I’ve seen people get disappointed while trying to find the best language learning app. Although there are several apps like Mondly vs Duolingo for learning a new language, a few are genuinely helpful and ideal to use.
Mondly and Duolingo are among the popular language learning apps available today. But many learners become confused about selecting a single learning app for their needs. This is why I’ve tested both separately to find out which one is actually better as both promise short and interactive lessons.
I found Duolingo to be a language-learning game. It always pushes a learner to return to maintain streaks, points, leagues, challenges, and quick exercises. Mondly, meanwhile, offers lessons built around daily vocabulary, phrases, grammar, and conversations.
I’ll today share my complete experience of using Mondly and Duolingo in this article. You’ll learn about the best app among these two here.
Mondly vs Duolingo: Comparison Table
| Features | Mondly | Duolingo |
| Why You Should Use | Practical language learning | Regular language learning |
| Languages | 40+ | 40+ |
| Lesson duration | 5 to 10 minutes | 5 to 10 minutes |
| Study style | Practical phrases and structured exercise | Game-like exercise |
| Grammar | Better explanation | Limited explanation |
| Speaking practice | Good | Better |
| Motivation | Daily lessons, quizzes, and challenges | Leagues, streaks, and rewards |
| Free version | Limited | In-depth |
| Paid plans | Starts at $12/month | Starts at $7.99/month |
Mondly vs Duolingo: Features
Mondly features
I was initially impressed with Mondly’s practical language. It gives useful words from real life to practice instead of offering isolated words to learn.
I could also choose my learning preference because the lessons are divided into different topics. This made my experience more flexible. Daily lessons, weekly quizzes, monthly challenges, vocabulary exercises, and speech-related activities are also there. The app also gives complete lessons a star rating.
I also liked the conversation practice where Mondly tries to put vocabulary into real situations instead of forcing you to memorize words.
There’s also a VR component created around simulated real-life situations. You can therefore practice ordering food, checking into a hotel, or speaking with someone while traveling. It, however, won’t be useful for everyone because it needs a VR component.
Duolingo features
Duolingo takes a very different path compared to Mondly. I felt I was playing a mobile game instead of attending a learning class.
It gives its learners points, streaks, achievements, leagues, and daily goals. Completing a lesson isn’t a major commitment because lessons are short here. I could open Duolingo and complete many exercises in a few minutes.
I also enjoyed the variety of exercises in this app. Listening questions, translations, vocabulary activities, speaking exercises, and sentence-building tasks are common activities available here.
Motivation is its biggest strength. The streak system gives you a reason to return daily to this app even if you are feeling low to complete exercises. It also makes mistakes enjoyable as it feels less intimidating because the wrong answer appears again at the lesson’s end to let you rectify your mistakes.
Although the game-like experience makes learning enjoyable, it also comes with its biggest concern. This is because I sometimes open it only to maintain the streak instead of learning something.
Mondly vs Duolingo: Pros And Cons
Mondly pros & cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Practical phrases and vocabulary | Some exercises follow the same pattern |
| Flexible selection of lessons | Average speech recognition |
| Grammar explanation | The interface isn’t impressive |
| Conversation-based activities | |
| VR experience for extra learning |
Duolingo pros & cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Detailed free version | Light grammar explanation |
| Engaging design | Unusual vocabulary and sentences are also there |
| Streak and reward system | Ads in the free plan |
| Different exercises | |
| Good speech recognition |
Mondly vs Duolingo: Pricing
Although both apps have a free version for their users, I seriously found Duolingo’s free plan helpful because it gives you more access to its features compared to Mondly. The free plan offers, however, limited features. You should therefore consider purchasing their paid plan. Let’s check their pricing and their offering:
Mondly Pricing
| Plans | Prices | What you’ll get |
| Free | $0 |
|
| Monthly | $12.90/month |
|
| Quarterly | $30.96/3 months |
|
| Yearly | $61.92/year |
|
Duolingo Pricing
| Plans | Pricing | What You’ll Get |
| Free | $0 | Learning topics |
| Super | $7.99/month |
|
| Super family | $9.99/month |
|
Although Duolingo seems like a more affordable option than Mondly, Mondly is more worth purchasing because it offers an advanced and detailed learning experience.
