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The latest corporate mantra: AI or bye-bye.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s warning this week that expanding use of artificial intelligence will mean the company needs fewer people in some roles — and more in others — is the latest sign that, increasingly, CEOs see no place in the corporate world for AI holdouts.

While messages that amount to “learn AI or be left behind” might be unnerving, corporate observers told Business Insider that it’s ultimately better for cubicle dwellers to hear this message now, rather than when they’re sidelined.

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“If I were an employee, I would be very frustrated with my leader saying, ‘No, we’re still not sure if this is going to have an impact,'” Christopher Myers, the faculty director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, told BI.

Instead, he said, corporate leaders are wise to acknowledge that AI “almost certainly” will rejigger roles and entire org charts.

Several other high-wattage CEOs are saying as much.

OpenAI’s Sam Altman said this month that AI agents were already starting to churn out work comparable to that of junior employees. That followed a warning in late May from Dario Amodei, who runs Anthropic, that AI could eliminate half of entry-level desk jobs within five years.

Even Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who disagreed with Amodei’s sobering take, has said AI is likely to change “everyone’s” job — as it had already done to his.

Managing humans and AI agents

Salesforce chief Marc Benioff has also spoken regularly about the changes AI is bringing. He has said the software giant likely won’t hire any more engineers in 2025 because AI is supercharging its existing workers. Benioff also said in a February call with investors that he tells fellow chiefs that they’re the last generation of leaders to oversee only people.

“I think every CEO going forward is going to manage humans and agents together,” he said.

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Yet CEOs’ straight talk doesn’t always go over well with employees or customers. Luis von Ahn, CEO of Duolingo, said in a recent memo to staff that the language-learning company was going to be “AI-first” and that, as such, it would gradually stop turning to contractors when AI could do the job, among other changes. Some Duolingo users said the company was driving out workers in favor of AI.

Later, von Ahn wrote on LinkedIn that one of the most important things leaders can do is to provide clarity. “When I released my AI memo a few weeks ago, I didn’t do that well,” he wrote.

In the post, von Ahn added that while he didn’t know exactly what would happen with AI, it would “fundamentally change the way we work, and we have to get ahead of it.”

Some of that change could involve cutting workers. In its annual outlook on the future of jobs, the World Economic Forum said in January that among the more than 1,000 employers it surveyed globally, 41% said they planned to trim their workforce as AI takes on some tasks.

Clearing the way

Myers, from Johns Hopkins, said Jassy’s latest pronouncement on AI’s impact could create space for other CEOs to have sometimes difficult discussions about how AI will affect workers.

“Having the frank conversation may be better than allowing people to just speculate wildly about whether it will or won’t have an impact,” he said.

Myers said those who think they have AI all figured out are fooling themselves — as are those who think they can ignore it.

“Anyone who’s putting their head in the sand is missing a very rapidly changing thing,” he said.

Leading workers through what are likely to be rapid changes is something leaders have to nail, Sarah Franklin, CEO of the HR software company Lattice, told BI. She said those in charge need to make clear that while prior periods of transition didn’t occur as fast, it will be possible to get through this one.

At times, though, it could be a treacherous passage. Franklin said the structure of some organizations is shifting from a triangle shape — with a plethora of entry-level jobs at the bottom — to more of a diamond, as AI takes on more of the rote work once handled by less-experienced workers. That means the elimination of many starter roles.

There could be other challenges, as well. For all the zeal some CEOs have shown for AI’s promise of soaring productivity, Melissa Swift, the founder and CEO of consultancy Anthrome Insight, told BI that she often hears from clients that the tech investments they’ve made aren’t paying off.

She said one part of the problem is that companies need to orchestrate changes in how humans work, not just invest in shiny new technology.

Swift said people often learn by playing with things. So, until more workers dig into AI, it could be hard for some bosses to bring about some of the widespread changes they’re hoping for, she said.

Another challenge: Changing how organizations work is easier when technology is more or less static, Swift said. Yet AI is clocking massive gains in its abilities every few months.

“None of this stuff is mature,” she said. “We’re doing the world’s biggest beta test.”

Lattice’s Franklin said the speed of the technological changes is one reason it’s essential that leaders communicate clearly with employees about what’s underway — and that workers listen.

“Armageddon isn’t happening,” she said. “But our world is evolving at a very fast pace.”

Duolingo is fun. It’s bright, friendly, and somehow turns language learning into something you actually want to do. But after a while, you might start to wonder if there’s more out there. Maybe you’re not speaking as much as you’d like. Maybe the lessons feel a little too easy. Or maybe you just want a break from that little green bird staring into your soul.

Whatever the reason, you’re not stuck. There are other apps that do things differently and in some cases, better. Some focus on real conversations. Others use AI to talk with you like a tutor would.

Here are five Duolingo alternatives that are absolutely worth trying in 2025.

What Is Duolingo?

Duolingo is a freemium language-learning app launched in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker, now boasting around 130 million monthly active users and courses in 43 languages—from Spanish and French to Irish, Navajo, and even Klingon. It turns learning into a game, offering points, streaks, leaderboards, and gentle reminders from its mascot, Duo.

PROMOTED

Features at a Glance

Bite‑size lessons (3–5 min) targeting reading, writing, listening, and some speaking.

targeting reading, writing, listening, and some speaking. Smart review system powered by AI adjusts lesson difficulty and notifications.

powered by AI adjusts lesson difficulty and notifications. Gamified perks : streaks, leagues, achievements, avatars, and “hearts” for mistake lives.

