Busuu is a language app that pairs short lessons from language experts with a community of learners and fluent speakers who give feedback. Bubblegum is built around reading and listening: Poppy, an AI tutor, plans each lesson around your level and interests, and saved words return later.
How Busuu and Bubblegum Compare
Busuu gives you a course plus people to check your work, while Bubblegum gives you lessons written for you to read and hear.
| Bubblegum | Busuu | |
|---|---|---|
| How you learn | Poppy writes lessons, stories, and news at your level, and you read and listen | Short expert lessons with speaking, listening, reading, and writing practice |
| How words come back | Regenerative Review™: saved words return inside new lessons | Smart Review keeps the words and grammar from your lessons in one place to practice |
| Feedback from people | No | The community helps with pronunciation and writing |
| Phone apps | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| On the web | Free guides and alphabet courses | Courses at busuu.com |
| Languages | 60 | 14 |
| Menu languages | 74 | 15 on its iPhone listing |
Busuu lists its 14 courses on its home page and app page, and the menu count is from its App Store listing. You can see all 60 of Bubblegum's languages here, and you can switch its menus to any of 74.
Which App Fits Which Learner
Bubblegum
Bubblegum is the best app for serious learners. You learn from text and audio you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Pick a topic you'd enjoy, like cooking with a friend or a football match, and Poppy, your AI tutor, turns it into a lesson for your level. You can read it, play the audio, look up any word, and ask her about the parts you're unsure of.
The trade-off is that Bubblegum has no people to correct you. For feedback from real people on what you write and say, Busuu is the better fit.
- Each lesson is written for you, at your level, on a subject you choose.
- Each lesson has audio you can play, and there are stories and news at your level as well.
- When a line confuses you, Poppy explains what it means and why.
- Words you save turn up in your next lessons through Regenerative Review™.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- No one checks your writing or your speaking.
- You can't import articles, books, or videos you found yourself.
- A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
Busuu
Busuu's courses are built by its language experts as short lessons that step you through a language. What makes it stand out is the community: you can share what you've written or recorded, and fluent speakers send back tips. Its iPhone listing also mentions certificates and extra courses on topics like travel phrases.
- Members of Busuu's community give tips on your pronunciation and writing.
- Speaking practice gives you feedback on your pronunciation, with videos of people talking.
- Take a short test to start at your level, or begin from the first lesson.
- A Study Plan sends reminders for the times you said you'd study.
MobileWeb
Choose Busuu if:
- You want people to look at your writing and your speaking and help you improve.
- You like a structured course with a test to find your starting point.
- An official certificate to show what you've learned would keep you going.
Choose Bubblegum if:
- You want lessons about the things you like, at a level you can mostly understand.
- You'd like Poppy there to explain any line the moment it puzzles you.
- You want a language Busuu doesn't list, such as Vietnamese, Thai, or Swedish.
Using Both Together
They cover different jobs. Busuu's community can help with what you write and say, and Bubblegum gives you plenty of reading and listening at the right level. Try mixing them through the week, a few sessions each, whenever you have time.
Common Questions
Which app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning a language, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or start with Busuu if you'd like a step-by-step course and feedback from its community.
Can I use Bubblegum in my own language?
Yes. Bubblegum's menus come in 74 languages, so you can learn French through Japanese or English through Spanish. How much of each lesson's help is in your language depends on the pair you pick.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Busuu: Courses from experts and a global community
- Busuu: The Busuu app, 14 courses and the placement test
- Busuu: iPhone App Store listing
- Bubblegum: Every language you can learn
- Bubblegum
Checked on October 14, 2026 against each app's own pages.
