Busuu Alternative for Busy Learners: 5-Minute Comprehension Training

Busuu has built a solid reputation over the years with its CEFR-aligned courses, native speaker feedback, and structured curriculum. With over 120 million users, it's clearly doing something right. But if you've found yourself here, you're probably wondering whether there's a better fit for how you actually learn languages.

Erla takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of following a traditional curriculum with grammar checkpoints and vocabulary drills, we focus on one thing first: comprehension. The idea is simple — if you don't understand, you won't speak. You won't write. Everything starts with training your brain to actually process the language.

Let's break down how these two apps compare, so you can decide which one matches your learning style.

Busuu follows a structured, classroom-style approach. Lessons are organized according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), taking you from A1 to B2 or C1 depending on the language. You'll work through grammar modules, vocabulary exercises, and speaking practice in a progressive sequence. It's essentially a digital textbook with interactive elements and community features.

Erla is built on comprehensible input theory — the idea that we acquire language best when we understand messages slightly above our current level. Think about how children learn: they listen, absorb context, and build understanding naturally before they ever speak. That's what we're replicating. No translation drills. No isolated vocabulary lists. Just real comprehension.

Busuu breaks learning into short lessons (around 5 minutes each) that cover vocabulary, grammar, and phrases. You'll see video clips of native speakers, complete fill-in-the-blank exercises, and submit written or spoken responses for community feedback. The AI-powered Conversations feature lets you practice speaking with real-time feedback.

Key features include personalized study plans, grammar review tools, vocabulary trainers with spaced repetition, and official McGraw Hill certificates. Premium users can access offline lessons and live tutor sessions.

Erla has two core modes designed to build genuine comprehension from the ground up.

Listening Mode immerses you in real-life scenarios with native-like AI-generated audio. You hear a phrase, guess what it means, then reveal the text and translation. Tap any word to explore its grammar. This trains your ear naturally — the same way you'd pick up a language living in another country.

Reading Mode gives you interactive short stories — fairy tales, interesting facts, engaging topics — where you can tap any sentence to see grammar breakdowns and translations. You build vocabulary through context, not isolation.

There are no points. No streaks. No leaderboards. Just focused comprehension practice.

Busuu offers 14 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

Erla supports 22 languages, including several that are harder to find on mainstream platforms: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Greek, Turkish, Romanian, Croatian, Slovak, Serbian, Ukrainian, and Russian.

If you're learning a Nordic or Central/Eastern European language, Erla may be your only option with a comprehension-first methodology.

Busuu operates on a freemium model. The free version is quite limited — expect frequent ads and restricted access to lessons. Premium plans range from $7 to $15 per month depending on subscription length, unlocking all content, offline access, and advanced features.

Erla is currently free. We're focused on building the best possible learning experience right now. Premium features will come later, but you can access everything today without paying a cent.

Let's be fair about what Busuu does well:

• Native speaker feedback: The community correction system lets real humans review your writing and speaking, which can be valuable for output practice
• Official certifications: McGraw Hill certificates can be useful for professional or academic purposes
• CEFR alignment: If you need to reach a specific proficiency level for work or study, the structured curriculum maps clearly to recognized standards
• Live tutoring: Premium users can book sessions with human teachers
• Video content: Seeing native speakers' mouth movements helps with pronunciation

Erla is built for learners who want a different kind of experience:

• Comprehension-first: Everything is designed around building real understanding, not just recognition or recall
• Natural learning flow: The "guess first, reveal later" methodology trains your brain to process language intuitively
• No gamification pressure: Learn without streaks, points, or leaderboards creating anxiety
• More language options: 22 languages including underserved ones like Finnish, Hungarian, and Croatian
• Contextual vocabulary: Words learned through stories and scenarios stick better than isolated flashcards
• Free access: No paywalls, no ads, no limits right now

Choose Busuu if:

• You prefer a traditional, structured curriculum with clear progression levels
• You want official certificates for professional or academic purposes
• Native speaker feedback on your output is important to you
• You're learning one of the 14 major languages they support
• You don't mind paying for premium features

Choose Erla if:

• You believe in learning through comprehension first, output later
• Traditional apps haven't worked for you and you want a different approach
• You're learning a Nordic or Central/Eastern European language
• You want to train your ear with listening-focused practice
• You prefer learning without gamification and streak pressure
• You want free access to all features

Busuu and Erla represent two genuinely different philosophies about language learning. Busuu follows the traditional model: structured lessons, grammar rules, vocabulary drills, then production. It works for many people, especially those who thrive with clear structure and measurable milestones.

Erla flips the script. We believe the reason so many language learners plateau or give up is that they're pushed to produce before they truly understand. By focusing on comprehension first — through listening and contextual reading — you build the foundation that makes speaking and writing possible later.

The best language app is the one you'll actually use consistently. If Busuu's approach hasn't clicked for you, or if you're curious about a comprehension-first methodology, give Erla a try. It's free, and you might find it's exactly what you've been looking for.

Ready to try a different approach? Download Erla for your target language at erla.app and experience comprehension-first learning for yourself.