What it is
Duolingo is a game-style app for learning languages, plus maths, music and chess. The core course is free with ads and limits on mistakes. It had 58.7 million daily active users and 12.7 million paying subscribers at the end of June 2026.
Its AI features started in Duolingo Max: Video Call, a real-time spoken conversation with the character Lily that adapts to what you have studied, and Roleplay, scripted real-world scenarios with feedback. In 2026 Duolingo made Explain My Answer free for everyone and began moving Video Call into its cheaper Super plan; according to its Q2 2026 shareholder letter, most new Super subscribers already have it and existing ones should get it later in the year.
Prices are tested per account, so what you see in the app may differ.
Our review
Duolingo's product is the habit, not the curriculum. Streaks, leagues and short lessons keep 58.7 million people coming back daily, up 23% on a year earlier according to its Q2 2026 shareholder letter, and the free tier is usable without paying. For starting a language or keeping one from fading, nothing else has that pull.
The paid tiers are being redrawn. Video Call with Lily was the headline reason for Max; the same letter says most new Super subscribers now have it and existing Super subscribers should get it later in 2026. Max is not listed among the App Store's top in-app purchases for the US app, while Super appears at several prices from $9.99 a month to $119.99 a year, which fits the company's habit of testing prices per account. Anyone still paying for Max should check what Super now includes before renewing.
The AI features are narrower than the marketing suggests. Reviewers report short calls, no pronunciation scoring and conversation features in only about nine courses. The shareholder letter also says gross margin held at 72.6% partly because of a 'measured pace' of AI feature expansion, a polite way of saying the expensive feature is being rationed. The 2025 'AI-first' memo, which said contractors would be replaced by AI-made content, still colours how some learners judge course quality.
Speaking practice is where dedicated apps pull ahead. Speak builds whole sessions around talking and correction, where Duolingo treats Video Call as one activity among many in a lesson path designed for tapping and matching. The gap matters most for intermediate learners, who have outgrown the streak and need conversation.
Where it earns its place
A commuter learning Spanish ahead of a move to Madrid
Build a 15-minute daily habit and some speaking confidence
Free covers the course with ads; Super, at $83.99 to $119.99 a year in the US depending on the offer, removes ads and increasingly includes Video Call. Expect to add a conversation app or tutor once lessons stop stretching you.
A learning and development manager budgeting language practice for 20 staff
Give a sales team a low-effort way to keep French going
Duolingo sells consumer subscriptions, so 20 annual Super plans run roughly $1,680 to $2,400 at US App Store prices, with no admin dashboard or progress reporting published. It works as a perk, not a tracked training programme.
A product lead at a language-learning start-up
Judge how to price a costly LLM conversation feature
Duolingo's Q2 2026 letter is a useful case study: it moved Video Call down from Max into Super to widen use while holding gross margin at 72.6% through a slow rollout and AI cost cuts. The lesson is that per-call model cost, not demand, set the pace.
Before you commit
- Setup
- Install the app or use the web and pick a course; lessons take a few minutes each, and progress syncs across devices once you create an account.
- Cost at scale
- Each learner needs their own subscription or a seat on a Family plan of up to 6 people; at US App Store prices a year of Super runs $83.99 to $119.99 per person.
- Limits
- Free users have ads and a cap on mistakes; Video Call and Roleplay cover only some courses; plan contents and prices vary by account test.
What's good
- Strong free tier and the best habit-building design in the category
- Video Call moving into the cheaper Super plan
- Explain My Answer free for everyone since 2026
- Languages plus maths, music and chess in one app
What's not
- Prices differ by account and keep changing
- Conversation features in only about nine courses, per reviewers
- No pronunciation scoring in Video Call
- Max's future unclear and no longer prominently sold
Best for
Casual learners who want a fun daily habit, with some AI speaking practice on paid plans.
Alternatives
Duolingo (Super and Max): common questions
- Is Duolingo (Super and Max) worth it?
- Duolingo remains unmatched at getting people to open a language app every day, and its paid AI speaking practice is becoming part of Super rather than a reason to buy Max. We rate it 3.9 out of 5.
- How much does Duolingo (Super and Max) cost?
- Free with ads. US App Store lists Super at $9.99 or $12.99/month and $83.99 to $119.99/year depending on the offer; Max pricing is not published on the web and Max no longer appears among the App Store's top purchases. Family plans cover up to 6 people.
- What are the downsides of Duolingo (Super and Max)?
- Prices differ by account and keep changing; conversation features in only about nine courses, per reviewers; no pronunciation scoring in Video Call; max's future unclear and no longer prominently sold.
- Who is Duolingo (Super and Max) best for?
- Casual learners who want a fun daily habit, with some AI speaking practice on paid plans.
- How much does Duolingo (Super and Max) cost for a team or in production?
- Each learner needs their own subscription or a seat on a Family plan of up to 6 people; at US App Store prices a year of Super runs $83.99 to $119.99 per person.
- What are the best Duolingo (Super and Max) alternatives?
- The closest alternatives we have reviewed are Speak and Quizlet.
Answers checked Oct 22, 2026.