Duolingo Cost: Free vs. Premium — Which Is Right for You?

It’s never been better than right now to learn a new language. These days, the convenience of phone apps has made learning a new language much easier. These language apps help users learn independently and at their own pace.

Whether you want to become a fluent speaker or just want to take a crash course before a vacation, there are great options available. One of the most popular language apps available is Duolingo. It’s fun and intuitive, focusing on short lessons and an achievement-style progression.

But the first question you are likely to ask is how much does Duolingo cost? On the face of it, this should be a short and quick answer. But the fact is that the app has several different features and subscription levels to consider. We encourage you to read further to determine what price point will suit you and your language learning needs.

Read our Duolingo alternative apps in case Duolingo doesn’t suit your needs.

How Much Does Duolingo Cost?

The short answer to this question is that it depends! Duolingo has a variety of subscription packages to consider when signing up. But the good news is that there is a fantastic free version users can use right away!

super duolingo

A Super Duolingo subscription for 1-month costs you $12.99, whereas a yearly subscription costs $83.99. This is a better option if you want to learn a language for some time and save money.

Compared to the regular monthly price, a yearly subscription to Duolingo costs you only $6.99 per month. You can save $71.89 over the year with this subscription!

Be on the lookout for promotional subscriptions during the holidays when Duolingo’s pricing is less. You are bound to save some money if you can wait it out.

Duolingo Family Plan

One excellent option that Duolingo offers you is a Family Plan. This is ideal for the entire family (or a group of friends) to learn together and bond over the experience of speaking a new language. 

The family plan is like an extension of the Super Duolingo plan (previously Duolingo Premium), where you and 2-6 family members (or friends) can access the app. 

Family members can enjoy motivating each other and building their streaks together. A 1-month family plan to Duolingo costs $9.99, while a 12-month subscription costs $119.99.

If you intend to use your family plan with friends and share the cost, then you can save even more. A $119.99 yearly payment split between six friends means everyone only has to pay $19.99!

Duolingo Alternatives

As with any product, there is, of course, the competition to consider. There are several language learning apps available to you other than Duolingo.

1. Babbel

Amongst the greatest competitors to the app is Babbel. Babbel is a popular alternative to Duolingo and is a more academic alternative.

Babbel uses traditional conversation lessons and learning modules like those found in a language school. Babbel provides a more ‘serious’ learning experience than Duolingo.

This may be a little unfair of an opinion, though. This is because Babbel doesn’t have bright and colorful graphics like Duolingo. Nor does it have a gaming achievement focus.

Instead, Babbel uses percentage correctness that you have to achieve before progressing.

2. Rosetta Stone

Another competitor is Rosetta Stone. This company has been making language learning programs for over 25 years.

Like Babbel, it focuses on core lessons and traditional language learning exercises. Also, like Babbel, users looking for a more academic approach may prefer it over Duolingo.

A 1-year ‘Unlimited Languages’ Subscription on Rosetta Stone will cost you $109.99. Babbel doesn’t have unlimited language packages. It requires a subscription to each language. A 1-year plan for a language on Babbel will cost you $89.99, whereas a monthly subscription costs $17.99.

Check out more: 15 Duolingo Alternative Apps

What Is the Difference Between the Free and Paid Versions?

The paid version of Duolingo is called Super Duolingo. While there is a free version available, there are some benefits to paying for the app.

The first feature you will notice is that Super Duolingo removes all the ads. This way, your learning stays uninterrupted.

It also gives you ‘unlimited hearts.’ Hearts are like lives in a video game. In the free version, you only have so many ‘hearts’ to make mistakes in lessons before waiting for your hearts to regenerate. Super Duolingo skips the wait time and lets you keep going with your language learning.

A ‘personalized practice’ feature provides feedback and mini lessons to help improve your mistakes.

You are also given unlimited attempts at the legendary challenges. These challenges allow you to master a unit of learning and get awarded legendary status.

Is Super Duolingo (Duolingo Plus) Worth It?

If you are serious about learning a language and want uninterrupted lessons, then yes. Super Duolingo allows you to learn more thoroughly. The feedback on your performance helps you improve/

According to CNET, Duolingo is one of the best apps to learn multiple languages. This makes it a must-have if you intend to go to Europe or multiple destinations with different languages!

The yearly subscription plan means you can also save money on the total Duolingo subscription cost compared to a monthly purchase. 

According to the Apple App Store, Duolingo has a 4.7-star rating of over 2 million reviews. Most reviews highlight the fun nature of learning within the app and find it is motivational with the embedded achievements. 

Critics of Duolingo often say that they don’t like the poppy, bright graphics, and voiceover, which is a child’s voice. Because of this, many of these reviews said they preferred Rosetta Stone or Babbel as they were more serious and geared towards adult learners. 

Others suggest that using Duolingo appears to be easier for English speakers looking to learn a language as opposed to non-English speakers. Some users shared frustration with legendary challenges.

Duolingo Plus Cost (Canada)

Duolingo for Canadian users costs $8.90 CAD per month or $83.88 CAD for a 12-month subscription.

Duolingo Cost (U.K.)

People living in the United Kingdom can expect to pay £5.24 GBP per month or £62.88 GBP for a Duolingo yearly subscription.

Duolingo Cost (Australia)

Aussies looking to broaden their language skills with a Duolingo membership can expect to pay $9.07 AUD or $108.84 AUD for a 12-month plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we will provide some quick-fire responses to people’s most common questions about Duolingo. 

Does Duolingo Cost Money?

No. You can use the app for free. There are subscription packages available that come with features you won’t find in the free version, though.

How Much Is Super Duolingo Or Duolingo Plus?

Duolingo Plus is referred to as Super Duolingo now.
A 1-month cost $12.99, and a yearly subscription costs $83.99.
Check for current promotional offers to save money.

How Much Is a Duolingo Lifetime Subscription?

Currently, there is no lifetime subscription to Duolingo available. The longest subscription term available is a 12-month plan.

Final Thoughts

When considering Duolingo’s cost, there are a few things to watch out for. While there is a free version of the app, the benefits of a paid subscription make it a worthwhile purchase.

If done with friends, the Family Plan of Super Duolingo is where you can save some real money! An annual subscription to the app is also a great way to save money and still receive quality language instruction. 

Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.

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