by Erin McGann
Updated by Valentina Rampazzo on October 10, 2024
Lingoda vs Babbel vs Duolingo: A review [2024]
If you want to learn a language, the availability of options nowadays extends greatly. From self-paced videos to language exchange groups and from language apps with thousands of exercises to online or offline language schools, choices abound. The direction you take will most likely be dictated by your schedule, financial resources as well as your linguistic goal. To make things a little easier, we break down for you three of the most renowned platforms currently at hand: Lingoda vs. Babbel vs. Duolingo.
Lingoda is an online language school, providing 24/7 classes in German, Spanish, English, Business English, French and Italian with certified native-level teachers; Babbel’s offer includes both an app to practice one (or more) of the 13 languages they teach as well as live classes; Duolingo, finally, allows you to play around with 43 languages and learn basic vocabulary and structures exclusively through their educational app.
While these options take their own approach to language learning, each of them might resonate with you for specific reasons, and you might find them beneficial at different stages of your learning journey.
Online language school vs. educational app. The choice between either one of them will largely depend on your linguistic goals. Are you just starting to approach a new language and you wish to get familiar with basic vocabulary and expressions? Or are you willing to put in the time to reach fluency, converse with native-level teachers, and deep-dive into grammatical structures? Here is a summary of what Lingoda and Duolingo have to offer:
| Lingoda | Duolingo | |
| Format | Online language school | Educational app |
| Number of languages | 5 (German, Spanish, English, Business English, French, Italian) | 43 |
| CERF levels and certifications | German A1 to German C1 English A1 to English C1 Business English – A1 to B2 Spanish A1 to Spanish B2 French A1 to French B2 Italian A1 You will receive a CERF-aligned certificate upon completion of each level | Linguistic difficulty intensifies as you practice, as materials are designed around CERF levels No certificate available |
| Classes | 60 minute-lessons with certified native-level teachers Small groups of a maximum of five students or private classes | Bite-sized lessons, earn points to unlock new levels |
| Scheduling | Classes available 24/7, self-planning according to own schedule | Self-paced, reminders are available |
| Resources | In-class materials with personalized notes by the teacher Additional self-practice include: – Flashcards – Lingobites – Lesson exercises and quizzes – Vocabulary trainer The Lingoda Spanish Podcast: El Viaje Español (exclusively for Spanish learners). Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music and YouTube | Game-like exercises designed to practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Interactive stories Podcasts |
| Best for | Serious learners and opportunity seekers. The focus at Lingoda is to ensure proficiency and ease with the use of the language. That is achieved through lessons centered around conversation. Classes are designed to prompt the active application of the language, with real-life situations and inclusive vocabulary. Special attention and thorough explanations of grammar structures are also an integral part of Lingoda’s modules. | Passion learners and approaching a new language. Duolingo is the perfect solution to dip your toe in a new idiom, to get familiar with some of the vocabulary and grammar structures and learning very basic sentences. |
| Cons | With a stronger focus on speaking, listening and reading, writing skills are still practiced in class but on a smaller scale. | Lacking an abundance of real-life examples as well as in-depth explanations of grammar structures. |
Babbel’s online language-learning platform is more involved than Duolingo and gives you a better chance of conversing in the language you’re learning. How does it differ from Lingoda, though?
| Lingoda | Babbel and Babbel Live | |
| Format | Online language school | Subscription-based language learning platform (Babbel) with the option to attend live language classes (Babbel Live) |
| Number of languages | 5 | 14 |
| CERF levels and certifications | German A1 to German C1 English A1 to English C1 Business English – A1 to B2 Spanish A1 to Spanish B2 French A1 to French B2 Italian A1 You will receive a CERF-aligned certificate upon completion of each level | Anytime you complete a level on the Babbel app, you’ll receive an official Babbel certificate based on the CEFR. Note that the contents reach C1 level only for Spanish, French, English, Italian, and German. For the rest of the available languages, levels vary from A1 to B1, with some additional B2 content for Dutch and Swedish |
| Classes | 60 minute-lessons with certified native-level teachers Small groups of a maximum of five students or private classes | 60 minute-lessons with native-speaking language teachers Classes of up to six students or private |
| Programs | Lingoda Flex – customize your plan, adjusting your learning schedule and monthly subscription directly from your account (you can increase, decrease, or pause it as you see fit) Lingoda Sprint – 2-month learning challenge. You can choose between Sprint (15 classes/mo) or the Super Sprint (30 classes/mo) and get rewarded if you complete it following the rules with 50% cashback or class credits Lingoda Teams – regular weekly classes with both the same teacher and the same group of students throughout the whole course. | n/a |
| Scheduling | Classes available 24/7, self-planning according to own schedule | Self-paced, reminders are available for the Babbel app Self-planning for Babbel Live classes |
| Best for | Lingoda prides itself on focusing on real-life, practical content, allowing its students to gain confidence with the use of language that has useful applications. Classes are centered around conversations with well-rounded grammar explanations. Additionally, with the smallest classes in the market, Lingoda guarantees personalized feedback and a student-teacher relationship that goes beyond just correcting mistakes and allows you to target specific areas in your linguistic development. | Babbel offers a practical way to approach a language both in drops, through the app (thanks to exercises and podcasts), or more seriously with the Babbel Live option. It also allows the opportunity to have unlimited classes for a relatively low price. |
| Cons | Writing skills are still practiced in class but in a smaller scale. | There is no free version of the platform like Duolingo proposes. Babbel app isn’t as user-friendly and Babbel Live lacks a structured curriculum to follow, which can lead to more intermittent and inconsistent learning. |
Lingoda, Babbel, and Duolingo are among the most renowned platforms currently available in the market for language learners. The three have different approaches to language learning: app-based only, a hybrid option merging the convenience of the app and live classes, and a full-on online language school. Depending on your goals, schedule, and budget, your choice might differ. Duolingo is your go-to if you wish to dip your toe in a new language; Babbel is great for having both the options of self-paced exercises as well as live classes; Lingoda is unbeatable, though, if you are a serious learner, whose goal is to reach fluency. Thanks to Lingoda’s conversation-focused classes with native-level teachers and a culture of personalized feedback, your linguistic dreams are about to become a reality.
