Duolingo review
A strong free starting point with broad practice, personalization, and mobile access.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Duolingo is a self-paced language-learning website and mobile app for learners building skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, and grammar. Its short interactive lessons combine practice with progress tracking, reminders, XP, streaks, gems, rewards, and leaderboards. A placement test helps learners choose a starting point, while personalized review uses mistakes and review timing to guide practice. With web, iOS, and Android access, it fits beginners who want structured practice without committing to a fixed class schedule.
The free plan provides access to Duolingo courses through an ad-supported experience. Super Duolingo removes ads and adds unlimited hearts, a Personalized Practice Hub, and additional streak freezes. Duolingo Max includes those Super benefits and adds an AI-powered Video Call, Roleplay, and personalized grammar explanations. This tier structure makes the core experience accessible while reserving expanded practice and AI conversation features for paid plans. Learners comparing subscriptions should focus on whether ad removal, extra practice controls, or AI features matter to their routine.
Duolingo’s breadth is a central strength: it combines all four language skills with speaking and pronunciation exercises, Stories, and DuoRadio listening and reading content. The mobile app also supports offline lesson access, while gamified progress tools encourage regular return visits. That combination suits beginners who value short, repeatable sessions and a broad self-study path. It may be less suitable for learners who do not want an ad-supported free experience, prefer a non-gamified format, or specifically need AI conversation features without choosing the Max tier.
Duolingo pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free access includes bite-sized lessons across reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Placement testing and personalized review help tailor practice to learner progress.
- Offline mobile lessons, stories, DuoRadio, and speech exercises broaden practice.
- Where it doesn't
- The Free plan includes advertising.
- AI conversation features require the Duolingo Max plan.
- Offline lesson access is limited to the mobile app experience.
Duolingo fact sheet, pricing and score →
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