Babbel costs from €8.99 a month on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year) when we checked its prices page from Germany on 9 October 2026, with a lifetime plan at €299.99; paying month to month works out at about twice the yearly rate. The 12-month plan is the one most French learners should compare, because a course is only worth paying for if you keep going for months.
Checked October 2026 · Babbel price: From €8.99/mo on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year; €215.88 at the monthly rate); lifetime €299.99; first lesson free (checked 2026-10-09 (babbel.com/prices, shown from Germany))
The plans
Babbel sells the same course on different billing lengths. The longer you commit, the less you pay per month. On the day we checked, the 12-month plan came to €8.99 a month, billed as €107.88 for the year. The page showed €215.88 as the cost of a year at the monthly rate, so monthly billing costs about double.
Lifetime access was a one-off €299.99. Prices are set by country and change with offers, so the figure you see in your country can be different; check the prices page on the day you buy.
What it works out at
Yearly: €8.99 a month, or about €2.07 a week.
Lifetime: €299.99 once. Against the 12-month plan, lifetime pays for itself after about two years and nine months. Against monthly billing, after about a year and five months. Read whether Babbel lifetime is worth it before you choose it.
Free: the first lesson. Everything after that needs a plan; see is Babbel free for what you can do without paying.
Is it good value for French?
As a structured course, yes: Babbel's French runs from A1 towards C1, with grammar explained in context and lessons built around real situations. Busuu is cheaper for a similar job, at €57.99 a year on the offer we saw from Germany, and Duolingo is free.
What you do not get for the money is real spoken French. Babbel's dialogues are scripted and recorded for learners. In the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read, 24 complained about the lack of real speaking or listening and 30 said the course felt too easy or repetitive. Budget for real listening alongside it.
Billing was the biggest complaint: 57 of 203 one- and two-star reviews were about price, subscriptions or cancelling. Note the renewal date when you subscribe; our guide on how to cancel Babbel shows where to switch it off.
Who it's for
An adult beginner who wants a clear, ordered French course on the phone and will use it for at least a year. The 12-month plan suits you; the monthly plan only makes sense for a short trial run.
Who it's not for
Anyone on a tight budget who mainly wants a daily habit; Duolingo is free. And anyone whose main goal is following real-speed French, which Babbel's scripted audio does not train.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babbel | From €8.99/mo on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year; €215.88 at the monthly rate); lifetime €299.99; first lesson freechecked 2026-10-09 (babbel.com/prices, shown from Germany) | A1–C1 | No | The most course-like app; a good spine for A1 to B1, light on real listening. |
| Busuu | Free tier; Premium €4.83/mo billed €57.99/yr (standard €116.28); Premium Plus €5.83/mo billed €69.90/yr (standard €142.80)checked 2026-10-09 (busuu.com/products, shown from Germany) | A1–B2 | No | A solid A1 to B2 path with a usable free tier. |
| Duolingo | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) | A1–B1 | No | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
| Rosetta Stone | €19.99/mo, or €13.25/mo billed €159/yr; lifetime plan priced on the buy pagechecked 2026-10-09 (rosettastone.com buy page, shown from Germany) | A1–B1 | No | Immersion-style basics; slow, and light on explanation. |
| French with Amélie | Free weekly lesson; Premium $24/mo or $240/yr | B1–C1 | Yes, with a slow version and a transcript | Real-speed dialogues by email and a private podcast. Not an app. Visit |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Questions
How much does Babbel cost per month?
From €8.99 a month on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year), checked from Germany on 9 October 2026. Monthly billing costs about twice as much.
How much is Babbel lifetime?
€299.99 once, on the same day. Against the 12-month plan it pays for itself after about two years and nine months.
Is Babbel cheaper than Rosetta Stone?
On the yearly plans we saw from Germany, yes: Babbel €107.88 a year, Rosetta Stone €159 a year.
More on Babbel
The full listing: Babbel: price, levels and who it suits.