​​Best 15 Duolingo Alternatives For All Languages (2024 Research)

Duolingo is a super popular language-learning app that makes studying new languages fun and addicting. 

The app offers game-like lessons that get people excited about picking up basics in over 40 languages — from common ones like Spanish and French to unique options like Welsh and Swahili. The app is awesome for complete beginners looking to build a foundation of words and simple phrases. 

The bite-sized lessons feel more like playing a game than studying. You earn points, maintain daily streaks, and get constant positive reinforcement. It definitely takes the intimidation out of learning a new language.

But while Duolingo is an engaging entry point, it has some major limitations if your goal is to become truly fluent and proficient in your target language. 

The biggest issue is that the lessons are extremely game-like, focused almost entirely on translating words and memorizing set phrases out of context.

There’s little to no instruction on crucial aspects like grammar rules, proper pronunciation, or natural conversation flow. In just a few days, you’ll run out of valuable lessons (depending on your target language). 

So, we don’t believe Duolingo is the best online language learning app you should work with if your goal is to communicate fluently. 

In this article, we will share the 15 best Duolingo alternatives you can work with to learn languages online. 

Why Duolingo is not the best option for achieving conversational fluency?

Duolingo is, in fact, a great mobile app to learn languages online. If you are a beginner or a first-time learner, we recommend you start your journey with Duolingo. 

We just believe you’re going to need more than what Duolingo offers if you want to understand and speak your target language fluently. Here are the reasons we think so.

Let’s use French as an example as we make our case here.

Reason 1: It’s not a fitting service to fully understand and, most importantly, speak

You can learn new words to improve your vocabulary with Duolingo. You can even engage in some speaking and translation exercises. The app’s interface is simple and quite appealing. There’s no doubt about that. 

However, the app is just not your best option if you want to learn French and communicate with it effectively. Forget about fluency. Becoming an intermediate learner with the app is only a wishful dream. 

Duolingo’s five-to-twenty-minute lesson isn’t enough to help you internalize a language. A typical sentence in an exercise can be, “Tu danses?” Then, they provide some bubbled words below the sentence for you to give the translated version. 

Once you drag the English version of this sentence onto a line and hit the “check” button, you’ll get a “you’re correct” button and continue with your exercise.

This primary-level lesson is what you encounter at every node. It’s a great idea for beginners who want to pick up new words in French. However, advanced learners would bore themselves out of their minds. Here is another authentic example. 

According to Forbes, Duolingo’s CEO spent about 15 to 20 minutes learning French in November 2018. When asked what he did during the previous weekend, his response was, “ Je fais du sport. Je suis mangé avec mes amis. Je suis boire du biere en un bar .” 

This roughly translates as: “I play sports, I am eat with my friends. I am drink beer in a bar.”

This reveals why you shouldn’t spend time with the app. If you’re serious about learning French or have long-term goals like moving abroad or getting a degree, you should consider a better option that drives results. 

Reason 2: Duolingo is all about gamifying languages

Language learning isn’t all about playing games. We understand that the gaming concept is one of the methods that makes learning enjoyable. But the sad truth is, it’s not enough. 

Duolingo’s entire learning strategy is gamified. They don’t teach you how to communicate in the language. What they do instead is incorporate some random words and vocabulary to enhance your language skills.

With that, you can’t last five minutes engaging in a conversation with a native speaker. You need something more. After all, learning a language isn’t about winning a game.

Instead, you should consider hiring a French learning platform that doesn’t only focus on games. You should consider hiring a service that has qualified teachers and uses the right teaching approach and materials to help you get to the fluency level you desire. 

Why Get French Classes is Your Best Duolingo Alternative to Learning French Online

First, forget about apps like Duolingo. 

Now, imagine stepping off the plane in Paris, the city of love and lights, and being able to navigate the winding streets, order at Café Chic, and connect with locals — all without getting tongue-tied or lost in translation. That’s the dream, yeah?

Or maybe, you just want to be able to have business talks and meetings in French. You need to advance in your professional career or land that dream job, and being fluent in French is part of the journey. 

