Today, there’s no shortage of language learning apps that let students study at their own pace and choose from a variety of teaching methods.
One of these is Busuu, which claims to offer high-quality content, interaction with real people, and constant support. But are these promises real? Is Busuu’s service truly worth it, and what do users actually say?
In this article, we’ll explore how effective Busuu is for learning English—and whether other platforms, like Papora, might offer equal or even better opportunities.
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What is Busuu?
Bussu is an online language learning app that offers up to 12 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.
The platform offers a course that will help you learn the language through lessons you can take at your own pace. You can also take classes with teachers to answer questions and, depending on their suggestions, improve your pronunciation.
In addition, it promises a study plan in English, advice exchange, and help from artificial intelligence to learn new vocabulary.
How much does Busuu Premium cost?
Busuu offers three subscription plans, each with different tools and benefits. The higher the monthly fee, the more features you get in each lesson. Prices vary by country and subscription type, but the plans are:
Premium Plus – Access all 13 languages, a personalized study plan, certificates for each level, grammar lessons, offline mode, an interactive community, and AI review.
Premium – Choose one language and enjoy most features, but without certificates or a personalized plan.
Basic – According to their website, this plan does not include any of the above benefits.
How do Busuu lessons work?
To start learning on Busuu, you’ll need to sign up and log in with your email, either on their website or through the app (available on the Play Store and App Store).
Next, select the language you want to study, answer a few quick questions about your learning goals and practice frequency, then take a placement test to determine your English level.
After the test, you can complete a short greetings lesson, but only the first five lessons are free. To access the full course, you’ll need a paid subscription.
Busuu’s basic lessons are quite similar to Duolingo’s, with exercises that introduce new words, correct mistakes, and help you practice enough to learn a few phrases.
The focus is mainly on basic vocabulary for travel, business, and work, rather than building fluency or improving pronunciation.
Can I become fluent in English with the free version?
The only way to really make progress is by taking advantage of the subscription benefits.
In other words, you can only learn more if you have the premium version of the app. That's what will allow you to expand your studies with the app, gradually achieve your goals, and start speaking fluently.
If you want the free version, it's best to supplement your studies with other types of content, because the app alone won't be enough.
Keep in mind that this course only covers levels A2 (very basic) to B2 (intermediate), so it’s not ideal if you’re aiming to learn advanced English. If your goal is to reach C2-level proficiency, this may not be the best option.
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How long will it take you to learn English with Busuu?
Like everything else in life, how quickly you learn something depends on how much effort you put in.
Although Busuu offers you a “study plan” where you take lessons for 10 minutes a day, you can learn a little faster if you decide to use another technique or invest more time.
The time it takes to learn English varies, but studies have shown that to achieve a high or native level, you need to invest at least 5 years of consistent learning.
Advantages of learning with Busuu
Like many other English learning apps, Busuu offers the advantage of studying at your own pace, whether on a computer or phone, providing a flexible alternative to traditional learning methods.
- Wide variety of lessons
One of Busuu’s biggest strengths is the variety of its lessons, with vocabulary that spans many areas of everyday life—making it especially practical and useful.
- They use interactive lessons.
While other courses like Papora also offer this, Busuu’s interactive lessons are a clear advantage, making learning easier, more engaging, and educational.
Disadvantages of learning with Busuu
As with everything, there are always disadvantages to consider before deciding to start a course.
- Worth it if you’re just starting out.
While the course content is helpful, it can be quite basic, covering only the fundamentals. To reach an advanced level, you’ll need to supplement your learning elsewhere.
- You must purchase the premium version of the app.
To get the full learning experience with Busuu, you’ll need to pay for a subscription. Like Babbel, the app offers little to no benefits without it.
- Missing important grammar lessons
One of the main problems with Busuu is that it lacks grammar lessons to accompany the vocabulary. This makes language learning incomplete.
User reviews
Ultimately, it is the users who have the real opinion, so we have included some of their reviews to help you make your decision.
“It's a good app for getting started with the language. Structurally, it's well designed for learning the language little by little, but the app needs improvement.”
It’s important to remember that when using a non-traditional method like Busuu, you need to feel comfortable with both the app and the lessons it provides.
“I think the app is good for learning a new language; the content and the way it teaches are quite effective. But I think it should send reminders more often so you can review and keep up with the other lessons.”
To achieve good results, it’s always essential to put in your own effort.
“The app is a learning aid. If you only rely on what the app teaches you, you obviously won't reach the level you want. But if you use it wisely and supplement what you learn, the app can be a very good guide.”
Keep in mind that the free version is very limited and you won't learn much more than a couple of phrases.
“They really should have said from the start that it's a paid app. Imagine all the people who got excited and can only do three lessons before the “free” part of the app ends. I wish there was a free version and a premium version for people who can't afford to pay.”
Is it worth learning English with Busuu?
Busuu can be a useful tool for practice or as a supplement to your main learning method, but it may not be enough if you want to maximize your progress.
It’s also worth noting that other platforms offer similar—and often higher-quality—learning opportunities. Papora, for example, provides unlimited lessons with teachers and a self-guided course that uses real-life situations to help you become an expert.
Curious about how Busuu compares to other apps? Check out our article: Is Busuu or Duolingo Better?
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Frequently asked questions about learning English with Busuu
Both platforms offer similar content and opportunities; however, Papora offers you quality content created by experts and based on real-life situations, with a dynamic method that helps you learn while having fun.
The best approach is to learn dynamically with expert-designed content. You can also practice by watching movies and series, or try courses with Papora, where learning is both effective and fun.
