Source-backed analysis7
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
7 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Duolingo Review
Bite-sized daily language lessons with streaks and leaderboards
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Duolingo suits beginners who want a steady habit of short, structured lessons, and the free version covers whole courses. The trade-offs are ads, an energy limit, courses that top out at B2, and Max AI features that only some courses get.
Best for: Beginners who want a clear path and short daily lessons
Skip it if: Learners aiming for C1 or above: the most advanced courses stop at B2
Pros
- Whole courses free, with no paywall on lessons
- Placement test and a clear learning path
- Exercises mix listening, speaking, reading and writing
Cons
- The free version has ads and an energy limit
- Courses top out at B2; Max’s Video Call and Roleplay cover only some courses
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- Duolingo Score maps progress to CEFR in the English, Spanish and French courses
- Rated 4.7/5 on the App Store and Google Play from millions of reviews
Cons
- The App Store label declares many data types used for tracking; data on 2.6 million accounts was scraped via an API in 2023
- Paid prices vary by account and channel, and the App Store does not show the billing period
Best for
- Learners motivated by streaks, rewards and leaderboards
- Anyone wanting to try several languages, or maths, music and chess, for free
Skip it if
- Learners who need speaking practice with real teachers or native speakers
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What Duolingo is
Duolingo is a language-learning app from the US company of the same name, open to the public since June 2012. Learning is split into short lessons of listening, reading, speaking and writing questions. Learners pick a course, start from scratch or take a placement test, then follow a path. Streaks, rewards and leaderboards bring people back each day. Beyond 40+ languages it offers maths, music and chess; course choice and depth depend on the language you speak and the one you learn.
Free, Super and Max
Every course can be studied free, with ads and an energy limit. Super removes ads, gives unlimited energy and adds personalised review in the Practice Hub; the Vietnam App Store lists Super purchases at ₫599,000, ₫689,000 and ₫860,000 without a billing period and advertises a 14-day trial. Max adds AI Video Call and Roleplay. Per the Duolingo blog, English speakers learning Spanish, French, German, Italian or Portuguese get both, while Japanese, Korean and Chinese get Video Call only. Actual prices depend on the account and purchase channel, so check the subscription screen.
How far it goes
Duolingo Score, on a 0–160 scale, maps progress to CEFR in the English, Spanish and French courses. According to the Duolingo blog (October 2024), the most advanced courses reach 129, the top of B2. That makes it good for building vocabulary and sentence patterns, but learners targeting C1 or an exam will need other material too.
More analysis
Privacy and alternatives
Duolingo’s App Store label declares many data types used for tracking, and in 2023 data on about 2.6 million accounts was scraped through a public API and put up for sale. Learners who want more structured conversation lessons can look at Babbel or Busuu; those who want to speak with real people can look at italki. Many people pair Duolingo with another tool rather than relying on one app.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Duolingo (miễn phí)
PersonalFree
All courses free to study, with ads and an energy limit on lessons.
Super Duolingo
PersonalContact sales
No ads, unlimited energy and personalised review in the Practice Hub. The Vietnam App Store lists in-app purchases at ₫599,000, ₫689,000 and ₫860,000 without stating the billing period. 14-day free trial.
Duolingo Max
PersonalContact sales
Everything in Super plus AI Video Call and Roleplay. Per the Duolingo blog, English speakers learning Spanish, French, German, Italian or Portuguese get both; Japanese, Korean and Chinese get Video Call only. No price on the pages consulted.
- Free plan limits
- The free version has ads and an energy limit; Video Call and Roleplay require Max and only on some courses.
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial · no credit card
Cancellation & refunds
No refund policy was found on Duolingo’s official pages. If buying through the App Store or Google Play, check that store’s refund terms before subscribing.
Privacy
The App Store privacy label (self-declared) lists many data types used to track users across other apps and sites: purchases, location, contact info, user content, identifiers, usage data and diagnostics. On Google Play, Duolingo declares it may share app activity, app performance and device IDs with third parties; data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested. In January 2023, data on about 2.6 million accounts was offered on a hacker forum; Duolingo said it had been scraped through a public API.
Duolingo alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Duolingo free?
Yes. Every course is free to study, with ads and an energy limit. Super and Max are paid plans.
Does Max offer AI speaking practice?
It offers Video Call and Roleplay, but not on every course. Per the Duolingo blog, the Japanese, Korean and Chinese courses for English speakers get Video Call only.
How much does Super Duolingo cost in Vietnam?
The Vietnam App Store lists Super purchases at ₫599,000, ₫689,000 and ₫860,000 without a billing period. Prices also vary by account and channel (web, App Store, Google Play), so check the subscription screen.
What level can Duolingo take you to?
According to the Duolingo blog (October 2024), the most advanced courses reach the top of B2 on the CEFR scale.
Review evidence & sources7
Scores
- Ease of use
- 9.0
- Features
- 8.5
- Value for money
- 8.2
- Performance
- 7.8
- Support
- 7.0
- Privacy & security
- 6.2
Why this score
Short lessons, a placement test and a clear path. A 4.7/5 rating on both the App Store and Google Play, from millions of reviews, suggests most users find it easy to start.
Why this score
40+ languages plus maths, music and chess, four-skill practice, the Practice Hub, Duolingo Score and Max’s Video Call and Roleplay. Depth and AI availability differ by course.
Why this score
Whole courses are free, which is rare among language apps. The cost is ads and an energy limit; Super on the Vietnam App Store starts at ₫599,000 with no billing period shown, and Max has no published price.
Why this score
The app ships frequent updates (iOS 7.148.0 released 9 November 2026) and rates well in the stores. There is no independent data on speed or speech-recognition accuracy.
Why this score
There is a help center, how-to blog posts and a support email listed on Google Play. No chat or phone channel and no stated response time.
Why this score
Data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested. But the App Store label declares many data types used for tracking, Google Play lists third-party sharing, and in 2023 data on about 2.6 million accounts was scraped through a public API.
What users say
- App Store (Vietnam)4.7/5 · 782,092
- App Store (US)4.7/5 · 5,576,946
- Google Play (US)4.7/5 · 51,800,000
Sources
- storeApp Store listing (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApple iTunes lookup (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedDuolingo blog: Duolingo MaxNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedDuolingo blog: adding a course and placementNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedDuolingo blog: Duolingo Score (2024-10-23)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: DuolingoNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Duolingo, Inc.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2012
- Category
- Education
Capabilities
- AI features
- Mobile app
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- French
- German
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Chinese
- Spanish
- Thai
- Vietnamese
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Feature.Added a chess course.
- Company.Duolingo announced an "AI-first" approach, phasing out contractors where AI could do the work, and launched 148 AI-built courses; it faced strong user backlash in May.
- Feature.Duolingo Score launched, mapping progress to CEFR, first for English, Spanish and French.
Full change history (9)
- Feature.Duolingo Max launched as a tier above Super, with generative AI features.
- Update.Data on about 2.6 million accounts was offered on a hacker forum; Duolingo said it had been scraped via a public API.
- Company.Duolingo filed to list on Nasdaq under the ticker DUOL.
- Feature.The iOS app was released on the App Store.
- Launch.Duolingo launched to the public.
- Launch.Duolingo opened a private beta; founded by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker in Pittsburgh.
About the author
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