Duolingo
Product by Duolingo
App Store (US): Free; 4.7★ from 5.5M ratings; updated Oct 2026; version 7.145.0; age rating 4+. As of Oct 21, 2026. Store ratings.
Facts checked: Not yet checked
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating). This label applies to learning-science judgments throughout this overview.
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating)
Duolingo effectively builds foundational vocabulary through spaced repetition and gamified retrieval practice. However, it lacks explicit grammar instruction and conversational context, limiting its ability to build true language fluency. It serves best as a supplemental tool rather than a standalone language curriculum.
Keep the Duolingo decision brief
Keep the three-number explanation and a caregiver conversation starter connecting app progress with a language goal. Subscribe to future TLS research updates and download the one-page PDF here immediately.
Pros
- Utilizes spaced repetition algorithms to ensure learners revisit vocabulary at optimal intervals for memory retention.
- Employs retrieval practice through frequent, low-stakes testing via translation and matching exercises.
- Provides immediate corrective feedback when a learner makes an error during translation tasks.
- Gamification elements like streaks and leaderboards successfully motivate consistent daily practice routines.
Cons
- Fails to provide explicit grammar instruction, relying entirely on implicit pattern recognition which frustrates many learners.
- Does not offer opportunities for free recall or spontaneous conversation generation.
- Punitive Hearts system in the free version penalizes mistakes, which discourages the trial-and-error process critical for learning.
- Sentences often lack realistic context, reducing the transferability of vocabulary to real-world communication.
What Do We Know About Duolingo?
Duolingo is effective for memorizing basic vocabulary and phrases, but it will not make your child fluent in a new language on its own. The app relies heavily on translation exercises that build surface-level recall rather than deep conversational skills. Your child will spend most of their time translating isolated sentences, matching words to pictures, and reordering word blocks. While these activities are excellent for building a foundational lexicon, they do not require the learner to generate original thoughts in the target language. The free version includes a Hearts system that restricts play when your child makes too many mistakes. Because making mistakes is a necessary part of language acquisition, this mechanic actually hinders learning by creating anxiety around failure. You should view Duolingo as an engaging supplement to formal language instruction or a fun introduction to a new language. To build true proficiency, your child will eventually need immersive conversational practice and explicit grammar lessons that this platform does not provide. The Learning Standard has not yet formally evaluated Duolingo.
How Does Duolingo Work?
Duolingo uses a gamified, translation-based approach powered by spaced repetition algorithms. When your child opens the app, they progress through a linear learning path organized by topics and language concepts. Each lesson consists of rapid-fire, bite-sized exercises. These include translating text from the target language to the native language, selecting the correct audio pronunciation, and matching vocabulary words to images. The app tracks performance data behind the scenes, determining which words your child struggles with and resurfacing those specific terms in future lessons. This mechanic forces retrieval practice, a proven method for strengthening long-term memory. As users complete lessons, they earn experience points and digital currency, which they can use to unlock character outfits or bonus modules. Maintaining a daily streak acts as the primary behavioral hook to ensure learners return every day for consistent practice.
Strengths and tradeoffs of Duolingo
Duolingo's biggest strength is its ability to drive consistent daily engagement through gamification, while its biggest weakness is the absence of communicative context necessary for true language fluency. On the positive side, the app is a masterclass in spaced repetition and retrieval practice. By constantly testing users on previously learned words just as they are about to forget them, the platform ensures highly efficient vocabulary retention. The immediate feedback loop also helps learners instantly correct misconceptions about spelling or word meaning. However, the app relies almost exclusively on translation tasks. Learning science shows that while translation builds initial associations, it does not build the cognitive pathways required for spontaneous speech. Users rarely practice free recall, which is the act of generating language from scratch without a word bank or prompt. Furthermore, the lack of explicit instruction for grammar rules leaves many learners guessing at syntax patterns. Instead of learning why a sentence is structured a certain way, users often memorize the specific sentence just to pass the level. Consequently, learners may excel at the app's internal exercises but completely freeze in real-world conversations.
Who Might Benefit From Duolingo?
Best for beginners of all ages who want an accessible, low-pressure introduction to a new language's basic vocabulary. Because the interface relies heavily on reading and spelling, it is most appropriate for children who are already independent readers, typically ages seven and up, as well as teenagers and adults. It is an ideal supplementary tool for middle school or high school students looking to drill vocabulary alongside a traditional language class. It is not suitable for advanced learners seeking conversational fluency or comprehensive grammar mastery.
Data Transparency
Does Not Meet Data Transparency Standard
Duolingo does not meet our data transparency standard. Its privacy policy does not document basic protections, including a statement that it does not sell data and a commitment against targeted advertising.
23 of 35 checks passed
Evaluated September 2026
Privacy →Level 1 · Basic protections
Does not sell data or target ads at students, limits sharing, and lets parents see and delete their child's data.