Who Should Use Mondly?
Mondly is actually best for:
- Practical vocabulary and phrases
- Communicating seamlessly during daily life
- Topic selection option
- More grammar support
- Conversation and VR activities
- More focused study experience
Who should use Duolingo?
Duolingo is similarly helpful for:
- Starting to learn for free
- Maintaining learning habits
- Enjoying games, points, streaks, and leaderboards
- Learning a few minutes daily with its short lessons
- Learning basic vocabulary
It is also best to use it with another learning course as it isn’t completely sufficient for complete learning.
I wouldn’t recommend you rely on a single app for learning to achieve fluency in your target language. Speaking, listening, reading, and writing are equally important to achieve success.
Read Also,
Rosetta Stone vs Duolingo: Which one is my Favorite?
Memrise vs Duolingo: Which Is Better?
Which App Taught Me Better?
Both apps are suitable for learning new languages.
Duolingo was indeed enjoyable for learning. I enjoyed completing exercises, earning points, and checking my points. It actually helped me to stay consistent in language learning.
I, however, found Mondly more useful for learning compared to Duolingo due to its practical experience.
I often encounter more helpful phrases for using during trips or vacation while using Mondly. Its lessons also provided me with more understanding of grammar and sentence formation.
Duolingo sometimes introduces strange sentences for memorizing instantly. Its sentences, however, aren’t useful for real-life learning.
Mondly also felt better for studying a certain topic. I could easily focus on learning phrases and lessons helpful in daily life. They’re especially useful while traveling in other countries,
This is because Mondly is a clear winner for real learning purposes. Duolingo also wins for offering an entertaining experience.
My Experience Using Both Apps
I noticed that both apps fulfill my different requirements in my daily learning needs. Although Duolingo helped me learn consistently without any breaks, I felt that Mondly’s vocabulary and phrases were more useful for use in the real world.
I indeed enjoyed using Duolingo during short breaks from my busy schedule. Mondly feels more helpful when I’ve time to spend learning more deeply with practical experience. It would be best to use both to keep learning.
FAQs to Mondly vs Duolingo
Is Mondly better than Duolingo?
Indeed, Mondly is better for my needs as it offers practical phrases, topic-based learning, grammar support, etc. Duolingo, however, offers more enjoyable and easier access for free. The better choice therefore depends on your needs.
Is Duolingo completely free?
No, Duolingo doesn’t offer a completely free plan. Although it offers core access with ads and limitations for users, the Super plan removes those restrictions and offers extra features.
Is Mondly good for beginners?
Yes, it is perfect for beginners due to its short lessons and practical vocabulary. The initial learning stage also becomes easier here because it allows you to select different topics.
Which has better speaking practice?
I prefer Mondly for conversational practice because its activities put phrases into realistic contexts. You can also use Duolingo for it due to its easy-to-use speech recognition feature.
Can I become fluent with Mondly or Duolingo?
You cannot become fluent only by using a language learning app. They can indeed help you build vocabulary, understand basic structures, and develop a regular study habit. It is also important to speak, write, listen, etc to be an expert in a new language.
Final Verdict
I recommend Mondly after testing it and Duolingo.
Duolingo is indeed more entertaining. It is among the easiest apps to use consistently due to its free access, streaks, leagues, colorful design, and short exercises. Duolingo still offers a very good starting point to begin learning.
Mondly, on the other hand, offers everything for language learning. Useful phrases, practical vocabulary, topic-based lessons, grammar information, and more attention to real-world situations are its offerings.
The difference isn’t big between the two apps. I wouldn’t call Duolingo a bad app. I’d really appreciate its free version for allowing someone to start learning for free.
Mondly still wins this competition for connecting studies with real-life conversation. Duolingo is still my choice for casual learners and a fun way to practice daily.
I would go with Mondly to get a more focused learning experience with enough budget. Duolingo is a viable option for starting language learning without paying a penny.