So, how much is Duolingo Max? In the US app, it’s usually listed at $29.99 a month or $168 a year. The Max Family Plan runs about $239.99 a year. Those are the figures that show up most often in October 2026, but Duolingo doesn’t print them on its website. The price you actually pay is the one shown in the app’s Shop, and it can change by country, platform and even by account, since Duolingo says it runs small subscription tests from time to time.
Prices are only half the story, though. Max has changed a lot since it launched. One of its headline features is now free for everyone, and a couple of newer speaking tools have shown up. So this guide covers what you’ll pay, what the family plan really costs per person, what Max adds over Super Duolingo today, and whether it’s worth the money for the way you study.
How Much Does Duolingo Max Cost?
Prices are indicative US figures, not a guaranteed live quote. Actual prices and available plans may differ by region, platform, and account.
Here are the US prices reported across several recent reviews and price trackers, checked in October 2026:
| Plan | Price (US) | Effective monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo Max, monthly | $29.99 per month | $29.99 |
| Duolingo Max, annual | $168 per year | $14.00 |
| Super Duolingo, monthly (for comparison) | about $12.99 per month | $12.99 |
| Super Duolingo, annual (for comparison) | about $84 per year | about $7.00 |
One note before you plan around any of this. Duolingo doesn’t publish Super, Max or Family Plan prices on its own site. So every number above comes from what people saw in the US app, not from an official price page. Call it a good estimate, then confirm in the app before you pay.
The gap between monthly and annual billing is huge. Pay month to month and twelve months of Max comes to $359.88. Pay for the year up front and it’s just $168. That saves you about $192, a bit over half. Divide $168 by 12 and you get $14 a month. But that’s the “effective” price, not what you’d pay one month at a time. You’d have to put down the full $168 at once.
So the annual plan only makes sense if you’re sure you’ll keep going. Not sure? A single month at $29.99 is a cheap way to test the speaking features. Just cancel before it renews.
Want your own price? Open the Duolingo app, tap the Super or Max banner, and look at the subscription screen. That’s the real number for your country and device. Prices in the UK, Canada, Australia and the EU are different from the US ones, so don’t assume the dollar figures apply to you.
How Much Is the Duolingo Max Family Plan?
Reports put the Max Family Plan at around $239.99 a year in the US. It covers you plus up to five other people, so six learners in total, and each person keeps their own account, streak and progress. You’re not all sharing one login.
The math is where the family plan gets interesting:
- With six people using it, $239.99 works out to about $40 per person per year, or around $3.33 a month each.
- With four people, it’s $60 each.
- With two people, it’s $120 each, which still beats the $168 individual annual price.
So the family plan starts paying off as soon as a second person joins. The catch is simple: the savings only exist if the other people actually use it. If you’re the only one who’d open the app, the family plan is just a more expensive way to buy Max.
Be careful with prices you find online, because the family plans get mixed up a lot. The Super Family Plan costs about $119.99 a year, and some sites list that number next to the Max name. If you see $119.99, that’s almost certainly Super, not Max. Check the plan name on the screen before you confirm.
Also check that every member can use the Max features in their own language course. Not every course gets them, and family members often study different languages.
What Is Duolingo Max?
Duolingo Max is the top paid tier of the app. It sits above Super Duolingo, which means you get everything Super offers, mostly ad-free practice and fewer limits on lessons, plus a set of AI-powered speaking tools built on OpenAI technology. When Duolingo first announced Max, it was pitched as a new subscription tier that adds AI features on top of Super.
The important point is what Max doesn’t do. It doesn’t add new lessons or a different course. You get the same path as everyone else. What you’re paying for is conversation practice with an AI character, which is something the regular lessons can’t give you.
One more practical detail: Max is sold only inside the iOS and Android apps. You can’t buy it on the website.
What AI Features Does Duolingo Max Include?
Here’s what Max offers right now, and what it doesn’t anymore.
Roleplay
Say you open Roleplay. You’re dropped into a chat with a character, right inside the app. Nothing fancy, just everyday stuff. Ordering food. Asking someone for directions. A bit of small talk about a trip. Reply however you like, typed or spoken out loud. Once you’re done, you get feedback on how accurate your answers were, plus a few tips for next time. Where do the scenarios come from? Humans write the starting ones. From there, the AI handles the back and forth.
It’s useful if you can read and write a little but get stuck when a conversation moves in a direction you didn’t plan for. It’s less useful if you want to pick your own topics, since the scenarios are set for you.
Video Call with Lily and Falstaff
Video Call is the speaking feature most people are paying for. You talk out loud to an AI character called Lily, who answers in real time. Lily remembers what you talked about last time and leaves you a transcript afterward.
There’s also a newer coached version with a character called Falstaff, a gruff but friendly bear. Video Call with Falstaff is built around guided coaching for beginners, so it walks you through what to say instead of leaving you to wing it. It launched for Max subscribers on iOS, and Duolingo has said guided calls and free-flowing calls will eventually appear in each section of the course.
Which languages get Video Call? Honestly, it depends on who you ask and when you ask. Duolingo’s own materials list several major languages. Some independent reviews, though, say the calls only cover English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese right now. So don’t guess. Open your specific course in the app and look for the video call icon. See it? You’re good. Don’t? Then wait before you pay.