The problem is that most traditional methods of language teaching leave you well-prepared for the classroom but fall short when it comes to real-world application. You might ace the verb conjugations and win all the games, but then clam up, trying to make small talk.

At Get French Classes, we take an entirely different approach. Our approach is specifically designed to build your overall communicative ability through total immersion. 

In a nutshell, we merge interactive multimedia lessons with live coaching, group practice activities, and engaging cultural experiences. 

It’s a 360-degree language development environment that will have you speaking, reading, and understanding French like a native in little time. Let’s detail what learners get. 

Short, fun video lessons that teach you one core language concept at a time.

Our core curriculum consists of hundreds of bite-sized video lessons that break down practical French conversation piece by piece with clarity. You’ll learn proper pronunciation, important context cues, and valuable insights into language nuances and slang. 

Every video lesson you watch from our program will be focused on one actual French concept or vernacular you’d use in daily life. One lesson might highlight how to introduce yourself or make dinner reservations, while another covers informal small talk amongst friends.

After watching each 5-10-minute video lesson, we get you to put those fresh concepts into practice through speaking and writing exercises set in realistic situations. Here are some examples of written and spoken exercises. 

Written exercise:

Spoken exercise:

As you advance, we kick things up a notch and give you tougher exercises. For example, you can record yourself ordering at a cafe, draft emails giving opinions on events, or transcribe casual dialogues. It’s an engaging way to start getting reps with the material right away. 

We always make it clear that only learners who’ve taken the courses and submitted their practice exercises get to move on to the next step of meetings with tutors and practicing with peers — which takes us to your next step of engagement with our program.

Live sessions with native tutors and peers that consolidate your learning and improve your language skills. 

The key differentiator of Get French Classes is our integration of live coaching from native speakers. Twice per week, you’ll meet one-on-one via video chat with your assigned French tutor for personalized coaching. 

The idea here is not to provide you with more courses but instead to give you free court to practice. So, they’ll review your completed exercises, clarify any areas of confusion, and engage you in natural back-and-forth conversation practice. You will get that real-time feedback so crucial for sharpening your skills.

On top of individual coaching, you’ll participate in bi-weekly group video sessions with just 4-5 other peers at the same proficiency level. Together, you’ll discuss current events drawing from your lessons, debate fun opinion topics, and role-play creative scenarios. 

This is all while being guided and corrected by your French tutor. It’s an incredibly effective way to apply what you’re learning in a low-pressure, judgment-free atmosphere. 

Badges and certificates that fuel your motivation and keep you going.

To make your learning experience even more engaging and rewarding, you get to unlock gamification elements like achievement badges and be matched with an accountability partner to practice dialogues within your free time. 

You’ll also gain access to immersive cultural activities like virtual tours of Paris hot spots, French movie watch parties, book clubs, and more. Think of the whole experience as attending a French school that’s online. Also, our best learners get a full-ride trip to Paris every trimester.

When you successfully complete all levels of the core curriculum. We put you through exams to demonstrate your competency. We evaluate your reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension abilities. If you pass, you'll earn an official proficiency certification. 

This professionally validated credential serves as proof of your French fluency mastery. Just for the sake of being thorough, we’d like to emphasize that learners only get our certificates on merit, not on course completion. 

The best value proposition for your investment in learning French.

Learners get unlimited 24/7 access to our complete language development ecosystem through an incredibly affordable flat-rate subscription plan. 

That includes all of our video lessons, live coaching sessions, group practice activities, all practice materials, and cultural experiences — it’s all included with no hidden fees or limitations.

Our unmatched combination of multimedia instruction, peer practice groups, gamification and cultural immersion is simply the most efficient and engaging path to true French fluency.

14 Duolingo Alternatives to Learning Languages Online

Top 2 Duolingo French Alternatives

LingQ.com

• Available as: Mobile app and website materials.  

• Best for: Learners who prefer to learn French through engaging content based on their interests. 

• PCMag ratings: 3 out of 5 stars.  

