Busuu Reviews (2026): What Parents Say, Pros & Cons

Price: Free
Grades: 8–12 · Adult
Type: App, Course

Updated Oct 16, 2026 · By Edulist · 9 sources

Busuu review summary

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.

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

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

What parents say about Busuu

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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Is Busuu worth the price?

Busuu has a free version with ads and limited lessons.

Can a scholarship pay for Busuu?

The free version needs no funding. A world language course is often an allowable curriculum or online-course expense in ESA programs such as Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account, but a recurring app subscription may be treated differently; each program decides.

No program on Edulist lists Busuu yet. Save it to your wishlist and we’ll tell you when one does. Many state ESAs let families buy products like this directly; each program decides.

Your wishlist

Busuu alternatives

Duolingo

Duolingo, Inc.

Gr. 2–12 · Adult · App

Duolingo is a free, game-style app with short lessons in 40+ languages, plus math, music and chess courses.

Busuu vs Duolingo: Which Language App Fits Your Teen? →

Babbel

Babbel GmbH

Gr. 8–12 · Adult · App · Course

Babbel is a subscription app with 10- to 15-minute lessons in 14 languages, built around real conversations and clear grammar notes.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone Ltd. (part of IXL Learning)

Gr. 3–12 · Adult · App · Course

Rosetta Stone is an immersion-style language app with 25 languages in one subscription.

All Busuu alternatives →

Free

Sources

Questions

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 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.

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.

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