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Duolingo

Free, gamified language learning in bite-sized daily lessons

Duolingo is the easiest way to build a daily language-learning habit for free, though it won't get you to full fluency on its own.

Overall score
8.1
out of 10
Price
Free · $6.99/mo (Super, billed annually)
Free plan
Yes
Courses
40+ languages
Languages
Teaches 40+ languages, app available in dozens of interface languages
Certificates
Yes
Offline access
Yes
Course Catalog72%

Duolingo covers 40+ languages, including some less commonly taught ones, though course depth trails dedicated language schools.

Teaching Quality74%

The gamified, bite-sized format is excellent for building a daily habit and vocabulary, but conversational fluency needs supplementing with real practice.

Platform UX95%

The app is exceptionally polished, playful, and habit-forming — arguably the best-designed app in this category.

Pros
Completely free core experience
Gamified streaks and rewards keep learners consistent
Bite-sized 5-10 minute daily lessons
Available for 40+ languages, including less common ones
Cons
Limited speaking/conversation practice
Doesn't build deep grammar understanding on its own
Ads on the free tier
What’s included
Gamified streaks and leaderboards
Bite-sized daily lessons
Duolingo Stories for reading practice
Offline lessons (Super)
Duolingo English Test
Kids-friendly design
Pricing

The core app is genuinely free forever; Super ($6.99/mo billed annually) removes ads and adds offline lessons and unlimited mistakes.

Certificates

The separate Duolingo English Test is an accepted, lower-cost alternative to TOEFL/IELTS for many universities.

Mobile App

Duolingo is mobile-first, with Super subscribers getting full offline lesson access.

Popular courses on Duolingo
4.6890,000 ratings
Spanish for English Speakers

Duolingo's most popular course, from beginner to conversational basics.

4.5520,000 ratings
French for English Speakers

Structured French course from basics through intermediate skills.

4.5310,000 ratings
Japanese for English Speakers

Introduction to Japanese including hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji.

Frequently asked questions
Yes, the core app is free forever, supported by ads; Super removes ads and adds extra features.