Learning a new language no longer sounds like a burden with technology that teaches you while you stay in bed. However, with technology comes the headache of searching for the right platform in the ocean of language learning.
Ever wondered whether Duolingo is worth the hype? Or, if Busuu is what it claims? Or are you confused between the two?
Both Duolingo and Busuu are heard and known names in the world of online language learning. We’ve all heard some pretty good things about them. However, if you are looking for the best one, you would probably wonder which of the two is the better.
Our article aims to provide a solution to this particular question. Without wasting any time further, let us look at Duolingo and Busuu in detail.
Duolingo vs Busuu: Quick Comparison (2024)
Here is a quick comparison between Duolingo and Busuu:
| Feature | Duolingo | Busuu |
| Approach | Gamified lessons & activities | Textbook-style lessons |
| Content | Bite-sized exercises focused on vocabulary and grammar | Comprehensive lessons with dialogues and vocabulary |
| Courses | Over 100 total courses across 40 languages | 60 courses in 14 languages |
| Adaptivity | Adaptive skill path based on performance | Static lesson progression |
| Speaking Practice | Limited speaking practice exercises | Detailed speaking exercises with AI grading |
| Learning Community | Online forums and social sharing options | In-app community features to interact with native speakers |
| Price | Free or $12.99/month without ads | Free trial, then $13.95/month |
| Pros | Fun and addictive | More well-rounded lessons |
| Cons | Can lack depth | More expensive than competitors |
Duolingo vs Busuu: Overview
Before we dive deeper into comparing Busuu vs Duolingo, let us go through a quick overview of both platforms to understand them better.
Duolingo Overview
Duolingo is the first language learning platform to offer lessons in many languages and keep their contents free of cost. They are the biggest rivals to some of the paid programs in the same niche. Duolingo has a self-paced lesson structure and a game-like interface, so it does not feel overwhelming.
Duolingo ranks among the best language learning apps because the content is better than most other paid platforms. While you won’t become proficient in your target language, Duolingo gives you just the right amount of headstart you need.
In Duolingo, some languages have better content than others. For example, if you’re an English speaker learning Spanish, you’ll have plenty of content like short, interactive videos, podcasts, and even online get-togethers with other learners. Lesser known languages won’t have so much content.
Busuu Overview
Busuu is an innovative language learning platform with a self-paced learning structure. On Busuu, you can connect with thousands of native speakers and have direct conversations in your target language. They have digital flashcards that enhance your vocabulary as you go.
Busuu is well-structured, which distinguishes it from its competitors. With a top-notch dashboard, you can view your study plan and progress in one glance. It tells you where you are and what to do next and guides you through the entire process.
Busuu focuses more on majorly spoken languages. Even though the options are fewer, all the languages are rich and diverse in course content.
Bonus: We have also done a detailed review on Busuu that you can check out to get to know more about this platform.
Duolingo vs Busuu: Key Features
Duolingo and Busuu both have unique key features that distinguish them from the rest of the language-learning platforms.
Duolingo
- Organized and bite-sized lessons that take five minutes or so to complete.
- You can practice exercises when Duolingo suspects you need a refresher.
- Track your learning progress through various levels.
- Change your target language without losing progress in another.
- A placement test to test your level in a certain language that you stopped learning.
- Lingots, crowns, and streaks form a strong motivation system.
Busuu
- Vocabulary and grammar lessons include audio, translation, and multiple practice exercises.
- Voice recording and voice recognition allow learners to record their voices during practice sessions and get feedback from native speakers.
- Receive corrections from native speakers in your writing exercises.
- Each word contains audio recordings.
- To enhance vocabulary, examples, and dialogues are provided with each new word you learn.
- The instructions about vocabulary usage and grammar tips are done in 15 languages.
Duolingo vs Busuu: Lesson Structures
Lesson structure plays a vital role in understanding whether the platform you pick is right for you. You need to pick a platform with better and easier lesson structures. The one with cluttered lesson structures can make learning challenging.
Let us see how each of these platforms stands regarding lesson structures.
Duolingo Lesson Structures
When you first sign in on Duolingo, you will be asked to choose the language you want to learn and several other questions about your motivations and goals. Then, you will be asked whether you want to start at the beginner level or if you already know some of the languages.
If you choose the beginner option, you will instantly be given your first lesson. If you already know the language a little bit, you will be required to take a test to determine your skill level.
The home screen is neatly organized with units that look like a path. Each unit has several levels, and as you complete them, you move forward on the path.
The lessons involve interactive exercises to practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The more you progress and answer questions right, the harder it gets. A little guidebook offers tips about grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
Busuu Lesson Structures
The Busuu teaching structure is very communicative, giving the users a classroom-like experience. Each exercise presents the students with something new, usually a word or a phrase, that they can use in writing and conversation in daily life.
Each lesson is taught with a particular focus, e.g., “Introducing Yourself,” “Ordering food in a restaurant,” or “Describing your hometown.” Each lesson fills you in with chunks of rich information that you can then practice in Busuu’s exercises.
The practice period allows you to converse with native speakers and learn directly from them. This way, you would know how the locals of that country pronounce certain words and phrases.
Busuu provides a complete self-study environment where you don’t have to study according to someone else’s plan or pace.
