thrown into the fire, it can be frustrating. So I like that Babbel guides you with English directions, which only fade out as you get farther into the course.
What We Don’t Like About Babbel German
With Babbel’s strengths out of the way, let’s turn the tables now and talk about the things I don’t like about Babbel.
Not Much Verbal Practice
Right out of the gate, I’ll just say that I feel like Babbel isn’t great about developing your conversational skills. Don’t get me wrong – there are verbal practice exercises where you repeat words and phrases, but they’re sort of limited. There are no full-blown mock conversations or extended speaking exercises like there is with the Rocket German course.
A lot of times it was on me to conceptualize in what setting I would say a phrase after I just learned it, and then practice it. I’d have to imagine the scenario when I would use the phrase, then practice with a sort of made up back-and-forth with myself.
This is in contrast with a couple other language programs out there like Pimsleur and Rocket Languages, which lean heavily on mock conversations and audio practice. I suppose I’d like to just see more robust speaking exercises from Babbel.
Vocab Practice Shortcoming
My second gripe is that as you learn new vocab in the Babbel German program, it will capture your new words under a “vocab” tab in the practice section. This allows you to practice those phrases you’ve already learned in between lessons. It’s actually a review tool I used almost daily.
However, my complaint here is that this vocab feature doesn’t capture everything you’ve learned. For example, after a lesson where I learned 7 phrases, it would only show 4 or 5 of them in there.
So overall, I like this vocab practice tool for review purposes, but I just wish it captured everything. It was just a little frustrating to only see some of the stuff you’ve learned so far under this tab.
Not Ideal For Advanced Learners
My final negative has to do with the live classes. As I mentioned above, as you start getting up into the intermediate and advanced lessons, you’re going to want to start practicing actually speaking with other people that are fluent, or at least at your same level. Honestly, it’s what will be the difference maker in pushing your German over the edge (Rocket is better in this regard).
And on that point, Babbel’s live classes are just a touch expensive. Just to be clear, I absolutely love their live classes. The small class sizes, varied topics, and intimate feel are great. However, $50 to $100 is just a little steep. It’s literally 5x to 10x as much as the cost of the base app. It would just be nice if these live class passes were a bit cheaper.
Verdict: Babbel German App Review
Overall, I am a really big fan of Babbel’s German program. I love the diversity of their drills and exercises, as well as the fact that they only take 10 or 15 minutes to complete, with quick review sessions between each.
Altogether, the lessons and review sessions are very manageable. I also like that they include English directions and translations, as well as subtle grammar instruction throughout. Plus, their structured guidance is great on walking you through the whole program.
Yes, I do have a few minor complaints with their program like the lack of in-depth speaking exercises, but by and large, I think Babbel is a really effective and fun option for those looking to learn German.
Not to mention, it’s hard to argue with the price tag. At $7 to $14 per month, Babbel is one of the more affordable options on the market. So overall, I give Babbel high marks and wouldn’t hesitate to go with them to learn German.
➡ Read Next: Best Apps To Learn German
FAQs
Is Babbel good for learning German? ›
Verdict: Babbel German App Review
Overall, I am a really big fan of Babbel's German program. I love the diversity of their drills and exercises, as well as the fact that they only take 10 or 15 minutes to complete, with quick review sessions between each. Altogether, the lessons and review sessions are very manageable.
If you were to use Babbel as your only means of learning a language you would walk away with a foundational knowledge but you would be far from fluent. Babbel doesn't claim to turn you into a near native speaker in a new language.
How long does it take to learn German with Babbel? ›Learn The Basics In Three Weeks
One of the most common claims you'll hear from us is that you can learn to have basic conversations in your new language in three weeks. We even put some Babbel staffers to the test to see how much they could learn in that period of time. The results were overwhelmingly positive!
We offer courses for beginners (A1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) all the way up to proficient learners (C1 CEFR level) depending on the learning language. When you subscribe, you can access all courses and lessons, so you can find something suited to your learning level, goals, and needs.
