Duolingo Max Review: Speaking Practice, at a Premium Price
Duolingo Max is Duolingo's most expensive tier, and its pitch is simple: stop just tapping answers and start actually talking. Roleplay scenarios and video calls with Lily give learners a low-pressure place to practise speaking, which is exactly where app learners usually stall. The catch is that Max now adds only two features over Super, so its value depends entirely on how much you will use them.
What it is
Duolingo Max is the top subscription tier inside the Duolingo language learning app. Duolingo itself is a free, gamified app for learning languages through short lessons, streaks and leagues. Super Duolingo removes ads, gives unlimited hearts and adds personalised practice. Max adds AI-powered conversation practice on top of Super: Roleplay, where you chat through everyday scenarios with an AI partner, and Video Call, where you hold a spoken conversation with Lily, one of Duolingo's characters. Max is bought through the iOS and Android apps rather than on the web.
Key features
Roleplay presents realistic situations, such as ordering food or asking for directions, and lets you practise responding in the target language with guidance and feedback. Video Call goes further by offering real-time spoken conversation with Lily, which helps learners practise listening and speaking without the pressure of a human partner. Both sit on top of the full Super feature set, including ad-free lessons, unlimited hearts, personalised practice from your mistakes, offline access and unlimited Legendary attempts. Explain My Answer, which explains the grammar and vocabulary behind an answer, was originally a Max feature but became free for all learners in supported courses in January 2026.
Pricing
Duolingo does not publish a single public price for Max on its website, and the price shown can vary by country, platform and promotion, so the figure here is reported rather than officially confirmed. Widely reported US pricing is 29.99 dollars a month or 167.99 dollars a year. Super Duolingo is cheaper and is also reported around 12.99 dollars a month or 83.99 to 95.99 dollars a year, with a family plan for up to six users. Because Max is sold in-app, the only reliable price is the one shown in your own app store checkout, and free and Super tiers remain available for learners who do not need AI conversation.
What users like
Users commonly praise Max for giving them a safe place to practise speaking, which many learners find the hardest skill to develop in an app. Roleplay scenarios feel more useful than isolated vocabulary drills, and video calls with Lily are often described as fun and low-pressure compared with speaking to a real tutor. Fans of Duolingo's gamified style also value that Max keeps everything inside the app they already use daily, rather than requiring a separate tutoring service. For learners who struggle to find conversation partners, that convenience is the main draw.
What users complain about
The most common complaint is value: since Explain My Answer became free, Max adds only Roleplay and Video Call over Super, yet costs substantially more. Some users report that conversation features are not available in their language or course, or feel limited and repetitive after the novelty wears off. Others dislike that Max cannot be bought on the web and must be purchased in-app, and that pricing varies without a clear published price list. Learners who mainly want ad-free lessons and unlimited hearts often conclude Super is enough.
Limitations to know
Duolingo Max is a study aid, not a replacement for teachers, real conversation partners or official language exams. AI conversation partners can misunderstand, accept incorrect language, or sound unnatural, so important grammar and usage should be checked with a teacher or a reliable reference. Progress in Duolingo also does not equal fluency on its own: reading, writing, listening and real-world speaking practice still matter. Availability of Roleplay and Video Call varies by language and course, so check your specific course before paying for Max.
Who it is best for
Duolingo Max suits daily Duolingo users who already enjoy the app's style and want structured speaking practice without booking a tutor. It is a good fit for learners preparing for travel or everyday conversation in a supported language. It is less suited to learners who only want ad-free study, who study a language without Max conversation features, or who need exam preparation or professional fluency, where a teacher or a dedicated course will serve them better.
Verdict
Duolingo Max does something genuinely useful: it turns a vocabulary app into a place where you can practise talking. But with only two features separating it from Super, and with pricing that is hard to pin down, it is a niche upgrade rather than an essential one. If you will actually use Roleplay and Video Call most weeks, it is worth it; if not, Super gives you almost everything else for less. Our editorial score: 7.9/10 — our own judgement, not an aggregate of user ratings.
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