Learning a new language traditionally involves reading bulky textbooks, taking classes from expert teachers, or sometimes migrating to a new location or country.
The rise of Digital technologies like the Internet and Smartphones has simplified the language learning experience and methodology.
Some Apps and websites help you learn a new language flexibly and conveniently.
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Busuu and Duolingo are the most widely used and popular language-learning apps since both apps allow users to learn a new language online, many wonder which one is better Duolingo and Busuu.
In our Duolingo vs Busuu comparison article, we will compare these apps by discussing their features, content, price, and cost.
Criteria For Comparison
- Cost
- Features
- Content
- Learning Style
- Pros and Cons
Busuu
Busuu draws its name from an endangered language, launched in 2008 to overcome the traditional language learning methods.
It offers online courses with native-speaker interaction at an affordable price.
Cost:
Busuu offers free learning with some limited features. You can buy the fully functional premium version for 7$ to 14$, per month.
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Features:
Busuu has a powerful feature that helps a language learner get personalized feedback on writing and pronunciation from native speakers.
Some more features are;
- Interactive Lessons
- Personalized Feedback
- Grammer Explanation
- Vocabulary building etc.
Content:
Structured Learning: The content is focused on communication exercises covering real-life scenarios.
The content is focused on building vocabulary, and grammar along with interactive audiovisual exercises like flashcards and quizzes
Interactive Features: The learner can get corrections on writing and pronunciation from native speakers in the Busuu community.
It provides a connection with other learners in the community for motivation.
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Learning Style
The Lessons are structured and well-organized around a curriculum. To improve communication skills, real-life scenarios, and exercises are included.
Busuu offers a point system and gamified structures, but it is better than Duolingo.
Pros & Cos
Pros
- Correction and personalized feedback on writing and communication from native speakers.
- Lesson based well organized structured learning
- Lessons can be downloaded on mobile phones and learned at convenient timing
- Community support, doubt clearing, and feedback from other learners and experts in the community.
Cons
- The free version has very limited features.
- As compared to Duolingo Busuu offers very few languages to be specific only 12.
- Less gamification and a more academic-like approach making it a little less inspirational and engaging.
Duolingo
The main objective behind the Duolingo development was to develop a free and accessible language learning platform.
It is now the world’s most famous and widely used language-earning app available for Android, iOS, and the web.
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Duolingo’s gamified approach makes learning a language engaging and interactive.
Cost
Duolingo offers maximum learning experience at free cost. All the lessons, points, badges, and exercises are available to free users.
There are some premium features that you can buy at a very affordable cost around 7$ per month. The Premium users can get;
- Ad-free learning experience
- Unlimited hearts with breakups in learning.
- Lessons can be downloaded for offline access.
- Premium users get streak repair allows them to resume the streak.
Features
Gamified Learning: Points, badges, leaderboards, and a game-like interface keep learners engaged and entertained.
Bite-sized (small) Lessons: Learning is organized into small lessons. It helps the learners to complete a lesson in a short time.
Accessibility: Most of the learning is free to access. Synchronized access is available for the web, android, and iOS.
More Language Support: A wide range of languages from Europe to Central and Western Asia are supported. To be specific so far 38 languages are available to learn.
Speech recognition: Pronunciation can be practiced and improved through near-perfect speech recognition features.
Vocabulary Building: Lessons are organized in such a way that you get a huge vocabulary collection.
Content
Learning content is organized into small byte-size lessons with interactive audio-visual exercises.
The entire learning progression is gamified, and full of intuitive and engaging content
Structured Learning Approach: Lessons are built in an easy-to-hard learning approach. Small byte-sized lessons help you complete one lesson or topic in a single sitting.
Practical Learning: The speaking, pronunciation, and daily life conversations are put into the lessons.
A huge vocabulary collection is built gradually as you go through the lessons regularly.
Exercises: Different types of exercises like quizzes, puzzles, audiovisual exercises, matching, translations, spelling guesses, fill-in-the-blanks, and images are included.
Learning Style
Duolingo’s learning approach is gamified and the microlearning type. The courses are organized into small bite-sized lessons.
You get points, badges, rewards, and appreciation during learning.
The depth of learning is limited and repetitive which makes learning easy.
You can access the course content on the web, Android, and iOS in a sequential learning style.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Here are a few advantages or pros of Duolingo over BUSUU are
- Gamified Learning approach
- Bit sized Learning
- Accessibility
- Variety of languages
- Speech recognition
Cons
- Limited Depth
- Focus on Practical Skills
- Limited Free Features
- Repeatativieness
Conclusion
Being a language learning specialist, we did our best to highlight all features, benefits, and costs of two popular language learning apps — Busuu and Duolingo.
When it comes to features, both have stunning features. As far as the learning method is concerned, Bussu takes the lead.
Duolingo, on the other hand, makes learning fun. While using it, you will not realize how fast the time flies.
Irrespective of whether you choose Busuu or Duolingo, consistency and dedication play a very important role.
If you miss a day on Duolingo, you will lose your Streak. To learn what Streak is and how to purchase Duolingo Streak for free, click the link.