Not documented: a statement that it does not sell data, a commitment against targeted advertising
Level 2 · Parent control (meets the standard)
Families can get their data out, know who processes it, and know how long it is kept.
Level 3 · Direct data access
Families or schools can pull their own data through an API, in a stated format.
Not documented: an API for retrieving their own data, a named export format
View all 35 checks
Parent Access6/8
Does the policy mention parents specifically?
“Duolingo treats Child Users (meaning users under the age of 13 in the United States or another age of digital consent in their country) differently to ensure their parents are in control and we only collect the bare minimum information we need to make Duolingo work.”
Can parents view their child's data?
“The email also explains how parents can request to access, change, or delete information about their child.”
Can parents modify their child's data?
“The email also explains how parents can request to access, change, or delete information about their child.”
Can parents delete their child's account?
“The email also explains how parents can request to access, change, or delete information about their child.”
Is there a dedicated Children's Privacy section?
“We know that children deserve extra privacy protection, and each country has different rules on how children should be treated depending on their age.”
Does it reference COPPA compliance?
“With regards to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”), Duolingo collects personal information from children under the age of 13 for the sole purpose of performing internal operations of the Service.”
Does it reference FERPA compliance?
The policy does not mention FERPA.
Is parental consent required for child accounts?
The policy lets Child Users create accounts on their own and only asks for a parent's email later so it can notify the parent, without requiring parental consent.
Data Portability3/5
Can users access their personal data?
“Access a copy of the personal information that we hold about you.”
Can users download/export their data?
“Export the personal information you have provided to Duolingo in a format that can be transferred electronically to a third party.”
Is there a self-service data access tool?
“You may request to access or erase your personal information and delete your account at the [Duolingo Data Vault](https://drive-thru.duolingo.com/).”
Is a specific data format mentioned for export?
The policy only says exports come in a format that can be transferred electronically and does not name a specific format.
Is there an API for data access?
The policy does not mention an API for accessing data.
Data Minimization2/6
Is data collection itemized?
“To register for a Duolingo account, you may provide us with a username, your age and email address. In some countries, you may also provide us with your phone number.”
Can the app be used without a real name?
The policy says Duolingo does not collect Child Users' names, but it does collect names in user profiles, and teachers in Duolingo for Schools can see students' names.
Can the app be used without an email?
The policy collects email addresses at registration and for Duolingo for Schools classrooms, and it asks Child Users for a parent's email.
Does it state collection is limited to what is necessary?
“Duolingo treats Child Users (meaning users under the age of 13 in the United States or another age of digital consent in their country) differently to ensure their parents are in control and we only collect the bare minimum information we need to make Duolingo work.”
Is IP address anonymized or truncated?
The policy says IP addresses are kept for up to 30 days but does not say they are anonymized or truncated.
Is location tracking explicitly excluded?
The policy does not explicitly rule out location tracking.
Third-Party Protection5/7
Does it explicitly state no selling of data?
The policy does not say Duolingo does not sell personal information.
Are third-party providers named?
“Duolingo may share personal information with third parties that help us provide or improve the Service, including hosting providers such as Amazon Web Services, search engine providers such as Google, analytics providers such as Crashlytics, support providers such as ZenDesk, and payment processors such as Stripe.”
Are providers contractually restricted?
“Duolingo’s agreements with these AI vendors mean they are not permitted to use any personal information for their own purposes.”
No-targeted-advertising commitment?
The policy says Duolingo serves personalized advertising to users and only makes ads non-personalized for Child Users and users under 16.
Is AI/ML data sharing addressed?
“When you interact with Video Call or other AI-enabled features, the text and audio you submit may be shared with AI vendors such as OpenAI and Google.”
Child-specific sharing restriction?
“FullStory and Session Replay are disabled for Child Users.”
Cookies/tracking limited or opt-out?
“You can disable both FullStory and Session Replay activity recording by using the Tracking toggle within the app Settings.”
Deletion & Retention4/5
Can users delete their account?
“Delete your Duolingo account by following the instructions in the Service.”
Self-service deletion mechanism?
“You may request to access or erase your personal information and delete your account at the [Duolingo Data Vault](https://drive-thru.duolingo.com/).”
Specific data retention timeline?
“We will retain your IP address for no more than thirty (30) days, unless exceptional circumstances require longer retention.”
Auto-deletion of inactive accounts?
The policy does not say inactive accounts are deleted automatically.
Post-deletion handling described?
“To ensure your account stays operational, Duolingo will generally retain your personal information until your account is deleted. However, Duolingo may retain certain information longer if necessary to provide our Service, defend our legitimate interests or those of third parties, comply with legal requirements, resolve or defend ourselves in disputes, investigate misuse or disruption of the Service, or perform agreements. We may also retain anonymous data indefinitely.”
Advertising3/4
Advertising model explicitly disclosed?
“Duolingo may process and share your personal information for the purpose of providing you with personalized advertising.”