: streaks, leagues, achievements, avatars, and “hearts” for mistake lives. New “Adventures” interactive scenarios simulate real dialogues with AI feedback.

interactive scenarios simulate real dialogues with AI feedback. Supplementary courses: Duolingo ABC (early literacy), English Test, and even math/chess.

Pricing Tiers

Free Plan:

Fully free, ad-supported, and includes core content with some feature limits (e.g., fewer hearts).

Super Duolingo:

Removes ads, unlimited hearts, offline access, and enhanced tracking.

In the US: ~$12.99/month, or ~$59.99–83.99/year depending on region.

Duolingo Max:

Adds AI-rich features like “Explain My Answer,” Roleplay, and Video Call with an avatar

Priced at ~$29.99/month or ~$167–168/year, with variations in family plans and regions.

Family Plan:

Covers up to six users at ~$120/year for Super, or ~$240–300/year for Max.

Duolingo remains a powerful entry‑level tool, especially for casual learners or beginners. But as its free tier gets more limited and pricing climbs for AI features, it may be time to explore fresher options.

5 Duolingo alternatives you should Explore

Duolingo is great for getting started, but it’s not the only app out there. If you’re looking for something different, maybe more structured lessons, better conversation tools, or just a fresh learning style, there are plenty of options.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through five top alternatives:

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2 paid apps with more advanced features

2 free or freemium tools

and 1 AI-powered app that’s changing the game

Paid Duolingo alternatives

Sometimes, free just doesn’t cut it. If you’ve hit a plateau with Duolingo or want more structure, better speaking tools, or lessons that feel like a proper course, a paid app might be worth it. These apps usually go deeper into grammar, offer smarter reviews, and skip the ads and heart limits. Some even include live classes or AI conversation practice.

Here are two paid Duolingo alternatives that offer a more serious approach to learning a language.

Babbel

Babbel is a subscription-based language app built around real-world conversation and structured learning. Unlike Duolingo’s fast-paced, gamified style, Babbel takes a more academic approach, but still keeps it practical and interactive. Lessons are developed by a team of over 150 linguists and educators, focusing on the kinds of dialogues you’d actually have in everyday life, like ordering food, chatting with coworkers, making travel plans, and more.

It’s especially popular with adult learners and professionals because it doesn’t shy away from grammar or sentence structure. Instead of just showing you words and asking you to match them, Babbel explains why things work the way they do, then helps you practice using them in real sentences. The platform also adapts to your skill level and learning pace, reinforcing what you’ve learned with personalized review sessions.

Features

Conversational Lessons : Every course is built around real-life situations and themes, so you’re not just memorizing vocabulary; you’re learning how to use it.

: Every course is built around real-life situations and themes, so you’re not just memorizing vocabulary; you’re learning how to use it. Grammar Support (That Makes Sense) : Short explanations are built into the lessons to help you understand sentence patterns without feeling overwhelmed.

: Short explanations are built into the lessons to help you understand sentence patterns without feeling overwhelmed. Speech Recognition : This feature listens to your pronunciation and gives instant feedback, so you can practice speaking with more confidence.

: This feature listens to your pronunciation and gives instant feedback, so you can practice speaking with more confidence. Spaced Repetition System (SRS) : A smart review tool that surfaces words just before you’re likely to forget them, using multiple formats like flashcards, listening, speaking, and typing.

: A smart review tool that surfaces words just before you’re likely to forget them, using multiple formats like flashcards, listening, speaking, and typing. Babbel Live : Optional upgrade for live virtual classes with certified teachers. Sessions are small, interactive, and organized by skill level.

: Optional upgrade for live virtual classes with certified teachers. Sessions are small, interactive, and organized by skill level. AI-Powered Conversation Practice : A Newer feature where you chat with a smart AI assistant that simulates real dialogue, helping you think on your feet.

: A Newer feature where you chat with a smart AI assistant that simulates real dialogue, helping you think on your feet. Offline Learning : Lessons can be downloaded and completed without internet access, perfect for travel or study breaks on the go.

: Lessons can be downloaded and completed without internet access, perfect for travel or study breaks on the go. Cultural Insights: Many languages include short readings, cultural notes, and podcasts that give context to your learning.

Pricing

Babbel is relatively affordable, especially if you choose longer-term plans. All subscriptions give full access to one language.

1 month : $14.95

: $14.95 3 months : $29.85 total (~$9.95/mo)

: $29.85 total (~$9.95/mo) 6 months : $50.70 total (~$8.45/mo)

: $50.70 total (~$8.45/mo) 12 months : $83.40 total (~$6.95/mo)

: $83.40 total (~$6.95/mo) Lifetime access: $299 one-time, often discounted to around $129 via third-party deals (like StackSocial)

Babbel Live (for real-time classes) is priced separately and starts at around $99 for 5 classes, with larger bundles available.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is a veteran in language learning, first launched in 1992. It now offers digital courses in 25 languages using its signature “Dynamic Immersion” method. It means teaching entirely in the target language, with no translations used. Lessons start with picture-word associations and progress to full phrases and interactive conversations.

They’ve modernized with AI-driven pronunciation tools and supplemental content, making it a strong choice for learners serious about speaking naturally and sounding authentic. It’s favored by people who want to build language skills from the ground up, starting with intuitive learning, not grammar explanations.

