Busuu Spanish Review: Can This App Get You Conversational?

By Marta Prieto

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January 05, 2025

Contents

Introduction

Busuu App Overview

Busuu Pros and Cons

Comparison with Other Platforms

Best Practices & Tips for Using Busuu

Conclusion

Introduction

Today, learning Spanish is easier than ever. Many apps help language learners. Among these, Busuu stands out as a popular choice. Spanish is one of the most spoken languages globally, with over 500 million speakers. Whether you’re learning for travel, work, or personal growth, the right learning tool can greatly boost your progress and confidence.

Language learning apps have surged in popularity due to their accessibility, flexibility, and interactive features. Busuu stands out for its mix of structured lessons and a focus on real-world communication. It offers feedback from native speakers, which enhances the learning experience.

This app helps you go from beginner to conversational in Spanish. It uses a structured method and community learning. But can Busuu make you conversational?

This busuu app review will explore Busuu's features. It will compare with other platforms, and offer tips for maximizing learning experience.

Busuu App Overview

Busuu is a Spanish app. It helps you build conversational skills. You learn through structured lessons and community interaction.

Founded in 2008, Busuu has grown into one of the most widely used language learning platforms globally. The app combines AI-powered lessons with peer-to-peer feedback from a global community of over 120 million users. Its curriculum follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This helps users track progress and set clear learning goals.

A key feature of Busuu is its offline mode. Learners can download lessons and study without internet access. This is great for busy users and travelers.

The app also includes a smart review tool. It helps learners review vocabulary and grammar they've learned. This boosts their long-term memory.

It offers courses in multiple languages, with Spanish being one of its most popular offerings. This Busuu Spanish experience is designed to suit learners at different proficiency levels.

Key Features

Community Learning: One of Busuu's unique features is its community of learners. Users can interact with native speakers who provide feedback on writing and speaking exercises, fostering an interactive learning environment.
Vocabulary Practice: The app offers various vocabulary practice exercises. These aim to boost your word bank, which is key for conversational fluency.
Free vs Premium Options: Busuu has a free version. However, a premium subscription gives you more features. These include grammar lessons, offline access, and personalized study plans.

Busuu Pros and Cons

Busuu, like any language learning tool, has strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what the app does well and where it may lack, can help you see if it fits your learning style and goals. Here’s a look at the main pros and cons of using Busuu to learn Spanish.

Pros

Structured Courses: Busuu's courses are well-organized, guiding learners through levels from A1 to B2. This structured progression helps maintain motivation and track progress.

The lessons follow a logical order, making it easy for users to build upon previous knowledge. Each level introduces grammar, vocabulary, and real-life dialogues suitable for that stage, helping learners move forward with confidence.

Interactive Elements: The app's interactive exercises, including dialogue simulations and voice recognition, make learning engaging and help reinforce spoken Spanish.

These features allow learners to actively participate in scenarios they might encounter in everyday conversations. By practicing pronunciation and sentence construction, users develop practical speaking and listening skills essential for fluency.

Community Feedback: Getting corrections from native speakers is crucial. It helps you improve accuracy and boosts your confidence in language skills.

Busuu’s peer-correction system connects you with native speakers who review your written and spoken submissions. This feedback ensures that you're using the language correctly and naturally, providing cultural context and real-world usage tips.

Cons

Limitations of the Free Version: The free version offers basic lessons. However, advanced features need a premium subscription, which may not suit all learners.

While the free tier is good for casual learning, users who want grammar tips, personalized study plans, or offline access will need to upgrade. This can be a drawback for learners on a tight budget or those unwilling to commit financially upfront.

User Interface Challenges: Some users think the app's interface is less intuitive than others. This can make learning harder for those who struggle with technology.

Navigating through the app might feel clunky or less streamlined compared to other language platforms. New users, especially those new to digital tools, may need time to learn how to use all the features.

Comparison with Other Platforms

When choosing a language learning app, comparing features, learning styles, and user experience is key. Here, we’ll explore how Busuu compares to other popular Spanish learning apps. If you like structured lessons, fun games, or live tutoring, this comparison will help you choose the best option for your learning goals.

Babbel vs Duolingo Spanish

When compared to Babbel and Duolingo, Busuu offers a different user experience. Babbel is known for its in-depth grammar lessons, while Duolingo gamifies the learning process to keep users engaged.

Busuu, on the other hand, strikes a balance between structure and interaction. It gives more community learning support than Babbel. Also, it offers a traditional learning experience, unlike Duolingo's game-like style.

Lingoda vs Preply Spanish

Lingoda and Preply focus on live tutoring, offering personalized lessons with native speakers. While Busuu lacks live classes, its strength lies in self-paced learning and community feedback. This is great for people who like to learn at their own pace. But it might not work well for those who need real-time interaction and personal instruction.

Best Practices & Tips for Using Busuu

To make the most out of your Busuu Spanish experience, it's essential to adopt effective strategies. Here are some tips:

Set Realistic Goals: Define clear, achievable goals for your learning to stay motivated. Whether it's completing a lesson a day or mastering a new topic each week, having goals can help you stay focused.
Create a Study Plan: Consistency is key in language learning. Develop a study schedule that fits your lifestyle, whether it's 15 minutes a day or a longer session over the weekend.
Engage with the Community: Take advantage of Busuu's community learning feature by regularly participating in exercises that involve interaction with native speakers. This will enhance your learning and build confidence in your speaking abilities.
Use Multimedia Resources: Add Busuu lessons with Spanish podcasts, music, or films. This helps you dive deeper into the language.

Overcoming Barriers: Time constraints and fear of speaking are common hurdles. Combat these by practicing in short, regular bursts and using Busuu's vocabulary practice exercises to build confidence gradually.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this Busuu Spanish review shows that the app provides a complete way to learn Spanish. If you use it well, it can help you speak the language. Its structured courses, combined with community interaction, provide a solid foundation for language acquisition. But, keep in mind the free version's limits and possible user interface problems.

For those contemplating Busuu Spanish course worth it, it offers a valuable resource, particularly for self-motivated learners. Consider starting with the free version to gauge its suitability before committing to a premium subscription. To see if Busuu is right for you, check out its features. Then, fit it into your overall language learning plan.

One standout benefit of Busuu is its ability to adapt to different learning styles. Visual learners benefit from image-supported vocabulary exercises, while auditory learners gain from native speaker audio and pronunciation tools. This variety makes the platform flexible for users with different preferences and learning speeds.

Additionally, the progress tracking system within the app helps users stay accountable. You can set daily goals and receive reminders to keep your learning consistent. Over time, these small efforts add up and help you build long-term retention and fluency.

Busuu is not a substitute for full immersion or live classes. However, it is a great addition to your language learning plan. Busuu can help you speak Spanish better when you use it with real-world practice, tutoring, or cultural experiences.

Marta Prieto

Management Team

Marta Prieto, Director of Academics at Comligo, combines a strong academic background with entrepreneurial experience. She previously founded and led De La Mano Spanish, a successful Spanish school in Asia. Passionate about language education, Marta prioritizes motivation, communication, and interaction to ensure Comligo’s programs provide engaging and effective Spanish learning experiences.