Is Rosetta Stone or Babbel better for German? ›While both are good for building a strong vocabulary base, Babbel offers better opportunities to hear real-life conversational phrases. While this isn't enough to make you fluent, it's the better choice if you want to practice talking to people naturally.
What is the best platform to learn German? ›- Best Overall: Lingoda.
- Best Budget: DeutschAkademie.
- Best for Flexible Learning: Rocket German.
- Best for Listening Comprehension: GermanPod101.
- Best for Casual Learning: FluentU.
- Best for Learning in a Traditional Setting: Goethe-Institut.
- Best for Conversational Practice: italki.
Its lessons cover reading, writing, speaking, and listening, and it's a great way to start learning a language. Is the Babbel app worth it? For its price, Babbel is worth it depending on what language you're learning. Each language course is created separately, so the quality and depth of the courses may vary.
Which is better Babbel or Duolingo? ›The biggest difference between Babbel and Duolingo is the approach to language learning. Babbel is a better option if you want traditional language instructions through modules and lessons. By contrast, Duolingo works great if you need a playful, gamified experience.
How many Babbel lessons should I do a day? ›Create a manageable learning schedule
Set yourself a goal of completing 3-4 lessons per day, as this amount ensures you don't overwhelm your brain with too much information that you will struggle to remember! Each lesson takes about ten minutes to complete, so you can set aside less than an hour per day.
Although the two companies are similar in several respects, I just think Babbel is the better overall language learning program. I do like that Duolingo offers a free version and how they try to gamify learning, however, if you're serious about learning a new language, I think Babbel is the better bet.
What is the success rate of Babbel? ›
Babbel Language Proficiency Gain:
Overall 92% of the participants improved their language proficiency. Babbel users need on average 21 hours of study in a two-month period to cover the requirements for one college semester of Spanish.
You need more than 3 months to be fluent. But even with such a short time, if you adjust your strategy, you can actually learn German and get really close to being fluent. And I don't mean being able to say, 'I'm doing fine' in German as fast as a native speaker or being able to combine words you learned on Duolingo.
How long does it take to become fluent using Babbel? ›Each level takes between one and two months to complete. You can expect to be able to start speaking Italian after the first level and progress to a high level of fluency after around six months. Babbel Italian has a tracking feature that allows you to follow your progress as you go through the levels.
What level is fluent German? ›B2 is the first level that means that you can speak really fluent and understand 80% of the situations that you find yourself in repeatedly. You can prepare yourself for the exam and even see a sample of the language level here.
How long does it take to finish Babbel? ›To learn Spanish and complete the entire Babbel course, it takes around 6 months if you spend 15 minutes per day doing the activities.
Is there anything better than Babbel? ›What is better than Babbel? Duolingo is a great choice for people who don't want to pay for Babbel, and some people even find that the app is a better overall fit. On Duolingo, you'll get to experience real-life conversations, and speech recognition software can help you work on your pronunciation.
What languages make learning German easier? ›English, Dutch, Luxembourgish, Afrikaans and Yiddish are relatively easy languages for German speakers.
What is better than Duolingo for German? ›LingoDeer might not be as well-known as other language learning apps but is considered to be an alternative and even superior to Duolingo. Crafted by language teachers, LingoDeer's curriculum and exercises train your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills.
What is the smartest way to learn German? ›Best Way to Learn German. As with any language, the fastest and best way to learn German is through total immersion, preferably through living in a German-speaking country.
What is the fastest easiest way to learn German? ›If you want to find the best way to learn German fast, immersion is the way to go. The most important thing that immersion provides is a constant stream of your target language. You will hear it all the time and read it everywhere.
What is the best way to become fluent in German? ›
- Get a German Dictionary.
- Buy a German Textbook.
- Listen to German Music.
- Read German Children's Books.
- Read German Translations of English books.
- Get a German Sprachpartner (language partner)
- Find a Stammtisch (regular meeting of German speakers)
Can more than one person use a single account to attend a Babbel Live class? Babbel Live requires each student to have their own account and device to attend a class. Was this article helpful?
