Tooter teamFacts checked 4 min readThe short answer
- Choose Babbel for structured grammar and vocabulary lessons on the web, iPhone or Android, in 13 languages including Swedish, Dutch and Polish.
- Choose Tooter to spend your practice time talking, or to learn Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic, which Babbel doesn't teach.
- Is Babbel free? The first lesson of each level is, with no card needed; full courses need a subscription.
At a glance
| Compared on | Tooter | Babbel |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Out loud, all session | Repeat phrases in lessons |
| Conversation | 5 to 30 min, any time | AI roleplays, in beta |
| Course | Guided lesson chapters | CEFR courses, A1 to C1 |
| Languages | 12 languages | 13 for English speakers |
| East Asian languages | Japanese, Korean, Chinese | Not taught |
| Free to start | Free lesson chapters | First lesson of each level |
| Devices | iPhone, Android soon | Web, iPhone, Android |
Facts about Babbel come from its own website, help center and App Store listing. Checked October 31, 2026.
How speaking practice differs
Babbel's courses are written for speakers of your native language, in themed units of 10 to 15 minute lessons that mix listening, speaking, writing, grammar and dialogues, with spaced-repetition review. Speech recognition checks you as you repeat words and phrases. For conversation, Guided Conversations are scripted beginner dialogues, and Babbel Speak is an AI conversation partner in beta: you pick one of 200+ everyday scenarios, take turns speaking, and get feedback on your tasks and vocabulary at the end rather than corrections mid-answer.
Tooter starts from the conversation. You pick a lifelike AI tutor by language, accent and coaching style, choose a session of 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes, and talk the whole time. Your tutor corrects pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and fluency as you go, at your level, and can explain in your native language when you're stuck. Guided lessons build the phrases you then use in conversation.
Is Babbel free, and what does it cost?
Signing up for Babbel is free and needs only an email; the first lesson of each course and each level is free, and Babbel doesn't offer free trial codes. On babbel.com in the US, every plan includes all its languages: 1 month for $17.95, 3 months for $45.75, 6 months for $80.70, 12 months for $107.40 ($8.95 a month) and Lifetime for $299.99. Each period is paid up front, and Babbel's US terms don't refund the unused part if you cancel. The App Store also sells single-language plans, such as Spanish for $17.99 a month.
- Tooter ProCurrent website plansSee current plans
- 1 month$17.95/month
- 12 months$8.95 a month$107.40/year
- Lifetime$299.99
Languages and devices
For English speakers, Babbel teaches Spanish (Spain and Mexico), French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Indonesian, Polish, Turkish and Russian, from beginner up to B1, B2 or C1 depending on the course. It doesn't teach Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic. Babbel works in a web browser and on iPhone, iPad and Android, and you can download lessons to use offline.
Tooter teaches 12: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Russian and Turkish. It's an iPhone app today, with Android coming soon; you can build a speaking plan and subscribe on the Tooter website, then sign in to the app with the same account.
Babbel vs Duolingo, briefly
Babbel describes itself as less game-like than Duolingo, with fewer languages and more structured grammar and conversation. Duolingo's lessons are free with ads, in 40+ languages. Neither is built around long spoken conversation; see Duolingo vs Tooter for how Duolingo compares on speaking.
Which should you choose?
Want a structured course
- Want grammar and vocabulary taught step by step
- Are learning Swedish, Dutch, Danish or Polish
- Want to learn on the web or offline
- Want a lifetime plan
Want to actually talk
- Are learning Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic
- Want 5 to 30 minute conversations
- Want corrections as you speak
- Want to pick your tutor's accent and style