Free from third-party advertisements?
The policy says the product shows ads from third-party ad networks such as Unity, Meta and Google.
Children excluded from ad targeting?
“Advertisements are non-personalized and set to family-safe content.”
Ad-free option available?
“Certain Duolingo subscriptions may offer an ad-free experience.”
What This Means
The policy review did not meet our data transparency standard. The checks above show the documented findings and unknowns. A missing statement does not establish how the app handles data in practice.
About this evaluation: Based on automated analysis of Privacy against 35 policy-disclosure questions, including questions adapted from the Common Sense Privacy Program's published evaluation questions. TLS is not affiliated with Common Sense Media, and this is not a Common Sense rating. Quoted text is copied from the policy; unquoted notes are our summary. Results describe what the policy documents, not the company's actual practices. Privacy policies can change: this review reflects the version we analyzed and does not determine legal compliance.
Sources and review method
TLS combines product information and editorial analysis to explain how Duolingo works, its tradeoffs, and the questions to ask before choosing it. Product features, an instructional rationale and evidence of learning outcomes are different kinds of information.
Formal Learning Standard assessment: not yet completed. Data Transparency findings are reported separately and do not establish learning effectiveness. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Duolingo
Is Duolingo free?
Yes, the core language learning platform is completely free to use. However, the free tier includes frequent advertisements and a Hearts system that limits how many mistakes a learner can make before being temporarily locked out. A premium subscription removes ads and provides unlimited Hearts.
Is Duolingo good for elementary school students?
Partially. It is highly engaging for elementary students who can already read independently, usually around age seven or eight. Younger children who are not yet fluent readers will struggle with the text-heavy translation exercises and spelling requirements. For early literacy, the company offers a separate app called Duolingo ABC.
What does Duolingo teach?
Duolingo teaches foundational vocabulary, basic sentence structure, and listening comprehension across more than 40 different languages. It focuses heavily on word recognition, translation from a target language to a native language, and basic pronunciation through voice-recognition software.
How does Duolingo compare vs Babbel?
Duolingo is highly gamified, free, and relies heavily on implicit learning through rapid-fire translation. Babbel requires a paid subscription but offers explicit grammar explanations and focuses more on practical, conversational dialogue. Babbel is generally better for older learners seeking structured lessons, while Duolingo excels at building daily vocabulary habits.
Has The Learning Standard evaluated Duolingo?
TLS has not yet completed a Learning Standard evaluation of how well Duolingo teaches. Its privacy policy has been reviewed for Data Transparency and does not yet document the basic protections (Level 1).
Is Duolingo COPPA compliant?
The reviewed privacy policy references COPPA. A policy reference alone does not establish COPPA compliance. Policy review note: The policy explains how it handles children's data under COPPA.
Is Duolingo FERPA compliant?
A FERPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with FERPA. Policy review note: The policy does not mention FERPA.
Does Duolingo have a children's privacy policy?
The reviewed policy includes a dedicated children's privacy section. Policy review note: The policy has a section headed "Child Users", with a subsection headed "COPPA".
Does Duolingo sell student data?
A statement ruling out data selling was not found in the reviewed policy. This does not establish that the app sells student data. Policy review note: The policy does not say Duolingo does not sell personal information.
Can you delete your data from Duolingo?
The reviewed privacy policy describes account deletion. We have not tested the deletion process. Policy review note: Users can delete their account.
Keep the Duolingo decision brief
Keep the three-number explanation and a caregiver conversation starter connecting app progress with a language goal. Subscribe to future TLS research updates and download the one-page PDF here immediately.
Latest News
All Duolingo NewsDuolingo Lawsuit Highlights How App Ads and AI Affect Learning
A Duolingo lawsuit shows how aggressive app ads and cheap AI disrupt student focus. Learn how parents and teachers can protect their children's learning.
How the Duolingo Lawsuit Exposes the Limits of AI and App Paywalls
Learn how the Duolingo class-action lawsuit over its 'Energy' system and AI features highlights critical issues for parents and educators using learning apps.
Duolingo Lawsuit Alleges App Intentionally Limits Free Learning
A class-action lawsuit alleges Duolingo used an aggressive "Energy" system and low-quality AI content to force users into paid subscriptions. Learn more.
Take Action
For Duolingo
If you represent Duolingo and have a correction or new evidence, send the relevant source so we can review and update this page.
Submit a correctionDetails
- Pricing
- You can learn languages on Duolingo completely free. You can use it on your computer and sync it with our free apps for your mobile device. You can even use Duolingo for Schools if you have students to track, with the same account. Also at no cost. No catch. We have a premium subscription available to Duolingo users called Duolingo Plus. With a Duolingo Plus subscription, you will have an ad-free experience with the option to enable unlimited Hearts and review your mistakes.
- Platforms
- Web Browser, iOS (Apple mobile), Android (Google mobile)
- Website
- Visit site