Is Babbel 100% free? ›Registration with Babbel is completely free of charge and the first lesson in every course is free to try. (Depending on the language you choose, that's 30-80 free lessons!)
What is the difference between Rosetta Stone and Babbel? ›The biggest difference between Babbel and Rosetta Stone is that Babbel focuses on engagingly teaching more comprehensive lessons, whereas Rosetta Stone focuses on more images and repetitive content. Is learning a new language worth it?
What is the most successful language learning app? ›- Duolingo.
- Busuu.
- Babbel.
- Mondly.
- Memrise.
- LingoDeer.
- Rosetta Stone.
- HelloTalk.
- Duolingo. Best for learning multiple languages. See at Duolingo.
- Babbel. Best for an online school-type experience. See at Babbel.
- Drops. Best for visual learners. See at Drops.
- Mondly. Best for helping you remember specific phrases. ...
- Memrise. Best for learning to speak casually in a new language.
Babbel prides itself on being a very beginner-friendly app for language learning. It caters mostly to beginners as well as intermediate learners. What is this? The style of how Babbel teaches new languages is simple and basic, perfect for introducing you to how learning a new language goes.
What is the highest level on Babbel? ›We offer courses for beginners (A1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) all the way up to proficient learners (C1 CEFR level) depending on the learning language. When you subscribe, you can access all courses and lessons, so you can find something suited to your learning level, goals, and needs.
How long does it take to learn German? ›German is rated as a category 2 language and considered to be similar to English. The FSI estimates that German takes approximately 30 weeks, or 750 classroom hours to learn. This study was conducted on a group of language students who spent 25 hours per week in class, and three hours daily on individual practice.
Can I learn two languages at the same time on Babbel? ›A standard Babbel subscription is valid for learning one language at a time. Read more about what's included in a subscription. For learning multiple languages at once, we would recommend taking a look at our Babbel Complete subscription option.
Can you speak fluent German with Duolingo? ›
Duolingo German does not let you practice writing or speaking, which means these skills will be at a much lower level than your listening and reading skills, which means you won't reach conversational fluency.
Can Duolingo make you fluent in German? ›Duolingo is brilliant for getting to grips with the listening and reading side of a language. You even get opportunities to practice your pronunciation. But when it comes to speaking in a real-life scenario, Duolingo's German course won't get you there by itself.
How much does Babbel cost a month? ›Babbel offers several different subscription options to choose from ranging from around $7 to $14 per month, depending on the length of access you want (3-months, 6-months, etc).
What happens when you finish Babbel? ›After completing each course, you'll receive an achievement badge as a little pat on the back and to help you keep track of your progress. I did most of the courses on my computer, but there is also a Babbel app for added convenience and on-the-go learning.
What age group is Babbel for? ›Babbel Live classes are only open to people who are 16 years old or above. Learners of this age can book classes via their own Babbel account, either independently or under your supervision.
How often should you use Babbel? ›Babbel's language lessons take approximately 10 to 15 minutes each, so tackling a couple of lessons daily will put you on the right track toward language proficiency.
Can I learn A1 German in 1 month? ›German is a difficult language! Within a month, you should be able to get a hang of most of the basics, such as haben and sein and using the Perfekt tense, enough to where you'll be able to navigate your daily life with relative ease.
How many hours a day to learn German? ›According to the U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI), you'll need about 750 hours of study to become fluent in German. This means that if you study 12-15 hours a week, you'll be able to speak like a pro in just a year!
Can I learn B2 German in 1 month? ›B2 also takes around 3 months if you spend around 8 hours a week. P.S.: There are some people who are good at learning languages and remembering stuff who finished it all in 3-4 months. It all depends on how easy this comes to you and how much time you're spending on it.
What is the fastest you can become fluent in a language? ›True language fluency requires consistent effort and time, and while 500 – 1,000 hours may seem like a lot, a typical person could probably invest that level of time over 12 – 18 months, with the right study schedule.
