Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Busuu vs Speak & Learn English

Busuu 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Busuu
Speak & Learn English 4.6★ · Free + IAP 40

Busuu is the better choice for comprehensive language learning, offering more robust features and a better free experience, while Speak & Learn English struggles with misleading advertising and a limited free tier.

Full reviews: Busuu · Speak & Learn English

Busuu offers a more complete language learning experience with a focus on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, including interaction with native speakers. Speak & Learn English, despite its higher number of ratings, faces significant criticism for misleading claims about its free access and high subscription costs.

Head to head

Features and Content edge: BusuuR2R4R8R20
Busuu Busuu is praised for its comprehensive content, covering grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, with some users finding it more effective than competitors R8R20. The ability to get pronunciation corrected by native speakers and competitive leaderboards are appreciated R2. However, some users find the A2 level for certain languages lacking in vocabulary and grammar R4, and content for less common languages like Korean or Arabic is minimal R37R43. The AI conversation feature is noted as a premium-only feature R24.
Speak & Learn English Speak & Learn English offers explanations in native languages and uses AI for interaction, which some users find helpful . However, the AI voices can sound robotic and mispronounce words . The app is primarily focused on English, with a limited selection of other languages R73. Some users find the content moves too fast for beginners and lacks practical examples .
Ease of Use and Learning Experience edge: BusuuR2R5R19R20
Busuu Busuu is generally found easy to follow and effective for learning, with lessons that stick R5R20. Users appreciate the teaching style and explanations R20. Some find it more engaging than other apps R2. However, some users report issues with muffled or distorted AI voices R19 and the review section not working R40. There are also complaints about the app being boring or lacking repetition for effective learning .
Speak & Learn English Speak & Learn English is described as easy to understand and specific . Users appreciate the clear AI voice . However, some find the explanations too lengthy and the app can freeze . A significant issue is the app's speech recognition requiring exact phrases, leading to frustration .
Reliability and Technical Issues edge: BusuuR10R31R40R53
Busuu Busuu users occasionally experience the app freezing, requiring them to retake lessons R53. Some users report issues with the review section not working properly R40. There are also serious complaints about customer support, including refusal of refunds and account deletion R10R31.
Speak & Learn English Speak & Learn English users report the app freezing and loading issues that prevent speaking practice . There are also multiple reports of subscriptions auto-renewing despite cancellation attempts .
Price and Value (Free vs. Paid) edge: BusuuR4R7R8R13
Busuu Busuu offers a free tier that some users find comprehensive enough to learn a lot R8R29. However, the free version is heavily criticized for an excessive number of unskippable ads R4R13. Many core features like the review section, AI conversations, and speaking practice are locked behind a premium paywall R18R24. Premium prices are considered high by some, and existing customers report being charged double for renewals . There are also complaints about unclear pricing and automatic enrollment in yearly plans R7R34.
Speak & Learn English Speak & Learn English is widely criticized for misleading advertising that claims the app is free, when in reality, it quickly pushes users to a paid subscription, often after a short trial R64. The subscription is described as expensive, with one review mentioning $14.99 per week R94R108. The free version is extremely limited, sometimes only allowing 10-20 messages .
Support and Transparency edge: BusuuR7R10R31R34
Busuu Busuu receives negative feedback regarding its customer support, with users reporting issues like refused refunds, account deletion without explanation, and ignored follow-up messages R10R31. There are also complaints about a lack of transparency regarding premium features and auto-enrollment in yearly plans R7R34.
Speak & Learn English Speak & Learn English faces significant criticism for a lack of transparency regarding its pricing model, with many users feeling misled by advertisements claiming the app is free R64. There are also reports of subscriptions continuing to charge even after cancellation .
Pick Busuu if

you want a comprehensive language learning app with good teaching methods and the ability to interact with native speakers, and are willing to tolerate ads in the free version or pay for premium access R2R8R20.

Pick Speak & Learn English if

you are specifically looking to learn English and appreciate AI-driven explanations in your native language, and are prepared for a paid subscription .

Evidence note: Reviews for Speak & Learn English are heavily skewed towards complaints about misleading free claims and high costs, making it difficult to assess its core learning effectiveness fairly. Many positive reviews are short and lack detail.