Features

Dynamic Immersion : Lessons rely solely on images, sound, and target-language input, forcing your brain to interpret context like a child learning vocabulary.

: Lessons rely solely on images, sound, and target-language input, forcing your brain to interpret context like a child learning vocabulary. TruAccent™ Speech Recognition : Evaluates your pronunciation in real-time (hundreds of times per second), giving instant feedback so you can tweak accent and intonation accurately.

: Evaluates your pronunciation in real-time (hundreds of times per second), giving instant feedback so you can tweak accent and intonation accurately. Structured, Level-Based Curriculum : Courses are organized into progressive units (foundations to fluency), each ending with milestone exercises that simulate practical conversations.

: Courses are organized into progressive units (foundations to fluency), each ending with milestone exercises that simulate practical conversations. Offline Mode : Downloadable lessons mean you can learn even without an internet connection.

: Downloadable lessons mean you can learn even without an internet connection. Supplemental Activities: Includes stories, phrasebooks, and audio companions to add context, expand pronunciation, and improve listening skills.

Pricing

Rosetta Stone doesn’t offer a free tier, but it has a few paid plans:

Single-language subscription : 3 months: $47.97 total ($15.99/mo) 12 months: $126 total ($10.50/mo)

: Lifetime access (all 25 languages): Typically $179–199 (discounted from $399), ideal for long-term learners

(all 25 languages): Live tutoring (optional): Extra cost on top and varies by package.

Compared to Duolingo’s freemium model, Rosetta Stone is pricier upfront, but the lifetime plan can be more cost-effective if you’re committed to fluency, especially across multiple languages. Its immersive, structured lessons and advanced pronunciation tools are hard to beat, though they may feel tougher for casual learners.

Free Duolingo alternatives

Not everyone wants to pay for a language app, and honestly, you don’t have to. There are some great tools out there that are free or at least have generous free tiers. These apps skip the flashy subscriptions but still deliver solid learning experiences. Some even include features you’d expect to pay for, like native speaker videos or smart review systems.

Let’s look at two strong free alternatives to Duolingo that are actually worth your time.

Memrise

Memrise blends memory science with real-world content to make learning both effective and fun. It started with a huge collection of user-made “mems” (mnemonics), but now focuses on curated lessons, still peppered with community contributions. You’ll find short vocab drills, native-speaker videos, and even chat with an AI bot. These are great tools to build confidence in comprehension and speaking.

Key Features

Mnemonic-based learning : Clever memory triggers tie new words to familiar English phrases (e.g., aburrido = “it’s aburrido to eat a burrito”).

: Clever memory triggers tie new words to familiar English phrases (e.g., aburrido = “it’s aburrido to eat a burrito”). Spaced repetition system : Words are reviewed at just the right time to help cement memory.

: Words are reviewed at just the right time to help cement memory. Real-world video clips : Short native-speaker videos (interviews, ads, music) show real pronunciation and usage.

: Short native-speaker videos (interviews, ads, music) show real pronunciation and usage. AI chatbot : Practice simple conversations with MemBot, great for learners who are shy about speaking.

: Practice simple conversations with MemBot, great for learners who are shy about speaking. Points, leaderboards & groups : Gamification keeps motivation high and connects you with others.

: Gamification keeps motivation high and connects you with others. Offline learning: Download lessons to study anywhere (Pro-only).

Pricing

Free plan : Unlimited vocab lessons, limited videos, AI chat, spaced repetition; no offline access.

: Unlimited vocab lessons, limited videos, AI chat, spaced repetition; no offline access. Memrise Pro : Unlocks all videos, offline mode, advanced review tools, full content Monthly: ~$22.99 Yearly: $89.99 ($7.50/mo) Lifetime: ~$249.98 (often discounted)

: Unlocks all videos, offline mode, advanced review tools, full content

While Memrise does push its Pro plan, the free version still gives you a solid learning experience especially if you’re just getting started or want to dip your toes into a new language. The short, casual video clips with native speakers are a big win, and the built-in review system actually helps you remember what you’ve learned.

4. Mango Languages

Mango Languages takes a practical, audio-based approach to language learning. It was launched in 2007 and now offers 70+ languages, focusing on real-world short conversations, vocabulary explanations, and cultural insights. While it’s not as flashy as some apps, its strength lies in clean structure, authentic dialogue recordings, and native-speaker audio, without relying heavily on gamification

Features

Lesson-based conversation learning : Each ice-breaker lesson covers word-by-word breakdowns of useful dialogues.

: Each ice-breaker lesson covers word-by-word breakdowns of useful dialogues. Spaced-repetition review : Reinforces vocabulary based on how well you remember it.

: Reinforces vocabulary based on how well you remember it. Phonetics + waveform comparison : Record yourself speaking and visually compare to native pronunciation.

: Record yourself speaking and visually compare to native pronunciation. Cultural & grammar notes : Helpful commentary—formal vs. informal usage, cultural context, pronunciation tips.

: Helpful commentary—formal vs. informal usage, cultural context, pronunciation tips. Interactive features : Includes listen-and-respond drills, reading passages, and even “Mango Movies” in some languages.

: Includes listen-and-respond drills, reading passages, and even “Mango Movies” in some languages. Offline mode: Apps sync progress across devices and let you download lessons for offline use.

Pricing

Free version : Offers the first 3 lessons in every course, plus unlimited access via public libraries, schools, or organizations.

