Duolingo

What Duolingo does

Duolingo is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: DUOL) mobile-first language learning platform founded in 2011 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company offers approximately 98 courses across nearly 40 languages, structured as bite-sized gamified lessons accessible via iOS, Android, and web. Its core technology stack combines gamification mechanics (streaks, XP, leagues, leaderboards) with AI-powered personalization that adapts lesson sequencing and difficulty to individual learner behavior, supported by recommendation engines and a recommendation-driven adaptive curriculum. The platform serves primarily individual consumer learners through a freemium model: a free tier with five daily hearts and advertising converts users into paid subscription tiers (Super Duolingo at ~$12.99/month and Duolingo Max, the GPT-4-powered AI tutoring tier launched March 2023). Beyond the consumer app, Duolingo operates the Duolingo English Test — an AI-proctored online English proficiency certification accepted by universities and institutions — and has expanded into adjacent subjects including Duolingo Math.

Duolingo's go-to-market is product-led growth anchored by viral organic social media, particularly the Duo the owl mascot on TikTok (17M followers) and Instagram (4.8M), a 1.7M-follower Brazilian WhatsApp channel, and a growing creator/influencer partnership strategy. The company has made two acquisitions: Detroit-based animation studio Gunner (October 2022, ~15 staff) and Hobbes (July 2024, undisclosed terms). Luis von Ahn remains CEO with Severin Hacker as CTO and Gillian Munson as CFO. As of Q1 2026, Duolingo reported 56.5 million daily active users (+21% YoY), 12.5 million paid subscribers (+21% YoY), and quarterly revenue of $292 million. In 2026 the company announced a strategic pivot prioritizing user growth over near-term monetization, targeting 100 million DAU by 2028 alongside expansion into new subject verticals (math, music, chess) and continued AI capability investment.

Name

Duolingo

Legal name

Duolingo Inc.

Website

https://www.duolingo.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Duolingo (NASDAQ: DUOL) is a mobile-first, gamified language learning platform offering ~98 courses across nearly 40 languages to global consumer learners via a freemium model, with AI-powered Max and Super subscription tiers and the Duolingo English Test certification product.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Language Learning

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Educational Support Services (61171), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Learning Apps & Self-Study Platforms (EDAFAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI-Powered Language Tutors, Chatbots & Speaking Practice Tools (EDAFAOAC), Pronunciation, Speech Recognition & Accent Training Tools (EDAFAOAG)

Keywords

• Language learning platform
• Mobile education app
• English proficiency testing
• Gamified learning software
• Online language courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription (Super Duolingo / Max): Paid subscription tiers (Super Duolingo and Max) offering ad-free experience, offline downloads, unlimited hearts, and AI-powered features. The primary revenue driver.
2. Freemium Conversion: Free tier with limited features (5 hearts, ads) converts users to paid subscriptions. Core acquisition funnel.
3. Advertising: Ad-supported free tier generates advertising revenue from the large free user base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Duolingo operates a mobile-first language learning platform delivering gamified, bite-sized lessons across nearly 40 distinct languages via free and paid subscription tiers. The company also offers the Duolingo English Test, an AI-proctored online English proficiency certification accepted by institutions worldwide, and Duolingo Math, extending its gamified lesson model into adjacent subjects.

Product overview

Duolingo operates as a platform offering multiple educational products across language learning and adjacent subjects. The core Duolingo app provides gamified language lessons across 40+ languages, supplemented by premium tiers (Super Duolingo and Duolingo Max) that add AI-powered features like Explain My Answer and Roleplay. The company has expanded beyond language into math education via Duolingo Math, and offers the Duolingo English Test as a certified proficiency assessment. Key AI features include Video Call for speaking practice and Roleplay for conversational training, all built on GPT-4 technology for the Max tier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Duolingo Max: AI-supported language learning platform offering personalized tutoring and interactive conversation practice with real-time feedback, launched March 2023

Products and services

• Duolingo Language Learning App The flagship Duolingo app offers gamified lessons in nearly 40 languages for individual learners on iOS, Android, and web, with adaptive curriculum, immediate grading, streaks, and leaderboards.
• Super Duolingo Subscription tier unlocking ad-free learning, offline access, unlimited hearts, monthly Family Quest, and other learner conveniences for individual consumers.
• Duolingo Max Premium AI-powered subscription tier offering Explain My Answer grammar feedback, AI Roleplay conversation practice, and Video Call speaking practice with real-time pronunciation feedback, targeted at language learners seeking personalized AI tutoring.
• Duolingo English Test Online, remotely proctored English proficiency test accepted by universities and institutions for admissions, visa applications, and career certification, featuring AI-powered automated scoring.
• Duolingo Math

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 hours of Duolingo learning is equivalent to one university semester of language instruction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• DJ John SummitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA marketing and brand amplification partnership through Later's social media platform. The collaboration evolved organically from a direct message and took approximately two years to develop. DJ John Summit is an electronic music DJ/producer whose partnership with Duolingo generates cultural content and brand exposure among his audience.
• StrellaminorOthersStrella is a customer research platform that counts Duolingo among its major customers. This indicates Duolingo uses Strella's platform to conduct customer research and gain insights into its user base, rather than a co-marketing or product integration partnership.
• Tinder ConnectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTinder Connect partnerships with Duolingo, indicating a cross-platform brand or feature integration, likely co-marketing or promotional in nature, connecting language learning with the dating/social space.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Quizlet: Quizlet is a consumer study and memorization platform that includes vocabulary/language learning features. It overlaps with Duolingo on casual self-study learners and has added AI tutoring features that intersect with Max-style offerings.
• Speak: Speak is an AI-driven English-speaking tutor focused on Asian markets, leveraging conversational AI similar to Duolingo Max's Roleplay/Video Call. It represents the AI-native challenger segment that competes with Duolingo on speaking practice specifically.
• Cambly: Cambly connects English learners with human tutors for 1:1 conversation practice via video. It competes with Duolingo's Video Call AI feature for learners prioritizing real speaking practice and conversational fluency.

Direct peers

• Babbel: Babbel is a subscription-based language learning platform offering 14+ languages with structured curriculum. It is Duolingo's most direct paid-tier competitor and competes head-to-head for serious adult language learners globally.
• Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone is a long-standing language learning brand offering subscription and lifetime-access plans across 20+ languages. It competes with Duolingo for serious self-learners and has a stronger enterprise/government channel presence.
• Memrise: Memrise is a freemium language learning app using spaced repetition and video clips of native speakers. It targets a similar casual-to-serious learner base and competes for share of mobile language learning time.
• Busuu: Busuu is a subscription language learning platform with community-based features and McGraw-Hill partnership for formal credentials. It overlaps directly with Duolingo's premium subscription offering and serves similar learner segments.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a large-scale free education platform expanding into AI tutoring (Khanmigo). It overlaps with Duolingo Math on free math learning and represents a broader free-Education-with-AI competitive model.
• Coursera: Coursera is a major online learning marketplace offering university courses, including language specializations. It overlaps with Duolingo on adult professional learners seeking structured, often credentialed language education.
• EF Education First: EF is a global education company offering language immersion schools, online courses (EF Hello), and corporate training. It competes with Duolingo across the language learning spectrum with stronger enterprise and physical-presence offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/duolingo
• Facebookfacebook.com/duolingo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duolingo
• Instagraminstagram.com/duolingo
• TikToktiktok.com/@duolingo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Duolingo