Busuu

Overview

Busuu is a language-learning service with structured courses for beginners through advanced learners. Its mix of offline study, placement testing and feedback makes it a strong fit for learners who want a guided course rather than conversation practice alone. The trade-off is that some speaking features are limited to mobile use in selected languages.

Key features

Complete courses span 14 languages and all levels, with practice in speaking, listening, reading and writing. That breadth suits learners building skills across a language, while a placement test can help returning or more experienced learners find an appropriate starting point.

Lessons work offline, a practical advantage for study during commutes or when connectivity is unreliable. Personalised review adapts exercises to mistakes and learner progress; speaking activities also provide instant, targeted pronunciation feedback. However, some speaking features are available on mobile only for selected languages, so learners should not assume the same speaking practice applies across every course or platform.

Busuu also connects learners through a community for pronunciation practice, cultural insights and language tips. The company says the community includes 120 million learners, but that scale does not guarantee a particular kind of exchange. Learners can earn certificates after passing a level and share their progress. Premium removes ads and adds grammar guides and quizzes, plus vocabulary practice shaped by learner progress.

Pricing

Busuu is freemium. The Free plan costs nothing and provides a way to begin learning without a paid commitment. The Premium plan has custom pricing and adds premium learning features, including ad-free study and grammar and vocabulary review; it is the more suitable option for learners who want those review tools.

Premium Plus also has custom pricing and includes AI Conversations and personalised feedback. It is the plan to consider for learners seeking those additions, while the Free option avoids a subscription. Busuu also names a Premium Free plan, but its price and limited-feature positioning do not establish a separate advantage over the Free plan. No trial length, renewal terms or usage caps are given for Busuu's plans, so the choice between paid tiers should rest on their stated feature differences.

Platforms

Busuu is available on Android, iOS and the web, with mobile apps and cloud deployment. Offline lessons help mobile learners study without a connection, though the selected-language restriction on some mobile speaking features matters for anyone choosing a course mainly for pronunciation work. Support is available through email, tickets, documentation and FAQs.

Who it's for

Busuu is best suited to self-directed learners who want a course structure, coverage across the four core language skills and review that responds to mistakes. It can serve both beginners and advanced learners, and certificates offer a way to mark passed levels. Businesses and educators can also use Busuu's language-learning offerings, though the consumer plan details do not describe their terms.

It is a weaker fit for learners who need speaking features in every language on every device, or who want to choose a service by comparing exact subscription prices before signing up.

Pros and cons

• Pros: All-level courses in 14 languages combine speaking, listening, reading and writing, giving learners a structured route through a language.
• Pros: Offline lessons and placement testing support flexible study and a more appropriate starting point for learners with prior knowledge.
• Pros: Mistake-based review and pronunciation feedback make practice more responsive than a fixed sequence of exercises.
• Cons: Some mobile speaking features cover selected languages only, limiting the appeal for learners who prioritize pronunciation practice in a specific course.
• Cons: Premium and Premium Plus have custom pricing, so their cost cannot be weighed against their added features from the plan prices.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse our Language learning apps list or AI Language Learning Apps. Duolingo is another freemium option on Android, iOS, macOS and the web; choose it if you want a free plan plus a one-week free trial. See Duolingo.

For speaking-focused practice, Gliglish offers a free tier with 10 minutes of speaking daily and conversations up to 50 messages, with availability limited at peak hours; pick it if those stated conversation limits suit your routine. See Gliglish. Talkpal's free Basic Plan has a 10-minute daily limit, while its listed Premium option offers unlimited practice with all AI modes; it may suit learners who want AI-mode practice and can evaluate its paid plan separately. See Talkpal.

ELSA Speak offers the first two lessons of topics on its free plan and a Premium plan at $159.99 a year; consider it when that topic-based free access or stated annual price fits your priorities. See ELSA Speak. Enverson AI has a free vocabulary-learning version, an Individual plan at $9.99 a month for 1 seat and a Business plan at $999 a month for 50 seats; it is an option for buyers who need those seat-based terms. See Enverson AI.

Kotrin, Langua and Atlas Runa are also listed as alternatives; compare them if you want to consider other language-learning options. Kotrin, Langua, Atlas Runa. The AI Study Tools list offers another category to explore.

Verdict

Choose Busuu if you want an all-level language course with offline lessons, placement testing and personalised review across speaking, listening, reading and writing. Its free plan lowers the barrier to starting, while Premium adds focused review tools. Look elsewhere if your course depends on mobile speaking features that may not be available for your chosen language, or if exact paid-plan pricing is essential to your decision.