Duolingo review
8.6/10★★★★★Gamified language app with AI Video Call, Roleplay and Explain My Answer on its Max plan
- Best for
- Beginners and casual learners who want a free daily habit, with optional AI speaking practice
- Price
- Freemium · from $9.99/month
Free: Full courses free with ads and limits on mistakes - Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Duolingo, Inc., Pittsburgh, USA · since 2011
- App store ratings
- iOS 4.7★ (5.5M) · Android 4.7★ (49.5M)
What it is
Duolingo teaches through short, game-like lessons and a huge free course library. Its top Max tier adds AI conversation: Roleplay scenarios and Video Call with the character Lily, who adapts to your level, remembers past calls and leaves a transcript. Explain My Answer became free for all users in January 2026.
Latest: In May 2026 Duolingo said it is expanding Video Call and testing it on mid-tier plans; average words spoken per user doubled.
What the AI does
- Video Call with AI character Lily
- Roleplay conversation scenarios
- Explain My Answer (now free)
- AI-generated course content and Speaking Adventures
Pros and cons
- Best free plan in the category
- Habit-forming streaks and game design
- Video Call remembers past conversations and leaves transcripts
- Works on web, iOS and Android
- The AI speaking features need the $29.99-a-month Max plan
- Max is limited to a subset of languages
- AI conversations can feel rigid for advanced learners
How it scores
Unmatched free value and polish; the best AI features sit behind an expensive tier and teach less depth than tutor-style apps.
Feature checklist · 6 of 9
- Spoken, back-and-forth conversation with an AI tutor (yes)
- Real-life roleplay or scenario practice (yes)
- Pronunciation scoring or feedback (no)
- Corrects and explains grammar or word-choice mistakes (yes)
- Structured course path by level (yes)
- Spaced-repetition vocabulary review (no)
- Teaches 20+ languages (yes)
- Some AI conversation practice on the free plan (no)
- Works on the web as well as phones (yes)
Alternatives
See all Duolingo alternatives, ranked →
- Speak 7.9/10Learners whose main goal is speaking confidently in a major language
- Babbel 7.7/10Learners who want a structured, grammar-aware course with some AI speaking practice
- Busuu 7.6/10Learners who want a structured, level-based course with feedback from native speakers
- Praktika 7.6/10Beginner and lower-intermediate learners who want low-cost, low-pressure speaking practice
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