Education · head to head
Busuu vs MasterClass
Busuu
Education
Language learning app with a community correction feature, owned by Chegg since 2022
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Busuu has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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.; MasterClass annual membership required with no option to purchase individual courses
- They diverge on capability: Busuu covers Structured course units, MasterClass covers High-quality video.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Busuu and MasterClass actually diverge.
| Attribute | Busuu | MasterClass |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Free with a Premium subscription | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 2015 |
Identical on both: 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 MasterClass
- High-quality video
- Workbooks
- Community
- Mobile apps
- Offline viewing
- Smart TV apps
- Session stories
- Smart TV platforms
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 MasterClass
- Someone working toward a specific proficiency level and wanting a structured study plan rather than a gamified drip of lessonsnot MasterClass
- A learner who wants offline access for commuting or travel, which requires the Premium subscriptionnot MasterClass
- A buyer comparing Busuu against Duolingo who values depth of grammar explanation over gamificationnot MasterClass
MasterClass
- Learning from expertsnot Busuu
- Inspirationnot Busuu
- Skill developmentnot Busuu
- Entertainmentnot 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.
MasterClass
- Annual membership required with no option to purchase individual courses
- No instructor interaction or personalized feedback on student work
- No hands-on exercises, assignments, or peer discussion with other students
- Limited interactivity with focus on entertainment value over practical skill development
- Difficult to cancel subscription according to customer reviews
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
MasterClass
On request- Individual$10/month
- All classes
- One device
- Mobile access
- Duo$15/month
- All classes
- Two devices
- Offline viewing
- Family$20/month
- All classes
- Six devices
- All features
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.
Choose MasterClass if
- You need high-quality video.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want workbooks.
Questions people ask
- Is Busuu or MasterClass better?
- Neither clearly leads. Busuu starts at Free and MasterClass at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Busuu or MasterClass?
- Busuu has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Busuu and On request for MasterClass.
- Does Busuu or MasterClass run on more platforms?
- Busuu runs on iOS, Android, Web. MasterClass runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Busuu for free?
- Yes. Busuu has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MasterClass starts at On request.
- 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 MasterClass is typically brought in for.
- What can Busuu do that MasterClass cannot?
- Busuu covers Structured course units, Community correction, Study plans and certification, Offline lessons. MasterClass covers High-quality video, Workbooks, Community, Mobile apps.
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.
MasterClass: What is the pricing structure for MasterClass?
MasterClass requires an annual membership with no single-course purchase option. Standard plan costs $10/month, Plus is $15/month with offline access, and Premium is $20/month for up to 6 devices.
SourceBusuu: Who owns Busuu?
Chegg, the publicly traded US education technology company, acquired Busuu in 2022.
MasterClass: How many courses are available on MasterClass?
MasterClass has over 200 video classes taught by celebrities and experts, with each course containing approximately 20 videos of about 10 minutes each plus detailed workbooks.
SourceBusuu: 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.
MasterClass: Does MasterClass provide certificates or formal credentials?
No. MasterClass does not provide certificates upon completing a course, so it does not offer formal recognition for course completion.
SourceMasterClass: Do MasterClass courses include personalized feedback from instructors?
No. All MasterClass courses are pre-recorded videos, so there is no direct interaction with instructors or personalized feedback on student work.
SourceRelated pages
More on MasterClass
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