Babbel alternative for learners past the basics
Babbel teaches a language through structured lessons, and its Review uses spaced repetition for the words from those lessons. Vokabulo reviews the words you choose: the ones from your own work, conversations and interests.
Babbel
The lesson’s words
Review works with the vocabulary of the lessons you complete
Vokabulo
Any word you meet
type or say it, and it joins your reviews with translation, example and usage
At a glance
| At a glance | Vokabulo | Babbel |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | VokabuloLanguage learners past the basics, from B1 onward | BabbelLearners who want a structured course with grammar |
| Where the words come from | VokabuloYour own life: what you read, hear and need at work | BabbelBabbel’s lessons Source |
| Your own words | VokabuloType or dictate any word; Vokabulo adds the translation, an example sentence and, for nouns, the article | BabbelNot possible: Review uses the lesson vocabulary Source |
| Review scheduling | VokabuloSpaced repetition with FSRS, switched on from the start: every word gets its own schedule, with nothing to set up | BabbelSpaced repetition on a fixed ladder: 1, 4, 7, 14 and 60 days, then six months Source |
| Tone and usage | VokabuloUsage labels flag words that are informal, slang, formal or business | BabbelTaught where the lessons cover it |
| Languages | VokabuloMore than 100, in any pair | Babbel14 languages Source |
| Devices | VokabuloiPhone and iPad (iOS 26 or later) | BabbeliPhone, iPad, Android and the web Source |
| Price | VokabuloFree to start; Pro is $69.99 a year in the US | Babbel$89.99 a year for one language, $107.99 for all, in the US Source |
What really differs
Each one in the same order: how Babbel does it, how Vokabulo does it.
Babbel
Babbel’s Review works with the vocabulary of the lessons you complete. Its help centre says plainly that you cannot add your own words.
Vokabulo
In Vokabulo every word you meet can become a card: from work, conversations or what you read, in more than 100 languages.
Babbel
A word you get right comes back after a day, then after 4, 7, 14 and 60 days, then after six months.
Vokabulo
FSRS gives each word its own schedule. Words you know come back less often; the ones that slip come back sooner.
Babbel
Lessons build grammar and vocabulary step by step, which is ideal when you want a clear path through a language.
Vokabulo
Vokabulo has no fixed path. Past the basics, the next word you need depends on your life, not on a curriculum.
Price
Babbel is a subscription. In the US, one language costs $17.99 a month or $89.99 a year, and all languages cost $107.99 for twelve months.
Vokabulo is free to start. A free account is a full app, with limits on six features such as AI translations and Scenes. Vokabulo Pro removes the limits for $69.99 a year in the US, which works out at $5.83 a month.
If you want a structured course with grammar, Babbel gives you one. Vokabulo is for the words a course cannot know. Prices vary by country.
Using both
Use Babbel for the course and the grammar, and Vokabulo for the words you meet outside it.
When a word from a Babbel lesson matters to you personally, save it in Vokabulo too. It gets an example sentence, usage notes and its own schedule.
Vokabulo is free to start, on iPhone and iPad.
Start free · Upgrade anytime
Facts checked on 3 October 2026. Babbel facts link to Babbel’s own website, help pages and App Store listing. Something out of date? Write to ilove@vokabulo.com.
