Babbel suits people who want lessons explained through their own native language, with grammar in context and AI conversation practice. Rosetta Stone suits people who want to learn by immersion, hearing and speaking only the new language, with TruAccent feedback on their pronunciation. If you like knowing why a sentence works, choose Babbel; if you'd rather be surrounded by the language from lesson one, choose Rosetta Stone.
Before you download Rosetta Stone, check which app you're getting, because the company now runs two, and only one of them is open to new learners. I read Babbel's site and about page, Rosetta Stone's site, and the App Store listings for Babbel and both Rosetta Stone apps.
Babbel and Rosetta Stone compared
| Babbel | Rosetta Stone | |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching method | Courses tailored to your native language | Dynamic Immersion in the new language |
| Languages | 14 | 25 in Sapphire, including Latin and Irish |
| Speaking practice | Babbel Speak AI partner (Beta) | TruAccent speech recognition and Chat Missions |
| Lesson length | From 10 minutes a day | As short as 5 minutes |
| Where you learn | App, with offline lessons | Mobile app plus a web platform |
| Free plan | Not named (first lesson of each course is free) | Not named (try it free) |
Two Rosetta Stone apps, and which one is for you
Search the App Store for Rosetta Stone and you'll find Rosetta Stone Classic. Its own listing says it's only for people already on Classic and existing enterprise and education users, and it points everyone else to Rosetta Stone Sapphire, which it calls the brand new Rosetta Stone experience. If you're starting fresh, Sapphire is the one to get.
Sapphire covers 25 languages, from Spanish and Japanese to Latin, Irish, Hindi, Tagalog and Farsi, and one membership gives you every lesson in all of them. It also includes the web platform, so you can carry on at a desk.
Learning through your own language with Babbel
The starting point is the language you already speak. Its listing says courses are tailored to your native language and built by more than 200 language experts, so the explanations, examples and grammar notes fit the way you think. Lessons are short, aimed at travel, work and everyday conversation, and you can download them for offline use.
For speaking, Babbel uses speech recognition, Guided Conversations, and Babbel Speak, an AI conversation partner in beta that gives you feedback. Babbel cites studies too, including one with Yale researchers on learners of Spanish, and its about page lists 60,000 lessons across its 14 languages.
Immersion the Rosetta Stone way
Rosetta Stone has been teaching languages for more than 30 years and says it's helped over 50 million people. Its Dynamic Immersion method teaches you to read, write, listen and speak through the new language itself, in lessons as short as 5 minutes. TruAccent compares your voice to data from millions of native speakers and tells you straight away how your pronunciation sounds.
Sapphire adds Chat Missions, free-flowing conversations for situations like ordering at a restaurant, flashcard sets on more than 500 topics, and Sapphire Studio, where you can build your own matching games or turn a tricky text into one at your level.
Who each course suits
Babbel suits adults who like a clear explanation, people learning one of its 14 languages for work or a move, and anyone who studies on the go. Rosetta Stone suits people who learn by ear, those after a less common language like Latin or Tagalog, and families who'd like several languages under one membership. If you're learning for your career, read about the bilingual advantage at work, and if you travel, live translation on AirPods is a handy backup while you learn.
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My advice on Babbel or Rosetta Stone
Check your language first: if it's not one of Babbel's 14, the decision's made. If it's on the list, try Babbel's free first lesson and a Rosetta Stone trial in the same language on the same evening. If you found yourself wishing for an explanation in English, go with Babbel. If you enjoyed working it out from pictures and sound, go with Rosetta Stone, and make sure you download Sapphire, not Classic.
Do you make language learning apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Which Rosetta Stone app should I download?
Rosetta Stone Sapphire. The Classic app's listing says it's only for people already on Classic and existing enterprise and education users.
Does Rosetta Stone teach Latin?
Yes. Rosetta Stone Sapphire lists Latin among its 25 languages.
Can I try Babbel for free?
Yes. Babbel says signing up is free and you can try the first lesson of every course, with up to 80 free lessons depending on the language.
Can I use Rosetta Stone on a computer?
Yes. Rosetta Stone says a Sapphire membership includes its web platform as well as the mobile app.
What is Babbel Speak?
It's Babbel's AI conversation partner, in beta, which lets you practise speaking out loud and gives you personalised feedback.
