LingQ vs Duolingo at a glance
| LingQ | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free account; Premium $14.99/mo or $119.99/yr; Premium Plus $29.99/mo or $269.99/yrchecked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases) | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) |
| Levels | A2–C2 (beginner to advanced) | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) |
| Free to use | Yes, at least in part | Yes, at least in part |
| Real-speed French | Yes | No |
| Transcripts or subtitles | Free | Not a feature |
| Taught in | English, French | English |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | Huge amounts of real French with text and audio; a tool, not a course. | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Which is better for beginners?
Duolingo. Its bite-sized, game-style lessons cover reading, writing, listening and speaking, and every course is free. LingQ is not a course: beginners get little structure, and the busy interface takes some getting used to.
Which teaches real spoken French?
LingQ. It is built on real content, such as podcasts, articles, books and TV, each with audio and text, and you tap unknown words to save and review them. Duolingo's sentences are short and recorded for learners.
Which is cheaper?
Duolingo, because every course is free and paid plans only remove ads and add extras. LingQ has a free account and a paid subscription with a free trial, with prices shown at sign-up.
Which takes you further?
LingQ. It is useful from A2 to C2, because the content is real and there is no ceiling. Duolingo realistically covers A1 to B1.
Can you use both?
Yes, and the handover is natural: Duolingo for the first months, LingQ once you can read simple French and want real material. Overlap them while you move up.
Which is better for vocabulary?
LingQ, from the intermediate stage. You meet words in real contexts and save them as you read and listen. Duolingo teaches a solid first few hundred words in short sentences.
What neither does
Neither gives you a person to talk to or real feedback on your speaking. Duolingo's speaking practice is with the app, and LingQ is a reading and listening tool. Add a tutor or exchange partner as soon as you can hold a simple conversation.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LingQ | Free account; Premium $14.99/mo or $119.99/yr; Premium Plus $29.99/mo or $269.99/yrchecked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases) | A2–C2 | Yes | Huge amounts of real French with text and audio; a tool, not a course. |
| Duolingo | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) | A1–B1 | No | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
| French with Amélie | Free weekly lesson; Premium $24/mo or $240/yr | B1–C1 | Yes, with a slow version and a transcript | Real-speed dialogues by email and a private podcast. Not an app. Visit |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Read more
The full listings: LingQ (app) and Duolingo (app). More like these: Duolingo alternatives for French.
Guides
- Is Duolingo free? What the free version gives you for French (2026)
- Duolingo French: how far it takes you, honestly
- How much is Duolingo? Super and Max prices (2026)
- Duolingo energy and hearts: how to keep learning French without the limits
- Is Duolingo effective? What it teaches and what it skips
- Is Duolingo a waste of time? Is it accurate? Is it dead?
- How to cancel Duolingo Super