Duolingo vs Busuu: Languages Available
Duolingo offers 40 languages which are listed below:
- Spanish
- French
- Japanese
- German
- Korean
- Hindi
- Italian
- Chinese
- Russian
- Arabic
- Portuguese
- Turkish
- Dutch
- Vietnamese
- Greek
- Ukrainian
- Swedish
- Polish
- Latin
- Irish
- Norwegian
- Hebrew
- High Valyrian
- Indonesian
- Danish
- Finnish
- Romanian
- Hawaiian
- Czech
- Welsh
- Swahili
- Scottish Gaelic
- Haitian Creole
- Hungarian
- Klingon
- Esperanto
- Navajo (Beta)
- Yiddish (Beta)
- Zulu
- Xhosa (work in progress)
As you can see, Duolingo has not only included some of the major languages of the world, such as English, Hindi, French, and Chinese but also ones that barely have global significance. It is a great free platform for learners who want to know some not-so-popular languages.
Busuu only offers 14 languages, namely English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, Portuguese, Polish, and Korean. Busuu has tried to include as many major languages of the world as possible. These 14 languages are some of the top spoken globally. Some users might complain that Busuu not paying importance to lesser-known languages.
Duolingo vs Busuu: Pros And Cons
Still confused about which language-learning platform suits you the best? Or which one is worth your time and effort? Maybe a few quick “pros and cons” tables can help! Here are lists containing the upsides as well as the downsides of both services.
Duolingo: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| More languages to choose from than Busuu | Grammar is given less priority |
| Gaming like interface makes it fun | Lack of conversational practice |
| State-of-the-art speech recognition feature | |
| Bite-sized drills and exercises | |
| Attractive colors in the graphic design |
Busuu: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Better diversity of lessons than Duolingo | The free plan is limited and basically useless |
| Grammar is given more priority | Lack of speed recognition system like Duolingo |
| More accurate translations than Duolingo | Feedback is sometimes inaccurate |
| Receive direct feedback from native speakers | Limited grammar lessons in the free version |
| Cultural awareness tips enrich the knowledge | Not for advanced learners |
Duolingo vs Busuu: Pricing And Subscriptions
Learning about the pricing plans and subscription costs will allow you to make a final decision. You can see whether you can afford Busuu or Duolingo better. Moreover, now that we’ve provided you with rich information about both platforms, you can decide whether the prices are worth the features they offer.
Duolingo Pricing
If you are looking for an affordable way of learning a new language, Duolingo might just be the one for you. Duolingo is absolutely free of cost offering 40 majorly popular, averagely known, and lesser-known languages to users without demanding a penny. The free plan lasts for as long as you want to use their services with no expiration date.
However, Duolingo does have a paid plan called Super Duolingo, which offers an ad-free and more personalized learning experience. While the free plan contains all of the good features, there are a few additions to the premium version. Super Duolingo starts at $12.99/month. They also provide a 2-week free trial for the premium version!
Get 50% off on Duolingo by checking our promo codes and discounts!
Busuu Pricing
Busuu also has a basic plan, which is available for users for free. However, the features are extremely limited. The free plan is for beginners, where you learn new words to build your vocabulary using flashcards.
However, with Busuu’s free plan, you won’t learn as much as you would with Duolingo’s free version.
If you already have some knowledge of the language you want to learn and upgrade your skills, Busuu Premium could work out for you. Busuu Premium gives you access to a whole range of content worth paying for. Along with vocabulary flashcards, you get grammar lessons, exercises to improve reading, listening, and writing skills, quizzes, etc.
Duolingo vs Busuu: Which One Is Better?
So, it all comes down to the final question– which is better? Well, there is no one to answer this question, really. The answer essentially depends on your current level and the goals you want to reach with your target language.
Duolingo and Busuu offer great language learning content and are well-designed and easy to use, which is the best part.
Duolingo offers many languages you might not get on any other platforms. Moreover, the game-like interface makes the learning process fun. On the other hand, Busuu is more comprehensive and diverse in its exercises and practice sessions.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. You may try the free version of Duolingo, and if you feel like it’s not your cup of tea, you can try Busuu.
Related Read:
Conclusion: Duolingo vs Busuu (2024)
If you ask us, we like both Busuu and Duolingo. It is undeniable that both platforms offer great features that can help anyone learn a new language from the comfort of their home. The best part is both are beginner-friendly. So, if you want to learn a language before you go on your foreign trip, you can certainly learn a few new words and phrases of daily use.
That said, neither is good for advanced learning. Busuu and Duolingo are beginner-friendly and help you get started on the journey. However, for advanced lessons and to become fluent, you might need to opt for more extensive courses.
We hope you liked our article on Duolingo vs Busuu. Drop your feedback in the comment section.
FAQ
One big disadvantage of using Duolingo is that it focuses too much on English speakers. If you are an English speaker, you will have plenty of choices. You can learn any language. However, if you are a Japanese native and wish to learn French, you are out of luck!
No. Although Busuu has comprehensive and diverse course content, you will likely not achieve complete fluency. However, you will still be able to have conversations with natives and talk about “daily life” stuff.
A Busuu certificate is considered valid by many companies across the world because of the standard of the McGraw-Hill Foundation’s Common European Framework of Reference.
With Busuu, you can learn up to 14 languages. However, studying multiple languages by switching from one to another is only possible when you have a Premium Plus membership. With the free and Premium plans, you can learn only one language at once.
The best part about learning with Duolingo is that you don’t need to invest hours of your day. You can take out 15 to 30 minutes of your day and practice a few lessons every day
