If you search for language-learning tools, Memrise vs Duolingo pop up frequently. These two apps have different creators, language aims, and teaching approaches, so which one does a better job at teaching you a new language?
And can you use one of these to review language skills you’ve learned previously?
I’ve thoroughly tested Memrise and Duolingo, and here’s my comprehensive comparison.
What Is Memrise?
Memrise is a language-learning solution founded in 2010. The company is headquartered in London, the U.K.
The three founders used their research in psychology, second language acquisition, and neuroscience to create Memrise.
Memrise uniquely combines language learning with memory-boosting techniques, offering courses in 16 languages.
Its method involves engaging real-world videos, personalized review sessions, and gamified learning to enhance vocabulary and phrase retention, ideal for those seeking an immersive, everyday language use approach.
Since its creation, more than 10 million users have downloaded the Android version of the app from Google Play.
Here are key statistics about Memrise:
- The website is available in more than 20 languages.
- More than 3.8 million visitors check out the Memrise website every month.
- Most of the website traffic comes from the U.S., followed by the U.K., Vietnam, Poland, and Turkey.
- Memrise’s users are mostly women and in the 18-34 age group.
- The platform has about 65 million registered users. (Business of Apps)
PROs
- Freemium version available
- Bite-sized, interactive lessons
- Free language phrasebooks
- Customized learning based on proficiency level
CONs
- Restricted access to courses based on native language
- Free version primarily focuses on new vocabulary
- Not suitable for upper-intermediate or advanced learners
- Uncertain quality of courses created by users
The Language-Learning Approach of Memrise
Memrise’s language-learning approach is research backed. The platform was created to help people learn a new language as easily and quickly as possible.
The basic tenets of how Memrise teaches a target language is based on what the founders call the “Memrise stool.” To learn a language, you need to master the vocab, grammar, and phrases; immerse yourself in the language; and practice communicating.
Memrise’s Target Audience
Memrise’s primary audience are teens and adults who are beginner learners. Intermediate students can also benefit from Memrise since they can use the app to review their language skills and practice weak areas.
What Is Duolingo?
Duolingo is headquartered in Pittsburgh in the U.S. and was created in 2012.
The language-learning app’s creators love games, and to make learning a new language fun and entertaining, they gamified Duolingo.
Duolingo sets itself apart with its highly gamified, user-friendly approach, making language learning engaging and accessible with its interactive exercises, point-scoring system, and daily streaks.
Additionally, its vast array of languages, including less commonly taught ones, and its adaptive learning technology cater to a wide range of learners, from beginners to intermediate.
Since its creation, more than 500 million people have downloaded the app from Google Play (and it’s available on the App Store too in case you got worried).
Here are key statistics about Duolingo:
- The Duolingo website is available in more than 25 languages.
- The app has roughly 88.7 million users every month.
- Most of the website traffic for Duolingo originates in the U.S., followed by Brazil, the U.K., Germany, and Mexico.
- Most of the app’s users are in the 18-34 age group, and slightly more women use Duolingo compared to men.
- Duolingo has more than 500 million registered users. (Business of Apps)
PROs
- Completely free version available
- Interactive and concise lessons
- Structured learning with progressive lessons
- Flexibility to start at the beginning, skip units, etc
CONs
- Lacks detailed grammar or language usage explanations
- Best suited for beginners and pre-intermediate students
- Potential overestimation of language skills
- Lacks emphasis on speaking and writing
The Language-Learning Approach of Duolingo
Even though Duolingo is like a game, its teaching approach is backed by research. And the language-learning platform aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), meaning the language courses meet international standards.
Duolingo’s Target Audience
Duolingo’s target audience is everyone. Kids, teens, and adults can use the app to learn.
However, the app is best suited to those who dabble in learning languages and beginner students. Intermediate students can use Duolingo to revise their language skills, but you’re outta luck if you’re an advanced student since the platform doesn’t offer much material to challenge and teach you more.
What Languages Are Available on Memrise vs Duolingo?
You can learn a total of 42 languages on Duolingo compared to the 25 that Memrise offers. With both apps, what you learn depends on your native tongue or a language you are highly proficient in.
Memrise also offers user-generated language courses in addition to its 25 official ones, giving you more options. However, you may not know how accurate those courses are, so beware.
Here is a list of languages available on Memrise vs Duolingo:
| Language | Memrise | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | Yes | Yes |
| Catalan | No | Yes |
| Chinese | Yes – Mandarin | Yes – Mandarin & Cantonese |
| Czech | No | Yes |
| Danish | Yes | Yes |
| Dutch | Yes | Yes |
| English | Yes – British & American | Yes – American |
| Esperanto | No | Yes |
| Finnish | No | Yes |
| French | Yes | Yes |
| Gaelic (Scottish) | No | Yes |
| German | Yes | Yes |
| Greek | No | Yes |
| Haitian Creole | No | Yes |
| Hawaiian | No | Yes |
| Hebrew | No | Yes |
| Hindi | No | Yes |
| Hungarian | No | Yes |
| Icelandic | Yes | No |
| Indonesian | No | Yes |
| Irish | No | Yes |
| Italian | Yes | Yes |
| Japanese | Yes – With & Without Script | Yes |
| Korean | Yes | Yes |
| Latin | No | Yes |
| Mongolian | Yes | No |
| Navajo | No | Yes |
| Norwegian | Yes | Yes |
| Polish | Yes | Yes |
| Portuguese | Yes – Portugal & Brazil | Yes – Brazil |
| Romanian | No | Yes |
| Russian | Yes | Yes |
| Slovenian | Yes | No |
| Spanish | Yes – Spain & Mexico | Yes – Mexico |
| Swahili | No | Yes |
| Swedish | Yes | Yes |
| Turkish | Yes | Yes |
| Ukrainian | No | Yes |
| Vietnamese | No | Yes |
| Welsh | No | Yes |
| Yiddish | No | Yes |
| Yoruba | Yes | No |
| Zulu | No | Yes |
Duolingo also gets exotic with its language offering. You can learn two fictional languages:
- Game of Thrones’ High Valyrian
- Star Trek’s Klingon
How Much Does Memrise vs Duolingo Cost?
