Busuu Review: We Tested It for Weeks – Here’s the Truth!

Title image: © Katrin Adam

Busuu doesn’t always top the list of the most famous language-learning programs. However, many dedicated language learners have likely heard of it. Is this platform getting enough credit? How well does Busuu perform in our review, and what did we learn from our own experience with it? Read on for all the details!

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Table of Contents

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Overview: Busuu Review

Quick Summary: A Great Language Course Thanks to Its Community!

Busuu’s refined design and intuitive interface don’t just keep you motivated—they also help you progress quickly and effectively. Plus, the unique community feature really sets this platform apart, allowing a more interactive experience than you’ll find in most other programs. Anyone who opts for a Premium plan will likely find Busuu to be an excellent starting point for language learning.

Still, as with anything, there are pros and cons. Below, you’ll find the complete Busuu review. We spent four weeks consistently trying out all the main features, and here we share our experiences. You can also get an overall picture in our Busuu Guide!

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Busuu Experiences: What Did We Test?

To explore as many aspects of Busuu as possible, I tried both the Japanese and Spanish courses over four weeks. That way, I could see how the program handles different writing systems and entirely different grammar structures. Most basic Busuu features can be accessed for free, but of course I also tested the Premium plan, which adds many extra functions.

Busuu is available as both a browser-based platform and mobile apps for Android and iOS. To evaluate the entire feature set, I used both versions.

Scope and Features: What Does Busuu Offer in Our Review?

Which languages can you learn with Busuu, what kinds of courses are offered, and which features stand out the most?

Available Languages and Course Types

For English speakers, Busuu currently offers the following 14 languages:

All of these languages have courses from A1 to B2 (based on the CEFR framework), plus a travel-language course. Some languages even go up to C1! For more commonly studied languages, there may be bonus content, such as business vocabulary or a short “travel crash course.” For languages with a non-Latin script, there are extra lessons to learn the alphabet. Busuu also offers additional resources like newspaper articles and podcasts in the target language.

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Differences Between Various Languages

The depth and length of each lesson and level can vary by language. For example, the French and Spanish courses typically include more and occasionally more diverse exercises than Japanese or Arabic. The more common languages also tend to be a bit more comprehensive than Polish, Chinese, or Russian.

Often, this is because certain languages may require learning a different script. Busuu meets that challenge quite well, although progress feels a bit slower since the writing system is introduced alongside everything else. That is to be expected however and Busuu finds a good solution that blends well with the overall course.

Busuu Has a Lot to Offer

Busuu’s core is its online platform, which sports a lively but still user-friendly look. You can follow a structured path from absolute beginner up to (depending on the language) C1 level, or skip around between lessons as you see fit.

There’s also a training section where you can gather vocabulary and grammar points as you go. In the “Practice” area, you’ll find a wide variety of tasks and explanations, often featuring photos or authentic videos with native speakers to reinforce your new skills.

In addition, you can connect with native speakers on the website, get feedback on your own submissions, or chat with them. A “friend list” keeps things organized. This feature is particularly helpful because it does away with having to look for a tandem partner on your own. More on that soon!

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Busuu also has a placement test, so returning learners don’t have to restart from scratch or click through endless mini-lessons. This feature is currently limited to English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German—but in our Busuu review, we found it worked very well and placed us at the right level.

Previously, Busuu offered live online lessons with a tutor, but that feature was discontinued. That’s a pity, as it really rounded out the language course with real speaking practice. If you’d prefer live conversation lessons, consider the excellent online school Lingoda. We’ve reviewed them as well; you can find that review here.

More recently, Busuu introduced a new “Speaking” section, which works similarly to a conversation-driven AI tutor. You practice scenarios like ordering at a restaurant or discussing travel plans, and you can say whatever you want. The virtual conversation partner responds accordingly. It’s fantastic!

Usability: How Easy Is It to Use Busuu?

A clear, appealing design and a well-organized interface usually make the learning process more enjoyable. Does Busuu measure up in this regard?

User-Friendly Design & Excellent Handling

There’s really nothing to fault about Busuu’s interface—on the contrary, it’s lovely, straightforward, and well-organized. The menus are clear and come with a “Help” section.

I also found it convenient that lesson components within a single unit flow seamlessly. You can keep studying without having to manually select each new step, and there’s no need to worry about losing your place—Busuu shows you exactly where you left off.

Moreover, the learning process is well designed. The training mode goes beyond a standard vocabulary trainer by adding personalized grammar lessons tailored to your weaker areas.

The placement test, available for some languages, is accurate and engaging. It’s especially handy for advanced learners or those returning to study, and in our Busuu review, it worked perfectly for proper placement.