Frequently asked

Is Busuu truly free?
Busuu offers a free tier where you can learn a lot, including grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, but it comes with a significant number of ads and limits access to features like the review section and AI conversations R8R18R24R29.
Is Speak & Learn English actually free?
Speak & Learn English is not truly free; despite advertisements claiming it is, users are quickly prompted to sign up for a paid subscription, often after a very limited free trial, with costs reported as high as $14.99 per week R64R94R108R112.
Which app has better language variety?
Busuu offers a wider selection of languages, though some users note that content quality can vary for less common languages like Arabic or Korean R37R43R54. Speak & Learn English primarily focuses on English, with a limited number of other languages available R73.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Busuu 5/5 · US It’s a game, a fun way to learn.: I like how you can correct your pronunciation with native speakers. I also like that there are weekly leader boards; it gives you a competitive drive to learn more.
  2. [R4] Busuu 2/5 · US A2 level for Chinese sucks: I spent 131 days learning A1 level. I was really looking forward to A2 level; however, when I started A2 level lessons. It had vocabulary that it never taught me nor did it teach me any grammar. This app has a lot of ads and I paid for the premium. It feels like a huge waste of time and money. The only good thing I got out of this is that I am proficient in A1. Wish th
  3. [R8] Busuu 4/5 · US Um app excelente para aprender outros idiomas: O Busuu é o app de aprendizado de idiomas gratuito mais completo que eu já testei! Mesmo sem pagar o plano Premium, você consegue aprender muita coisa, gramática, vocabulário, pronúncia. Ele é bem completo mesmo!
  4. [R20] Busuu 5/5 · US Lessons stick and are easy to follow: I love the teaching style and how their lessons are easy to follow. They also give tips for learning as well as a good explanation for why something is. Great learning tool!
  5. [R5] Busuu 5/5 · US After two days I learned a lot: So far this app seems to ba a really good tool
  6. [R19] Busuu 2/5 · US Bad Audio: Audio is completely horrid. Cannot hear anything that is being said by these AI voices.
  7. [R10] Busuu 1/5 · US No refund: Busuu promised a refund. They mentioned 14 days for a refund. After a day, I asked for a refund and they refused. Buyer beware! This program reminds me of all the reasons I hated High School Spanish class.
  8. [R31] Busuu 1/5 · US No Transparency, No Support, No Respect for Customers: A disappointing customer experience. I paid for a subscription using a valid payment method from a supported country. During the internet disruptions in Iran, I contacted support to explain my situation and request assistance. Instead of helping, the company deleted my account and later ignored my follow-up messages. This is not about company
  9. [R40] Busuu 1/5 · GB Review Section: The Review Section of the App is not working properly and from what I have been told will be out of action for sometime.
  10. [R53] Busuu 4/5 · US Loving it!: I’ve been studying Japanese consistently for over 300 days using Busuu. I’m learning so much better than any other app I’ve used before. My only quarrel is that sometimes it freezes up on me and I have to retake my lessons but that’s more practice for me!
  11. [R7] Busuu 1/5 · US I just downloaded may have gotten charged: I was downloading the app because I wanted to learn French when o downloaded the app I went on ChatGPT which told me it was free and I didn’t need a subscription but now I believed it charged me 200 dollars so I’m not sure why it wasn’t clear and I DO NOT want to get charged cause I am fully ok which just having the basics
  12. [R13] Busuu 1/5 · US Too many adds for premium: Have been using it for a while now and haven’t been keeping up the practice because of how many ads they have or how often they want you to go to premium
  13. [R34] Busuu 1/5 · US AUTO ENROLLS FOR 1 YEAR: Beware, even if you delete this app, they will automatically enroll you in a 1 year plan and charge you for THE ENTIRE YEAR without notice.
  14. [R18] Busuu 3/5 · US worth it for learning: its great for learning a new language and it allows you to help others through their journey in learning a new language, but when you do not have premium in the app you have endless ads and you cant use the review section.
  15. [R24] Busuu 3/5 · US This is very good app: The only nit pick I have is that you can’t do the AI conversations or the AI listening without premium. And unfortunately, for kids trying to learn languages, premium really gets in the way with that. It would be nice to have access to the AI stuff even without premium, as for me, I found that’s the best way I learn German. Side note: they already have adds, why do they need
  16. [R29] Busuu 5/5 · US I love it: I have honestly been learning Russian rappidly❤️ I love this app so much it has helped me with my journey a lot and it’s the best app I have ever used for learning that is FREE
  17. [R64] Speak & Learn English 1/5 · US Mentira: No es gratis cómo dicen tantos comerciales
  18. [R94] Speak & Learn English 1/5 · US Expensive: Very expensive
  19. [R108] Speak & Learn English 1/5 · US Esperaba una app gratis no lo es: “La descargué porque el anuncio decía que era gratuita, pero al abrirla me pidió iniciar una prueba que se convierte en una suscripción de $14.99 por semana. Me hubiera gustado que esto se explicara claramente desde el prin
  20. [R112] Speak & Learn English 1/5 · US im confused??: it says its free in ads and stuff (thats where i learned about it) but when i open it immediately says "7 day free trial" and like $15 bucks a month??
  21. [R37] Busuu 2/5 · GB 5/5 for German/Italian/Spanish/Chinese, but 1/5 for Arabic: I’ve preferred Busuu over many other language apps and have used it for many years. Really enjoyed learning several languages with the app - as very easy to use and a bit addictive so learning quickly! However, tried learning Arabic - and both the Complete and Travel Arabic are very poorly set up: Complete Arabic starts with two letters
  22. [R43] Busuu 1/5 · GB More content: The app is good for some languages but Korean is very minimal.
  23. [R54] Busuu 3/5 · GB More languages: It would be nice if more languages got added even mow and then instead of limitint it down to 14 languages only as it would be nice to expand more to other places then the more known popular ones
  24. [R73] Speak & Learn English 1/5 · US Limited: Arabic is the 5th most spoken language in the world and this app only has four languages to learn.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store