There’s quite a price difference between Duolingo vs Memrise.
While both apps have a freemium version, there are important differences to consider.
Memrise
Memrise’s freemium version is quite limited. While you have access to all the language courses, you have to contend with ads after each lesson. Plus, only some vocabulary builder lessons are available. You get 2 free videos daily to practice listening skills, but you need to watch an ad to unlock the conversation practice.
The Pro plan has no limitations, and here’s how much a subscription costs:
- US$27.99 per month for the monthly Pro plan
- US$130.99 per year (once-off) for the annual Pro plan
- US$199.99 (once-off) for lifetime access
Duolingo
Duolingo’s freemium version doesn’t have limitations. Instead, there are just features you don’t have access to.
Super Duolingo gives you unlimited hearts, personalized practice, unlimited legendary exercises, and no ads. This subscription is also almost a third cheaper than Memrise’s Pro plan.
Super Duolingo costs:
- US$7.99 per month
- US$47.99 per year (once-off)
- US$71.99 per year (once-off) for a family plan
Memrise’s Pros and Cons
Pros
- A freemium version, even though it’s limited.
- You can learn 25 languages, but depending on your native language, you may not be able to learn so many languages.
- The interactive lessons are bite-sized, so you can easily learn something when you have a moment.
- You can review what you’ll learn before you start the lesson, and the lesson teaches first rather than just testing your knowledge via quiz questions.
- Novel way of learning by watching videos of natives interacting and pronouncing the vocabulary and phrases.
- Subscription plans are affordable and give you access to all of Memrise’s language courses.
- Free language phrasebooks on the Memrise website.
- Memrise customizes your learning journey based on how little or much you know of the target language, and you can jump to the lessons you would like to learn.
Cons
- The site doesn’t explicitly say how many languages you can learn, but when I counted by going through all the language course-native language matches, I found that Memrise offers 25 languages.
- If you speak British English, you have access to all of Memrise’s official language courses, but if you speak another language, like Italian, you can learn only 10 languages.
- On the free version of Memrise, you can mostly work on learning new vocabulary in the target language since access to the listening and conversation practices are very limited.
- Learning on Memrise’s website isn’t the same as learning on the Android or iOS mobile app. Each platform offers different features, making the language-learning journey inconsistent when you prefer learning via desktop or switching between an app and a website.
- Not suitable for upper-intermediate or advanced language learners.
- The user-generated language courses are a great add-on, provided you choose a quality course – but how do you know when you are a newbie?
Duolingo's Pros and Cons
Pros
- A completely free version of the app.
- You can learn 40+ languages, depending on what language(s) you are proficient in.
- The lessons are highly interactive and compact, so you can learn when you only have 5 minutes to spare.
- The subscription options are affordable, and there’s even a family plan, making it ideal if your partner, littlies, or extended family want to join the fun.
- Personalized practice helps you work on vocabulary and phrases you are struggling with.
- Good structure to learning, ensuring you learn a concept and the next lessons progress on that.
- You can start learning a language at the beginning of the language tree, skip units, or take a proficiency test.
- Use Duolingo’s language podcasts to help immerse you into the language.
Cons
- You don’t get detailed grammar or language usage explanations, which can make it challenging to learn.
- The app focuses on listening, reading, and understanding, while you don’t get to practice speaking (in true conversation style) or writing as much.
- Only ideal for beginners and pre-intermediate students.
- While the positive feedback loop is great, you may fool yourself into thinking you’ve learned more than you actually have when your language skills are put to the test in real-world situations.
- The app is addictive, and while that’s a good thing to keep you coming back for more, it’s a negative influence when you chase after points to win in the Leagues.
- The audio is animated, so you don’t get a chance to immerse yourself in native audio.
Final Verdict: Which Language-Learning App Is Best for Me?
Memrise and Duolingo are quite different from each other, and as with all things in life, both platforms have pros and cons.
I like that Memrise teaches and uses videos with native actors. The vocabulary builder lessons are the platform’s biggest asset, while the conversation and listening exercises are only worth it if you pay for a subscription.
Duolingo’s freemium version is its biggest advantage, especially if you really want to learn a language but don’t have the budget. The gamified nature of the platform is also more motivating, and there’s benefit to following the language tree.
However, only you can decide which app is the best for you.
But remember to immerse yourself fully in the language and use Duolingo or Memrise as an extra tool in your learning journey.
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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