Ling Vs Busuu: Which App Wins For Your Target Language In 2026?

If you clicked on this article, you’ve probably come across multiple language learning apps while looking for the best one to achieve this year’s good resolution, and you’ve narrowed your choice to two apps: Ling and Busuu. Maybe you even downloaded both, but you’re now more confused than when you started. Both apps seem to have amazing features, but you’re still left with the same question: in the Ling vs Busuu match, which one is actually the right choice for your language learning goal in 2026?

Learning a language isn’t just about picking the “best” app overall. It’s also about using one that matches your goals, your level, and the language you want to master. This post is exactly what you need: a clear, practical look at Ling and Busuu, breaking down what each app offers based on your goals. So keep reading to find out!

Ling Vs Busuu: A Quick Overview

Want a quick overview of the main features, similarities, and differences of both Ling and Busuu?

Check this recap table before diving into a more detailed comparison :

What Is Ling, And Who Is It Best For?

Ling is a pioneer language-learning app designed for learners seeking resources to learn less commonly taught and minor languages that are often set aside by other language-learning apps like Duolingo.

The Ling app answers the demand of many learners, such as:

• Expats who want to communicate with colleagues and friends
• People reconnecting with their origins and heritage
• Culture lovers who are curious about world languages and the cultures that evolve around them
• Language lovers and future polyglots looking to expand their linguistic knowledge
• Tourists and road-trippers who love to connect with locals

Today, the app is a go-to platform for learners of minor and niche languages, like Thai, Serbian, Albanian, or Khmer, that are generally set aside by the big platforms.

If you choose to learn a language with Ling, it actually means you’ll have access to :

• 70+ languages, including lesser-known languages from Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa
• Audio recordings from native speakers in all the languages
• A wide range of interactive lessons to learn practical phrases
• Context-based dialogues
• Various types of exercises to reinforce your knowledge after each lesson
• Flashcards to review the vocabulary you’ve learned
• Grammar and culture notes in some languages for a better language immersion
• A chatbot with speech recognition technology to speak with confidence, with instant feedback
• A gamified, simple, and engaging interface
• A whiteboard feature with finger-tracing tech to learn how to write characters of non-Latin languages
• Streaks, reminders, and badges to help you stay motivated
• A leaderboard to monitor your progress and ranking
• An offline mode to learn anytime and anywhere

To sum up, Ling is a language-learning app that goes where many mainstream language apps like Busuu stop short: offering bigger learning opportunities for niche and minor languages.

What Is Busuu And Who Is It For?

Busuu is a popular language-learning app in the same category as Duolingo and Babbel. The app is part of the Chegg group, an educational company that provides various services.

Busuu mainly targets learners who want a structured approach to popular languages like English, Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese, while learning through gamified methods and communicating with other learners and native speakers.

The app is especially suited for beginners and intermediate learners who prefer organized courses, grammar-focused lessons, and a step-by-step progression aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels from A1 to B2.

Busuu stands out for its :

• 14 language courses (mainly popular languages)
• Audio lessons recorded by native speakers
• Structured courses aligned with the standard CEFR language framework
• Premium courses with additional resources (e.g., learning with newspapers)
• Grammar-focused lessons with explanations
• A large community of learners to interact with
• Official certificates available upon course completion (available for some languages)
• Progress tracking to monitor your learning and achievements
  
  

Considering all these features, Busuu offers a reliable, structured, and interactive approach to language learning, making it a solid choice for learners with clear goals.

What Do Ling And Busuu Have In Common?

Ling and Busuu are language apps that help learners achieve their language-learning goals online. Thus, both platforms have many features in common, such as :

• Native speaker recordings for each language they offer
• Progressive learning pathways
• A streak system to track learning
• Gamified exercises and review features

As you can see, one of the main features Ling and Busuu share is gamification. With the widespread use of smartphones and apps over the last decade, it has become increasingly necessary to adapt learning environments and methods to digital spaces.

Therefore, amid the rapid spread of games, many voices began advocating for the gamification of language learning.

Recent studies show that learners using gamified language-learning platforms achieve positive gains in vocabulary, grammar, and performance.

Ling and Busuu are, therefore, at the forefront of modern learning by harnessing gamification’s proven power to engage their learners.

What Are The Main Differences Between Ling And Busuu?

As we saw above, Ling and Busuu have many similarities. However, they also differ in many respects, especially in the number and types of language courses they offer.

For instance :

• Ling offers courses in more than 70 languages, including minor languages, while Busuu only offers 14 language courses
• Ling focuses heavily on speaking practice, while Busuu focuses more on listening
• Ling offers script-writing exercises for many non-Latin languages, while this feature is limited to character recognition in Busuu
• Busuu offers CEFR-level standard courses

Is Ling Better Than Busuu For Speaking And Conversation Practice?

The short answer is yes. Ling is actually better than Busuu for speaking and conversation practice.

Since speaking is an essential skill to develop while learning a language, as many studies show, Ling structured its language courses to include features such as an interactive chatbot and speaking exercises with instant feedback. As such, learners are able to develop all of the language skills they need, namely listening, reading, and conversational fluency, in a dynamic environment that builds their confidence from day one!

On the other hand, although Busuu offers standardized courses aligned with the CEFR framework, the app seems to lack speaking practice.

More precisely, the app only offers AI-powered speaking exercises for a few languages, such as French, English, German, and Italian. Therefore, users learning Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Turkish, or Arabic can’t really focus on their speaking skills and must use other resources.

Which App Provides Better Cultural Context: Ling Or Busuu?

While Busuu provides good cultural context for some of the languages it teaches, the app tends to prioritize major languages like English, French, German, and Italian, adding more content and cultural references.

