Duolingo's pricing tiers and monthly costs
Duolingo offers a free version and two paid subscription tiers: Duolingo Plus and Duolingo Max. Duolingo Plus costs $7.99 per month when paid monthly, or $79.99 per year if you pay annually. Duolingo Max, the higher tier, costs $14.99 per month on a monthly plan or $119.99 per year on an annual plan. Both subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel.
The free version of Duolingo includes access to all languages and lessons, but with ads and daily limits on practice sessions. You earn one free "heart" every five hours, which limits how many mistakes you can make before needing to wait or pay to continue. Paid subscriptions remove these restrictions.
Duolingo occasionally runs promotional pricing, particularly around holidays or for new users. These discounts typically reduce the annual price by 20 to 40 percent for the first year, but revert to standard pricing on renewal. Prices and promotions vary by country and may differ from U.S. pricing.
Key Takeaways
- Duolingo Plus removes ads and heart limits for $7.99 monthly or $79.99 yearly; Duolingo Max adds offline lessons and priority support for $14.99 monthly or $119.99 yearly.
- The free version includes all languages but shows ads and restricts daily practice through a heart system that regenerates slowly.
- Annual plans cost less per month than monthly plans, saving roughly $16 per year on Plus and $60 per year on Max.
- New users often see promotional pricing for the first year; renewal rates return to standard pricing unless another promotion applies.
- Prices vary by country and may change; checking your app or account settings shows your region's current rates.
What Duolingo Plus includes
Duolingo Plus removes ads entirely and eliminates the heart system that limits practice on the free version. With Plus, you can make unlimited mistakes without waiting for hearts to regenerate or paying to continue a lesson. You also get offline lessons, meaning you can download content and practice without an internet connection.
Plus subscribers receive a weekly progress report showing how much time they spent practicing and which skills improved. They also get access to the "Stories" feature, which teaches vocabulary and grammar through short interactive narratives. The Stories feature is available to free users in some languages, but Plus subscribers get access across all available languages.
Plus does not include any tutoring, live instruction, or one-on-one feedback. It is a self-paced learning tool with the restrictions of the free version removed.
What Duolingo Max includes
Duolingo Max includes everything in Plus — no ads, unlimited hearts, offline lessons, and Stories — plus two additional features: Explain My Answer and Roleplay. Explain My Answer uses AI to break down why an answer was marked wrong and show the correct grammar or vocabulary. Roleplay lets you practice conversation with an AI character in realistic scenarios.
Max also includes priority customer support, meaning your messages to Duolingo's support team are answered faster than free or Plus users receive. However, Duolingo does not offer live chat or phone support; all support is through email or in-app messaging.
Like Plus, Max does not include tutoring or live lessons. It is designed for independent learners who want AI-powered feedback and conversation practice alongside the standard lessons.
How to pay and manage your subscription
You can purchase either subscription directly through the Duolingo app or website using a credit card, debit card, or payment method linked to your app store account (Apple ID or Google Play). If you subscribe through the app store, your payment method is stored there, and Duolingo charges it on your renewal date.
To cancel or change your plan, go to your account settings in the app or on the website. If you subscribed through the app store, you may need to cancel through that platform instead — Apple App Store cancellations are managed in your iTunes settings, and Google Play cancellations are in your Google Play account. Canceling stops future charges but does not refund the current billing period.
If you paid for a full year and cancel mid-year, Duolingo does not issue refunds for the unused portion. Some app stores offer a grace period (usually 14 days) to request a refund after purchase, but this depends on your platform and region.
Annual plans versus monthly plans
Paying annually costs less per month than paying monthly. Duolingo Plus costs $79.99 per year (about $6.67 per month) compared to $7.99 per month on a monthly plan — a savings of roughly $16 per year. Duolingo Max costs $119.99 per year (about $10 per month) versus $14.99 monthly, saving about $60 per year.
The trade-off is upfront cost and commitment. An annual plan requires paying the full amount at once, while a monthly plan spreads the cost across 12 smaller payments. If you are unsure whether you will use Duolingo consistently, a monthly plan lets you cancel without losing money to an unused portion of the year.
Some users start with a monthly plan to test whether they will stick with the app, then switch to annual billing once they confirm they use it regularly. You can change your plan type at any time through your account settings.
Promotional pricing and discounts
Duolingo frequently offers discounted annual plans to new users or during promotional periods. These discounts typically reduce the annual price by 20 to 40 percent for the first year only. For example, a new user might see Duolingo Plus for $47.99 instead of $79.99 in the first year, then renew at the full $79.99 price the following year.
Promotional pricing is not may provide and varies by region, device, and when you sign up. You may see different offers on the app versus the website, or different prices if you access Duolingo through an app store versus directly. Checking your account settings or the app's subscription page shows what price you will actually pay.
If you let a subscription lapse and then return to Duolingo months later, you may see a "win-back" promotion offering a discounted rate to reactivate. These offers are temporary and typically expire within a few days.
Free version limitations and when to upgrade
The free version of Duolingo is fully functional but includes ads and a heart system. You start each day with five hearts; a wrong answer costs one heart. Once you run out, you must wait five hours for hearts to regenerate, purchase more hearts with real money, or watch an ad to earn one heart back. This system slows progress if you want to practice multiple lessons in one sitting.
The free version also does not include offline lessons, Stories, or the AI features in Max. If you practice only a few minutes per day and do not mind ads, the free version works indefinitely. If you want to practice longer sessions, remove ads, or use offline lessons, Plus is the practical choice.
Max makes sense if you want AI-powered feedback on your answers and conversation practice with an AI character. If you learn best through self-paced lessons and do not need those features, Plus provides everything else at a lower cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I change my mind about my subscription?
Duolingo does not issue refunds for unused portions of a subscription. However, if you subscribed through an app store (Apple or Google), you may have a grace period — typically 14 days — to request a refund through that platform. Check your app store's refund policy for your region.
Does Duolingo offer a free trial before I pay?
Duolingo does not offer a formal free trial of Plus or Max. The free version is unlimited, so you can use it as long as you want to see if you like the app. Some promotional offers give you a few days of Plus or Max access at a discounted rate, but these are not trials — they are paid subscriptions at a reduced price.
What happens to my account if I cancel my subscription?
Your account remains active, and you keep all your progress and streaks. You revert to the free version with ads and heart limits. You can resubscribe at any time and pick up where you left off.
Is there a family plan or group discount?
Duolingo does not offer a family plan or group discount. Each person needs their own subscription. Some families share a single account, but this means everyone uses the same login and progress is combined.
Why is my subscription price different from what I see online?
Prices vary by country, region, and payment method. If you subscribe through an app store, the price may differ from the website price due to currency conversion or regional pricing. Promotional pricing also changes frequently and may differ based on when you sign up or what device you use.