Do bilinguals learn languages faster? ›
“When learning a new language, bilinguals rely more than monolinguals on the brain processes that people naturally use for their native language,” Lead author Sarah Grey added, “We also find that bilinguals appear to learn the new language more quickly than monolinguals.”
Can I learn a language in 3 weeks? ›It might sound like an impossible task, but according to language experts, you can learn basic communication skills in weeks and master the basics of a foreign language in several months.
Can I learn German B2 in 6 months? ›Can I Complete B2 German in 6 Months? On average, you would need 7-9 months to reach the B2 level and get a good rating, but with enough determination it is possible to complete it for 6 months as well if you simply immerse yourself in the language.
How long does it take to reach B2 German? ›| Assess your current level & test your German online! | Intensive course (20 lessons/week) | |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | beginner | 8 weeks |
| A2 | elementary | 8 weeks |
| B1 | intermediate | 8 weeks |
| B2 | upper intermediate | 10 weeks* |
As a rule of thumb, German universities require you to present a proof of upper intermediate to advanced German language skills (level B2/C1) to study in German.
How fast can you learn German with Babbel? ›Learn The Basics In Three Weeks
One of the most common claims you'll hear from us is that you can learn to have basic conversations in your new language in three weeks. We even put some Babbel staffers to the test to see how much they could learn in that period of time. The results were overwhelmingly positive!
With a busy work life, finding the time to commit to a new language can be a challenge in itself. But experts agree that it's more than possible to make meaningful progress in just one hour a day. Not only that, the skills gained from practicing a new language can feel like superpowers in the workplace and beyond.
Can I skip levels in Babbel? ›Choose a lesson
And don't worry — you can change your level or topic at any time. If you want to choose a higher level or a different topic, all you need to do is select a different lesson from the Courses menu.
Immersion forces German learners to use the language on a daily basis, helps them connect with native speakers, and teaches them valuable knowledge about German culture. Not only that, but it does all of this within a very short period of time. Immersion is, without a doubt, one of the fastest ways to learn German.
Is Babbel or Rosetta Stone better to learn a language? ›Which is better, Babbel or Rosetta Stone? After a thorough review of the language learning courses from both Babbel and Rosetta Stone, we have to give the edge to Babbel as the better language program (albeit a narrow victory).
How long does it realistically take to learn German? ›
German is rated as a category 2 language and considered to be similar to English. The FSI estimates that German takes approximately 30 weeks, or 750 classroom hours to learn. This study was conducted on a group of language students who spent 25 hours per week in class, and three hours daily on individual practice.
Can I learn German A1 in 15 days? ›Yes, it is possible, that is if you have dedicated many hours of German language learning without distractions. Language experts mention that learning German beginner level (or German A1 level) takes at least 75 hours to fully grasp. That takes at least 10 hours or more a day to really finish your language lessons.
How much does Babbel cost monthly? ›Babbel offers several different subscription options to choose from ranging from around $7 to $14 per month, depending on the length of access you want (3-months, 6-months, etc).
What is the most accurate language learning app? ›- Duolingo. Best for learning multiple languages. See at Duolingo.
- Babbel. Best for an online school-type experience. See at Babbel.
- Drops. Best for visual learners. See at Drops.
- Mondly. Best for helping you remember specific phrases. ...
- Memrise. Best for learning to speak casually in a new language.
In their teaching method, Babbel uses dialogues, whereas Rosetta Stone uses sentences. The audio quality on Rosetta Stone is much better than on Babbel. Babbel has a review manager feature where you can see the lessons you have learned previously, whereas Rosetta Stone does not have such a feature.
How does Babbel compare to Rosetta Stone? ›Babbel lessons tend to cover more material at a faster pace compared to Rosetta Stone. On the other hand, Rosetta Stone takes time drilling you on the same words and phrases, meaning lessons move more slowly. Also, this makes Rosetta Stone lessons a bit more monotonous and repetitive than Babbel lessons.