Duolingo vs VOA Learning English

Duolingo9.3Visit VOA Learning English8.5Visit

Higher score Duolingo #1 in English Learning Apps 9.3/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Duolingo

vs

VOA Learning English #8 in English Learning Apps 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit site

• Duolingo fits best

  Learners wanting a free, motivating all-round app

• VOA Learning English fits best

  Learners seeking free news, audio, and structured lessons

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Side by side

Feature	Duolingo 9.3/10 Visit ↗	VOA Learning English 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.5
Ranking	#1 in English Learning Apps	#8 in English Learning Apps
Best for	Learners wanting a free, motivating all-round app	Learners seeking free news, audio, and structured lessons
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	Free plan · 14-day trial	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	Web, macOS, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Email	Email
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Duolingo 2/3 · VOA Learning English 0/3
Speech recognition	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Offline lessons	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Placement test	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Lesson focus	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Course levels	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Covers speaking, writing, reading, and listening in short lessons Personalizes review around progress and mistakes Includes placement testing, speech practice, and limited offline lessons	Free courses, lessons, worksheets, assessments, and lesson plans Captioned videos and slower-paced English broadcasts News, audio programs, MP3s, and podcasts for learners
Cons	Free tier is supported by advertising Offline access is limited to downloaded lesson content AI conversation features are reserved for Duolingo Max	The official VOA Learning English service is web-based Its content focuses on American English Its strengths center on learning content, not personalized review
Our verdict	Duolingo pairs short, interactive lessons with practice in speaking, writing, reading, and listening across more than 40 languages. Its placement test helps learners choose a starting level, while personalized review adapts to progress and… Read the review →	VOA Learning English is a free multimedia service from Voice of America for people learning English, including beginning and intermediate learners. It combines news and feature stories with audio programs, podcasts, captioned videos, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Duolingo — where it wins

  • Covers speaking, writing, reading, and listening in short lessons
  • Personalizes review around progress and mistakes
  • Includes placement testing, speech practice, and limited offline lessons

  Where it doesn't

  • Free tier is supported by advertising
  • Offline access is limited to downloaded lesson content
  • AI conversation features are reserved for Duolingo Max

• VOA Learning English — where it wins

  • Free courses, lessons, worksheets, assessments, and lesson plans
  • Captioned videos and slower-paced English broadcasts
  • News, audio programs, MP3s, and podcasts for learners

  Where it doesn't

  • The official VOA Learning English service is web-based
  • Its content focuses on American English
  • Its strengths center on learning content, not personalized review

• Duolingo9.3/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A motivating free language app with broad practice, review, and mobile access.

  Visit DuolingoFull verdict →
• VOA Learning English8.5/10 · Free plan

  A free, web-based mix of structured lessons and learner-focused news and audio.

  Visit siteFull verdict →