• Pricing details: The company’s pricing details are quite complex, so we’ll discuss them better in the overview. 

LingQ.com offers a unique approach to learning French. They believe traditional methods like memorizing grammar rules don’t work. So, instead, they help you achieve proficiency through interesting content that captures your attention.

You can choose from a vast library of French content, including songs, articles, and recommended texts. This allows you to learn based on your passions. LingQ also provides audio lessons lasting hours, with matching transcripts to train your listening skills.

The platform offers two paid subscription models: Premium and Premium Plus. Premium has four pricing tiers, ranging from a 1-month plan at $12.99 to a 24-month plan at $7.99 per month. Premium Plus also has four tiers, from a 1-month plan at $39.99 to a 24-month plan at $34.99 per month.

Rosetta Stone

• Available through: Mobile app and website.

• Best for: Learners of all levels (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) who want to communicate effectively in real-life situations. 

• Trustpilot ratings: 3.3 stars out of 5 for a total of 6907 reviews. 

• Pricing details: The platform offers three pricing plans:

  • 3-month plan: $15.99/month or $47.97 for one payment

  • 12-month plan: $13.99/month or $167.88 for one payment

  • Lifetime plan: $399

Rosetta Stone is a well-established language learning platform that has been helping learners build fluency and confidence for over 30 years. It offers French learning services to individuals, enterprises, and schools, offering courses for all proficiency levels.

The program focuses on teaching through real-world scenarios, interactive activities, and native-speaker audio to help you grasp the language quickly. You’ll learn keywords and phrases in different contexts so that you can easily ace everyday communication.

Rosetta Stone also provides live coaching sessions with native speakers, giving you the opportunity to practice your skills and receive immediate feedback on your pronunciation.

Top 2 Duolingo German Alternatives

Memrise German

• Available through: Mobile app and website. 

• Best for: Learners who want personalized German lessons focused on vocabulary and conversational skills. 

• G2 ratings: 4.6 stars out of 5 for a total of 177k ratings. 

• Pricing details: The app’s monthly plan costs $27.99. 

Memrise German offers a unique approach to learning German through customized lessons tailored to your interests. The program uses various exercises, such as fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice questions, and sentence writing, to introduce new words and expressions.

Learners can also watch native-speaking videos discussing specific themes like food, yoga, politics, and amusement parks. These videos help improve comprehension and expose you to real-life German usage.

One standout feature is the AI language partner, which engages you in life-like conversations to enhance your speaking skills. This unlimited practice helps you master and build confidence in real-world situations.

With a user base of over 65 million learners and a 4.8 rating from 177k users, Memrise German has proven to be an effective and enjoyable way to master the language. The app's monthly plan costs $27.99, giving you access to all its features and ad-free learning.

Goethe-Institut

• Available through: Website. 

• Best for: Learners of all levels (A1 to C1) who prefer a structured online learning experience with live sessions and self-study options. 

• Trustpilot ratings: 2.4 out of 5.0 for a total of 11 ratings. 

• Pricing details: The group class costs €439, the private class costs €695, and the self-study option costs €259. 

Goethe-Institut’s courses are designed to cater to different learning styles and preferences, with three main options: private lessons, group classes, and self-study.

The private lessons provide one-on-one live sessions with personalized mentoring and support from a native tutor. The idea is to improve your communication and speaking skills through discussions that encourage you to think and express your thoughts in German.

Group classes can sometimes include up to 16 students and a native-speaking tutor. They offer the same practice exercises as the private lessons except there will be more people in the session — meaning less attention to you.

The self-study option is tailored to enhance listening and reading skills through extensive practice exercises. All lessons are engaging and interactive, relying on materials such as videos, audio clips, pictures, and reading texts to create a positive learning experience.

Top 2 Duolingo Italian Alternatives

Europass Italian Language School

• Available through: Website.

• Goabroad ratings: 9.7/10 based on 600+ reviews.

• Best for: Learners of all proficiency levels (A1 to C1) who prefer live online Italian classes or private lessons. 

