Sketchlingo: a Babbel alternative that is a game, not a course
Babbel is a course you work through. Sketchlingo is a 3-round game you play with friends. They solve different problems, so the honest answer is: pick by what you are missing.
What Babbel is
Babbel is a subscription language-learning app built around structured courses. Lessons are short and follow an order, with dialogue exercises and review built in, and you work through them on your own.
We describe Babbel plainly and do not claim to speak for it. Check their site for current features and prices. Sketchlingo is not affiliated with Babbel.
How Sketchlingo is different
- Sketchlingo is not a course. There is no syllabus and no lesson order.
- It is multiplayer. One player draws a word, the rest type guesses against a timer.
- It only does vocabulary — 124 words per language, across 7 languages.
- Every round ends with the word and its English meaning.
- It is free and needs no account. Pro at $4.99 a month adds your own room and your own word list.
- A default game is 3 rounds at 80 seconds a turn, in a browser, with no install.
Who each one suits
Babbel suits you if you want someone else to decide what comes next — a path from first words to holding a conversation.
Sketchlingo suits you if you want to practice words with other people for free, and you are getting grammar somewhere else.
What you get in Sketchlingo
- You play with other people in a live room. One player draws, everyone else types.
- 7 languages: Dutch, Spanish, French, German, Italian, English, Georgian.
- 124 words in every language. One word list, translated seven ways.
- Free with no account. Open the link, pick a name, play.
- Guesses are typed against a timer. A turn is 80 seconds by default. Fast guesses score up to 500 points.
- Every round ends with the word and its English meaning.
- Words nobody guessed come back in later rounds until everyone gets them.
- Georgian rooms accept typed romanizations, so you do not need a Georgian keyboard.
- Quick games hold 4 players. Your own room holds 2 to 24, over 1 to 10 rounds.
- Pro is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year. It adds your own room and up to 200 of your own words. Everyone you invite plays free.
Questions
Can Sketchlingo replace a language course?
No. It teaches words, not grammar or sentence structure. Use it alongside a course, or use it when you want to practice with friends.
What does Sketchlingo cost?
Nothing to play. Pro is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year and adds your own room plus up to 200 of your own words. Everyone you invite plays free.
Which languages does it cover?
Seven: Dutch, Spanish, French, German, Italian, English, and Georgian. Each one has the same 124 words.
Try a round
Pick a language, press play, and you are in a game. No account, no install. Bring a friend or get matched into an open game.