Duolingo

What it is

Duolingo is a popular language learning platform that offers courses in many languages through engaging, game-like lessons. It utilizes interactive exercises to help users develop reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in a fun and accessible way.

A daily habit first, a language course second

In 2026 most people open Duolingo to keep a streak alive: a few minutes of practice a day, a nudge to stay consistent, and the feeling that they are still at it. That is a big market. Duolingo reported about 58.7 million daily active users for the quarter ending June 2026, up 23% from a year earlier.

The app is no longer only about languages. Its Math and Music courses each have daily users in the single-digit millions, and the company has refocused Math on school-age learners. So is Duolingo good at making you practise? Yes. Will it make you fluent? Nobody has shown that, and you should be suspicious of anyone who says so.

What changed in 2026: the free tier grew, and Max is on its way out

January 2026: Explain My Answer, the AI feedback that tells you why an answer was right or wrong, became free for all users. It used to be for paid tiers only.

April 2026: Advanced B2-level content, including Advanced Stories and DuoRadio, became free in nine languages. Before that, free courses stopped at A2 or B1.

August 2026: On its earnings call, Duolingo said it was testing Super Lite, a cheaper tier with ads and double the Energy. It also said most new Super subscribers already get Video Call, and that Max may be dropped altogether.

September 2026: A reviewer who tried to sign up as a new subscriber was offered only Super, Super Family and Super Lite. Max no longer appeared, and its main AI features are moving into Super. What this means for you: a shared Super plan now covers more than it did, and the free tier asks for less than it did.

Who a shared plan suits, and who should pay full price

A shared plan suits people who want no ads, unlimited practice and the current Super features, and who can live without owning the account. Duolingo lets the plan manager invite anyone, not only relatives. Its help pages also say you may not resell Family Plan slots for money, and that Duolingo can block new members or end a plan where slots were resold. A paid seat from a reseller can conflict with those terms. The risk is that the plan gets shut down in the middle of your subscription and your perks stop, while your progress stays on your own account. Stick to what Duolingo's terms allow.

Pay for your own subscription if you rely on Video Call, if you learn with children, or if you would be really annoyed to lose premium access halfway through the year.

Before you buy

Try the free tier for a week. Explain My Answer and the advanced content are now free, so you may not need to pay at all.

Check whether your course and device actually offer Video Call under Super. The rollout is still uneven.

Read Duolingo's Family Plan terms yourself and decide whether you accept the risk that the plan could be ended.

Find out what the seller does if the plan is closed or you are removed, and get that answer in writing before you pay.

Duolingo makes its AI-powered 'Explain My Answer' feature free for all users in 2026 · Duolingo is now giving users access to advanced learning content · Duolingo Q2 2026 Shareholder Letter · Duolingo (DUOL) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript · The Green Owl Is Ending Duolingo's Own Cash Cow. Here's Why That's Good News For Users and Investors.

2026-09-29