Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps in the world, and for good reason. Its playful design, streaks, and quick lessons keep millions of people motivated. But when it comes to building real fluency, many learners notice gaps. Limited grammar explanations, unnatural sentences, and very little speaking practice leave users searching for the best Duolingo alternatives. The problem isn’t the app itself; it’s the teaching method. Some people learn better through conversations with teachers, structured grammar study, or exercises that feel more natural than chasing streaks.
Duolingo works well as a starting point. It introduces you to new words, keeps you engaged, and makes learning feel less intimidating. For absolute beginners, that spark of motivation is invaluable. But motivation alone won’t get you from basic recognition to natural conversation.
Eventually, most learners realize they need more than points and badges. They want clear grammar explanations, contextual lessons, and real opportunities to speak. When those needs surface, Duolingo starts to feel shallow. With AI tutors gaining serious traction in 2025 and exploding into 2026, there are now better options.
This guide helps you find the best Duolingo alternative for your goals. Some apps focus on grammar depth, others on real conversations with native speakers, and some blend both. By the end, you’ll know exactly which option fits your learning style better than the green owl.
How Did We Choose the Best Duolingo Competitors?
Our review process focused on what actually matters to learners. We looked at how each app teaches, how practical its lessons are, and how useful the experience feels in real life. Beyond design and features, we asked a simple question: does this tool genuinely help someone move closer to fluency, or is it just another app with fancy points and badges?
To answer that, we tested each platform across several key areas. We paid close attention to teaching style, whether it emphasized grammar, conversation, or a mix of both. We examined the depth and quality of the content, making sure lessons felt realistic rather than repetitive or artificial. User experience was equally important. If an app feels confusing or clunky, it will not keep learners motivated for long.
Finally, we compared cost against value. Some apps charge premium prices, but if they provide expert designed lessons, live speaking practice, or personalized feedback, the investment can be worthwhile.Â
Our goal is not to tell you which app is the best in absolute terms, but to guide you toward the one that fits your goals, your budget, and your learning style.
What are the best alternatives to duolingo in 2026?
Babbel
Babbel is probably the most famous alternative to Duolingo, and for good reason. It is built for learners who want to hold real conversations, not just complete exercises. The lessons are created by language experts, and studies from Yale, City University of New York, and Michigan State University back up that the method actually works.
Each lesson takes 10 to 15 minutes and teaches you practical words and phrases you will use in real life. You learn to book a hotel room, ask for directions, or order at a restaurant. Real travel and daily life situations. Grammar shows up when you need it, mixed right into conversations instead of thrown at you in boring rule lists. The app also has speech recognition trained on millions of audio samples, so you can practice pronunciation and get instant feedback
Beyond the lessons, Babbel Speak lets you practice talking without the stress with an AI conversation partner. The AI walks you through realistic scenarios and never cuts you off mid-sentence. You can mess up, repeat yourself, and take your time. It feels like practicing with a patient friend instead of a strict teacher. You start small, build confidence, and gradually get comfortable speaking naturally.
Best For: Learners who want clear structure and solid grammar
Pricing: Around 7 to 13 USD per month
Key Features: Realistic dialogues, useful grammar breakdowns, cultural notes
How it Compares to Duolingo: Babbel is slower but smarter. It explains why words fit together and helps you sound natural when speaking. Duolingo gives motivation, Babbel gives understanding.
Busuu
Busuu turns language learning into a real world experience. Every lesson is designed to make you speak, write, and understand naturally. Instead of memorizing random phrases, you dive into conversations that actually make sense. Grammar tips appear only when they are useful, helping you progress smoothly while building confidence step by step. It feels structured yet organic, more like a guided journey than a game.
What truly sets Busuu apart is its global community. Learners can share short audio clips or texts and receive instant feedback from native speakers, turning practice into genuine interaction.Â
The app’s clear daily plan keeps your progress steady without feeling forced, allowing flexibility when you need it. The result is a learning experience that feels human, purposeful, and deeply connected to how language is used in everyday life.
Best For: Learners who want real practice and feedback from native speakers
Pricing: Around 8 to 14 USD per month
Key Features: Community feedback, personal study plans, realistic speaking exercises
How it Compares to Duolingo: Busuu focuses on conversation and correction. Duolingo is fun, but Busuu helps you use the language in real life.
BoldVoice
As the name suggests, BoldVoice is built for learners who want to improve their pronunciation and sound more natural when they speak. Currently, the app is available only in English, and it is arguably the best tool on the market for pronunciation training.
The lessons focus on phonetics, stress, and rhythm, so your words sound clear to native ears. You record yourself, get instant feedback, and repeat short drills that target the exact sounds that hold you back. The app includes an Accent Oracle feature that detects and evaluates your accent, helping you understand exactly where to focus your practice. It feels focused and practical from the first session.