For example, you can access additional courses on business or travel, so you can learn the vocabulary you might need in these contexts. You can also have access to courses based on local newspapers (like El País for Spanish, and The Economist for English), or TV shows.

These extras set Busuu apart for practical, context-driven learning, helping you customize your learning journey beyond basics.

Ling, on the other hand, offers cultural context for niche languages. Therefore, you can benefit from culture notes for :

• Thai
• Khmer
• Vietnamese
• Tagalog
• Punjabi
• Urdu
• Serbian
• Albanian
• Croatian
• Bosnian
• Lithuanian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Cantonese

Note: language culture notes are regularly updated, and more languages are added each time.

Ling Vs Busuu: Course Structure And Lesson Depth

Ling Course Structure

Ling offers structured lessons going from beginner to advanced levels. Each language course is divided into 5 level tracks :

• Beginner: Units 1 to 10
• Intermediate: Units 11 to 20
• Upper Intermediate: Units 21 to 30
• Advanced: Units 31 to 40
• Expert: Units 41 to 50

Each unit includes several lessons as well as a section for speaking practice and writing exercises for some languages. Additionally, all units include an exam section for reviewing what has been learned.

In the Ling app, the courses are also designed thematically, with various topics that correspond to everyday life for real-time use.

Want to order food and coffee while visiting Thaïland? Check the “eating out” and “in the café” units. Looking for the place you rented while visiting your friend in Iceland? Check the lessons “Navigation”, Places and Locations”, and “Where is it”. You’re an expat, and you want to chat with your new colleagues about your jobs ? Check the unit “occupations and workplace”.

You understand. Ling is here to really help you navigate all the situations of your day in a foreign language.

Busuu Course Structure

Busuu’s course structure is slightly different, as it rigidly follows the CEFR framework. Language courses are divided into several chapters per level:

• Beginner A1 – 16 chapters
• Elementary A2 – 7 chapters
• Intermediate B1 – 4 chapters
• Upper intermediate B2 – 5 chapters

Each chapter includes several tracks (or lessons) with interactive exercises. Additionally, each chapter includes a “checkpoint” to review everything learned.

As we mentioned before, some languages also have additional sub-courses for various contexts, such as business and travel, that provide more context for learning.

Ling Vs. Busuu Pricing: Is Ling Worth Paying For?

Ling and Busuu both offer a variety of plans for you to choose from. At first glance, Ling appears to be slightly more expensive than the Busuu Premium subscription.

Why the difference? Well, considering that purchasing a Ling plan gives you access to all 70+ language courses the app teaches, the deal seems quite fair, doesn’t it?

And if you want to benefit from cheaper monthly pricing ($7.50), then we recommend you purchase a yearly plan!

Moreover, you don’t need to choose a plan right away to start learning with Ling. You can explore the app’s features for free with a 7-day free trial.

Wondering why you should pay for language learning apps like Ling and Busuu while Duolingo is Free?

The answer is simple: paying for a language learning app means getting better quality lessons and content, and a more learner-friendly experience.

At Ling, for example, courses are developed by experts, linguists, and native speakers to ensure you learn languages in an authentic way. There is no place for useless phrases like “the penguin drinks coffee”. You actually learn all the words and sentences that you can use in real-life situations from day one.

Free language learning apps are generally free because of ads, a not-so-ideal model if you like to learn without getting interrupted.

Why Serious Learners Choose Ling And Busuu To Learn Languages?

Ling and Busuu are becoming increasingly popular among learners who actually want to speak a foreign language.

Both apps can boast average ratings of 4.7 to 4.6 stars on the App Store and Play Store.

While Ling has already been downloaded by 5M+ users, Busuu has an average of 120M+ registered users, which represents a significant difference. But it isn’t very surprising since Busuu specialises in popular languages, those that everyone wants to learn, like English, while Ling specialises in niche and minor languages, those that specific types of learners want to master.

What Do Learners On The App Stores Say About Ling Vs Busuu?

Let’s see what serious learners actually have to say about both apps :

What Users Say About Ling

What Users Say About Busuu

Ling Vs Busuu: Pros & Cons

If, after seeing all the similarities and differences between both language learning apps, you’re still not sure which one corresponds to your needs, here is a quick pro and cons recap that will certainly help you make a choice :

Which App To Choose Based On Your Objectives: Ling Or Busuu?

As you’ve been reading this comparison guide, you must have realized that choosing the best language-learning apps depends on many factors. And the most important ones are your target language, your learning style, and your language learning goals.

So if you were to make a choice between Busuu vs Ling, you must take them into account.

But in short, choose Ling if you want to:

• Learn a new language that has very few learning resources on the internet, like some Southeast Asian, Eastern European, or African Languages
• Learn real spoken language with native speaker voices
• A gamified and fun learning experience (but not too much)
• Speaking practice with immediate feedback
• Learn how to write complex non-Latin scripts
• Learn at your own pace, no stress

And choose Busuu if you want:

• Learn popular European and Asian languages Like French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese
• Connect with a community of learners like you or native speakers
• Learn languages through a standardized framework like the CEFR
• Get a certificate of completion for the CEFR levels you complete

FAQs: Ling Vs Busuu

Final Thoughts: Ling Or Busuu, Which Is Better For Learning A New Language In 2026?

Congrats. You’ve reached the end of this comparison guide that will hopefully help you choose the app that will help you achieve your learning goals in 2026.

But here is what we recommend: if you’re planning a road trip in not-so-popular countries, reconnecting with your heritage or looking to communicate with friends and family in the country you’re going to live in, choose Ling, the app that helps you take the easy path to hard and less popular languages.

Enjoy learning with an interactive interface, a gamified method, and phrases you will actually use in real-life situations.

So, what are you waiting for? Join thousands of other learners who have already started with us. Download the Ling app now and start learning a language today!