Merlin Bird ID vs Busuu
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Merlin Bird ID is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.1. Merlin Bird ID wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Busuu on 0.
Beginner and backyard birders, hikers and curious kids
Learners who want structured, level-based courses with real feedback
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Merlin Bird ID | Busuu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Learning | Learning |
| Category rank | #2 of 12 | #9 of 12 |
| Developer | Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Busuu Limited |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Merlin Bird ID better than Busuu?
Merlin Bird ID is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.1. Merlin Bird ID wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Busuu on 0.
Which is cheaper, Merlin Bird ID or Busuu?
Merlin Bird ID: Completely free, funded by Cornell Lab members and supporters. Busuu: Free lessons with ads; Premium and Premium Plus are priced by region and plan length. On value for money, Merlin Bird ID scores higher.
Do Merlin Bird ID and Busuu work on the same devices?
Only Busuu runs on Web.
Which is more private, Merlin Bird ID or Busuu?
Merlin Bird ID scores higher on privacy (9.0/10). App Store label: no tracking, and only a user ID is linked to you. Email, coarse location and usage are collected without your identity. Google Play says no data is shared.
Strengths and weaknesses
Merlin Bird ID
- Free, with no ads or in-app purchases
- Identifies birds by sound in real time
- Works offline once you download a region
- Only covers birds
- No Mac, Windows or web version
- Some users report glitches saving sightings
Merlin answers the question every backyard birder asks. Hold up your phone and Sound ID names the birds singing around you as they sing, snap a picture for Photo ID, or answer five quick questions about what you saw. Download a Bird Pack and it works with no signal. It's free with no ads, built by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It only does birds, but it does them brilliantly.
Full Merlin Bird ID review
Busuu
- Structured lessons that explain the grammar
- Real people check your writing and speaking
- Courses go all the way up to advanced levels
- The free plan is limited and shows ads
- The best speaking tools need Premium Plus
- Only 14 languages
Busuu feels more like a real course than a game. Lessons follow clear levels from beginner up to advanced, and fluent speakers in the Busuu community can check your writing and speaking. A Study Plan fits lessons around your week, Smart Review gathers the words and grammar you've learned for practice, and Premium Plus adds AI conversation practice. It covers 14 languages. The free plan is limited and shows ads, and prices vary a lot.
Full Busuu review
