Babbel vs Memrise
Babbel and Memrise teach different halves of a language. Babbel, from Berlin, builds conversation through dialogue-based lessons in 14 languages with grammar explanations and spaced-repetition review. Memrise, founded in London in 2010, builds listening and speaking through short videos of native speakers and AI practice across a far longer list of languages. Course-seekers pick Babbel; learners who need a trained ear pick Memrise.
Choose Babbel if
you want one structured course from beginner to advanced, with grammar explained, dialogues to practise and a placement test, from a company registered in Germany.
Read the Babbel reviewChoose Memrise if
your gap is understanding real, fast speech and sounding natural, you want to hear every word from a native speaker, or your language is outside Babbel's 14.
Read the Memrise reviewBabbel and Memrise side by side
| Babbel | Memrise | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Babbel GmbH | Memrise Ltd |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2007 | 2010 |
| Jurisdiction | EU (Germany) | United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| Where the data sits | EU | UK/EU |
| Pricing | From about €6/month on longer plans; Babbel Live higher | Free tier / Pro from about €8/month |
| Free tier or trial | First lesson of every course free (up to 80 lessons) | Free tier |
| Source code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Usually replaces | Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, Memrise | Duolingo, Anki, Babbel |
| Position in our Language Learning guide | #1 of 13 | #4 of 13 |
Both are listed in our European Language Learning guide. The table is built from the same directory data as those entries; how we check it is described in the editorial process.
Where Babbel and Memrise differ
Across the five points below, Babbel has the edge on 2 points, Memrise on 2 points and one is a tie. A count like that is a summary, not a verdict: the point that matters to you may be the one the other product wins.
What you actually learn
Babbel's method explains grammar, practises it in dialogues, adds cultural notes and runs review with spaced repetition, from beginner to advanced across 60,000 lessons. Memrise concentrates on words and phrases: hear them from a native speaker, learn them, then copy the delivery, with smart review and private AI practice. As one course for an adult who wants to hold a conversation, Babbel covers more.
Edge: Babbel
Listening to real speech
Memrise says every word comes with a real person saying it, in thousands of short videos showing accents, speed and rhythm, with phrases approved by native speakers and a recorder to compare your own attempt. Babbel teaches through dialogues and offers podcasts presented by its experts. For getting used to how people actually talk, Memrise is built for the job.
Edge: Memrise
Range of languages
Babbel teaches 14 languages, mostly European plus Indonesian and Turkish. Memrise lists 149 languages and over 80 million learners, and its official courses include Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Hebrew, Swahili, Yoruba and Mongolian alongside the European ones. For anything outside the main European languages, Memrise is far more likely to have a course.
Edge: Memrise
Jurisdiction
Babbel GmbH is registered in Berlin under HRB 110215 B, so German and EU law apply directly. Memrise's terms name Memrise Limited, company number 07463911, and its about page says it was founded in London in 2010: a UK company outside the EU. For a reader who wants the provider inside the EU, Babbel is the straightforward case.
Edge: Babbel
Trying it and paying for it
Babbel's sign-up is free, with the first lesson of every course open and up to 80 free lessons depending on the language. Memrise says you can start learning for free and that its paid plan unlocks extra features. Subscription prices for both differ by country and plan length, so the cheaper option depends on where you buy and for how long you commit.
No clear winner on this point.
When neither Babbel nor Memrise fits
Returning learners can waste time in both. Lingvist places you at the right level with an algorithm and teaches the most common words first, across more than 50 courses. For speaking under pressure, Lingoda's live classes with certified teachers do what neither app can.
Babbel vs Memrise: questions
Memrise, if vocabulary and listening are the gap: every word and phrase is presented by a native speaker on video, followed by review and a chance to record yourself. Babbel also drills vocabulary with spaced repetition and customisable reviews, but inside a course built around grammar and dialogues.
Both can be started without paying. Babbel opens the first lesson of every course and up to 80 free lessons depending on the language. Memrise says you can start learning for free and that its paid plan unlocks extra features. Subscription prices vary by country and plan length.
No. Babbel GmbH is registered in Berlin, so German and EU law apply. Memrise Limited is a UK company, company number 07463911, founded in London in 2010. The UK is outside the EU, and data protection there runs under UK law rather than directly under the GDPR.
Babbel teaches 14 languages across 60,000 lessons. Memrise says it covers 149 languages with over 80 million learners; its official courses include Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi and Swahili as well as the major European languages, and the longer list includes community courses.
Sources
Facts, prices and plan details on this page were checked on the vendors' own websites on . Prices and plans change; the vendor's current page is authoritative.
- Babbel home page: languages offered, levels, placement test, first lesson of every course free and up to 80 free lessons, 200+ language experts (checked 30 September 2026)
- Babbel about page: 60,000 lessons across 14 languages, founded 2007, Berlin office (checked 30 September 2026)
- Babbel imprint: Babbel GmbH, Andreasstrasse 72, Berlin, HRB 110215 B (checked 30 September 2026)
- The Babbel Method: dialogues, grammar explanations, cultural insights, spaced repetition and customisable reviews (checked 30 September 2026)
- Babbel podcasts page: podcasts presented by Babbel experts (checked 30 September 2026)
- Memrise home page: native speaker videos, hear-learn-copy method, AI practice, free start, course list (checked 30 September 2026)
- Memrise about page: founded in London in 2010, 149 languages, 80 million learners (checked 30 September 2026)
- Memrise terms of use: Memrise Limited, company number 07463911 (checked 30 September 2026)
- Lingvist home page: level placement, most common words first, 50+ courses (checked 30 September 2026)
- Lingoda home page: live classes with certified teachers, CEFR levels, certificate per completed level, 7-day trial (checked 30 September 2026)