Busuu
Busuu is a language app with structured courses in 14 languages, from beginner A1 to C1, plus written and spoken feedback from native speakers in its learner community. There's a free version with ads; Premium unlocks full courses. Users must be 13 or older.
What is Busuu?
Busuu is a language app based in London and owned by Chegg since 2022. It pairs a structured course with a learner community: you complete lessons, then native speakers of your target language can correct what you write or record. Busuu says it has more than 120 million registered users.
As of October 2026, it teaches 14 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Its terms say users must be 13 or older.
How it works
A typical Busuu session takes 10 to 20 minutes:
- Watch or hear a short dialogue, often with a video flashcard.
- Learn the new words and a short grammar point.
- Practice with matching, fill-in and listening exercises.
- Write or record an answer, which other learners who speak that language can correct.
- Smart Review brings back weak words and grammar later.
A Study Plan sets a weekly goal and sends reminders. Because learners can message and correct each other, parents of a 13- or 14-year-old should know how the community works and check in.
What it covers
| Level | What a learner can do |
|---|---|
| A1 | Introduce yourself and handle basic phrases |
| A2 | Talk about daily routines and simple past events |
| B1 | Handle travel, work and school topics |
| B2 | Discuss opinions and more complex ideas |
| C1 | Advanced practice; check how far your language goes |
Busuu says it offers more than 2,500 hours of learning from A1 to C1. Level tests award Busuu certificates, which mark progress but are not official exams.
Who it's best for
Busuu fits a teen, 13 or older, who wants a clear path through levels and real grammar. It's one of the few mainstream apps with full courses in Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Arabic. Parents learning alongside a teen can each use the free version to try it.
Look elsewhere for younger kids. Dinolingo is built for ages 2 to 14, and Duolingo is free for confident readers. If your teen needs a teacher and a transcript, Homeschool Spanish Academy offers live classes.
Pricing at a glance
Busuu is free with ads and limits. As of October 2026, US App Store prices for Premium and Premium Plus range from $6.99 to $139.99 depending on the plan and term, and sales are frequent. Busuu's help center offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on a first Premium payment.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
The free version needs no funding. World language courses are often an allowable curriculum expense in ESA programs such as Arizona's ESA, but app subscriptions can be handled differently, and each program decides. Save Busuu to your wishlist, then check scholarships for your state and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- Duolingo is free and more game-like, with less grammar and no native-speaker feedback.
- Babbel has stronger conversation dialogues and a Group Plan, but no Asian languages.
- Rosetta Stone uses full immersion and includes 25 languages in one plan.
- Pimsleur is audio-first and best for speaking practice.
Browse more language programs, Spanish programs and learning apps.
Who Busuu is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Teens 13 and up who want a leveled course from A1
- Learning Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic
- Families on a budget who want a free start
- Getting writing feedback from native speakers
Look elsewhere if
- Children under 13, who can't have an account
- Families who want no social or community features
- Students who need a teacher-graded credit course
Busuu pros and cons
Pros
- Free version to start
- Clear levels from A1 to C1
- Native-speaker feedback on writing and speaking
- Covers major Asian and Middle Eastern languages
- Grammar explained, not only drilled
Cons
- Not allowed for children under 13
- Community feedback is uneven
- Prices vary a lot by store and sale
- Level tests can be harder than the lessons
- Common Sense Media flagged adult imagery in an older version
What’s included
- 14 languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Arabic
- Courses leveled from beginner A1 to C1
- Feedback on writing and speaking from native speakers in the Busuu community
- Study Plan with reminders and Smart Review for grammar and vocabulary
- Grammar explanations and level tests with Busuu certificates
- Free version with ads; Premium adds full courses and offline mode
How much does Busuu cost?
Busuu has a free version with ads and limited lessons. Premium unlocks full courses, grammar review and offline mode, and Premium Plus adds more features on top. Busuu's website and app don't show one fixed US price list; as of October 2026, the US App Store lists purchases from $6.99 to $139.99, including 12-month Premium and Premium Plus plans near $139, and sales are frequent. Check the price shown in the app or on busuu.com before you buy.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Monthly | Free |
Free trial: The App Store lists a 14-day trial of Premium Plus. Trial terms vary by offer.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-16. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
As of October 2026, Busuu holds 4.7 stars from about 101,000 US App Store ratings. Reviewers like that exercises focus on meaning, that grammar explains the why, and that native speakers correct their work. Complaints include scoring glitches and a level test with faster speech and more new words than the lessons. Common Sense Media's review, based on an older version, rates it for adults, citing uneven community feedback, some suggestive images and stereotypes.
Common praise
- Grammar explanations cover the why
- Native-speaker community corrections
- Clear lesson plan and reminders
Common complaints
- Scoring and review glitches
- Level tests harder than the lessons
- Uneven community feedback
Sources: apps.apple.com · id379968583 · commonsensemedia.org · learn french spanish portuguese and other languages for free
Busuu family reviews
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Busuu FAQs
Is Busuu worth it?
For a teen or parent who wants a leveled course with grammar and native-speaker feedback, Busuu Premium is often worth it, and it usually costs less than Babbel or Rosetta Stone. Try the free version first to see if the lesson style fits.
Is Busuu free?
Partly. Busuu has a free version with ads and limited lessons. Premium unlocks full courses, grammar review and offline mode.
Is Busuu good for kids?
Not for young children. Busuu's terms say users must be 13 or older, and the App Store rates it 13+. Because learners can message and correct each other, parents of younger teens should check in on the community features.
Is Busuu good for learning Japanese or Korean?
It is one of the few mainstream apps with structured courses in Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Arabic, which Babbel does not offer. Pair it with a writing-system workbook if your teen needs to master kana, hangul or characters.
Are Busuu certificates official?
Busuu offers level certificates when you pass its tests. They show progress, but they are not the same as an official exam like the DELE or DELF, and colleges may not accept them as proof of a language credit.
Can Busuu count for homeschool high school foreign language credit?
Homeschool parents set credit in most states, and Busuu's A1 to C1 levels make it easy to plan a year. Add written tests or a tutor for graded work, and keep a log of units and hours completed.
How do I cancel Busuu and get a refund?
On the web, go to Settings, then Subscription, then Cancel Premium. Busuu's help center offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on your first Premium payment only; app store purchases are refunded by Apple or Google.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-16 against these sources:
- busuu.com · en
- busuu.com · terms
- busuu.com · privacy
- help.busuu.com · 16466259222929 What is Busuu s refund policy
- help.busuu.com · 16466204976785 How do I cancel my subscription
- apps.apple.com · id379968583
- commonsensemedia.org · learn french spanish portuguese and other languages for free
- en.wikipedia.org · Busuu
- azleg.gov · 02402.htm