Babbel vs Preply: App vs Tutor for Learning Spanish

By Jairo Pérez

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February 13, 2025

Contents

Introduction

1. What Are They? Babbel vs Preply Spanish

2. App vs Tutor: Learning Experience

3. One-on-One vs Exercises

4. Cost Comparison

5. Which Learning Style Suits You?

6. Flexible or Scheduled Learning

7. More on Learning Styles

8. Cost Comparison Details

9. Feature Guide

Babbel vs Preply Which Is Better?

Final Recommendation

Introduction

Learning Spanish can be fun and useful. Two popular options are Babbel (an app) and Preply (online tutors). This comparison; Babbel vs Preply and Preply vs Babbel, helps you decide. We'll look at formats, cost, learning styles, and more to determine which offers the best Spanish learning programs for different learner types and goals.

1. What Are They? Babbel vs Preply Spanish

Babbel is a user-friendly app filled with short lessons. With exercises in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, Babbel adapts to your pace. It’s all about app-based, self-paced learning, perfect if you like doing lessons anytime, anywhere.

Preply connects you to real tutors online. It’s one-on-one learning, not app exercises. With a tutor, you get lessons made just for you. This method works best if you want one-on-one attention and live speaking practice.

2. App vs Tutor: Learning Experience

One of the biggest differences between Babbel vs Preply comes down to how you learn; app vs tutor. When considering Spanish app comparisons, Babbel stands out.

Babbel is a learning app that’s great for people who want to study on their own. It includes fun exercises like multiple-choice quizzes, fill-in-the-blank questions, and short dialogues. These help you understand Spanish better.

The app offers speech practice. You can talk into your device and get feedback via speech recognition technology. This feature evaluates your pronunciation and helps you sound more like a native speaker.

With Babbel, you learn at your own pace. You can study anytime and anywhere during lunch, on the bus, or at night after school.

However, it’s important to note that Babbel does not offer live instruction. All feedback comes from the app itself, not from a human teacher. This means you may miss out on real-time support if you get stuck or need extra help.

Preply, on the other hand, connects you to a live tutor for one-on-one lessons. This gives you the chance to speak directly with someone who understands the language and can guide you as you learn. In these sessions, the tutor listens to you. They correct your mistakes right away and answer your questions immediately.

This real-time interaction is especially helpful for building confidence in speaking and improving listening skills. Since every lesson is built around your goals, the tutor can adjust their teaching style and lesson content to match your progress. This makes learning on Preply feel more personal and focused. If you're someone who needs regular motivation or learns best by talking things out, Preply's tutor-based model may be a better fit.

If you enjoy self-learning and a flexible schedule, Babbel is a great choice. It offers a solid app-based experience. For real conversations and support, Preply is a great way to learn Spanish. It's personal and interactive.

3. One-on-One vs Exercises

When choosing between one-on-one vs exercises, think about how you like to learn:

Babbel exercises include voice practice, grammar drills, and multiple-choice quizzes. They work well if you like independent learning.
Preply’s one-on-one sessions let you ask questions, get explanations, and focus on your weak points. They’re ideal if you learn better by talking and receiving feedback.

4. Cost Comparison

Cost is a big factor in the Babbel vs Preply comparison:

Babbel uses a subscription model monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Longer plans cost less per month.
Preply charges per lesson. Prices vary by tutor experience and selected lesson length. While it can get expensive, you only pay for what you use, and sessions are tailored to you.

5. Which Learning Style Suits You?

Your learning style guides whether Babbel or Preply for learning Spanish is better:

Babbel works great for self-motivated learners who like clear structure and independence.
Preply suits those who learn best in conversation and with teacher support.
If you like blending both, you can start with Babbel and switch to Preply when you're ready for real conversations.

6. Flexible or Scheduled Learning

Consider your schedule when choosing between app vs tutor:

Babbel offers full flexibility learn on your own timetable, any time.
Preply gives more structure you schedule lessons with a tutor. It’s flexible but fixed once you book.

7. More on Learning Styles

Babbel’s style is exercise-based and lets you learn grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation step by step.
Preply’s style is conversational perfect for mimicking real-life Spanish and strengthening speaking skills.

8. Cost Comparison Details

Here’s a deeper dive into cost comparison:

Babbel: Set monthly or yearly fees. Affordable and predictable.
Preply: Prices vary by tutor ($5–$40+ per hour). You choose your tutor and lesson length, so costs vary.

9. Feature Guide

This Babbel vs Preply comparison highlights the main differences between the two platforms.

Learning Format: Babbel uses a self-paced format, allowing learners to complete lessons at their own convenience. In contrast, Preply offers one-on-one live tutoring sessions, where learners interact directly with a tutor.

App vs Tutor: Babbel is an app-based platform that provides structured exercises. Preply, on the other hand, focuses on live instruction from a real tutor, offering a more human touch.

Speaking Practice: Babbel uses speech recognition technology to help you practice pronunciation. Preply allows you to have real conversations with your tutor, offering immediate verbal feedback and more natural speaking practice.

Personalized Feedback: Babbel’s feedback is automated through its app features. Preply provides real-time corrections and explanations directly from your tutor, which can be more adaptive and helpful.

Cost Model: Babbel operates on a monthly or yearly subscription plan. Preply charges per lesson, with prices varying depending on the tutor you choose.

Lesson Scheduling: With Babbel, you can learn anytime you want there’s no need to book sessions. Preply requires you to schedule your lessons in advance, which gives your learning a more structured routine.

Learning Style: Babbel is best for independent learners who prefer a structured and guided program. Preply is better for learners who thrive in interactive, conversational environments with personalized attention from a tutor.

Babbel vs Preply Which Is Better?

There’s no clear winner it depends on your preferences:

Want to learn at your own pace with lots of practice? Choose Babbel.
Prefer live help, speaking in real time, and fast feedback? Choose Preply.
Want it all? Try Babbel first, then add Preply sessions later.

What Each Platform Offers

Babbel: Good for building grammar and vocabulary independently. It’s clear, reliable, and flexible.
Preply: Offers custom lessons, real practice, and direct tutoring. Great if you enjoy speaking and interaction.

Final Recommendation

Pick Babbel if you’re self-motivated, need budget-friendly and flexible learning.
Go for Preply if you want personal attention, immediate help, and one-on-one lessons.
Can’t decide? Use both: start with Babbel’s app, then add Preply tutoring when you want to practice speaking more.

Call to Action

Try both free demos to see what works for you:

Use Babbel’s trial to explore app-based learning.
Book a low-cost session on Preply to experience live tutoring.
Decide which method helps you learn best app vs tutor, one-on-one vs exercises.

Jairo Pérez

Academic Team

Jairo Pérez is the Head of Academics at Comligo. Originally from Mexico, he has extensive experience teaching Spanish as a second language and in the fields of Human and Artistic Sciences. Passionate about language, culture, and education, he enjoys exploring different cultures, visiting museums, and embracing nature.