The teaching style is direct and coach-led. You practice with real phrases, not tongue twisters that you will never use. Each exercise builds muscle memory, so your mouth learns the right movements. You start hearing the difference, then you start feeling it, and finally you make it part of your speech.
Best For: Learners who want to strengthen pronunciation and speak with clarity and confidence
Pricing: Monthly plan at 25 USD, annual plan at 12.50 USD per month (billed 150 USD per year), and Super annual plan at 16.66 USD per month (billed 200 USD per year)
Key Features: Coach led video lessons, focused pronunciation drills, and instant feedback on your own recordings
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo helps you build habits and expand your vocabulary. BoldVoice focuses on how you sound. Learn words with Duolingo, then use BoldVoice to make them flow naturally when you speak.
Memrise
Memrise brings language learning closer to real life. Instead of scripted lessons, you watch short videos of native speakers in everyday situations, absorbing the rhythm and tone of authentic conversation. You repeat what you hear until it feels natural, as if you were picking up the language while living abroad. The process is relaxed but effective, bridging the gap between study and real communication.
What makes Memrise truly shine is its smart repetition system. It reinforces new words just as you are about to forget them, helping vocabulary stick effortlessly. Each session blends listening, pronunciation, and quick reviews that flow naturally. With its clean and intuitive design, the app keeps your focus where it matters most: understanding and speaking the language with confidence.
Best For: Learners who want to absorb real life phrases and understand how native speakers use them
Pricing: Free basic plan and Pro plan at around 14.99 USD per month, or 61.99 USD per year
Key Features: Native speaker video clips, memory based repetition, contextual phrases
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo is great for motivation and basic words. Memrise goes further by showing how phrases work in real life and helping you remember them naturally through real voices and context.
Pimsleur
Pimsleur is built on the idea that the best way to learn a language is by hearing and speaking it, not staring at a screen. Each lesson is a 30 minute audio session that puts you directly into conversation, guiding you to listen, think, and respond out loud. The method uses what is known as graduated interval recall, a proven memory technique that helps words and phrases stay in your long term memory. With every lesson, you improve pronunciation, comprehension, and fluency through active participation.
What makes Pimsleur stand out is its hands free, anywhere approach. You can learn while walking, driving, or exercising, without needing to look at your phone. The app also offers cultural insights, reading lessons, and progress tracking, but its heart remains in spoken practice. It feels natural and personal, helping you think in the new language rather than translating in your head. It is not about memorizing words, but about training your ear, your memory, and your confidence.
Best For: Learners who want to build speaking confidence through listening and dialogue
Pricing: About 20 USD per month for one language; about 21 USD per month for all languages; with annual options available of 150 and 165 USD/year
Key Features: Audio focused lessons with native speakers, speaking prompts you respond to, real conversation practice
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo excels at vocabulary and habit forming. Pimsleur goes further by training your ear and voice so you actually speak.
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone takes you into a full immersion style of learning where you pick up the language through images, sounds, and speaking right from the start. From day one you hear phrases, speak them, and receive feedback on how you say them. It feels less like textbook study and more like training your brain to act in the new language.
Every lesson builds on what came before. You are encouraged to listen, think in the language, speak, and repeat until it makes sense. The app includes voice recognition technology that gives you instant feedback on your pronunciation so you learn to sound clearer and more confident. This approach keeps you active rather than passive.
Best For: Learners who want full immersion, strong pronunciation feedback, and an experience that resembles living the language
Pricing: Around 10 to 15 USD per month after discounts; lifetime access available for a one time payment (regularly around 399 USD)Â
Key Features: Immersive lessons through images and sounds, voice recognition feedback for pronunciation, access to 25 languages
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo is perfect for getting started and building habits. Rosetta Stone takes you beyond that by immersing you in the language and helping you speak it with accuracy, not just memorize words.
iTalki
iTalki connects you with real teachers for private video lessons. You choose the teacher, the language, and the schedule. Everything happens in live sessions, so you learn to speak and listen in real time. It feels like having a personal coach who adapts to your goals, whether you want to improve your accent, prepare for travel, or build vocabulary for work.
The best thing about iTalki is flexibility. You can book short lessons, try different teachers, and study at your own pace. The platform includes hundreds of tutors in more than one hundred fifty languages, each with their own approach and background. Many of them share cultural tips and materials that make every class feel fresh and real.
Best For: Learners who want real conversation and personal guidance
Pricing: Varies by tutor, usually between 5 and 25 USD per hour, with lower priced trial lessons available
Key Features: Live private classes, flexible schedule, native speaking tutors
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo is great for vocabulary and consistency. iTalki focuses on real communication, giving you feedback and confidence that an app alone cannot provide.