: Offers the first 3 lessons in every course, plus unlimited access via public libraries, schools, or organizations. Individual Subscription : $11.99/month for a single language $19.99/month for all 70+ languages Annual deals around $79.99–179.99/year ($6.67–$14.99/month)

: Free trial : 14 days of full access to all features

: 14 days of full access to all features Institutional access: Often free via libraries or schools, ask your local library!

AI-powered Duolingo alternative

You’ve seen structured, paid options and solid, free choices, but there’s a whole new corner of the language-learning world that’s all about AI-powered conversation. These apps feel more like talking to a tutor than tapping flashcards. Let’s jump into our top pick for an AI-first language tool.

LanguaTalk (aka Langua)

LanguaTalk launched in 2023 and has quickly carved out a reputation as one of the most advanced AI conversation apps available. It offers near-human voice interaction, letting you chat through realistic scenarios like ordering food or discussing current events with AI that feels natural and responsive. This makes it ideal for learners who want speaking practice without the awkwardness or schedule constraints of live tutors.

Key Features

AI Conversations with Native Accents : Voices in advanced target-language accent models make the dialogue feel genuine.

: Voices in advanced target-language accent models make the dialogue feel genuine. Instant Feedback & Translations : Miss a word? The app corrects you on the spot and explains the meaning clearly.

: Miss a word? The app corrects you on the spot and explains the meaning clearly. Fallback to Native Language : Struggling mid-conversation? Switch to your native language anytime and pick up where you left off.

: Struggling mid-conversation? Switch to your native language anytime and pick up where you left off. Vocabulary Reinforcement : New words from conversations are saved automatically to flashcards for spaced review.

: New words from conversations are saved automatically to flashcards for spaced review. AI‑Generated Stories: Practice comprehension and reading with short stories crafted around your saved vocabulary

Pricing

LanguaTalk offers a basic free tier, enough for casual users or those testing the waters. For full interactive features, Roleplay, and lesson packs, they offer these subscription options (based on sources):

Unlimited plan: ~ $14.99–19.99/month

plan: ~ $14.99–19.99/month Communicate plan: may be slightly cheaper, with limited monthly minutes

Note that pricing varies by region and may require contacting support for exact tiers.

Duolingo alternatives at a glance

App Type Key Strengths AI Features Pricing ($) Babbel Paid Structured lessons, grammar focus, live classes AI conversation bot $14.95/mo, $83.40/year, Lifetime ~$129 Rosetta Stone Paid Full immersion, strong pronunciation tools TruAccent speech feedback $15.99/mo, $179 lifetime Memrise Freemium Real-world videos, memory aids, and fun quizzes AI chatbot (MemBot) Free, Pro from $7.50/mo or $89.99/year Mango Languages Freemium Audio-based lessons, grammar & culture notes Speech waveform comparison Free via libraries, $11.99–19.99/mo LanguaTalk AI apl Realistic AI conversation, auto flashcard creation Full AI-powered tutor Free tier, ~$14.99–19.99/mo for full

Final Thoughts

Duolingo is a great place to begin, but it doesn’t have to be where you stop. If you’re looking for more structure and depth, Babbel and Rosetta Stone are solid upgrades. Want to keep things free? Memrise and Mango Languages offer smart features without the price tag. And if you’re curious about what AI can do, LanguaTalk brings conversation practice to a whole new level.

So go ahead, try a few of these out and see which one feels right for you. Everyone learns differently, and the best app is the one that keeps you coming back.

Have you used any of these apps already? Or is there another one you swear by? Drop a comment, we’d love to hear what’s working for you (or what isn’t)!

You may also like:

Joseph Lo Bianco, President of the Pharos Alliance

Introduction

These days we can’t escape machine learning, AI and apps.

There are hundreds or even thousands of apps for language learning. The most popular and effective ones use varying degrees of gamification, and this concept is what I will discuss here. The most popular apps use gamification (game-like features) in the belief that this will improve learning, stimulate motivation, and reinforce material that is learned.

The large number of apps available can create a bewildering range of choices, so it pays to read reviews, think about your own preferred style of learning, and your language learning goals. For many people who want to learn conversational Greek, an app, especially the higher quality ones, can be a very useful addition to your program. Ideally, you will be studying with a teacher, or a tutor, and you will use the app to extend, enrich or practice what you are learning from a professional educator.

Apps are a boom business. I have seen estimates that the global market for language learning apps was $22 billion US in 2024 and is expected to triple in the next decade. With the rise of digital education, and demand for multilingual skills in a globalising world, millions of people are choosing, and using, language learning apps. In this Pharos Tip I will mainly speak of the gamification factor, but other things to look out for are AI-powered tutors which some apps incorporate. Intelligent tutoring systems are also booming, and language learning apps will increasingly add AI-tutors to gamification.

Gamification

As the main distinguishing feature of language learning apps, gamification aims to replace routines in traditional language learning (rote practice) with interactivity, designed for participation, curiosity stimulation, progress rewards and enjoyment. Gamification is popular with people whose traditional learning experience wasn’t very successful.

Integrating game-like elements and mechanics into the learning process usually includes:

A personal learning pathway: Many apps claim that they are personalised to your needs, so they may ask questions about your goals, past experiences and preferences. Based on this information the app then creates a tailor-made pathway for you, so you can track your effort, performance and achievements. I’ve asked users of apps about this aspect of the learning experience and most find it valuable.