Design-wise, the app is both attractive and user-friendly, and the features themselves enhance the learning process. The community aspect, for example, is woven into each lesson so that you can submit open-ended tasks and receive feedback from other users. More on that below!

Interim Conclusion: Clear Layout with Minor Drawbacks

Our Busuu review shows that the platform’s interface is intuitive and well-organized, which simplifies language learning and provides access to a range of features. If you’re learning a less common language, you may find the course less built-out initially. However, you’ll still get a thorough introduction to your chosen language.

We especially liked the placement tests for certain languages, as well as the vocabulary and grammar trainer and the community feature. These elements fit neatly into Busuu’s instructional approach. On top of that, Busuu is keeping up with the times by incorporating AI into its courses—more on that in the “Didactics” section.

Instructional Approach: How Effective Is Learning with Busuu?

So how good is Busuu for acquiring a new language? The main course is divided into small steps: each CEFR level (A1–C1, depending on the language) contains 10–20 chapters, each with a few lessons plus a checkpoint. Let’s take a closer look at how learning actually works.

Learning with Busuu: Here’s the Process

A lesson usually starts with vocabulary embedded in a sentence. You’ll often see a short video of a native speaker using that phrase. On-screen, you’ll see the written word (in both the original script and transliteration for non-Latin alphabets) plus the translation.

Next come several exercises in various formats, such as listening comprehension, matching phrases, filling in correct verb forms, or speaking a sentence yourself. Grammar lessons, tips, and explanations pop up throughout, making the learning experience dynamic and providing practical overviews.

You can mark specific phrases and sentences with a “save” icon to add them to the training mode, which offers a vocabulary and grammar trainer. This complements the chronological main course by letting you drill and reinforce specific points.

The lessons build upon each other, reinforcing previously learned vocabulary and grammar. Exercises are never unmanageably difficult, and each lesson ends with an open-ended prompt you can complete in writing or by voice. Instead of a platform algorithm, a native speaker from the Busuu community checks your submission.

Once you’ve completed all lessons in a chapter, you reach a “Checkpoint,” which tests many of the items covered. You’ll need an 80% or higher correct answer rate to move on, ensuring you’re learning at a consistent pace and have the right foundation for new content.

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One aspect we think could be improved: some exercises focus exclusively on listening comprehension, with no transcript to display if you can’t play audio. That’s a minor complaint, but it would be helpful for those commuting on a train or studying in places where audio isn’t possible. Satisfyingly, speaking exercises can be skipped if you’re in a public space, so an option to see text for listening tasks would be equally convenient. Still, Busuu generally does a great job with its learning process.

Social Learning – Busuu’s Community

At the end of most lessons, you’ll find a prompt inviting you to write or record a brief response in the target language. It might be something like, “How are you feeling today?” “Talk about your hometown,” or “What’s your favorite hobby?”

Your submission is then corrected by a native speaker (i.e., another Busuu user), who can also provide feedback. You’re free to ask questions afterward or just chat. This means you can practice real, open-ended language use well beyond what an automated course alone can offer.

During my testing, this was consistently fast and reliable. It’s a unique approach that no other language-learning software currently uses in quite the same way—even those that have community forums. Fantastic!

This community aspect is also a big motivator, in my opinion: you don’t feel like you’re all alone with an app and a learning process. It encourages you to keep going. You’ll find daily missions for collecting stars, weekly leaderboards to compare yourself with other learners, and the ability to connect with new and existing friends—plenty of ways to stay engaged.

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The Vocabulary and Grammar Trainers Complete Busuu’s Package

As the title suggests, the built-in “training mode” is a fantastic supplement to the main course, letting you review and solidify what you’ve learned. You decide how thoroughly you want to use it and which items get saved—extremely user-friendly.

Vocabulary trainers are common, but Busuu also lets you review grammar points in small, targeted chunks. You can easily focus on just the material you’ve studied so far and home in on areas you find most challenging.

Topics are arranged both thematically and by proficiency level. You can only practice grammar you’ve encountered so far in the course. A small display on the right shows what you’ve reviewed and how confident you might feel about each point. It’s both clever and intuitive. The vocabulary trainer also does exactly what it should—reinforcing the words and phrases you’ve marked in the main course.

Busuu Keeps up with Current Trends: AI-Based Speaking Exercises

Since late 2024, Busuu introduced a feature reminiscent of the AI-based conversation classes that have become popular. Busuu adopts the same principle: practice with a virtual conversation partner who prepares you for real-life chats with human speakers.

You’ll find a few preset scenarios sorted by level. Beginners (A1/A2) can practice ordering at a restaurant or talking about work, while advanced learners can talk about weekend plans, traditions, and more. There aren’t many scenarios yet, but it’s a new feature, so let’s see how it grows in the future!

