# Duolingo vs Babbel: what people say

People are warmer about Babbel: 31% of on-topic posts and comments are positive and 8% negative, against 10% and 27% for Duolingo. Most liked about Duolingo: "Streaks help users stay consistent and are a point of pride". Top complaint: "Gamification, streaks and chests distract from actually learning". Most liked about Babbel: "Grammar explanations teach you why, unlike Duolingo's guesswork". Top complaint: "No Japanese, Georgian, Hindi, Korean or Thai content people want".

https://sociallisteningai.com/samples/duolingo-vs-babbel/

| | Duolingo | Babbel |
|---|---|---|
| All platforms | 10% positive, 27% negative (431) | 31% positive, 8% negative (115) |
| TikTok | 6% positive, 10% negative (147) | 92% positive, 0% negative (12) |
| YouTube | 11% positive, 24% negative (160) | 15% positive, 6% negative (34) |
| Reddit | 10% positive, 46% negative (70) | 33% positive, 12% negative (60) |
| X | 19% positive, 59% negative (54) | 0% positive, 0% negative (9) |

## What people like

**Duolingo**

- Streaks help users stay consistent and are a point of pride (13)
- Finishing a whole course feels like a real achievement worth celebrating (11)
- The owl mascot and funny marketing are widely loved and shared (7)

**Babbel**

- Grammar explanations teach you why, unlike Duolingo's guesswork (7)
- Better than Duolingo overall for serious learning (5)
- Well-organized courses with extra topic-specific lessons you can pick (3)

## What people complain about

**Duolingo**

- Gamification, streaks and chests distract from actually learning (26)
- Long streaks don't translate to speaking or understanding (16)
- Removed human features: forums, stories, discussion boards (7)

**Babbel**

- No Japanese, Georgian, Hindi, Korean or Thai content people want (5)
- Too little repetition and no guidance on which extra exercises or podcasts to use when (3)
- Subscription pricing is confusing: advertised monthly but charged upfront (2)

## What they compare it with

**Duolingo**

- Other apps (Lingopie, Speak, Langua, Natulang, Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, Busuu, etc.) suggested as replacements (15)
- Anki recommended over Duolingo for efficient vocab (6)
- People compare it unfavorably to real conversation practice and in-person classes (3)

**Babbel**

- Babbel vs Duolingo: Babbel more serious and structured, Duolingo more gamified (18)
- Babbel vs Pimsleur/Rocket/other apps used together (4)
- Babbel vs Duolingo: they complement each other rather than one being better (2)