Achievement markers: These often take the form of badges the user earns to reward them for getting to a certain level or achieving an agreed milestone. Achievement markers provide encouragement because progress is acknowledged, a sense of accomplishment is fostered, and effort is rewarded. Sometimes achievement markers are points, which users earn for completing tasks, lessons, or other goals, and these can unlock higher order features, or new content. Some achievement markers involve comparisons with your own prior level, or with other users, and you might be listed on a classification, like a football leaderboard, all of which aim to create amicable competitiveness.

Exercises: The bulk of what you will find on the app are interactive exercises, with feedback on your performance, a chance to review or repeat an exercise to advance through the stages of your personal learning pathway.

Narratives or Storytelling: Some apps go deeper into conversation, storytelling or narratives, or can incorporate AI tutors, avatars and ‘friends’, to create immersive learning, or ‘real-world’ conversations. Users can be tutored in Greek without being aware of their process of language acquisition.

I will now review, with absolutely no recommendation, a range of apps. Not all apps offer Greek. Babbel for example, is a very well-regarded subscription-only app, but it doesn’t offer Greek. However, if you really want to do ‘due diligence’ it might be worth looking at Babbel because while it does have some gamified elements it is mostly not a game-based app, and this might help you decide if game-elements are your thing.

Duolingo

I have used Duolingo for some Greek lessons myself, and some years ago I followed an extended program on Duolingo for Portuguese in preparation for a visit to Portugal. I found the Portuguese program very effective and engaging. I was impressed by the design and pacing of the lessons, the corrective feedback, and the content. Later this year when I visit Greece, I will reactivate my study of Greek. I found Duolingo to be an attractive design for beginners (though with Portuguese I wasn’t strictly a beginner).

Duolingo is primarily free, with an optional subscription level called Super Duolingo, so, in effect, the courses and features for study of Greek on Duolingo are free to anyone. The free version carries ads, which are removed in the Super Duolingo version, and if you find ads distracting then a subscription makes sense. There are other advantages with the subscription level, mainly unlimited practice, but stories and podcasts attached to the app, can be accessed in both versions.

However, in April 2025 the CEO of Duolingo Luis von Ahn, announced the company was moving to a corporate strategy involving reducing (firing) human contractors and relying on AI for content creation. This means that tutors (living human beings), will be ‘phased out’ and content creation (the language sentences and translation of those sentences to be inserted into different language activities for Duolingo lessons), will increasingly be created by AI. There was a strong public reaction to this announcement with concern for job losses and for a decline in the language quality of the app. The company has tried to assure its investors and customers and the wider public that it remains committed to its human workforce and the quality of its app. You need to decide for yourself, but I have decided not to use Duolingo again, and for my next Greek intensive course I will look for a human tutor, an intensive immersion program, and supplement these with an app that values humans.

Memrise

Memrise seems to have a large suite of Greek language learning resources and on their website and on reviews I have read in preparing this article Memrise seems committed to providing language content that helps learners use Greek in practical, everyday situations. The lessons are created by Greek speaking humans, mostly native speakers or non-native but fluent or expert speakers. Memrise courses start from beginners’ level for modern Greek and various gradations upwards. Memrise use scenarios on practical needs, so you get immersed in conversations about topics or challenges of travel, work and recreation. The app uses gamified flashcards including real-world videos. There is a free platform and a subscription level available. Some online reviews I have read state that Duolingo is better for grammar and Memrise for vocabulary, but I can’t vouch for whether this is true or reliable, and users need to make their own decisions about these things.

Drops

This app seems like a very attractive and well-designed option, and the Greek section is visually engaging with a clear gamified approach supporting users to learn new phrases and words in contemporary modern Greek. There is a free platform and a subscription level option. Drops seems to specialise in vocabulary acquisition and this might suit some learners, and many of their short-duration lessons incorporate mini games. These aim to create habit formation, so be prepared for repetition, and spacing, and remember that building vocab, i.e. words and phrases (not grammar, or conversational skills) is what Drops does, so if you want wide-ranging conversational support then Drops might be best as a supplement to another app or approach. Gamification aims to take the users attention away from the effort or work-like structure of traditional classes and make the focus ‘fun’, with set pieces for consistent practice. Drops only needs a few minutes per day, and parents might find it convenient to include a few Drops sessions in a home Greek language program for their children.

Mondly

This is another option that offers Greek and includes both interactive lessons and gamified activities in a ‘daily lessons’ format, though this is probably modifiable. As for cost, I could only see a free trial, followed by an introductory free platform, so there may not be a completely free basic version. In addition to monthly and yearly subscriptions options there is a ‘lifetime option’! On the trial version, called ‘Hello’, Mondly offers engaging and attractive lessons linked to a chatbot, to help you explore further options. I can’t evaluate the quality or effectiveness of Mondly, but the gamification seems to be of a high standard. Mondly claims that it helps build practical language through vocabulary expansion and sentence structure learning, with themes and activities from everyday life. There are also grammar lessons available for those who want to refine their knowledge of Greek and improve their accuracy and expression beyond the basics.

Other apps that offer modern Greek:

Rosetta Stone , this seems particularly good for immersion. A learner can get the flow and sense of Greek conversations and settings, but it seems to have a traditional lessons approach.

