Duolingo
Gamified language learning — a streak that makes 'a little every day' actually stick.
Official: https://www.duolingo.comWhat it does
- Gamified short lessons: break a language into 5–10 minute level-style lessons; earn XP, keep a streak, climb leaderboards — addictive like a game.
- 40+ languages: English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean and more, from letters to daily conversation.
- Varied exercise forms: dictation, multiple choice, pronunciation, image-text matching, listening — covers the basics of listening/speaking/reading/writing.
- Smart review: spaced repetition surfaces 'about-to-forget' words; wrong answers auto-go to a wordbook.
- Learn anytime, anywhere: web + iOS / Android apps with cloud sync; two levels on the commute.
Who it's for
Beginners wanting to start a foreign language; people who can't stick with it and need gamified motivation; students and office workers using spare time; parents wanting fun early learning for kids (also Duolingo ABC / Duolingo Math).
Pros & cons
Pros
- Extremely strong gamification; streak / leaderboard / ranking make daily practice easy to sustain
- Basic learning is completely free, zero barrier; mature smooth mobile experience
- Step-by-step lessons; scientific pronunciation and review scheduling; beginner-friendly
Watch-outs
- Free tier has ads and 'hearts' that limit practice when depleted; membership removes limits
- Heavy on vocabulary and sentence patterns; real fluency and grammar depth below systematic courses or human teachers
- AI advanced features (Max's Q&A, role-play) only in some regions and for members — see official site
Pricing
Individuals can learn free on app / web (with ads); Super Duolingo (no ads, infinite hearts etc.) and Duolingo Max (AI Q&A, role-play and more) are paid memberships — tiers and prices follow Duolingo's live notes.
Visit the official site →