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Compare language-learning apps

Pick up to four apps and compare scores, features, pros, and cons.

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App	italki	Duolingo
Overall score	87	88
Tagline	The thing AI still can't replace	The habit machine
Best for	Conversation fluencyExam & academicWork & business	Travel-ready basicsFamily conversation
Use-case fit	8	6
Level fit & AI tutor	Beginner Intermediate Fluent No AI tutor	Beginner Intermediate Fluent AI tutor
Verdict	Not an app that teaches you, but the fastest way to improve once you can speak at all. Budget two sessions a week alongside a course app.	The best place to start and the worst place to finish. Use it to build a daily habit and a first thousand words, then graduate to something with real conversation.
Pros	Real humans, including certified teachers and exam specialists 150+ languages, including ones no app covers Community tutors are cheap enough for several sessions a week	Free tier is genuinely usable — no other app comes close Streaks and daily goals build the habit that actually drives progress Max adds AI roleplay and per-answer explanations
Cons	Pay per lesson adds up quickly Tutor quality varies — finding the right one takes a few tries Requires scheduling around time zones	Weak above intermediate — courses thin out fast at B2+ Sentences can be artificial and rarely teach connected speech Grammar is inferred rather than taught unless you pay for Max
Full review	Read review →	Read review →

Quick takeaway

italki leads this comparison with an overall score of 87. It is strongest for Conversation fluency and Exam & academic. Duolingo is the closest alternative at 88. Choose italki if real humans, including certified teachers and exam specialists; pick Duolingo if free tier is genuinely usable — no other app comes close.