Lingoda
Lingoda offers a very structured approach to learning a language live. You attend a class each week or more often, with a native speaker guiding you and a small group of classmates or even just you by yourself. The focus is on speaking, listening, and real-time feedback rather than just tapping bubbles in an app. The schedule is flexible and you can choose times that suit your life, but you are committing to real conversations.
Because it emphasizes live lessons with teachers, Lingoda is more intense. The lessons are full length and you mainly learn through the class rather than a game structure. You’ll track progress and receive indicators of where your speaking or grammar needs work. It feels more like a language course you’d take at a school, but online.
Best For: Learners who want live classes, regular practice, and real speaking feedback
Pricing: Varies by plan; for example around 64.99 USD/month for four classes or up to 279.99 USD/month for 48 classes
Key Features: Native teacher live lessons, small groups or private option, full levelled curriculum
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo helps you build a habit and learn words. Lingoda gives you spoken practice in real time and pushes you toward real conversation, not just game style drills.
Mango Languages
Mango Languages helps you learn through real conversations instead of memorizing endless lists of words. The lessons walk you through natural dialogues and show how phrases work in context. You listen, repeat, and practice pronunciation with built-in voice recording, which lets you compare how you sound with native speakers. It feels like learning with purpose, not just tapping through exercises.
The app flows smoothly and keeps lessons short enough to stay focused. You learn at your own pace but still move forward with a clear sense of structure. Cultural notes explain why people say things a certain way, which makes learning feel richer and more human. It is a calm, well organized experience that fits into any routine.
Best For: Learners who want structure, real examples, and conversation practice
Pricing: Around 11.99 USD per month for one language or 19.99 USD per month for full access
Key Features: Conversation lessons, pronunciation comparison, cultural explanations
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo is great for building a daily habit. Mango Languages focuses on using the language naturally and understanding the meaning behind what you say.
Mondly
Mondly helps you step into real language use from the start. You open the app and work through short lessons built around everyday topics like travel, family, food, or work. You listen to native speakers, repeat phrases, and practice your voice so the language begins to feel natural and not just memorized.
The app keeps things light and engaging. Each lesson is brief and designed to fit into your schedule. You’ll find voice recognition that checks your pronunciation, simple visuals that match the topic, and a mix of reading, writing, listening and speaking that doesn’t feel like school. If you’ve tried more game styled apps and want something a bit more purposeful, this is worth a look.
Best For: Learners who want to use real phrases in real situations and hear native speakers talk naturally
Pricing: Around 12 USD per month or about 58 USD per year for full access
Key Features: Native speaker audio, pronunciation tools, short topic based lessons, support for many languages
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo is great for building the habit and learning words. Mondly shifts the focus toward hearing and using the language in everyday life.
LanguaTalk
LanguaTalk gives you a platform where you can dive into live lessons with tutors and also practice anytime with an AI. You choose when you want to learn and the topics you want to cover. Lessons focus on speaking and listening in realistic settings and the AI feature supports your study when tutors aren’t available.
The platform is especially strong for learners who want to build real communication skills. You’ll find scheduling flexibility, personalized attention from vetted tutors, and a free trial lesson so you can test the fit. The AI tools add value by letting you practice outside of booked sessions, reinforcing what you learn.
Best For: Learners who want real speaking practice with live tutors and flexible lessons that adapt to their goals
Pricing: Tutor sessions usually range from 10 to 50 USD per hour depending on the teacher; the AI conversation practice plan costs between 13 and 29 USD per month
Key Features: Personalized one on one lessons with native tutors, AI conversation tools for self practice, flexible scheduling, and feedback focused on pronunciation and fluency
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo is great for daily habit and vocabulary building. LanguaTalk focuses on real interaction, helping you speak with confidence and learn from actual conversations instead of short text based exercises.
LingoDeer
LingoDeer is made for learners who want clear lessons that explain how the language actually works. It is especially popular among students of Asian languages like Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, but it also includes European languages such as Spanish, French, and German. The app guides you step by step through grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in a way that feels easy to follow and remember.
Each lesson mixes short reading, listening, and speaking exercises with friendly explanations. You learn why sentences are built a certain way instead of just repeating them. The design is clean and the pace feels calm, which makes it great for people who want to understand what they study rather than just tap through quick games.
Best For: Learners who want structured lessons and clear grammar explanations
Pricing: Around 15 USD per month or about 60 USD per year for full access
Key Features: Guided grammar lessons, native speaker audio, offline mode, progress tracking
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo helps you stay consistent and build vocabulary. LingoDeer helps you understand grammar and sentence structure so you can speak and write with real confidence.
Anki
Anki is one of the most powerful duolingo competitors for learners who want to truly remember what they study. It uses digital flashcards to help you review words and phrases at the right time so they stay in your memory for good. The app is open source on desktop and Android, which means it is free to use. On iPhone it costs around twenty five dollars as a one time payment to support its development.
