Brandwave

Babbel vs Drops:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Babbel had more branded searches than Drops among language learning apps worldwide. Babbel had about 165,000 branded searches, while Drops had 5,400. Babbel made up 1.6% of all language learning app searches we track, and Drops accounted for 0.05%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about language learning apps, Babbel appeared in all five answers and Drops in none.

Among language learning apps worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Babbel, about 31 searches for every 1 for Drops

Babbel 165K searchesDrops 5.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Babbel, mentioned in every answer we collected

Babbel in 5 of 5Drops in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Babbel, the only one of the two named

Babbel first in 5Drops never named

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Top language learning apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Babbel appeared in all five answers. Drops did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Duolingo1st
  2. Babbel2nd
  3. Busuu3rd
  4. Pimsleur4th
  5. Memrise5th
  6. Rosetta Stone6th
  7. Drops–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Duolingo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Babbel5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Busuu4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pimsleur3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rosetta Stone1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Memrise1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Drops0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about language learning apps

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Babbel or Drops more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Babbel and Drops by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven language learning apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Babbel and Drops among language learning apps worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Babbel, Drops. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDuolingoRosetta StoneBusuuBabbelMemrisePimsleurDrops
Oct 202588.2%4.3%2.4%2.4%1.9%0.71%0.08%
Nov 202585.3%5.1%2.8%2.8%2.8%1%0.09%
Dec 202587.1%4.3%2.9%2.9%1.6%1.3%0.08%
Jan 202685.2%5.1%2.8%3.4%2.3%1%0.11%
Feb 202687.9%4.3%2.4%2.9%1.6%0.87%0.08%
Mar 202687.1%4.3%2.9%2.9%1.9%0.86%0.08%
Apr 202689.1%3.6%2.4%2.4%1.6%0.88%0.08%
May 202689.3%3.6%2.4%2.4%1.3%0.88%0.06%
Jun 202689.7%3.6%2.4%2%1.3%0.89%0.06%
Jul 202688%4.3%2.9%2.4%1.3%1.1%0.08%
Aug 202689.2%4.4%2.4%2%1.1%0.88%0.06%
Sep 202688.8%5.3%2.4%1.6%1.1%0.72%0.05%

How has the Babbel and Drops comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Babbel was ahead of Drops in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Babbel’s share of searches among language learning apps worldwide moved from 2.4% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 165K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Drops’ share of searches among language learning apps worldwide moved from 0.08% to 0.05%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 5.4K.

How did search popularity change for language learning apps worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Drops worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 5.4K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Babbel worldwide fell 32.9% over 12 measured months, from 246K to 165K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Babbel’s and Drops’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Babbel

1 branded search term

  • babbel

Drops

1 branded search term

  • drops app

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among language learning apps

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