Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is Borne, and how does it work?

Borne is an AI-powered language learning app that simulates conversations with an AI language partner to help you improve your speaking and listening skills. You can choose from Spanish, French, English, Italian, German, Portuguese, Dutch and Swedish. The app offers personalized lessons, practice conversations and immersive adventures, while providing feedback in real-time on your pronunciation, grammar and phrasing. Borne leverages advanced AI to deliver an affordable, on-demand and pressure-free language learning experience, offering all the benefits of traditional tutoring at a fraction of the cost.

How do I get started using the Borne app?

To start using Borne, download the app from the App Store if you have an iPhone or from the Google Play Store if you have an Android device. Once installed, you can sign up using your email, Apple ID or Google account. After signing up, you're ready to start practicing speaking with your AI language partner Borne.

Can I learn multiple languages with Borne?

Yes, you can practice speaking in any language available on the Borne platform. Currently, we offer Spanish, French, English, Italian, German, Portuguese, Swedish and Dutch, with new languages added regularly. Your account is not tied to a single language. You can also listen to podcasts in any of the languages for free.

Do I need an Internet connection?

Yes, an internet connection is required to use the Borne app. The app relies on AI-powered features and third-party APIs, which need connectivity to function. Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi or have mobile data enabled to access all of Borne’s features, including conversations, lessons, and podcasts.

Subscriptions

Does the Borne app have a free trial?

We offer a free lesson to everyone who signs up, allowing you to experience our conversational AI firsthand. Additionally, you can access free podcasts in all the languages available on the platform. To continue conversations with the AI, you will need to subscribe to a plan. Plans start at just $5.99 per month though, which equates to only $2 an hour for high-quality, immersive language instruction. All plans are month-to-month and can be canceled at any time.

What subscriptions plans does Borne offer?

Borne offers three subscription plans. The Basic Plan is $5.99 per month and includes 3 hours of conversation time with Borne each month, with each additional hour available for $2.99 per hour. The Standard Plan is $9.99 per month and provides 5 hours of conversation with Borne each month, with each additional hour also priced at $2.99. The Premium Plan is $14.99 per month and includes 9 hours of conversation with Borne each month, with each additional hour available at a discounted rate of $1.99. All plans give you access to every language on the Borne platform, allowing you to switch between languages freely. All plans are month-to-month, with no long-term commitments.

How are my payments processed?

When you make a payment in the Borne app, your transaction is securely processed by Apple if you’re using an iPhone, or by Google if you’re using an Android device. Apple manages payments through your Apple ID account, while Google handles payments via the Google Play Store — both using advanced encryption and robust security protocols to protect your financial data. Borne does not store or access any of your payment information, as Apple and Google act as intermediaries to ensure your details remain private and secure. If you have further questions about the payment process, feel free to contact our support team at support@borne.ai.

Do minutes roll to the next month?

The way minutes roll over depends on how they are purchased. When you subscribe to a plan in the Borne app, your minutes are replenished at the beginning of each month — e.g., the Basic Plan gives you 180 minutes each month. Unused minutes from your subscription do not carry over to the next month, encouraging more consistent practice and helping you build the regular habits needed to master a language. However, if you purchase additional minutes beyond your plan, those minutes will roll over to future months. These rolled-over minutes are only used after you've exhausted your plan's monthly minutes, ensuring you get full value from your extra purchase.

Using Borne

Am I interacting with a real person?

No, when you engage in conversations on the Borne app, you are not speaking with a real person. Instead, you’re interacting with an AI-powered voice generated using advanced text-to-speech technology. This voice is designed to sound natural and human-like, providing an engaging and immersive language learning experience. The AI ensures that every interaction is consistent, high-quality, and personalized to your learning needs. You can also adjust the voice’s gender in the app’s settings to better suit your preferences.

What level should I be at to use the app?

You can use the Borne app at any level, as a complete beginner or as an advanced speaker. If you don’t understand what Borne is saying, click on the text to see the text translated to your native language. You can then also click on individual words to learn more about a word. If you’re unsure how to respond, simply click the help icon at the bottom left and type what you want to say in your native language to have it translated into the language you’re learning. These tools keep you immersed in the language, while providing a safety net whenever you encounter unfamiliar words or need assistance.

Will Borne correct my grammar?

Yes, Borne carefully reviews your responses for any grammar errors or awkward phrasing, helping identify areas where sentence structure or word choice could be improved. To view the grammar review from Borne, simply click on the text of your transcribed message and select the grammar tab. This will display detailed grammar feedback for that message. With this personalized guidance, Borne ensures that every interaction in the app is a learning opportunity to refine and enhance your language skills.

How will I know if I pronounced it correctly?

Borne makes it easy to check your pronunciation. Simply click on the text of any message — whether it’s from you or from Borne — and you’ll see the text from that sentence, along with a detailed pronunciation score. You can also select individual words in this pop-up to practice a word further, receiving specific feedback and a score for your pronunciation of that word. This feature allows you to refine your pronunciation skills, while focusing on improving areas where you need extra speaking practice.

Troubleshooting

What if I didn't get the code to verify email?

If you don’t see the code to verify your email in your inbox when you're signing up for the app, it’s possible that it ended up in your spam or junk folder, so be sure to check there next. If the code still hasn’t arrived, please reach out to us at support@borne.ai. Keep in mind that the email address sending the code is automated and not monitored, so contacting our support team is best. Alternatively, you can bypass the email verification step entirely by logging in with your Google or Apple account for a quicker start.

Can I change the app language from English?

Currently, the Borne app is only available in English. However, we are actively working on localization and plan to introduce additional app languages in early 2025. Once released, you’ll be able to use the Borne app in Hindi, Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Italian, German and French. This will bring the total number of app languages with English to ten. This update will also make it possible to learn a new language using a language you’ve already mastered. For example, let's say you're a native English speaker who has been learning French. You could set French as your app language as you learn Spanish, creating an even more immersive experience that enables you to keep up with your French as you learn Spanish. Stay tuned for updates as we work to make the Borne app accessible in more languages!

Why isn't my microphone working?

The most common cause of this is Bluetooth interference. When Bluetooth is enabled on your phone, your phone may be using the microphone of a connected device instead of your phone’s microphone. That connected device may be out of reach and not able to hear you. To fix this, go to your phone’s settings, turn off Bluetooth and try using the Borne app again. If this issue persists, please email us at support@borne.ai.

What if the AI audio doesn't match the text?

Occasionally, you may notice a mismatch between the AI's audio and the AI's displayed text. This can happen when you're on an unstable Wi-Fi connection, or switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data. It may also occur with certain numbers. While these instances are rare, we are actively working to improve alignment and reduce such discrepancies. If you encounter such issues, feel free to report it to us at feedback@borne.ai so we can investigate further. Thank you for helping us make Borne even better!

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