You can create your own decks or download thousands made by other learners. The system automatically tracks how well you know each card and shows it again just before you are about to forget it. It is not flashy or game like, but it is extremely effective if you want to master vocabulary for the long term.
Best For: Learners who want to build lasting vocabulary memory and study efficiently
Pricing: Free on desktop and Android, about 25 USD on iPhone as a one time purchase
Key Features: Customizable flashcards, smart spaced repetition, cloud sync through AnkiWeb
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo helps you stay motivated with daily lessons. Anki gives you full control of what you study and helps you truly remember it for the long term.
Ling
Ling helps you learn with short lessons that build real skills step by step. It is especially strong for Asian and Eastern European languages, and it also covers popular options like Spanish and French. You listen, read, speak, and review in quick sessions that fit easily into a busy day.
The lessons include grammar tips, native audio, and a simple chatbot to practice basic dialogue. Content feels structured without being heavy. You always know what to study next, and progress tracking keeps you moving forward at a steady pace.
Best For: Learners who want structured lessons, grammar help, and steady practice
Pricing: 14.99 USD per month, 79.99 USD per year, or 149.99 USD lifetime; limited free tier availableÂ
Key Features: Grammar tips, native speaker audio, practice chatbot, progress tracking, access to 60 plus languagesÂ
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo builds habit with quick drills. Ling gives you clearer grammar guidance and a smoother study plan, which many learners find easier for understanding real sentence structure. As duolingo competitors go, Ling stands out for depth at beginner and lower intermediate levels.
Clozemaster
Clozemaster helps you learn through real sentences, not isolated words. You see a sentence with one word missing and choose or type the right answer. This trains you to read in context and pick up patterns the way native speakers do. It feels fast and focused, like daily reps for your brain.
Lessons are short and addictive. You can switch between multiple choice and typing, listen to audio, and review the tough items with smart repetition. There are thousands of sentences across many languages, so you keep finding fresh material as you level up.
Best For: Learners who want fast vocabulary growth and real sentence context
Pricing: Free plan, Pro about 8 USD per month or around 60 USD per year
Key Features: Cloze practice with real sentences, audio listening, spaced review, custom collections
How it Compares to Duolingo: Duolingo builds routine and covers the basics. Clozemaster pushes you into real context and rapid vocabulary expansion, helping you understand how words function inside natural phrases.
Conclusion
Duolingo is a great starting point for anyone who wants to make language learning part of their daily life. It keeps things fun, light, and consistent. But as you progress, you might find yourself wanting to focus on specific skills like pronunciation, grammar depth, or real conversation practice. That is where these Duolingo alternatives come in.
If your accent holds you back, BoldVoice targets exactly that with focused pronunciation drills. If you freeze when speaking, Babbel Speak gives you a safe space to practice conversations without pressure. If you want feedback from real native speakers, Busuu connects you with a community that corrects your mistakes. Each app fills a specific gap or helps you go deeper in areas where you want to improve.
Language learning apps are just one example of how technology is reshaping education. If you are curious about other innovations in this space, the Top EdTech Companies and Startups article explores how digital tools are changing the way people learn across all subjects, from coding to professional skills.
In the end, the best language app is the one that fits your specific challenge. Try one or two of these alternatives and see which feels right. The right tool can make all the difference in turning effort into progress and curiosity into confidence when you speak your new language.
FAQs
What are Duolingo’s main disadvantages?
The biggest disadvantages of Duolingo are its limited grammar explanations and lack of real speaking practice. While it is great for motivation and vocabulary, it often feels repetitive. Many users reach a point where they know words but cannot form natural sentences or hold real conversations.
Who is Duolingo’s biggest competitor?
Babbel is often seen as Duolingo’s main competitor because it offers structured grammar lessons and more realistic dialogues. Other strong contenders include Busuu, Memrise, and Rosetta Stone, each focusing on different aspects of language learning like conversation, culture, or pronunciation.
Are there any language learning apps better than Duolingo?
That depends on what you want. For structure and grammar, Babbel is stronger. For speaking, iTalki or BoldVoice can help you sound natural. If you prefer context-based learning, Memrise or Pimsleur might be better. Duolingo is a good start, but many apps go deeper once you’re ready.
Are any of Duolingo’s free alternatives as comprehensive?
Some free apps come close, but each has limits. Memrise and Clozemaster offer strong free versions with useful vocabulary practice. Anki is completely free and excellent for memorization. However, if you want full access to lessons or live feedback, most advanced features usually require a paid plan.
What are the best alternatives to Duolingo in 2026?
In 2026, the most recommended duolingo competitors are Babbel, Busuu, Pimsleur, Memrise, BoldVoice, and iTalki. They stand out for their focus on real speaking skills, structured grammar learning, and personalized lessons that adapt to each learner’s style. Each one offers a different path toward true fluency.
