Best for
- Learners at an independent level
- Professionals with specialised vocabulary needs
- People maintaining a language through media and conversation
Watch for
- App level labels can overstate depth
- Unstructured input can avoid weak skills
- Tutor expertise should match the goal
Documented shortlist
Affiliate availability and commission are not inputs. Every current destination is an ordinary merchant link.
LingQ
DocumentedA self-directed reading and listening environment built around authentic content, saved words and imported material.
Best fit: Learners who want large amounts of reading and listening input
Watch: The open library is not a mandatory linear course
LingoPie
DocumentedA video-first platform using shows, films and short-form media with interactive subtitles and playback tools.
Best fit: Visual learners who stay engaged with series and films
Watch: It is not a conventional linear CEFR course
italki
DocumentedA marketplace for one-to-one lessons with independent professional teachers and community tutors.
Best fit: Personalised conversation and feedback
Watch: Choosing a tutor requires comparison work
Preply
DocumentedA one-to-one tutor marketplace built around a paid trial lesson and recurring 28-day lesson subscriptions.
Best fit: Learners who want a regular one-to-one teacher
Watch: Unused unscheduled lesson balance can be affected at renewal
Busuu
DocumentedA structured course platform with short lessons, study plans and corrections from a learner community.
Best fit: Learners who want a CEFR-oriented course sequence
Watch: Language coverage and level ceilings differ
Side-by-side evidence
Facts below were checked against vendor sources on Sep 3, 2026. Regional offers may change.
| Criterion | LingQ | LingoPie | italki | Preply | Busuu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learning format | reading, listening, vocabulary, structure | video, listening, vocabulary, reading | tutoring, speaking, structure, listening | tutoring, speaking, structure, listening | structure, speaking, listening, vocabulary |
| Languages | 50+ languages; Mini Stories are published across the catalogue | 17 published target languages; availability can vary by interface language | 150+ languages are advertised across the tutor marketplace | At least 24 language categories are published on the marketplace | 14 languages; the published course ceiling ranges from A2 to C1 |
| Level context | All levels are marketed; the open content model is often easiest after the earliest beginner stage | Personalised level selection, without a published universal CEFR pathway | Potentially A1–C2, depending on the selected tutor and lesson goal | Beginner through advanced, depending on tutor specialism | Strongest where the chosen language has a complete A1–C1 path |
| Free access / trial | Free account with tight limits on saved terms, imports and playlists | Seven-day direct-purchase trial; mobile stores and previews follow different rules | Community features are free; live lessons are paid and trial lessons are discounted, not free | No free live plan; the 25- or 50-minute trial lesson is paid | Basic course access, community feedback and basic progress tracking |
| Pricing context | Premium was listed at €14.99 monthly, €119.99 annually, or €215.76 for 24 months; regional pricing may differ | A verified offer showed $41.97 for three months or $83.88 annually; checkout and regional offers can change | Tutors set their own rates; there is no universal subscription price | Tutor-set pricing; Spanish listings began around $3 per lesson with a displayed average near $17 | Current numeric pricing was not reliably exposed in public vendor HTML; verify at checkout |
| Billing / renewal context | Plans renew automatically; direct subscriptions can be managed in account settings | A direct trial requires a card and converts to a paid plan unless cancelled | Availability, price, schedule and lesson structure depend on the tutor | Subscriptions are tutor-specific and renew every 28 days | Plan price depends on platform, promotion, currency and billing term |
| Platforms | Web, iOS and Android; offline access is a Premium feature | Web, iOS, Android and selected TV platforms; iOS supports limited offline downloads | Web, iOS and Android with video-classroom options | Web and mobile apps | Web, iOS and Android; offline access requires Premium |
Choose the learning job before the app
At advanced levels, a weekly plan should expose weak domains on purpose: fast speech, formal writing, professional interaction or unfamiliar topics. The app is an access layer, not the learning objective.
A useful shortlist separates the core learning activity from supporting features. A product can be excellent for one job and still be the wrong centre of a weekly plan.
Build a repeatable week
Choose a session length you can repeat, then assign a clear action to each session. Track completed minutes and meaningful outputs—lessons finished, pages understood, conversations held—not streaks alone.
Use the finder for an initial shortlist and the planners to test whether the time commitment fits your real week before paying for a long term.
What this comparison can and cannot prove
The facts below come from current vendor documentation and published plan pages. Language Choice Lab has not awarded points for commission and does not claim hands-on testing where none occurred.
Prices, catalogues and trials can change by location and sales channel. Recheck the official checkout before buying.
Decision criteria
Primary sources
Material claims link to primary or authoritative sources. A link is not an endorsement.
- LingQ: Official pricing
- LingQ: How LingQ works
- LingQ: Subscription terms
- LingoPie: Supported languages
- LingoPie: Trial terms
- LingoPie: Official pricing
- italki: Official iOS listing
- italki: Official Android listing
- Preply: Official Spanish tutor listings
- Preply: Trial lesson policy
- Preply: Subscription model
- Busuu: Languages and levels
- Busuu: Free and Premium
- Busuu: Premium plans