Unlike most AI tutors, there’s no ongoing correction or immediate hint mid-conversation. You just talk and the AI understands even if your sentences have mistakes. At the end, you get a summary where you can see feedback and potential fixes.

As the name suggests, it’s all about speaking—there’s no option to type, so you’re “nudged” to speak aloud. You also won’t feel that performance anxiety you might have with a live tutor. The speech recognition works perfectly. This is a terrific addition to the rest of the course.

Interim Conclusion: Busuu’s Instructional Approach in Our Review

Busuu’s instructional design feels well-researched and carefully developed. Combined with its inviting interface, varied exercises, and integrated vocabulary/grammar trainers, you can make solid progress and stay motivated. The option to interact with others (and the dedicated community feature) ensures a more natural use of the language. The new AI integration is the icing on the cake.

Busuu ensures that learners rarely feel overwhelmed. The only small drawback is that you may need to enable audio for certain listening tasks, as transcripts aren’t always available. Otherwise, Busuu lays a great foundation and balances vocabulary, grammar, and everyday conversation. Excellent!

Target Audience: Who Is Busuu Suited For?

We’ve now covered Busuu’s extensive features—so who exactly is this language course for?

Busuu – The Allrounder

Because Busuu’s features are so diverse, it can suit almost anyone. Some learners will focus on grammar drills, while social learners will love networking with the community. Busuu’s multi-sensory approach caters to varied learning styles, something we definitely confirmed in our Busuu review.

It’s also a solid option for complete beginners. Starting English or French from scratch, for instance, should be quite manageable with Busuu’s clear path. For languages that use a different script, Busuu adds separate modules to teach you the writing system step by step.

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Some courses go as far as C1, and there’s a placement test so intermediate or returning learners can jump right in at the appropriate level.

Value for Money: Is Busuu Worth It?

Busuu offers an array of features, but many of the best ones require a Premium or even PremiumPlus membership (now merged). Let’s look at the plan options and prices.

Busuu Premium: Features and Prices

Busuu currently offers the following Premium subscription plans:

Which Plan Is Best?

To answer that, it’s useful to see how Busuu compares to its competitors. Instead of searching the entire internet for language courses, check out our convenient price comparison of popular language-learning programs—everything at a glance, plus tips on getting the most value for your money.

Speaking of saving: learning doesn’t have to be pricey. Here’s a roundup of the best coupons and discounts so you can start your language adventure without breaking the bank. Keep an eye out for deals on Busuu and other innovative providers. It’s definitely worth a look!

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If Busuu ultimately isn’t right for you, or you prefer to stick with the free version, check out our detailed article on Busuu cancellation—including all the deadlines and steps.

Alternatives: Are There Better Options Than Busuu?

While Busuu does a great job overall, it may not be ideal for everyone. Below, we present two alternatives that can match Busuu in their own ways. For a more direct comparison, check out our Busuu vs. Series!

Mondly – The Free Spirit

Mondly, with its multifaceted approach, appeals to different types of learners. On the motivational side, Mondly is one of the strongest programs around, which is great for those looking to stick with a language long-term.

Additionally, Mondly lets you unlock all 41 languages for life. No subscription required! There are also VR concepts for immersive learning and a free version called Mondly Kids for children.

Babbel – A Timeless Classic

Babbel is often referred to as the “public’s language course,” as it does most things well at a fair price. Its instructional approach is as varied as Busuu’s, and it covers similarly interesting, practical topics. Babbel also offers live language classes (either one-on-one or in small groups) known as Babbel Live.

Babbel has a money-back guarantee and a thorough trial, making it a solid recommendation. There’s also a Babbel Lifetime option if you’d rather avoid a subscription altogether.

Conclusion: Busuu in Our Review

‒ An active community that complements a clever course ‒

Busuu is simply fun! But that’s not all: varied and well-structured exercises keep you motivated, the active community encourages you to use what you’ve learned, and official certificates reward you for your hard work. Extra features like the vocabulary/grammar trainer are smartly designed and integrate seamlessly with the user-friendly interface. The new AI-based component completes the package.

So, we can say: if you enjoy a more traditional learning approach, you’ll likely enjoy Busuu. The free version is quite generous, although the Premium plan significantly expands what you can do.

Remember: booking Busuu through the website saves you money, as the app version usually costs more. You’ll also get the money-back guarantee (web only), so you can test Busuu without any long-term commitment.

All in all, Busuu is a great app for both beginners and intermediate learners looking to make steady progress. Give it a try and see if Busuu is the right fit for you!

Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10