Explain My Answer and other learning tools
This is the part that has changed the most. Explain My Answer, the feature that tells you why an answer was right or wrong, started out as a Max exclusive. Duolingo made it free for all learners, and it became available to everyone in January 2026, starting on iOS and rolling out to other platforms.
That matters because plenty of articles still list it as a reason to upgrade. It isn’t one anymore. If you’re reading a Max review that leads with Explain My Answer, check the date. It’s probably out of date.
Duolingo Max vs Super Duolingo: What’s the Difference?
Here’s how the two paid tiers compare today:
| Super Duolingo | Duolingo Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical US price | about $12.99/month or about $84/year | $29.99/month or $168/year |
| Ads | No | No |
| Unlimited energy or hearts | Yes (may vary by account) | Yes (may vary by account) |
| Mistake review and practice | Yes | Yes |
| Explain My Answer | Free for everyone | Free for everyone |
| Roleplay | No | Yes |
| Video Call with Lily | No | Yes |
| Video Call with Falstaff | No | Yes (iOS first) |
| Best for | A smooth, ad-free daily habit | Learners who want speaking practice |
In plain terms, Super is about making the app nicer to use. Max is about talking. If you mostly want to study without interruptions, Super already gives you that. If your problem is freezing up when you need to speak, that’s the gap Max is trying to fill.
Annual prices make the difference clear. At roughly $84 for Super and $168 for Max, you’re paying about $84 more a year for the speaking tools. A small side note: Duolingo has also been testing Video Call access for some Super subscribers, so check what your Super offer includes before you upgrade.
Is Duolingo Max Worth It?
It depends on what you’re trying to fix. Here’s how it breaks down for different learners.
You want a daily vocabulary habit. Skip Max. The regular lessons, plus Super if ads and limits bother you, will do the job. Max adds no new lessons.
You freeze when you have to speak. This is the one group that might benefit. Practicing out loud with a patient AI that never judges you can lower the pressure, and AI speaking and pronunciation practice tools work on the same idea. It helps most if you’ll use it most days and your language is supported.
You’re a casual learner. Probably not. At $168 a year, you’d be paying for tools you may open twice a month.
You want real conversation and correction. Be honest about what AI can and can’t do. An AI partner will make mistakes sometimes, and it can’t match a human tutor who notices patterns, pushes back and adjusts to you. Many reviewers also point out that the conversation quality is similar to free AI chat tools, which is worth knowing before you spend.
You have a family. Then the math changes. At $40 a head for six people, Max gets far easier to justify.
The simplest test? Try it for one month at $29.99 and see how often you actually make a call. Using it several times a week? Then the annual plan will pay for itself. Opened it only twice? You’ve just saved yourself $138. And if keeping the habit going is the hard part, these tips for online learning that actually work can help.
How to Get Duolingo Max
Open the Duolingo app on your iPhone or Android device and tap the subscription banner, or go to the Shop. If Max is available for your account, you’ll see it there with the price for your region. You can’t buy it from the website.
Before paying, check three things: that Max shows up in your country, that your language course includes Video Call or Roleplay, and that your device supports it.
As for getting it for free, there’s no standard free version of Max. What you can do is use the free Duolingo plan, which now includes Explain My Answer, and take any free trial the app offers to your account. Trial offers vary, and some sources say Max trials aren’t always available, so only count on one if you can see it on your screen. Be careful with third-party sites selling cheap “family slots” or hacks. They’re not official, and you risk losing your account.
Frequently Asked Questions About Duolingo Max
How much is Duolingo Max per month?
In the US it’s usually $29.99 a month. Check the Shop in your app for your exact price.
How much does Duolingo Max cost per year?
About $168 a year in the US, which works out to $14 a month.
How much is the Duolingo Max family plan?
Around $239.99 a year in the US for you plus up to five others. With all six seats used, that’s roughly $40 per person.
Is Duolingo Max more expensive than Super Duolingo?
Yes. Super is about $12.99 a month or $84 a year, while Max is $29.99 a month or $168 a year. The extra cost buys the AI speaking features.
Is Duolingo Max worth it?
It’s worth it if you want speaking practice, use a supported language, and will make calls regularly. If you just want ad-free lessons, Super is enough.
What is included in Duolingo Max?
Everything in Super, plus Roleplay and Video Call with Lily. A coached Falstaff call is also available for some learners. Explain My Answer is now free for everyone.
How do you get Duolingo Max?
Subscribe inside the iOS or Android app. It can’t be bought on the web.
Can you get Duolingo Max for free?
Not as a standard option. You can use the free plan or any trial your account is offered, but don’t rely on unofficial sellers.
What happened to Duolingo Max?
Duolingo Max is still available. Some features have changed over time: Explain My Answer is now free for eligible learners, while newer features such as Falstaff have been added. Availability varies by language course, device and account, so if you cannot see Max in your app, it may not be offered to you yet.Copy replacement
Is Duolingo Max available on Android and iPhone?
It’s sold in both the iOS and Android apps. Some newer features, like Video Call with Falstaff, launched on iOS first, so Android users may see them later.
Final Verdict
Duolingo Max pricing depends on your country, device, and subscription offer. Reported US prices have included around $29.99 per month or $168 per year for an individual plan, while the Family Plan has been listed at around $239.99 per year. These figures should be treated as a guide rather than guaranteed current prices. Before subscribing, check the price shown in the Duolingo app, along with the billing period and renewal terms.
