If your future vacation plans include travel to another country, language learning apps like Duolingo can make a big difference in helping you break down language barriers and communicate with native speakers.
Although Duolingo offers a free, basic version, it also offers a paid, premium version called Super Duolingo.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the extra features Super Duolingo offers and assess whether it’s worth the extra cost.
Free Duolingo vs. Super Duolingo: A Comparison
Super Duolingo is a paid upgrade to the free Duolingo experience. As a subscriber, you will receive the following premium features:
- Unlimited lessons
- Personalized lessons
- Legendary Level Challenges
- An ad-free experience
Let’s explore each one in further detail.
Unlimited Lessons
The free version of Duolingo requires that users take a break from lessons after answering 5 questions wrong. It uses a currency called hearts, allowing users to collect a maximum of 5 hearts at a time. For every missed question, the user loses a heart. To earn a heart, users can retake old lessons, spend gems (another type of Duolingo currency), or wait five hours.
In contrast, Super Duolingo users can take unlimited lessons, so they don’t have to worry about managing their hearts or pausing their practice after missing questions. This can be especially beneficial for those who want to make steady progress.
Personalized Lessons
Over the course of learning a new language, you’re bound to make a few mistakes. With Super Duolingo, when you make a mistake, it not only reveals the correct answer but also customizes your lesson plan to focus more on the question types you struggled with.
Legendary Level Challenges
All versions of Duolingo use mastery quizzes as a means to progress through levels. This motivates users by allowing them to earn badges symbolizing skill mastery.
The first five levels are more straightforward. However, the sixth Legendary Level Challenge is a harder challenge which can include reading, writing, listening, and even speaking.
While the free version of Duolingo requires users to spend gems to participate, Super Duolingo subscribers enjoy unlimited attempts at conquering a Legendary Level Challenge.
After successfully completing the challenge, all users receive a special badge in recognition of their skill mastery.
Ad-Free Experience
One of the main complaints about the free version of Duolingo is the frequent appearance of ads. The need to pause for ads can be time-consuming and potentially annoying when you’re trying to focus on learning.
Super Duolingo removes these ads, allowing you to remain focused and move more quickly through levels.
| Free | Super | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language Lessons | ✔ | ✔ |
| Unlimited Lessons | ✔ | |
| Personalized Lessons | ✔ | |
| Legendary Level Challenges | ✔ | |
| Ad-Free Experience | ✔ |
©Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com
What to Know Before Upgrading to Super Duolingo
Before downloading Super Duolingo, check out these key points to consider.
Subscription Costs
Depending on your budget, it may or may not make sense to upgrade to Super Duolingo. Although $9.99 may not sound like a lot, it can add up, especially if you get locked into a yearly plan.
Understanding the subscription costs and the corresponding cancellation policies can help you make more informed decisions about your spending.
Personal Goals
If you only need to acquire basic language skills, Super Duolingo may be suitable for you. However, for higher proficiency or fluency, you will need to evaluate other options.
Moreover, it’s important to assess your level of commitment to learning a foreign language. If you rarely practice, upgrading to Super Duolingo may not be a practical decision.
Alternative Apps
Although many people agree that Duolingo is an amazing language-learning platform that provides effective lessons, it may not appeal to everyone.
Rosetta Stone and Babbel also offer similar apps that cater to different learning styles. Since many language-learning apps offer trial periods, we recommend doing your research to decide which app works best for you.
Using Super Duolingo: What It’s Like
Super Duolingo offers courses in 39 languages for English speakers. Regardless of the language you choose, the core exercises will teach you how to greet people and form basic sentences such as “Where is the bathroom?”
As you progress, you’ll learn more complex language skills that will help you order food, ask for directions, describe your family, and shop for clothes.
With just a few short daily lessons, you’ll gain critical foreign language skills that will help you navigate common travel situations. This app is designed to be engaging, using gamification to keep you motivated. Furthermore, without ads, you’ll breeze through lessons with uninterrupted focus.
As a result, you’re more like to stick with it. In the long run, consistency in your daily practice will lead to improved language proficiency and greater confidence in real-life travel scenarios.
©Dejan Dundjerski/Shutterstock.com
How Much is the Super Duolingo Subscription?
Super Duolingo offers two pricing plans: the Family Plan and the Individual Plan.
Family Plan
The Family Plan allows the primary account holder to share their subscription with up to five other users. Notably, users don’t have to be related or even live in the same location.
While the cost is advertised as $9.99 per month, it’s important to note that the Family Plan is a 12-month commitment, making the actual cost $119.99 per year.
Individual Plan
If committing to an annual plan isn’t right for you, you can also opt for a monthly subscription with the Individual Plan. This costs $6.99 per month.
Unlike the Family Plan, the Individual Plan can be canceled at any time. However, subscribers should note that both plans auto-renew unless canceled.
©Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
Is Super Duolingo Worth Paying For?
One of the biggest perks of Duolingo is the absence of ads. For dedicated language learners, the decision to invest in Super Duolingo for ad removal may make sense. However, if you don’t mind seeing ads from time to time, the upgrade may not be justified.
Additionally, the extent of personalization in the lesson plans isn’t particularly substantial. Although it can be beneficial to focus on your weakest areas, the free version of Duolingo already provides correct answers, making it challenging to find enough additional value to warrant the costs.
It’s crucial to note that Super Duolingo lessons are the same as the lessons in the free version. Because of this, overall learning outcomes are the same.
Furthermore, it’s not possible to attain fluency by using any version of Duolingo. If that’s your goal, you will need to supplement your subscription package with additional resources or invest in alternative learning methods.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Without ads, you’re likely to move through levels at a faster rate. | Super Duolingo’s learning content is the same as the free version of Duolingo. |
| You can learn skills that will help you communicate in a foreign language. | Neither the free nor the paid version alone will lead to fluency. |
| Super Duolingo helps you focus on your weakest areas. | The additional level of personalization isn’t significant. |
