If you’re struggling to find a gift for someone who seems to have it all, or if learning a new language is on your list of New Year’s resolutions for 2025, you’ll want to check out this Black Friday deal from Babbel, one of our favorite language-learning apps. Babbel is offering its lifetime subscription for all languages at an exciting 78% off, or $130 total. Normally, this subscription is priced at $599, so grab this deal with both hands before it ends.
We like Babbel’s online school-type experience and minimalist design. It’s easy to use and its design helps you stick to your learning goals. The one-time payment of $130 gives you permanent access to Babbel’s language courses, which you can tackle at your own pace without worrying about recurring fees. Lifetime access normally costs $599 directly at Babbel, and the StackSocial deal even undercuts the promotional pricing of $299 there by over half.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Babbel’s extensive language software includes Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Swedish, Indonesian, Portuguese and more. The lessons are short and to the point, allowing you to practice in 10- to 15-minute intervals that can fit into any schedule. Real-life topics include travel, family, business, food and others. A variety of skill levels are available, ranging from beginner to advanced, so the program can grow with you as you improve.
The speech-recognition technology will give you immediate feedback on pronunciation, so you don’t just learn to read and write but also how to listen and speak as well. You’ll also get personalized review sessions to reinforce what you’ve learned. The program works across desktop and mobile devices.
Although the Internet is required most of the time, there is also an offline mode available where you can access courses, lessons and reviews without Wi-Fi, so long as you download them beforehand. Babbel also syncs your progress across your devices so that you can jump in from wherever is most convenient.
Becoming fluent in a new language is a great way to stay engaged in learning, and the transferable skills you gain can open doors for leisure, work and beyond. Note that while you can access this program on as many devices as you want, this subscription offer is available only for new users.
Babbel offers excellent value when compared with other online courses, especially with this current discount. So whether you’re a lifelong learner or just want to pick up some basics for your globe-trotting adventures, this is a solid deal.
If you’re looking for a new laptop to learn these languages on, make sure to read up on our roundup of the best laptop deals happening now. Plus, be sure to check out big luggage deals happening now to prep for your next big excursion.
Watch this: How to Shop Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Like a Pro
Why this deal matters
If you want to learn a new language, or get a thoughtful gift for someone who already has everything, Babbel is a solid choice. Being a lifetime subscription, you or the person you are gifting it to are not on the hook for any recurring fees and you don’t have to feel bad about paying every month for the service if you fall off the wagon with your language learning for a while.
Lifetime Babbel access normally costs as much as $599 when bought directly through Babbel’s site, and even the current promotion there costs $299, so you’re saving a huge chunk of change by going with the StackSocial deal. Despite being listed at StackSocial, the deal itself is provided by Babbel, so you know it has the backing of the company itself.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.