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Education · head to head

Duolingo vs Hapara

Duolingo logo

Duolingo

Education

Learn a language for free, forever

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hapara logo

Hapara

Education

Classroom visibility and workflow layer over Google Workspace for Education

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Duolingo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Duolingo free tier includes ads and energy-based hearts system limiting daily practice without paying; Hapara the product is a Google Workspace companion, so a district that moves to Microsoft 365 or runs mixed platforms loses most of the value it paid for.
  • They diverge on capability: Duolingo covers 40+ languages, Hapara covers Highlights.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Duolingo and Hapara actually diverge.

Attributes where Duolingo and Hapara differ
AttributeDuolingoHapara
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, ChromeOS, iOS, Android
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Duolingo

  • 40+ languages
  • Gamification
  • Streaks
  • Leaderboards
  • Stories
  • Podcasts
  • Speaking exercises
  • AI tutor

Only in Hapara

  • Highlights
  • Teacher Dashboard
  • Workspace
  • Filter
  • Guided browsing sessions
  • Activity snapshots

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Duolingo

  • Language learningnot Hapara
  • Travel preparationnot Hapara
  • Career developmentnot Hapara
  • Cultural explorationnot Hapara

Hapara

  • A Chromebook district where teachers cannot see what pupils are doing during independent worknot Duolingo
  • Schools running differentiated instruction that need different groups to receive different resources without three separate assignmentsnot Duolingo
  • Departments that want lesson scoped site restrictions rather than a district wide filter changenot Duolingo
  • Giving teachers access to pupil Drive work without asking every pupil to share every document manuallynot Duolingo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Duolingo

  • Free tier includes ads and energy-based hearts system limiting daily practice without paying
  • Gamification focus may appeal to casual learners but lacks depth for serious language study beyond conversational basics
  • Limited to short, bite-sized lessons without extensive grammar explanations or cultural context

Hapara

  • The product is a Google Workspace companion, so a district that moves to Microsoft 365 or runs mixed platforms loses most of the value it paid for.
  • Live tab monitoring is a surveillance capability with no technical boundary at the school gate, and unless the district configures and publishes a monitoring window, take home devices are watched at home by default expectations rather than by explicit policy.
  • It layers on top of district filtering rather than replacing it, so schools still pay for a separate filtering and safeguarding product and manage two sets of rules.
  • Value depends entirely on teachers using it in the moment. Schools that buy it without sustained classroom coaching see licences renewed on the basis of installed count rather than actual use.
  • Pupil awareness of monitoring changes behaviour in ways the analytics do not show, and older pupils move activity to personal phones, which produces a dashboard that looks compliant and is not.

Pricing, plan by plan

Duolingo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All language courses
    • Ad-supported
    • Limited hearts (5-heart system)
  • Super$12.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Unlimited hearts
    • Extra practice tools
  • Super Family$119.99/year
    • Up to 6 users
    • All Super features
    • Family group
  • Max$undefined/mo
    • All Super features
    • Video Call with Lily
    • Roleplay scenarios

Hapara

On request
  • Hapara Instructional Suite$undefined/year
    • Quoted per pupil per year
    • Modules bundled or taken separately
    • Multi-year district agreements typical

Which should you pick?

Choose Duolingo if

  • You need 40+ languages.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want gamification.
Duolingo review

Choose Hapara if

  • You need highlights.
  • You work on Web, ChromeOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want teacher dashboard.
Hapara review

Questions people ask

Is Duolingo or Hapara better?
Neither clearly leads. Duolingo starts at Free and Hapara at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Duolingo or Hapara?
Duolingo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Duolingo and On request for Hapara.
Does Duolingo or Hapara run on more platforms?
Duolingo runs on iOS, Android, Web. Hapara runs on Web, ChromeOS, iOS, Android.
Can I use Duolingo for free?
Yes. Duolingo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hapara starts at On request.
What is Duolingo best used for?
Duolingo is most often used for language learning, travel preparation, career development, cultural exploration. Of those, language learning and travel preparation are not what Hapara is typically brought in for.
What can Duolingo do that Hapara cannot?
Duolingo covers 40+ languages, Gamification, Streaks, Leaderboards. Hapara covers Highlights, Teacher Dashboard, Workspace, Filter.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Duolingo: What is Duolingo's pricing model?

Duolingo offers free tier with ads and limited features, Super Duolingo at $12.99/month (ad-free, unlimited hearts, extra practice), Super Family at ~$119.99/year for up to 6 users, and Duolingo Max with AI features like Video Call and Roleplay.

Source
Hapara: Does Hapara monitor pupils at home?

It can, on school managed devices, if the district configures it that way. Districts should define and publish a monitoring window, because the product does not impose one.

Duolingo: Is Duolingo effective for language learning?

Duolingo has 135+ million monthly active users as of Q3 2025, making it the world's most widely used language-learning app. Its gamified approach and free tier have driven massive adoption.

Source
Hapara: Is it FERPA and COPPA aligned?

Yes. Hapara contracts as a school official under FERPA, relies on district consent for COPPA, and is a Student Privacy Pledge signatory. That does not decide how widely a district should configure monitoring.

Duolingo: What AI features does Duolingo Max include?

Duolingo Max includes Video Call for conversation practice with AI character Lily and Roleplay for scenario-based speaking practice. As of January 2026, Explain My Answer became free for all users.

Source
Hapara: Do we still need a web filter?

Yes. Hapara adds class and lesson level control on top of district filtering. It is not a replacement for a filtering and safeguarding platform.

Duolingo: Does Duolingo work offline?

Duolingo is primarily online, though it may offer limited offline lesson downloads on some platforms. Full features require internet connection.

Source
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