Babbel language learning app

Babbel is an online language learning platform founded in August 2007 by Markus Witte, Thomas Holl, Lorenz Heine, and Toine Diepstraten. The company, originally known as Lesson Nine GmbH, is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with an additional office in New York City, USA, operating as Babbel Inc. Babbel offers courses in 14 languages, including English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish, and Indonesian, accessible via web, iOS, and Android platforms. The company employs over 1,000 individuals from more than 80 nationalities. Babbel operates on a subscription-based model, providing users with structured lessons and exercises to facilitate language acquisition. The company has experienced significant growth, surpassing 1 million active paying subscribers by January 2016. In 2013, Babbel expanded its presence in the United States by acquiring San Francisco-based startup PlaySay Inc., with PlaySay's founder and CEO joining Babbel as a strategic advisor. In 2023, Babbel acquired Toucan, a language-learning browser extension, further enhancing its language learning ecosystem. The company has been recognized for its innovative approach to language education, being named among the 150 Most Transformational Companies in Digital Learning in 2025 and receiving the Purpose Driven Communications Award in 2024 for its efforts to assist Ukrainian refugees. Babbel continues to evolve, integrating AI-based features into its platform to enhance the learning experience.