Babbel and Rosetta are both online language-learning apps that are very popular in the language learning world. Both apps allow you to learn a range of languages using pre-recorded words and phrases. Aside from that, the two apps will teach you speech recognition technology to test your pronunciation.
Since both apps promise to take you into a higher level of understanding language you learn, but you may want to know their pros and cons. After knowing each of those apps, you can easily determine which app you will choose to learn. So, let’s see the comparison between Babbel and Rosetta through our post below!
Overview
Babble and Rosetta Stone are like siblings with different personalities that both come from an immersive training approach. Let’s see the explanation of each app:
Babbel is a language-learning app that allows the users to learn one of 13 languages. You can use Babble on your smartphone, laptop, tablet or computer. You can also sync the lessons across devices. On Babbel, you will learn new vocabulary, grammar or phrases and then are required to answer questions.
Learning on Babbel is like taking the quiz where it provides the form of quiz-style matching, speaking and fill-in-the-blanks. You can also see your achievement and set yourself goals to advance through the lessons.
To help you learn both actively and passively through context, Babbel also provides real-life dialogue from the first lesson. In short, this app will do a better job with this on the bigger languages than the less-studied ones.
Rosetta Stone is an older language-learning app than Babble. This app has been one of the biggest names in language learning since 1992. Just like Babbel, Rosetta Stone is also interactive that focuses on audio-visual learning, but it is still using your target language only. The lesson on Rosetta Stone consists of associating spoken words with images that you can see on-screen and matching them up.
You will also receive a % score at the end of each lesson and you will either pass the lesson or fail. On the Rosetta Stone learning app, you will also see a breakdown of how good you did per language skill including pronunciation, grammar, writing, vocabulary and listening.
Differences and Similarities Between Babbel and Rosetta Stone
As Babbel and Rosetta Stone are like siblings, of course both have differences and similarities, making them unique apps. Here’s the quickest way to describe the differences and similarities between both app:
- Babbel is a little cheaper app that includes explanations and translations in English, while Rossetta Stone uses your target language exclusively.
- Babbel teaches you with longer dialogues, while Rosetta Stone teaches you with more individual sentences.
- Both Babbel and Rosetta Stone have well-structured lessons which build on each other, but they can get too repetitive. Both teach several different languages, but they are not the best for learning about different cultures. However, both are only okay with having voice recognition software, not too reliable.
Lessons Available on Both Babbel and Rosetta Stone
On Babbel, there are 6 proficiency levels from Newcomer to Advanced. Each level contains 1 – 5 courses and inside each course is 7 to 12 lessons. At the beginning of the lesson, you will see a narrative and hear a native speaker say what it is.
After listening to the phrase, you’re allowed to repeat the words with their voice recognition software that aims to give you a grade based on how accurate your pronunciation was. The following lesson will teach you to match the translation to the pictures. Then, you will write the translation which corresponds to each image with mixed up letters you’re given. Of course, there are still a number of sections ahead to pass through.
So far, Babbel’s lessons are a pretty good way for beginners to get started learning language. After every couple of lessons, there will be a review exercise. Babble’s strengths are not in that they are performing anything exceptionally innovative, instead they are expert in providing well-structured courses and also explanations.
On Rosetta Stone, there are 12 o3 20 units, depending on the language you learn, each unit will comprise 4 to 5 levels. Each unit will focus on different vocabulary and language skills including vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, writing and reading.
The lessons on Rosetta Stone consist of matching words to pictures. At the beginning of the lesson, you will see four images of a girl or a boy either drinking or eating. Then, you should choose to match the picture with what a woman says.
The same words will be repeated over and over as you progress, in increasing chunks of language and in different situations. On Rosetta Stone, you will be required to match images with words you hear and see, say words or phrases you hear, word segments you hear and type words or phrases you hear.
Just like Babbel, Rosetta Stone also encourages you to practice speaking and use voice recognition software. One main issue with Rosetta Stone is that the lessons are too repetitive. With its repetition, it will make the learners get bored.
Cost Comparison Between Babbel and Rosetta Stone
Babbel has four different subscription plans in total. Here are Babbel’s price plan:
- The monthly plan costs $14 per month
- The 3-month plan costs $10 per month, or $30 total
- The 6-month plan costs $8.50 per month, or $50 total
- The 12-month plan costs $7 per month, or $83 total
Meanwhile, Rosetta Stone offers different options, including a 3-month, 12-month and lifetime subscription. Here are their price plans:
- The 3-month plan costs $12 per month, or $36 total
- The 12-month plan costs $8 per month, or $96 total
- The lifetime plan costs around $180
Pros and Cons Between Babbel and Rosetta Stone
Just like other learning apps, both have their own advantages and disadvantages. According to alllanguageresources.com, there are pros and cons between both apps, here are they:
Babbel
Pros
- With lots of examples, grammar is explained clearly.
- With the use of the conversational language, the learners will be likely to use it in real life.
- There is an appropriate variety of exercise types.
- High-quality audio and nice layout and design.
Cons
- Voice recognition software makes the learners get frustrated.
- Exercise repetition is not very unique.
- The learners will need to use other resources alongside Babbel to get conversation practice
Rosetta Stone
Pros
- It is easier to translate less in your head.
- High-quality audio and nice layout and design.
Cons
- Exercises repetition revolve around matching words to pictures.
- The app is more monotonous than most other platforms.
- The app is more expensive than most alternatives.
- Since it tries to convey all the information from images alone, it leads to unnecessary confusion when a simple explanation in English would work much better.
- The app will not get you speaking fluently as fast as some other platforms.
Which Is Better, Between Babble and Rosetta Stone?
A lot of internet sources including blogs, say that Babbel is better than Rosetta Stone, as it provides a well-structured learning program that benefits beginners. However, Rosetta Stone is not bad. But if we compare to Babbel, Rosetta lessons are a little monotonous at times, while Babble is not.
