Duolingo is a learning app built around short lessons that take a few minutes each. It teaches more than 40 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean and English, and every language course is free. On Google Play it has over 500 million installs and sits in the Education category.
The app has grown beyond languages. It now includes courses in math, music and chess. The music course uses an on-screen keyboard, so no instrument is needed, and the chess course mixes guided lessons, puzzles and online matches. All of them use the same format of quick exercises, points and daily goals, so switching between them feels familiar. You pick one course at a time as your focus, and you can add or switch courses later from your profile.
Education app with builds tailored per device
- Updated: September 23, 2026
- Version: varies with device
- Requires Android: varies with device
- Developer: Duolingo
- Installs: 500,000,000+
Google Play data as of September 26, 2026
What changed in Duolingo recently
On September 23, 2026 the developer shipped an update and listed these changes:
Our mascot owl, Duo, is trading in his usual diet of mice for bugs this week. Yup, we’re squashing those pesky bugs to make the experience better for all of you.
For more Duolingo news, contests and product releases, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @duolingo.
How lessons and streaks work
A typical language lesson mixes translation, listening, word matching and speaking exercises, so reading, writing, listening and speaking all get practice in small pieces. Difficulty moves up as you progress along the course path. Each finished lesson earns points, and practicing every day builds a streak that the app tracks closely and reminds you about.
Leaderboards group you with other learners each week based on the points you earn. They can be motivating, but they reward volume rather than progress. Repeating easy lessons earns points without teaching much new, so it helps to set your own goal, such as following basic conversations or reading a menu, and judge progress by that instead.
The streak works best as a nudge, not a target. A five-minute lesson done with attention usually teaches more than several rushed ones done only to keep a number going. If you miss a day, it is not the end of the course. Your progress in the lessons stays in place, and only the streak counter is affected.
Free plan versus Super Duolingo
The free version gives you access to the full courses, with ads between lessons. It also uses hearts: mistakes cost hearts, and when you run out you have to wait for them to refill or practice to earn more before continuing. For careful learners this is rarely a problem, but it can slow down people who like to guess and move fast through new material.
Super Duolingo is the paid subscription. According to the Play listing, it removes ads and adds perks such as unlimited hearts and a monthly streak repair. A 14-day free trial is offered, so you can test it before paying. If you do not plan to keep it, check the renewal date in your Google Play subscriptions and cancel before the trial ends.
Getting more out of daily practice
Short lessons are good for building a habit, but real speaking skill needs more than taps on a screen. Say answers out loud even when an exercise does not require it, and go back to older units now and then instead of only pushing forward. Pairing the app with podcasts, videos or conversations in the language fills gaps that quick drills leave, and Google Translate helps with a phrase you hear there but have not met in a lesson yet.
Reminders help, but set them for a time when you can actually focus for five minutes rather than a moment when you will just tap through. You can also use Duolingo on the web, which is handy for typing practice on a full keyboard, and your progress carries over between the app and the browser.
Lessons, streaks and the learning path
Super Duolingo, chess and the music course
What does Super Duolingo add over the free courses?
It removes ads and adds perks such as unlimited hearts. Every language course is already free with ads, and Super can be tried free for 14 days first.
Can I learn chess on Duolingo?
Yes. The chess course has step-by-step lessons, puzzles and online matches for beginners and more experienced players.
Do I need an instrument for the music course?
No. Lessons use an on-screen keyboard, so you learn to read music and play popular songs on your phone, one small step at a time.
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