Busuu

Busuu sits neatly between Duolingo's gamified approach and Babbel's structure. Its 14 language courses are mapped to the CEFR framework - A1 up to B2 in most, and C1 in some - so you always know where you stand, and you can build a personalised study plan around a target level and deadline. Its standout feature is the community: you submit short written or spoken exercises and native speakers correct them, while you return the favour in your own language. There is a usable free tier, and Premium unlocks the full grammar content, offline mode and official-style level assessments (Busuu also offers accredited certificates in partnership with McGraw Hill). The language range is smaller than Duolingo's and community response times vary, but for methodical beginners it is a strong, affordable pick.