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Home / Education / Language Learning Apps / Duolingo
7.8 Tested Aug 23, 2026 by Team RankingRight

Duolingo review 2026

The habit-forming free app with 40+ languages; great for daily practice, thin on grammar

PriceFrom $0 · checked Sep 11, 2026
A1 test after 30 days58 %
Languages40+

Is the Duolingo Worth It?

Best free language app. Duolingo is the app most people will still be using in six months, which counts for a lot. It scored lowest on the test because it gamifies recognition more than production and explains little. Use it daily and learn grammar somewhere else.

Duolingo Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Free tier covers the whole course
  • Streaks and leagues built a daily habit better than any other app
  • 40+ languages including Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi
  • Best apps and widgets in the test
Cons
  • Grammar is rarely explained; lowest A1 score of the mainstream apps
  • Ads and the hearts system interrupt free users
  • Speaking practice is minimal without Max

Duolingo at a Glance

7.8 Editor Score
Teaching methodSpeaking practice, grammar explanation, spaced repetition and real dialogue — what the 30 days actually built.
18/30
Measured resultScore on the same A1 placement test after 30 days.
15/25
Languages & depthHow many languages, and how far the course goes (A1 only, or to B2 and beyond).
15/15
ValuePrice per month on the annual plan and whether a free tier is usable.
20/20
ExperienceApps, offline mode, speech recognition, live tutoring options.
10/10
Reader ratingNo reader ratings yet — not part of the score
–
Own one? Rate it:

Rubric v1: Teaching method 30 · Measured result 25 · Languages & depth 15 · Value 20 · Experience 10. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.

Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026

Duolingo — $0

Best priceVisit Site

Duolingo specifications

Languages40
PriceFree; Super $6.99/mo annual; Max $29.99/mo
Free tierYes
Live tutorsNo
Speech recognitionYes
Offline lessonsSuper only
Takes you toA2–B1 (major languages)
PlatformsiOS, Android, web

Why it scored 7.8

Duolingo is the app most people will still be using in six months, which counts for a lot. It scored lowest on the test because it gamifies recognition more than production and explains little. Use it daily and learn grammar somewhere else.

Where it loses

Measured result — 58% on the A1 test.

Still the right pick for

Daily habit and vocabulary, free.

Changelog: Sep 11 — rank 3 → 4; Sep 11 — rank 4 → 5 · all changes

Duolingo7.8 · $0
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