, this seems particularly good for immersion. A learner can get the flow and sense of Greek conversations and settings, but it seems to have a traditional lessons approach. LingQ, offers Greek reading with interactive subtitles. If you already read Greek, this will help improve reading comprehension and a user can import Greek texts. Subtitles are used to translate unfamiliar words, and this supports your growth as a reader, so you don’t stumble over unfamiliar words that might interrupt your flow of reading.

offers Greek reading with interactive subtitles. If you already read Greek, this will help improve reading comprehension and a user can import Greek texts. Subtitles are used to translate unfamiliar words, and this supports your growth as a reader, so you don’t stumble over unfamiliar words that might interrupt your flow of reading. GreekPod101, has attractive looking video lessons and a range of audio with a focus on real-life conversations. This is valuable for cultural knowledge and for familiarising a learner with daily life situations.

has attractive looking video lessons and a range of audio with a focus on real-life conversations. This is valuable for cultural knowledge and for familiarising a learner with daily life situations. Pimsleur, focus mostly or strongly on pronunciation and helping learners listen and hear more accurately, benefitting speech comprehension.

focus mostly or strongly on pronunciation and helping learners listen and hear more accurately, benefitting speech comprehension. Tandem, helps users practice Greek in interaction with native speakers, I haven’t checked to see how it operates or read reviews of its effectiveness.

helps users practice Greek in interaction with native speakers, I haven’t checked to see how it operates or read reviews of its effectiveness. Talkpal, an AI language teacher, for speaking, listening, writing and pronunciation. I haven’t checked it out closely, but it seems to be well designed.

an AI language teacher, for speaking, listening, writing and pronunciation. I haven’t checked it out closely, but it seems to be well designed. From Alpha to Omega, a beginning course in Classical Greek, it might be useful for learning the Greek alphabet.

a beginning course in Classical Greek, it might be useful for learning the Greek alphabet. Jumpspeak, focuses on conversations, and uses AI to stimulate dialogues. It claims to promote rapid fluency.

Conclusion

Nothing beats having a professionally trained teacher, or tutor, regular lessons and occasional immersion. Apps, however, can be an excellent supplement, and for specific purposes they can be ideal. Combining a well-chosen app, with a structured program, is best.

*Joseph Lo Bianco is Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. He is also the President of Pharos Alliance, dedicated to preserving Greek language in Australia.

Do you have a question you would like the Pharos Alliance to answer, send your query to editor@foreignlanguage.com.au.

FULL PHAROS TIPS SERIES:

TIP 1: My child doesn’t want to go to Greek school. What can I do?

TIP 2: Help! After 7 years of Greek School, my child still doesn’t know the alphabet

TIP 3: How can I support my child’s Greek language learning at home?

TIP 4: I failed Greek as a kid, can I learn Greek as an adult?

TIP 5: How to make sure kids get language learning on their Greek holiday

TIP 6: I try to use Greek, but they always reply in English…

TIP 7: My partner doesn’t speak Greek – Can we still raise bilingual kids?

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

The best language learning app is the one you’ll actually use. For most people, Duolingo (available for Android and iOS) is that application. It’s downright addictive to use, thanks to its various social and gamification features, and its lessons are the most engaging ones I came across in testing. It’s also the sleekest app I tested — whereas Babbel and Busuu rely on stock photography, Duolingo has a consistent art and animation style.

It gamifies language learning to keep you engaged. Duolingo employs every mobile-game and social-media trick to keep you interested in language learning — and I mean that as a compliment.

Duolingo’s lessons include game-like features such as streaks and perfect scores, which help to keep you coming back. Duolingo The serotonin-boosting badges and trophies appear throughout the interface. Duolingo Duolingo’s lessons include game-like features such as streaks and perfect scores, which help to keep you coming back. Duolingo

The app features leaderboards and unlockable badges, and it regularly emphasizes building and maintaining a streak. That approach, combined with notifications that remind you to practice, really helps to build a habit. It’s hard to overstate how effective this method can be in getting you to do your daily lessons.

The free version is surprisingly generous. Anyone who installs Duolingo immediately has access to almost all of the features that make it great; the only cost is the ads that appear after every lesson.

The main limitation of the free version is the “heart” system (think Legend of Zelda) that limits you to five wrong answers per day. Pay for a subscription, and that limit goes away. This system, along with frequently offered trials of the paid tier, allows you to do a lot of learning without ever spending a dime.

The paid version includes offline lessons and personalized practice. Starting at around $7 per month (or $13 if you pay a month at a time; the pricing also varies a lot), Duolingo’s cheapest paid plan, Super Duolingo, removes the ads and gives you infinite hearts, so you can make more mistakes. It also provides offline lessons, which are perfect for travelers.

Super Duolingo — the app’s cheapest paid plan — adds bonus features like unlimited hearts (allowing for mistakes) and offline lessons. Duolingo

Duolingo Max, which starts at around $12 per month, adds AI-powered conversations with the app’s fictional characters. It also offers an AI-powered Explain My Answer feature, which outlines why the last answer you gave is or isn’t correct; that feature in particular adds context to your lessons at moments that otherwise might just be confusing.

Its lessons are engaging and cover a variety of topics. Duolingo’s standard lessons are quick but always combine a number of different skill sets. Each lesson blends talking, listening, reading, and writing in a way that always feels engaging. Sometimes you’re translating from English, for example, while other times you’re recognizing spoken words.

Duolingo’s lessons take many forms, including an interactive radio show in which you identify words that you hear spoken. Duolingo

The lessons feature memorable characters. Duolingo’s lessons feature a core group of characters who all have their own personalities and preferences: the always-excited Zari, the sarcastic Lily, and for some reason a talking bear named Falstaff.

