Have you decided that you want to learn Korean?
Have you gone online in search of the best language course, discovered either Babbel or Busuu, and then been disappointed to learn that they don’t have a course for Korean learners?
Both Babbel and Busuu are popular choices for language learners but aren’t necessarily always the best choice. The following courses are just as capable of helping you accomplish your Korean language goals.
They all have different pros and cons but this quick review of six Babbel and Busuu Korean alternatives will give you an idea of where to start your search for a great Korean language resource.
90 Day Korean
First off, let’s make it clear that unfortunately, you are not going to be fluent in Korean after 90 days. But, 90 Day Korean doesn’t claim to do so. Instead, they break up their content into short 90 day modules.
It’s very cleverly laid out because they only provide you with a week’s worth of lessons at a time. If you’re feeling keen you can jump ahead to the next week, but presenting the course content in small increments makes learning a whole new language feel way less daunting.
Another awesome feature of 90 Day Korean is that if you pay a little bit more you can get access to a personal coach. The coach will be there to answer your questions and help you to work your way through the course material.
If you don’t want to pay any extra money, don’t worry, this course definitely does not skimp on the fundamentals and you will do just fine on your own. It’s a great all-around Korean language course and a good choice for someone who really wants to commit to learning and understanding how the language works in the long term.
A 90 Day Korean subscription is reasonably priced at between $30-$47 a month or $150-$247 a year.
See our Super-Detailed 90 Day Korean Review
Pimsleur
All of these courses have pros and cons, it just depends on what kind of learning experience you are looking for. If you want to focus mainly on oral language then Pimsleur is the right choice for you.
You will get tons of speaking and listening practice with less emphasis on grammar rules. A great feature of Pimsleur is that the speakers in the app are both male and female which helps you get used to understanding different speakers when listening to the language.
The course progresses logically and builds upon each lesson in a gradual way. It also includes some nice imagery and helpful cultural references. If you’re someone who wants to learn the rules of Korean grammar inside and out then this isn’t the course for you, but it has a lot of other great content to offer and it’s available at a reasonable price.
Read the full review of Pimsleur in order to get the lowdown on what you’ll actually get with a Pimsleur subscription, but essentially a basic subscription costs $14.95 a month and a premium subscription costs $19.95 a month.
See our Super-Detailed Pimsleur Review
KoreanClass101
If you want to improve your listening comprehension, then KoreanClass101 would be a great resource for you due to its impressive library of audio lessons. It will also cover much more grammar and vocabulary than something like Pimsleur.
However, the listening material is geared more heavily towards the beginner and intermediate levels. An advanced learner might not gain as much from the course but could definitely still consider using it as a supplemental resource.
A basic subscription will cost $8 a month or $4 a month if you sign up for two years. Premium jumps in price to $25 a month or $10 a month if you sign up for two years. Premium Plus is $47 a month or $23 a month with the 2-year deal.
Use the promo code “ALLLANGUAGERESOURCES” to save 25% on a KoreanClass101 subscription.
See our Super-Detailed KoreanClass101 Review
Teuida App
This app could make a good option for learners that want the next best thing to speaking practice with a real human being. The biggest draw for the app is probably its simulated, POV-style conversation practice.
Teuida provides video lessons that teach learners how to speak a bunch of practical phrases in Korean through basic explanations and pronunciation practice with a voice-recognition system. These phrases can then be used in the simulated conversation practice.
There isn’t a ton of grammar explanation, there’s no explicit writing or reading practice, and it’s probably best for learners who are past the absolute beginner level, but it’s hard to ignore a resource with such a nice design and unique approach.
Use the coupon code ‘ALR003‘ to get the 3-month plan for $18.99.
See our Super-Detailed Teuida App Review
Lingodeer
If you really want to learn Korean using something similar to Babbel then Lingodeer is your best bet.
But, Lingodeer has an advantage as it was designed specifically with Asian languages in mind (which is something that not all language apps take into account). It’s a lot better than an app like Duolingo in this aspect.
This course is a great starting point if you are completely new to Korean because it covers the absolute basics like the alphabet and pronunciation before moving on to lessons that are divided into various topics.
The app is well designed, easy to navigate and also includes some creative features that will keep your learning experience interesting. Lingodeer Korean has an awesome feature called “stories” which involves watching a captioned video, answering questions about the story, and then getting the chance to tell the story yourself to practice your speaking.
Although this feature is excellent, you won’t become a great conversationalist by relying on Lingodeer exclusively.
It also comes with a price tag that’s comparable to similar language apps. You can get a lifetime subscription for $119.99 or pay $11.99 for one month, $29.99 for 3 months, or $55.99 for a year.
See our Super-Detailed Lingodeer Review
Duolingo
While Duolingo does a great job with some languages it sadly falls a bit short when it comes to Korean.
On the positive side, learning with Duolingo feels a bit like playing a game and the format of the app will motivate you to play/study every day. You get rewards for completing a certain number of exercises per day and you unlock new levels as you get more experienced.
However, you might find yourself feeling a bit lost as the content seems scattered and you won’t get an introduction to the Korean alphabet like you will in other courses on this list. If you want an app that will help you to practice (rather than foster) your Korean language skills then Duolingo is a good choice.
The best part about Duolingo is that you can get it for free. There is the option to upgrade your free subscription to a premium subscription for $9.99 a month but all that does is remove ads and give you the chance to download offline lessons.
See our Super-Detailed Duolingo Review