• Pricing details: Pricing differs between the two formats, with live classes costing €150 per month and private classes having varying hourly rates. The minimum package for private lessons is 5-9 hours at €35 per hour. There is also the option for a two-week group session that costs €80. 

With a 9.7 out of 10 rating from over 600 reviews, Europass has a proven track record of providing quality Italian language education online. Europass’ courses are available in two formats: live classes and private lessons.

Live classes consist of a tutor and 3-12 students. The experienced teachers create an engaging and interactive learning environment, encouraging conversations and using additional resources to reinforce learning. If you miss a live lesson, you’ll get recorded versions so you can catch up.

Private lessons offer a more personalized experience, with a dedicated teacher tailoring the lessons to your specific needs. All classes, both live and private, last 50 minutes. Upon completing the course, you will receive a certificate acknowledging your achievement.

Italearn

• Available through: Website

• Best for: Learners who prefer a creative, story-based approach to learning Italian at their own pace.

• Ratings: N/A.

• Pricing details: Italearn has quite a complex pricing structure. Less break it down:

  • Story packages for self-paced learning: Prices vary and you’ll have to reach out to get the price. 

  • Membership: €10 per month or €100 per year. 

  • One-to-one sessions:

  • Coffee date: €150

  • Dinner date: €450

Italearn is run by native Italian tutor Silvia Perrone and it offers a unique approach to learning Italian through stories and creative activities. The program is designed to help learners create connections, meanings, and memories while learning the language.

To start, learners subscribe to the site’s newsletter, which provides monthly emails containing learning tips, short Italian videos, challenges, and access to an extensive library of content, infographics, calendars, and other materials to help set realistic learning goals.

In addition to the newsletter, learners can purchase stories suitable for A2 levels to learn at their own pace. These stories come in three types: a book (with an audiobook, lessons, and exercises); a journaling-focused option; and a study planner to help organize learning activities. 

Italearn also offers one-to-one sessions with Silvia, a 4-week guided program covering the Italian language and culture. Learners engage in activities such as letter writing, virtual tours, journaling, and composing short stories. 

Membership is also available at €10 per month or €100 per year for those who want ongoing access to the program’s resources and its learners and tutors’ community.

Top 2 Duolingo Spanish Alternatives

Babbel Spanish

• Available through: Mobile app and Zoom.

• Best for: Learners of all levels (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) who want personalized Spanish lessons focused on real-life conversations and cultural understanding. 

• Trustpilot ratings: 3.9 stars out of 5 for a total of 20806 ratings. 

• Pricing details: The app costs $13.95 per month. As for the live courses, you’ll have to reach out to them.

Babbel is designed by language experts, educators, and designers to provide an efficient and engaging way to learn Spanish.

The app’s self-study courses are tailored to individual needs and cover aspects such as pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and culture. It also uses advanced speech recognition technology to help you practice and offers diverse learning modes compatible with any device.

On top of the materials available through the app, learners can opt for live online Spanish classes conducted via Zoom. These classes have a maximum of six students and let you engage with a native Spanish tutor and receive real-time feedback and tips as you practice.

Babbel also provides a complimentary initial lesson, an ad-free interface, and resources such as podcasts and personalized content. The Review feature encourages microlearning and helps you retain information through short bursts of practice in writing, listening, and speaking.

Live Lingua

• Available through: Video conferencing platforms like Zoom and website. 

• Best for: Learners who want to become conversational in Spanish through live, private lessons with native-speaking tutors. 

• Trustpilot ratings: 4.9 stars out of 5 for a total of 157 ratings.

• Pricing details: The standard one-hour lessons cost $27. 

Live Lingua offers personalized, live Spanish lessons for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced learners. The program matches each learner with a certified, native-speaking tutor who conducts private lessons tailored to their unique needs and goals.

The primary focus of the lessons is to help students become conversational in Spanish. Tutors engage learners in conversations, guide them through the lessons, and provide feedback on their performance.

Before starting lessons, you’ll have to complete a profile detailing your learning style, current Spanish level, and goals. Live Lingua’s class coordinators will then use this information to pair you with the ideal tutor. They then let you take a free 30-minute trial lesson to familiarize yourself with your tutor and the learning experience.

