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Education & E-Learning · head to head

Duolingo vs Kahoot

Duolingo logo

Duolingo

Education & E-Learning

Learn a language for free, forever

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kahoot logo

Kahoot

Presentation & Slides

Make learning awesome with game-based quizzes

From
$19/month
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; Kahoot pro Start tier limited to 50 participants per session; hosting 200+ participants requires Pro Standard or higher
  • They diverge on capability: Duolingo covers 40+ languages, Kahoot covers Quiz games.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Duolingo and Kahoot actually diverge.

Attributes where Duolingo and Kahoot differ
AttributeDuolingoKahoot
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebCloud-based SaaS, Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
CategoryEducation & E-LearningPresentation & Slides
Founded20112012

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

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 Kahoot

  • Quiz games
  • Surveys
  • Puzzles
  • Word clouds
  • Live games
  • Self-paced challenges
  • Reports
  • Question bank

Both cover

  • Google Classroom
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Duolingo

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

Kahoot

  • Educators using gamified quizzes and interactive content for classroom engagementnot Duolingo
  • Businesses using Kahoot 360 for employee training and engagement with commercial-use licensingnot 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

Kahoot

  • Pro Start tier limited to 50 participants per session; hosting 200+ participants requires Pro Standard or higher
  • AI features only available in Pro Ultra tier ($79+/month); document processing and AI capabilities gated behind premium pricing

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$119.99/year
    • Up to 6 users
    • All Super features
    • Family group
  • Max$null/mo
    • All Super features
    • Video Call with Lily
    • Roleplay scenarios

Kahoot

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Kahoot review.

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 Kahoot if

  • You need quiz games.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS, Mobile apps (iOS, Android).
  • You also want surveys.
Kahoot review

Questions people ask

Is Duolingo or Kahoot better?
Neither clearly leads. Duolingo starts at Free and Kahoot at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Duolingo or Kahoot?
Duolingo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Duolingo and $19/month for Kahoot.
Does Duolingo or Kahoot run on more platforms?
Duolingo runs on iOS, Android, Web. Kahoot runs on Cloud-based SaaS, Mobile apps (iOS, Android).
Can I use Duolingo for free?
Yes. Duolingo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kahoot starts at $19/month.
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 Kahoot is typically brought in for.
What can Duolingo do that Kahoot cannot?
Duolingo covers 40+ languages, Gamification, Streaks, Leaderboards. Kahoot covers Quiz games, Surveys, Puzzles, Word clouds. Both handle Google Classroom, Web support, IOS support, Android support.

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
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
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
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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