Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Innovative Language vs phase6
Where Innovative Language and phase6 differ
| Compare | Innovative Language ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4 | €0 |
| Price per month | $10 | €3 to €5 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Languages | Afrikaans, Arabic, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Mongolian, Nepali, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese | Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, Greek, Ancient Greek, Italian, Latin, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, Turkish |
| Price per year | Not confirmed | €35.99 to €59.99 |
| Number of languages | 34 | Not confirmed |
| Family subscription | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Free tier (Yes), Free trial length (7 days).
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Key differences
- phase6 scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Money-back period is higher at Innovative Language: 60 days vs 14 days.
- Languages: only Innovative Language offers Afrikaans, Bulgarian, Cantonese.
- Languages: only phase6 offers Ancient Greek, Latin.
- Learning method: only Innovative Language offers Audio, Live 1to1.
Our verdict on each
Innovative Language
Innovative Language suits learners who want audio and app lessons across 34 languages and a long window to change their mind. Its entry price of $4 and a money-back period of 60 days keep the risk of trying it low, and the free tier lets anyone start without paying.
phase6
This app is the pick for self studiers who want broad language choice at the lowest entry point in the group. It suits learners who will practise daily in the app and who like a family plan, and the annual option at €35.99 to €59.99 keeps renewal low.
Score breakdown
| Area | Innovative Language | phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5Entry at $4 and a monthly rate of $10 are mid-field, so the low entry figure carries the cost score. | 10.0HigherEntry price sits at €0, monthly billing at €3 to €5 and annual billing at €35.99 to €59.99. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA free tier, a 7 days trial and a 60 days money-back period cover entry, a short look and a long safety net. | 9.0A free tier, a 7 days trial, a 14 days money back period and a family subscription sit behind the app. |
How they place
| Ranking | Innovative Language | phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Language learning apps | 10 of 46 | 5 of 46 |
Choosing between them
Pick Innovative Language if money-back period matter most.
Pick phase6 if cost matter most.
Also worth a look
EF English Live has money-back period at 84 days, against 60 days for Innovative Language and 14 days for phase6.
EF English Live reviewWhere these facts come from
Innovative Language
- japanesepod101.com: 6 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- innovativelanguage.com: 4 facts, checked September 30, 2026
phase6
- phase-6.de: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Innovative Language | phase6 |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | App, Audio, Live 1to1Covers more | App |
| Legal entity | Innovative Language Learning USA, LLC | phase-6 GmbH |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Innovative Language | phase6 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per year | Not confirmed | €35.99 to €59.99lowest quarter | €91.20 |
| Free trial length | 7 daysat the median | 7 daysat the median | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 days |
| Number of languages | 34below the median | Not confirmed | 41 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Innovative Language
Pros
- A free tier lets a learner open the service and study before paying anything.
- A 7 days trial and a 60 days money-back period mean a paid plan can be bought, used and still refunded.
- Coverage runs to 34 languages, from Afrikaans to Vietnamese, with delivery through app, audio and live 1to1.
Cons
- The recurring rate of $10 is what a learner pays once the $4 entry price sits behind them, so a long study is priced at the higher figure.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no voice line for anyone who prefers to talk.
- A 7 days trial is short next to the 60-day longest free trial on the site.
phase6
Pros
- Entry price of €0 and monthly billing of €3 to €5 sit well under the €9.49 group median.
- A free tier and a 7 days trial let you try the app before paying anything.
- A 14 days money back period is longer than the 14-day lower quartile in this group.
Cons
- A 14 days money back period ranks near the back of this group at 20 of 29, so a long trial is the safer first test.
- A 7 days free trial also sits low at 8 of 21, shorter than the 14-day group upper quartile.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no live chat or phone line listed.
Who each suits
Innovative Language
Who it suits
- Learners who want a genuine free start and a 60 days window to change their mind before the $10 monthly rate adds up.
- People studying a language outside the most taught few, since the catalogue covers 34 of them.
- Self-study learners who want audio and app lessons in a single subscription, delivered through app, audio and live 1to1.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for learners set on paying nothing: Bunpro lists entry at $0 and the structured-review option at €0.
- Not for anyone planning a long study on a single budget line: the recurring rate is $10 a month and the trial runs 7 days.
- Not for people who want to talk to a person by voice: support runs on email and help centre only.
phase6
Who it suits
- Self taught learners who want a free start and decide later whether to pay
- Households planning to share a single family subscription across several learners
- Learners of the older or classical languages in Arabic, Chinese and Danish, such as Latin or Ancient Greek
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners who want a longer free trial than 7 days to judge the app properly
- Anyone who needs live chat or phone support, since contact runs on email and help centre only
- Learners who want Spanish or Japanese structured drilling rather than a general app, where Bunpro or SpanishPod101 fit more closely
Questions about each
Innovative Language
What does Innovative Language cost, and which price do I keep paying?+
The service lists an entry price of $4 and a standard monthly rate of $10. The entry figure is what a new account opens at; the monthly rate is what the subscription settles into. Anyone planning to study across many months should treat $10 as the figure that matters, and lean on the money-back period as the hedge.
Is there a free version, and how long is the free trial?+
A free tier is included, so the lessons can be opened without paying. The paid side comes with a free trial of 7 days, short enough to check the material but not to run a full study cycle on. Learners who only need listening and app practice can stay on the free tier and skip the trial altogether.
phase6
What does this app cost to start?+
Entry costs €0, and a free tier is included, so there is a way in before any payment. Once you subscribe, monthly billing runs €3 to €5 and annual billing runs €35.99 to €59.99. Compare that entry point with Reading Eggs at £6.99 and SpanishPod101 at $4.
How much does the annual plan cost at renewal?+
The annual option runs €35.99 to €59.99, and the monthly option runs €3 to €5, both covering the same app access. The yearly figure is the number that matters once the first period ends, and it ranks the service second of 18 brands at 2. That keeps the renewal year cheap.