Lessons are conducted online, allowing you to learn from the comfort of your own home using your laptop, computer, phone, or tablet. The flexibility of the program enables you to easily fit classes into your busy schedules.

Top 2 Duolingo English Alternatives

British Council: Learn English

• Available through: Website and video conferencing tools.

• Best for: Learners who want a comprehensive English learning experience with options for self-study, group classes, and private tutoring. 

• Trustpilot ratings: 4.3 stars out of 5 for a total of 129 ratings.

• Pricing details: For the live classes, the silver plan costs $88 and the gold plan costs $164. The self-study option costs £7 per month (minimum price). 

Learn English offers a full-fledged approach to learning English through three main options: self-study, group live classes, and personal tutoring.

The self-study option allows learners to progress at their own pace and develop communication skills using expert-based lessons and exercises. This option provides a solid foundation for understanding the language by covering all aspects of language learning, including listening, speaking, grammar, vocabulary, and writing. 

Group classes come as the logical next step. They feature a native-speaking teacher and a small group of learners. These classes are available 24/7, offering flexibility for learners to participate at any time. 

One of the unique aspects of this option is the Live 25 live-stream session, where learners can discuss, ask questions, and practice their English skills in a collaborative setting.

Personal tutoring involves one-on-one online sessions with a preferred native-speaking teacher. These 30-minute sessions are tailored to your unique needs and goals — like if you want to learn English while keeping it focused on a specific industry, for example. 

Voice of America Learning English

• Available through: Website. 

• Best for: English learners who want free access to comprehensive lessons and extra resources to support their English learning journey. 

• Commonsence ratings: 3.0 out of 5 on Commonsense. 

• Pricing details: All lessons and resources are free for users. 

VOA Learning English is a free platform that provides a wide range of courses and resources designed to help learners improve their language skills in various areas, such as grammar, vocabulary, and culture.

One of the key features of VOA Learning English is its extensive collection of exercises and audio programs. These resources are designed to enhance speaking and listening skills, allowing learners to practice and improve their ability to communicate effectively in English.

Moreover, users have access to all sorts of multimedia resources, including videos, audio materials, online texts, and podcasts. These materials provide learners with diverse and engaging content to support their language acquisition process.

The platform categorizes its content into three main levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Each level offers specific lessons and resources to ensure that learners can progress at a pace that suits their needs and abilities. 

Top 2 Duolingo Portuguese Alternatives

PortuguesePod101

• Available through: Website and live video conferencing tools.

• Best for: Learners who prefer short audio and video lessons to learn Portuguese quickly and easily.

• Ratings: N/A.

• Pricing details: The program’s basic plan costs between $5 and the premium plus plan (includes one-on-one lessons with a teacher) costs $23 per month.

PortuguesePod101 is a noteworthy platform designed to help people learn the Portuguese language effectively. The program employs a unique approach where it relies on short audio and video lessons to introduce learners to common Portuguese words and expressions.

The audio lessons serve a dual purpose: they train your ear to recognize correct pronunciation and help you construct basic sentences using the words and phrases you’ve learned. This approach enables you to start speaking Portuguese from the very first lesson.

Learners also get a horde of study tools to enhance the learning experience. These include flashcards, word lists, and slideshows, which reinforce the topics covered in the lessons and help you retain new vocabulary more effectively.

And if you want a more personalized learning experience, the Premium Plus plan offers one-on-one lessons with a dedicated Portuguese teacher. This option includes a customized learning plan tailored to your unique needs, homework assignments, and regular feedback on your progress. 

The personal guidance from a teacher ensures that you receive the support and direction you need to achieve your language goals.

Polly Lingual

• Available through: Website and video conferencing tools.

• Best for: Learners of all levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) who want to learn Brazilian Portuguese through topic-based lessons and specialized courses

• Ratings: N/A. 

• Pricing details: Most lessons on Polly Lingual are available for free. But you can access premium content and all features by subscribing to Polly Passport. The subscription costs $2.99 per month or $9.95 for an annual plan.