These characters all have quirks that you get to know during the lessons, which in my opinion makes learning vocabulary from context just a bit easier.

The app includes an assortment of interactive features. Between the standard lessons are a variety of longer-form activities, including stories, interactive radio shows, and — in the top paid tier — AI conversations with the characters.

These activities not only break up the lessons but also allow you to put your comprehension and speaking skills to the test. In addition, the app has regular reviews that go over specific words and concepts you have struggled with in particular.

In April 2025, Duolingo announced 148 new language courses created with generative AI, more than doubling its current catalog of courses. According to the company, this expansion is part of a broader strategy to become “AI-first,” which aims to introduce new AI-driven initiatives and gradually replace human contractors in favor of AI-powered work.

The newly introduced courses will primarily support beginner-level language learners and include new features like “Stories” to develop reading comprehension and “DuoRadio” for listening comprehension. We haven’t yet tested these new features and will update this guide once we do.

Social features add stakes. Odds are, you already know at least one person who uses Duolingo. Add them as a friend, and the app will regularly assign you Friends Quests with them. The idea is to create social pressure — your friend is counting on you to help them complete the quest. Believe me when I say that this tactic works (and my sincere apologies to friends I have wronged during the testing process).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Its gamification is divisive. Many people love Duolingo for its addictive nature, but it isn’t for everyone. Sometimes, for some people, the game-like aspects may even drown out the learning features.

It lacks conversations with, and feedback from, native speakers. Some of our other picks offer video classes or feedback from other users. Duolingo doesn’t provide any way to talk with other users or practice language with them. Although it has some AI features that allow for basic conversation practice (which we did find interesting), that isn’t really the same thing.

When Duolingo launched in 2012, the language-learning app became the poster child of gamification. The app is shameless and magnificent in its efforts to get users hooked on lessons with streaks, leaderboards, and timed challenges.

Many users — including me and my 1300-plus day streak — fell for Duolingo’s cartoon mascots and bizarre social media posts. The company has never been afraid to be belligerent in tone; Duo the owl is cute, but Duolingo has adopted a successful strategy of not coddling its users. The app regularly sends me push notifications from my own boyfriend begging me not to let us “break up” (our friend streak). Look, it doesn’t not work.

But this spring, Duolingo had a huge messaging misfire over AI adoption, and brought a lot more users close to ending things.

In April, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn announced to employees that Duolingo would be going all-in on AI. The company would look for AI expertise in future hires, and AI usage would be evaluated in employee performance reviews. It would also move to replace contract workers with AI where possible. It was this statement that stuck in the craw of many users, and honestly surprised me when I read it. I’m cynically certain that plenty of companies would love to replace expensive human workers with machines. Admitting it is another thing.

The memo was a called shot: Duolingo’s leadership sees AI as a paradigm shift, similar to the adoption of mobile phones in the 2010s. At the time, common wisdom would have dictated that a language-learning program should prioritize widely adopted platforms like PCs. Instead, the company went “mobile-first.” That bet certainly paid off. Duolingo saw 103 million users a month in 2024. Now, it wants to go “AI-first.”

It’s too soon to tell what the long-term effects of the decision will be. But in the short term, fallout has been loud and angry across social media. Longtime users are deleting the app, destroying 1000+ day streaks. The announcement has been painted as a failure in multiple publications. The Duolingo subreddit melted down so thoroughly that mods placed a moratorium on posts about AI.

Meanwhile, Duolingo stock prices have soared to over $500 (as of June 2, 2025), indicating that whatever users may feel about AI, the big boys who shovel money around think it’s here to stay.

Von Ahn later made a second statement, not walking back the “AI-first” shift, but couching it in gentler language.

“I do not see AI as replacing what our employees do,” he wrote. “I see it as a tool to accelerate what we do, at the same or better level of quality. And the sooner we learn how to use it, and use it responsibly, the better off we will be in the long run.”

Duolingo isn’t the only company doing this. Across the tech industry, workers are being evaluated on their AI usage, encouraged to experiment with AI tools in the service of supposed future productivity, and asked to train their own replacements.

It’s not being framed this way. Rather, executives are speaking about their AI initiatives like Luis von Ahn did: as tools to help people, rather than replace them.

Duolingo’s AI shift has been brewing for years

Of course, Duolingo has been inching towards “AI-first” for years. In 2023, it used OpenAI’s GPT-4 to create AI features that are only available in Duolingo Max, the highest subscription tier on the app.

One of these is “Explain My Answer,” which ostensibly tells users why their response to an exercise is wrong. In general, Duolingo will give you the correct answer if you get something wrong, but it won’t explain why you were wrong. When it comes to typos or misspellings, the error can be obvious. But it doesn’t help users if they’re fundamentally misunderstanding, say, a grammatical concept.

Previously, Duolingo hosted a forum where users could see explanations from other users and native speakers directly in the app. This was removed in 2022.

Now, the Duolingo subreddit is awash with users looking for answers to their questions. And many of them are blaming AI for their confusion. It’s the scapegoat for nonsensical conversations, translation errors, and just plain awkward exercises.

Without confirmation from Duolingo, it’s impossible to say which of these issues is actually caused by Duolingo’s implementation of AI. In some cases, users are genuinely encountering software bugs rather than AI-created lessons.

