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Education · head to head

Busuu vs Duolingo

Busuu logo

Busuu

Education

Language learning app with a community correction feature, owned by Chegg since 2022

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Duolingo logo

Duolingo

Education

Learn a language for free, forever

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Busuu the free tier is limited enough that meaningful progress in most languages effectively requires the Premium subscription within a few weeks of use.; Duolingo free tier includes ads and energy-based hearts system limiting daily practice without paying
  • They diverge on capability: Busuu covers Structured course units, Duolingo covers 40+ languages.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Busuu and Duolingo actually diverge.

Attributes where Busuu and Duolingo differ
AttributeBusuuDuolingo
Pricing modelFree with a Premium subscriptionUnknown
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (iOS, Android, Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Busuu

  • Structured course units
  • Community correction
  • Study plans and certification
  • Offline lessons
  • Grammar review units
  • Live tutoring credits

Only in Duolingo

  • 40+ languages
  • Gamification
  • Streaks
  • Leaderboards
  • Stories
  • Podcasts
  • Speaking exercises
  • AI tutor

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Busuu

  • A self-directed adult learner who wants human correction on writing and speaking exercises rather than only algorithmic feedbacknot Duolingo
  • Someone working toward a specific proficiency level and wanting a structured study plan rather than a gamified drip of lessonsnot Duolingo
  • A learner who wants offline access for commuting or travel, which requires the Premium subscriptionnot Duolingo
  • A buyer comparing Busuu against Duolingo who values depth of grammar explanation over gamificationnot Duolingo

Duolingo

  • Language learningnot Busuu
  • Travel preparationnot Busuu
  • Career developmentnot Busuu
  • Cultural explorationnot Busuu

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Busuu

  • The free tier is limited enough that meaningful progress in most languages effectively requires the Premium subscription within a few weeks of use.
  • Community correction quality depends on other users being active in your target language at the time you submit, so response speed and quality vary noticeably by language and time zone.
  • Since the 2022 Chegg acquisition, Busuu sits inside a company built around subscription homework and study services, and Chegg has faced its own commercial pressure from AI tools reducing demand for its core products, which is a relevant roadmap risk.
  • Course depth and language coverage are uneven; widely spoken languages such as Spanish and French have far more content than smaller language courses.
  • The official Busuu certificate is not a recognised external qualification equivalent to something like an IELTS or DELF exam, so it carries limited weight outside informal use.

Duolingo

  • Free tier includes ads and energy-based hearts system limiting daily practice without paying
  • Gamification focus may appeal to casual learners but lacks depth for serious language study beyond conversational basics
  • Limited to short, bite-sized lessons without extensive grammar explanations or cultural context

Pricing, plan by plan

Busuu

Free
  • Busuu Premium$13.99/month
    • Free tier gives limited vocabulary and grammar content per language, with ads
    • Premium unlocks full course content, offline lessons and grammar review units
    • Annual Premium plans typically run $69.99 to $99.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing

Duolingo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All language courses
    • Ad-supported
    • Limited hearts (5-heart system)
  • Super$12.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Unlimited hearts
    • Extra practice tools
  • Super Family$119.99/year
    • Up to 6 users
    • All Super features
    • Family group
  • Max$undefined/mo
    • All Super features
    • Video Call with Lily
    • Roleplay scenarios

Which should you pick?

Choose Busuu if

  • You need structured course units.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want community correction.
Busuu review

Choose Duolingo if

  • You need 40+ languages.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want gamification.
Duolingo review

Questions people ask

Is Busuu or Duolingo better?
Neither clearly leads. Busuu starts at Free and Duolingo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Busuu or Duolingo?
Busuu starts at Free and Duolingo at Free.
Does Busuu or Duolingo run on more platforms?
Both run on iOS, Android, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Busuu for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Busuu best used for?
Busuu is most often used for a self-directed adult learner who wants human correction on writing and speaking exercises rather than only algorithmic feedback, someone working toward a specific proficiency level and wanting a structured study plan rather than a gamified drip of lessons, a learner who wants offline access for commuting or travel, which requires the premium subscription, a buyer comparing busuu against duolingo who values depth of grammar explanation over gamification. Of those, a self-directed adult learner who wants human correction on writing and speaking exercises rather than only algorithmic feedback and someone working toward a specific proficiency level and wanting a structured study plan rather than a gamified drip of lessons are not what Duolingo is typically brought in for.
What can Busuu do that Duolingo cannot?
Busuu covers Structured course units, Community correction, Study plans and certification, Offline lessons. Duolingo covers 40+ languages, Gamification, Streaks, Leaderboards.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Busuu: Is Busuu free?

A limited amount of vocabulary and grammar content per language is free with ads. Full course access, offline lessons and the certificate require Busuu Premium.

Duolingo: What is Duolingo's pricing model?

Duolingo offers free tier with ads and limited features, Super Duolingo at $12.99/month (ad-free, unlimited hearts, extra practice), Super Family at ~$119.99/year for up to 6 users, and Duolingo Max with AI features like Video Call and Roleplay.

Source
Busuu: Who owns Busuu?

Chegg, the publicly traded US education technology company, acquired Busuu in 2022.

Duolingo: Is Duolingo effective for language learning?

Duolingo has 135+ million monthly active users as of Q3 2025, making it the world's most widely used language-learning app. Its gamified approach and free tier have driven massive adoption.

Source
Busuu: What is the community correction feature?

Writing and speaking exercises are submitted to other Busuu users who are native speakers of your target language, who correct them for free as part of the community exchange.

Duolingo: What AI features does Duolingo Max include?

Duolingo Max includes Video Call for conversation practice with AI character Lily and Roleplay for scenario-based speaking practice. As of January 2026, Explain My Answer became free for all users.

Source
Duolingo: Does Duolingo work offline?

Duolingo is primarily online, though it may offer limited offline lesson downloads on some platforms. Full features require internet connection.

Source
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