Polly Lingual offers Brazilian Portuguese lessons designed to increase in complexity as you progress through the levels.

The beginner’s program covers essential topics such as greetings, numbers, colors, and basic grammar. As learners advance to the intermediate and advanced levels, they encounter more complex subjects, covering things like the government, news, and business.

Polly Lingual also shines thanks to its focus on teaching common expressions related to specific topics. For example, when studying the topic of “greetings,” you will be introduced to key phrases such as “Hello,” “Good evening,” “See you later,” and “Welcome” in Portuguese. 

Each subtopic is accompanied by an audio file that demonstrates the correct pronunciation, helping you develop your listening and speaking skills.

Added to the main course offerings, Polly Lingual also provides specialized courses in specific fields, such as travel, business, and medicine. These courses cater to learners who have an orientation towards some specific language goals or interests.

If you prefer a personalized learning experience, Polly Lingual offers one-on-one lessons with a tutor. With your tutor, you’ll practice conversation and develop fluency while they provide you with real-time feedback and guidance.

Top 2 Duolingo Korean Alternatives

Loecsen Korean

• Available through: Website.

• Best for: Beginners who want to learn the basics of the Korean language for free. 

• Trustpilot ratings: 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 668 ratings and 67 reviews. 

• Pricing details: No credit card required. It’s all free. 

Loecsen is a beginner-friendly program designed to help learners grasp the fundamentals of the Korean language and achieve basic fluency. The platform offers a full curriculum that covers essential aspects like the alphabet, basic vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Loecsen designed a step-by-step approach to learning. The program begins by introducing learners to the Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, and the correct pronunciation of sounds. This helps you build the foundation to develop reading and speaking skills.

As learners progress through the program, they acquire a solid base of common words and phrases that can be used in everyday conversations. Loecsen also provides insights into basic Korean grammar rules to ensure users can make simple and grammatically correct sentences.

To reinforce learning and improve pronunciation, Loecsen encourages you to practice speaking aloud regularly. The platform offers a unique tool dedicated to this training. The tool lets you listen to native speakers and repeat words and phrases to refine your pronunciation skills.

Loecsen also offers tips and resources to support self-study. They have vocabulary lists, downloadable audio files, and printable materials that you can use to enhance your learning experience.

LingoHut

• Available through: Website.

• Best for: Learners who want to build a strong Korean vocabulary base and perfect their pronunciation for free. 

• Trustpilot ratings: 3.7 out of 5 stars for 4 ratings total.

• Pricing details: The lessons are free. 

LingoHut is a unique platform that helps learners build a robust Korean vocabulary and master proper pronunciation. The platform offers a streamlined approach to language learning, bypassing the complexities of Hangul characters and grammar rules.

The platform offers 125 lessons completely free of charge. The lessons cover a diverse array of topics, from basic greetings and numbers to more advanced subjects like medical terminology and job interviews. 

Each 5-minute lesson is carefully designed to be engaging and interactive, featuring games and activities that make the learning process enjoyable and exciting. 

The platform uses various learning methods, such as vocabulary lessons with audio pronunciation, flashcards, and games like matching, concentration, listening, and tic-tac-toe.

LingoHut employs a “drip-feed” strategy. They present information in small, manageable increments to ensure you can retain them optimally and minimize gaps in understanding.

However, it is important to note that the program does not provide extensive practice in grammar, reading, writing, or conversation. If you want a more comprehensive approach, you’ll have to supplement your studies with additional resources.

Let Get French Classes Teach You French Online

Our teaching approach enables you to communicate fluently in French. We take the time to understand our customers, their learning goals, their strengths and weaknesses. 

We then tailor our approach to fit each individual and deliver high-quality service to enable them to understand and communicate effectively. 

So, if you’re looking for a French learning platform that offers personalized French learning services, Get French Classes is the best alternative to Duolingo. 

Our approach goes beyond crafting or translating simple sentences. Our focus ensures you achieve your French learning goals.