But elsewhere, AI has changed Duolingo’s lessons for the worse. At Aftermath, Riley MacCleod writes that the Irish course he was pursuing has been ruined by AI voices that don’t pronounce Irish words correctly — a dire situation for a language that is literally endangered.

I spoke to Callie R., a former Duolingo user who is learning Japanese. They noticed that there was a mismatch between how words were pronounced by the robotic voiceover in word banks, versus how those same words were pronounced in exercises.

“This is just an aspect of how Japanese is written, that it isn’t possible in general to tell how a kanji is supposed to be pronounced when you see it in isolation,” Callie said. “It makes sense that an automated content generation process would make this kind of mistake, but a human team actively developing the course with learning outcomes in mind would not do this.”

They also pointed to observations from other users that Duolingo’s robotic voice isn’t capable of correctly speaking a Japanese pitch-accent, a crucial aspect of the language, and one that a native English speaker can’t easily pick up on.

“It wasn’t worth literally learning the language wrong on purpose,” they said.

After two years, Callie R. deleted the app and nuked their 700+ day streak.

AI should be good at this

The thing is, language learning is a field where AI large language models can actually be useful. These LLMs aren’t reliable truth-tellers, but they can be functional conversation partners.

Duolingo has long been criticized for not effectively teaching users how to speak — the app naturally focuses more on reading and listening, and the “speaking” lessons are more about pronunciation than they are about actively recalling words from memory. The latter is critical for genuine fluency in another language.

Duolingo is trying to address that flaw with two more Max-exclusive AI features that let users have conversations with Duolingo’s cartoon mascots. The most impactful of these is Video Call, where users can have a brief “phone call” with Lily, Duolingo’s resident depressed goth girl.

I had some conversations with Lily during a Duolingo Max free trial earlier this year. In each, she would ask me a question, repeat back to me what she had understood from my response, and then ask a simple follow-up. We talked about things like what animals or fruits I liked, or how my vacation was going. It forced me to recall Italian vocabulary on the fly, without a word bank to help me out.

IMAGE: Duolingo via Polygon

This is an area where LLMs excel: generating human language based on speech patterns. Unfortunately, LLMs fail in exactly the areas Duolingo is trying to disrupt. In his Blood in the Machine newsletter, journalist Brian Merchant spoke with a former Duolingo employee whose job had gone from writing lessons, to training AI how to write lessons, to non-existent. “We had been working with their AI tool for a while, and it was absolutely not at the point of being capable of writing lessons without humans,” this employee told Merchant. For Duolingo’s leadership, the flaws in the system are the cost of what they see as the cutting edge. Duolingo’s lessons are not supposed to be good.

“We can’t wait until the technology is 100% perfect,” von Ahn wrote in his email to Duolingo employees. “We’d rather move with urgency and take occasional small hits on quality than move slowly and miss the moment.”

The users who remain tapped into these conversations are suffering no small amount of confusion. A recent study showed that admitting to AI usage can cause people to trust you less. This is the situation that seems to be playing out on the Duolingo subreddit, where users are in a constant battle to figure out what is AI and what isn’t.

Some are deleting the app like Callie R. did. But there is a bubbling fear that a silent majority may simply not care or even be aware of any of these issues. The Duolingo subreddit has over 508,000 members — that’s less than 5% of Duolingo’s reported 116 million monthly users. And the subreddit itself isn’t entirely anti-AI. Plenty of users accept it, or simply don’t think there’s any point in fighting the tide.

Duolingo’s AI policy calls the app’s mission into question

My own Duolingo usage has always been predicated on one assumption: It won’t hurt your language-learning. Plenty of ink has been spilled over the fact that Duolingo most likely can’t make you fluent in another language. Sure, I’ve always reasoned, I know that. But doing a five-minute Italian exercise every day when I’m too lazy or cheap or unmotivated to seek out a tutor is better than nothing. I am still learning, even if I’m not exactly leaping and bounding towards fluency.

But the influx of AI content puts this justification at risk. After all, language students don’t know what they don’t know.

“I don’t really care that it’s AI as long as there’s oversight and someone willing to pull the plug if it’s not producing real Japanese,” Callie R. said. Instead of pulling the plug, the people in charge at Duolingo are actively enabling users to learn bad Japanese, in the hopes that someday the AI will teach good Japanese instead.

There’s no obvious road map is to get there. LLMs can be taught to speak a language — it’s not clear that they can be taught to teach.

Duolingo

Duolingo is facing a problem of scale: It wants to offer lots of language courses, and creating those courses takes time and money. It has turned to AI to fill the desperate gaps where humans might be right, but can never be fast enough. What makes Duolingo’s AI creep even more nefarious is that it’s most likely to affect languages with smaller userbases — like Irish or Navajo, both endangered languages. The vast majority of the app’s users are studying English, French, or Spanish. These are the courses that see a real investment of resources. Duolingo gets great press for creating lessons that purport to familiarize users with Navajo. But what will happen if AI is used to “scale up” the Navajo program, with seemingly few human guardrails to ensure that the exercises are correct?

“Without AI, it would take us decades to scale our content to more learners,” von Ahn wrote in his first statement. “We owe it to our learners to get them this content ASAP.”

My question is… why? Why do we need more content for users immediately, when that content might be wrong or of low quality? It’s here that Duolingo’s mission of making language accessible crashes headlong into its role as a publicly traded company. Lessons need to scale so that users stay on the app, so that the app can make money.

Actually learning a language — or even simply treading water in one — doesn’t have a part to play.