Duolingo is the most popular language learning app in the world, with over 500 million registered users. Iconically represented by a simplified, bright-green owl, Duolingo’s trend-savvy marketing strategy and gamified interface shifts language learning from boring memorization to an engaging pastime. It offers many features that other apps don’t; for instance, Duolingo has courses on 43 languages—ranging from English, Japanese, and Italian to Welsh, Navajo, and even constructed languages such as Klingon—and further offers lessons on music, math, and chess. Asking for only short, daily lessons for consistent practice, Duolingo’s gamification strategy includes leaderboards, badges, and streaks that are similarly found in many non-educational platforms. Best of all, it’s free to download and use. While there exists a premium version, users can choose to simply watch ads to access the curriculum.
However, for all of Duolingo’s strengths, users have identified considerable shortcomings as well. Some claim Duolingo is overly gamified (focusing more on grabbing one’s attention than genuinely teaching), too focused on monetization (using their hearts system, which penalizes mistakes and forces users to wait for hearts to recover, is seen as a manipulative way to encourage users to spend money), and inadequate for intermediate to advanced learners. While Duolingo adopted a gamified approach to be incredibly accessible for users, it’s difficult to strike a balance between entertainment and quality teaching. There are grammar notes within each lesson that users can look at, but they are very surface-level, providing only a brief overview of specific grammar points that some users may find insufficient. Furthermore, the vocabulary offered is often arbitrary and automatically provided, rather than letting users actively spell out or recall the terms themselves.
One popular alternative is Memrise. Similar to Duolingo, Memrise offers a free plan containing a substantial amount of content and features. One significant feature this app has (that Duolingo, in fact, lacks) is the library of video clips featuring native speakers for pronunciation and listening practice. In theory, some believe it’s more important to concretely memorize vocabulary words than do listening practice; however, in practice, it’s actually shockingly useful to become familiar with how native speakers utilize and pronounce vocabulary. While this may depend on what your individual language learning goals are, interacting with native speakers or at least achieving semi-native speaking proficiency is the ultimate goal for many that can be more quickly achieved through this feature.
Another potential language learning app is Babbel. Just like Memrise, Babbel emphasizes real-life conversations and uses native speakers in its lessons, focusing on the practical aspects of language learning rather than simply written theory. Many users also note that Babbel offers more in-depth lessons and grammar explanations. Detailed explanations of grammar, pronunciation, and even cultural context offers a more holistic approach. However, the significant drawback of Babbel is that it is a paid subscription. The monthly cost varies based on subscription length: a one-month subscription costs $17.95, a 3-month subscription is $15.25/month, and a 12-month subscription is $8.95/month. If you have the willingness to pay for such a comprehensive learning experience, then Babbel would be a significant contender. However, much of Duolingo’s appeal lies in its accessibility and commitment to remaining free to users, which makes one’s choice in language-learning app ultimately a choice between priorities.