What Duolingo's subscription tiers cost and what each one includes

Duolingo offers a free version with ads and two paid subscription options: Duolingo Plus and Duolingo Max. Duolingo Plus removes ads, lets you practice offline, and gives you unlimited hearts (the lives system that limits free users). Duolingo Max adds AI-powered features like explanations for why answers are wrong and a chatbot for conversation practice. Pricing varies by region and changes periodically, so the exact dollar amount depends on where you live and when you subscribe.

Both paid plans offer a free trial period before you are charged. The trial length varies — typically seven to fourteen days depending on your region and device. You can cancel during the trial without paying anything. After the trial ends, your subscription renews automatically on a monthly or annual cycle, depending on which billing period you chose at signup.

Duolingo also runs occasional promotions that reduce the first month's cost or offer discounts for annual plans. These deals appear in the app itself and change throughout the year. Signing up during a promotion does not lock you into that price — your renewal rate may be different.

Key Takeaways

  • Duolingo Plus removes ads and lets you practice offline, while Duolingo Max adds AI features like a chatbot and detailed explanations.
  • Both paid plans include a free trial that lasts seven to fourteen days depending on your region, and you can cancel during the trial without being charged.
  • Subscriptions renew automatically each month or year, so you must cancel before your trial ends if you do not want to be billed.
  • Duolingo occasionally offers discounts on the first month or annual plans, but these promotional prices do not carry over to future renewals.
  • The free version of Duolingo works indefinitely — you never have to pay to use the app, though ads and the hearts system limit how much you can practice per day.

How the free version works and when you might want to pay

The free Duolingo app includes all the core lessons, stories, and practice activities. The main limits are ads between lessons and a hearts system that gives you five lives per day. When you run out of hearts, you must wait until the next day to continue, or you can watch an ad to restore one heart when ready. For casual learners who practice a few minutes daily, the free version is fully functional.

You might consider paying if you practice intensively — more than one or two lessons per day — because the hearts limit becomes frustrating. Duolingo Plus removes this limit entirely. You might also pay if you want to practice without internet, since the offline feature is Plus-only. Duolingo Max makes sense if you want to use the AI chatbot for real conversation or if you want detailed explanations for every wrong answer, which helps if you are studying for a test or trying to understand grammar deeply.

The free version also includes Duolingo's streak feature, which tracks how many days in a row you have practiced. Streaks work the same way whether you pay or not. Paid subscribers straightforward do not lose their streak if they miss a day — they can buy a streak freeze for a small amount of in-app currency.

How to start a trial and what happens when it ends

To start a free trial, open the Duolingo app, go to the profile or settings menu, and look for the subscription section. Tap the option to try Plus or Max. The app will show you the trial length and the price you will be charged after the trial ends. You must provide a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or payment service like Apple Pay or Google Pay — before the trial begins.

During the trial, you have full access to all the features of whichever plan you chose. You can cancel anytime before the trial ends by going back to the subscription settings and selecting cancel. Cancellation is when ready — you will not lose access until the trial period actually expires. If you do not cancel, your payment method will be charged on the day after your trial ends, and your subscription will renew automatically every month or year depending on your billing cycle.

If you forget to cancel and are charged, Duolingo allows refunds within a certain window — usually a few days to a week depending on your payment method and region. Contact Duolingo support through the app's help menu to request a refund if you were charged by mistake.

Managing your subscription and avoiding unwanted charges

Your subscription settings live in your Duolingo profile menu. From there, you can see your current plan, the date your next charge is due, and your payment method. You can also change your billing cycle from monthly to annual or vice versa, though this typically starts a new subscription period rather than adjusting your current one.

To cancel your subscription, go to the subscription settings and select the cancel option. The app will ask why you are canceling and may offer you a discount to stay. If you decline, your subscription ends at the end of your current billing period — you keep access until that date, then revert to the free version. You do not get a refund for the unused portion of a monthly or annual plan.

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store rather than directly through Duolingo, you must cancel through your device's app store settings, not through the Duolingo app itself. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and find Duolingo there. On Android, open Google Play, go to Subscriptions, and select Duolingo to cancel.

What Duolingo Plus actually changes about your learning

Removing ads is the most obvious change — lessons load faster and you are not interrupted between activities. The offline mode lets you read lessons to your phone and practice without internet, which is useful on commutes or travel. The unlimited hearts mean you can practice as much as you want in a single day without waiting or watching ads to restore lives.

Duolingo Plus also includes a feature called Stories, which are short interactive narratives in your target language. Free users can access some stories, but Plus subscribers get unlimited access to all of them. Stories are useful for reading comprehension and vocabulary in context, though they are not a replacement for the main lesson path.

One thing Plus does not change: the core lesson content is identical between free and paid. You are not getting harder lessons or more advanced material by paying. You are paying for convenience and the ability to practice without limits, not for better teaching.

What Duolingo Max adds beyond Plus

Duolingo Max includes everything in Plus, plus two AI-powered features. The first is Explain My Answer, which shows you why a particular answer was wrong and explains the grammar or vocabulary rule involved. This is most useful if you are studying for a test or trying to understand why Duolingo marked something incorrect. The second is Duolingo Max Chat, a chatbot that responds to you in your target language and lets you have a conversation without worrying about making mistakes.

The chatbot is the main reason to choose Max over Plus. It simulates real conversation in a way the main lessons do not, and it responds to whatever you type rather than following a script. You can ask it questions, tell it stories, or just chat. It is not a replacement for speaking with a human, but it is useful for building confidence and practicing in a low-pressure environment.

Max costs more than Plus, so it makes sense only if you actually use the chatbot and explanations. If you just want to remove ads and practice offline, Plus is sufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Duolingo for free forever?

Yes. The free version of Duolingo has no expiration date and includes all the core lessons and practice activities. You will see ads and hit the hearts limit if you practice heavily in one day, but you can learn a language entirely through the free app if you are patient.

What happens to my progress if I cancel my subscription?

Your progress stays with your account. If you cancel Plus or Max and go back to the free version, all your lessons, streaks, and completed units remain. You can restart a paid subscription anytime and pick up where you left off.

Can I get a refund if I do not like the paid version?

Duolingo allows refunds within a limited window after you are charged — usually a few days to a week depending on your region and payment method. Contact Duolingo support through the app's help menu to request one. Refunds are not may provide, but Duolingo is generally flexible if you ask quickly.

Do I have to use the app to access my subscription?

Duolingo works on the web at duolingo.com as well as on mobile apps. Your subscription works on both, so you can practice on your phone or computer. However, the offline feature only works on the mobile app — the web version always requires internet.

What payment methods does Duolingo accept?

Duolingo accepts credit cards, debit cards, and payment services like Apple Pay and Google Pay. If you subscribe through the App Store or Google Play, you can also use whatever payment method you have set up in those stores. Duolingo does not accept PayPal directly, though some regions may have additional options.