Duolingo
The best-known language learning app, built around short gamified lessons and daily streaks.
- Category
- Language learning
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, web
- Price
- Free tier, with paid plans varying by account and region
- Official site
- duolingo.com
What it does
- Covers over 40 languages through short lessons, typically five to ten minutes each.
- Uses streaks, points and leagues to encourage daily practice — the gamification is central to the design.
- Includes an AI-powered feature explaining why an answer was wrong, available on the free tier.
- Paid tiers remove ads and the daily practice limit, and add offline access and streak repair.
The free tier
Yes. All languages and core lessons are free, but an energy system caps how much you can practise per day and the free tier carries ads.
Worth knowing before you sign up
- Reported prices vary widely between sources, accounts and regions — anywhere from around $36 to $120 a year has been listed in 2026. Check what your own account is actually offered rather than trusting a published figure.
- Paid tiers remove restrictions rather than adding curriculum. The learning content is the same as the free version.
- The energy system introduced in 2025 significantly tightened how much free users can do in a day, and is the most common complaint in reviews.
- It is widely described as building vocabulary and reading rather than conversational fluency.
Who it suits
Building and maintaining a daily habit and a vocabulary base, particularly for beginners. Less suited to people who need to hold a conversation soon.
Compiled from the developer's own site, app store listing and published pricing, cross-checked against independent reporting. Last checked September 2026. Pricing changes often and can vary by region — check what your own account is offered before subscribing. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.