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Babbel is a platform that offers language learning courses for 13 languages for English speakers. The company has several learning modalities, including the Babbel app, website and Babbel for Business. The Babbel Live service, which previously offered live classes for individual consumers, closed on July 1, 2025.
Here’s what to know about Babbel, plus how much you can expect to pay per month.
How much does the Babbel app cost?
The Babbel app is a language learning platform that provides courses for beginners through advanced levels for a subscription fee. Courses include supplementary materials on language acquisition topics like culture, vacation phrases and grammar.
The app uses tiered pricing based on subscription length. The longer the subscription duration, the lower the monthly fee:
- 1-month subscription costs $17.95 per month.
- 3-month subscription costs $15.25 per month.
- 6-month subscription costs $13.45 per month.
- 12-month subscription costs $8.95 per month.
- Lifetime subscription costs a one-time payment of $299.
A subscription gets you access to all languages Babbel offers.
At NerdWallet, we like it when a service offers a lifetime subscription. Opting to pay $17.95 per month adds up to over $400 in two years. Still, you may want to start out with a recurring subscription first — to make sure you’ll get what you want out of the service before you commit.
How much does Babbel for Business cost?
Babbel for Business is for organizations and businesses that want to provide language learning for employees. The service offers access to the Babbel app, its learning approach and live group and private classes led by certified language teachers, similar to the Babbel live previously offered for individual customers.
The main difference between Babbel for individual users and Babbel for Business is that Babbel for Business lessons are geared toward enhancing communication in the workplace among employees that speak different languages.
Pricing for Babbel for Business is calculated based on the number of expected users and types of language solutions needed. To receive a quote, you can fill out a pricing form online.
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How does Babbel fit into your budget?
A helpful way to think about your budget is using the 50/30/20 framework, where 50% of your income supports needs, 30% supports wants, and 20% goes to savings and debt repayment beyond minimums.
An app like Babbel would likely reside in your wants category, though there could be circumstances that move it into the needs category.
For example, are you traveling to a location that requires you to be familiar with the language enough to communicate? If so, a program to help you learn the language could be a necessity.
If you’re traveling for work, it’s worth checking with your employer to see if they would offer you Babbel for Business.
But if your subscription to Babbel falls into the wants category — something you would use and enjoy but not necessary for your survival — then you may want to consider what other expenses you could adjust to make room for Babbel in your budget.
For instance, could you switch from lattes made by your local barista to whipping up a pot of coffee at home? Or what about making dinner at home instead of getting takeout?
You could even look at your shopping habits and see if there are ways to make adjustments, like cutting back on nonessential shopping or switching to consignment or thrift stores for clothing purchases.
How to save money on Babbel
To try out Babbel, you can take advantage of its free lessons. There is no charge to register, and the first lesson in every course is free.
Babbel also offers discounts for select groups. College students, for example, can save 65% on a three-month subscription, bringing the cost down to $15.99 for access to the app for three months. Veterans, military members, educators and healthcare workers can receive a six-month app subscription for $36, a savings of 60%.
If you do decide to try Babbel and determine it’s not for you, you have 20 days from your subscription date to request a full refund.
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