Mondly vs Duolingo at a glance
| Mondly | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Some free lessons; Premium $15.90/mo or $74.90/yr; 1-week free trialchecked 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 | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) |
| Free to use | Yes, at least in part | Yes, at least in part |
| Real-speed French | No | No |
| Transcripts or subtitles | Not a feature | Not a feature |
| Taught in | English | English |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | A pleasant beginner phrase app with speech practice; thin past A2. | 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?
Both are gentle beginner apps with short daily lessons, so the choice is about what you practise. Duolingo's bite-sized, game-style lessons spread across reading, writing, listening and speaking. Mondly, from Pearson, builds its lessons around useful phrases and mini conversations, with speech recognition and a chatbot to practise answering. If you want to say things sooner, Mondly gives you more spoken phrases than Duolingo; if you want a broad base, Duolingo.
Which is cheaper?
Duolingo. Every course is free, and Super starts at $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store. Mondly gives you some free lessons and then needs Premium, listed at $15.90 a month or $74.90 a year. If you are not sure you will stick with French, use Duolingo free for a month before paying for either.
Which gets you speaking sooner?
Mondly. Its lessons are built around phrases you would say in real situations, and the chatbot makes you produce answers rather than only recognise them. Duolingo's speaking exercises are a small part of each lesson. Neither is a real conversation, but Mondly is closer to one.
Which takes you further?
Neither goes far. Both realistically cover A1 to B1, and Mondly is thin past A2. Plan your next step, such as a fuller course or a tutor, before you finish either.
Which teaches real spoken French?
Neither. Mondly's audio is recorded slowly for learners, and Duolingo's sentences are short and recorded for learners. Neither prepares you for French at the speed people actually speak it in France.
Can you use both?
You can, but they overlap heavily: both teach beginner phrases in short daily sessions. Most people are better off with one of them plus something that does a different job, such as real listening or a vocabulary tool.
What neither does
Neither app explains grammar in depth, plays real-speed French, or gives you a person to talk to. Both stop around B1, and both are designed to keep you on a streak rather than to stretch you. Use one for the habit, and add real listening and conversation as soon as you can.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mondly | Some free lessons; Premium $15.90/mo or $74.90/yr; 1-week free trialchecked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases) | A1–B1 | No | A pleasant beginner phrase app with speech practice; thin past A2. |
| 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: Mondly (app) and Duolingo (app). More like these: Apps like Duolingo 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