🗣️ Language learning · 🎮 Learning games and sites
Duolingo
By Duolingo, Inc.. Visit Duolingo
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Duolingo is a free app for learning more than 40 languages, plus chess, through short game-like lessons. Learners tap, type and speak answers, keep daily streaks, and compete in weekly leagues. The free version has ads; Super Duolingo removes them, and the Max tier adds AI features such as spoken video calls. Children under 13 get a restricted version with fewer social features.
Our take: A fine free habit-builder for tweens and teens learning a language; younger kids are better served by Duolingo ABC or a kids' app.
| Ages it suits | about 10+ (children under 13 get a restricted mode) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Not stated in the terms. The privacy policy lets children under 13 (US) create accounts as Child Users with a username instead of an email, a parent's email collected later, and limited social features. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free with ads; Super Duolingo on the US App Store is listed at $9.99 or $12.99 a month and $83.99 to $119.99 a year (Oct 2026). Free trial converts to paid. |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Account | The child's own account |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | AI shapes lessons to each learner, and paid AI features such as Video Call hold spoken conversations using outside models like OpenAI and Google. |
What's good
- Free and widely available
- Short lessons build a daily habit
- Restricted mode for under-13 users
- Many languages
Watch for
- Ads and gem purchases in the free version
- Streaks and leagues are built to pull kids back
- Older teens' voice data may train Duolingo's AI
- Some social features (following, leaderboards) even for kids
Data and privacy
Under-13 users get non-personalized family-safe ads, no third-party tracking, and their speech is not used for product improvement. For older users, Duolingo may record AI-feature audio and use it to train its own AI models, and shares data with ad networks for personalized ads unless switched off. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
Duolingo publishes its own efficacy research (for example, that five sections equal five university semesters of French or Spanish); these studies are done by Duolingo and mostly involve adults.
In the Big Index
- On the list Top 20 AI sites for learning for kids (2026)
- On the list 13 AI language-learning apps for kids and teens
- On the list Top 50 free game sites for kids (2026)
- On the list 16 best reading and word games for kids
- On the list 18 best learning games for preschoolers
- On the list Top 50 free learning sites for kids (2026)
- On the list 19 best apps for preschoolers (2026)
- Duolingo Math
- Duolingo
- Duolingo efficacy research
- Duolingo ABC
Alternatives to Duolingo
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Babbel
Babbel · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A solid choice for a motivated older teen; younger kids are not allowed and are better served by kids' apps.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Buddy.ai
Buddy.ai · ages about 3-8
Engaging speaking practice for preschoolers learning English; privacy-minded parents should skip the recording consent or delete data regularly.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Busuu
Busuu Limited (owned by Chegg, Inc.) · ages 13+
A fair choice for a teen studying a language who wants speaking practice; younger kids need a different app.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Cambly Kids
Cambly Inc. · ages about 4-15
Helpful for children learning English as a new language who need speaking practice; parents should sit in on early calls and read the recording terms.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Google Translate Practice
Google · ages teens and adults; younger kids with a parent
Worth a try for teens learning Spanish or French who want speaking practice; younger kids and families wanting a full course should pick a dedicated app.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Gus on the Go
toojuice, LLC · ages about 2-8
A cheap, gentle first taste of a new or heritage language for little kids; not enough on its own to build real fluency.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.duolingo.com/terms
- https://www.duolingo.com/privacy
- https://www.duolingo.com/efficacy
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/duolingo-language-lessons/id570060128
- Reviews on G2: https://www.g2.com/products/duolingo/reviews
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.