App Showcase: Hablo

What it does

Hablo is an AI-powered language learning application designed to improve conversational fluency. It pairs users with a virtual AI tutor for interactive lessons focused on speaking and pronunciation. The app creates a personalized study plan based on the user's goals, current level, and interests, offering various practice modes from guided repetition to open-ended role-playing.

Where it shines

Hablo’s strength lies in its interactive and responsive learning environment. The onboarding process (00:08 - 01:58) is a masterclass in value-framing; it uses an extensive quiz to build a sense of deep personalization, culminating in a unique "generating plan" screen at 01:38 that visually reinforces the user's choices. The core learning loop is equally impressive. At 02:49, the user speaks a phrase and immediately receives a score and correction, creating a tight, effective feedback mechanism that encourages practice without the fear of judgment.

UX highlights

• Personalized Onboarding: The app uses a detailed, multi-step quiz (starting at 00:12) to gather information on motivations, interests, and skill level, making the final plan feel truly bespoke.
• Productive Waiting: The plan generation screen (01:38) is not dead time. It actively shows the user's inputs being processed, which builds anticipation and validates their effort.
• Visual Value Proposition: Before the paywall, a compelling animated chart at 01:52 contrasts the app's learning curve with self-study, clearly communicating its core benefit.
• Multi-Modal Practice: Users can engage in different types of conversation, including structured Follow to speak (02:24), Tutor Q&A (07:34), and creative Roleplay sessions, catering to various learning needs.
• Instant Feedback: The app provides immediate scores (e.g., 03:11) for spoken responses, offering quick, gamified validation that encourages continuous practice.
• Avatar Selection: Allowing users to choose their AI tutor at 01:28 adds a layer of personal connection from the start.

Monetization & growth

The app employs a soft paywall strategy, presenting the subscription offer (01:58) after the user has invested significant time in the personalization quiz and has seen the value proposition. It offers a 7-day free trial that converts to an annual plan, alongside a shorter, paid 1-month option. This approach ensures users understand the personalized value before being asked to commit, likely increasing conversion rates. After a lesson, the app also prompts for an App Store rating (06:17), a standard but effective growth tactic.

Who it’s for

Hablo appears to be for beginner to intermediate language learners who want to move beyond vocabulary drills and focus on active speaking. Its primary audience is likely individuals who feel nervous practicing with real people and appreciate the non-judgmental, on-demand nature of an AI tutor. The app's focus on goals like career, travel, and education suggests it targets motivated learners looking for practical conversation skills.

Notes & opportunities

While the onboarding is strong, the immediate presentation of the App Tracking Transparency prompt (00:04) without a warm-up screen feels abrupt and could be a point of early user drop-off. Similarly, the notification permission prompt at 02:02 is also presented cold. Adding context screens before these system prompts could improve opt-in rates. In the chat, some of the AI's responses are not direct answers to the user's flawed input (12:49 to 13:13), instead re-asking the original question, which could cause some confusion.