Memrise vs Duolingo: Which Language Learning App is Better?
Maria Claudia Alvarado
Published on August 8, 2023
Langoly is supported by our readers. We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions if you buy through links on this page. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
If you are learning a new language, you might be looking for the best app to get you started. There are lots of apps you can use to study a language, but Duolingo and Memrise are amongst the few that offer most of their content for free. Between the two, if you want an app that can effectively increase your vocabulary with interactive exercises and different review tools, Memrise is the way to go.
Editor’s Choice
Memrise and Duolingo are both popular language-learning apps that you can use to learn the basics of a new language. They don’t have exhaustive language programs, but they have similar, trivia-like features to make your learning journey fun. But there are some key differences. In this article, we will look at the pros and cons of each so you can make the right choice for your language goals.
Duolingo vs Memrise: A Quick Breakdown
Memrise and Duolingo are apps that you can use to study the basics of the language you’re learning, but they have some key differences. While Memrise is mainly a flashcard app, each lesson comes with videos and audio voiced by native speakers to ensure you listen to natural pronunciation and different accents. Memrise also has a chatbot that uses AI to simulate all kinds of scenarios and interactions with native speakers.
Duolingo has more gamified elements, points you can collect when you complete a lesson, challenges, competitions, and more. It has a longer list of available languages including some endangered and fictional ones, but many learners have reported running into mistranslations in their Duolingo lessons.
The table below shows you a direct comparison of Duolingo and Memrise based on the languages, subscription prices, and free trials they offer.
| Duolingo | Memrise |
|---|---|
| 39 languages | 30 languages |
| $12.99/month | $59.99/month |
| 14-day free trial | Limited daily use of premium features |
 | |
Memrise vs Duolingo: Cost Comparison
Duolingo’s language courses are available for free but you need to purchase a Super Duolingo subscription (formerly Duolingo Plus) if you want to be able to make unlimited mistakes and get rid of the ads. A Super Duolingo subscription costs $12.99 per month, or $83.99 ($6.99 per month) with a yearly subscription. You can also get a Family Plan for $119.99 per year ($9.99 per month) and share your subscription with family and friends. You can try Super Duolingo with a 14-day free trial.
Memrise has a lot of content to teach you the language you want to learn for free. But, if you want unlimited access to all its content, you need to buy a subscription. A Memrise Pro subscription costs $59.99 per month, $117.99 per year ($9.83 per month), or you can get lifetime access to the app for a one-time payment of $324.99.
Since both apps offer some of their content for free, you don’t really need to buy a subscription to either. Duolingo’s subscription doesn’t offer much value beyond being able to make unlimited mistakes and getting rid of the annoying ads. Even though Memrise is more expensive, I think its subscription can offer you more if you want to focus on the conversational aspect of your target language. What you can study for free on the courses developed by Memrise is quite limited without a subscription.
If you don’t feel like either of these apps is a good fit for you, don’t worry. There are still many other options that can help you reach your language goal. Here are three similar recommendations:
Duolingo vs Memrise: How They Work
Memrise and Duolingo are useful apps that can help you learn a lot of new words quickly. They both use interactive tools and gamified exercises as well as a spaced repetition system to make sure you retain what you learn. However, Memrise has features that can add more value to your study routine, like videos, a chatbot, and different scenarios. With Duolingo, you complete tasks and challenges, and compete with your friends to make your learning journey more entertaining.
Check out the table below to see how both apps rate across the web:
| Reviews | Duolingo | Memrise |
|---|---|---|
| Langoly | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| Apple Store | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Google Play | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Trust Pilot | 1.6 | 3.0 |
| Average Score | 3.6 | 4.1 |
How Duolingo Works
Duolingo is well-known as a free way to learn a language. It’s a gamified app that motivates you in your learning journey. Each lesson is quick and uses a mix of fill-in-the-blank and mix-and-match exercises to introduce new vocabulary topics like greetings, family members, ordering food, etc. Duolingo also includes audio and voice recognition tools to help you become familiar with the language, and develop your listening and speaking skills.
You can win points every time you complete a lesson, track your progress, and compete with your friends on the Leaderboard, just like in a videogame. Duolingo gives you five “hearts” (chances to make mistakes) for free, but if you run out you will have to wait for them to fill to continue practicing. There are also additional learning tools available you can use to study, like stories, daily and weekly challenges, and podcasts.
The Duolingo app also has premium features like unlimited hearts once you subscribe to Super Duolingo. If you want to learn more about the app, you can read this complete Duolingo review.
How Memrise Works
Memrise is a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to teach you a new language. Once you choose your level of language, you can begin learning sentences and phrases for all the scenarios available at that level. Then, you can visit the Review tab to practice what you learned or watch videos or speak with the chatbot to test your skills.
The app also has different scenarios available, which are vocabulary lists with words and phrases related to topics like basics, education, health, travel, and more. Each lesson includes video and audio voiced by native speakers to teach you the correct pronunciation for each word and how different speakers pronounce it. Memrise has structured courses, so you need to complete the scenarios available before you move to the next level.
Memrise also has an extensive video library. You can browse for videos that use the words and phrases you have learned, and watch them to test your skills. Or, if you want to practice speaking and writing, Memrise has a chatbot that mimics a conversation with a native speaker in common scenarios like ordering a coffee, meeting someone, or asking for local tips. But, keep in mind that Memrise lessons don’t include any explanations of how to apply grammar. You can read our complete Memrise review to learn more about the app.
Duolingo: Pros and Cons
Duolingo’s goal to make language learning accessible to everyone around the globe has made it one of the most popular apps for beginners. Its gamified approach and interactive tools can make using the app addictive and motivate you to keep learning vocabulary. Duolingo’s competitive features like the Leaderboard, daily and weekly challenges, and quests can make your learning experience more dynamic and fun.
There are 39 languages available, which include some endangered languages like Guaraní, Navajo, and Scottish Gaelic. You can also use Duolingo to learn fictional languages like Klingon and High Valyrian to immerse in your favorite fictional worlds. Most apps don’t offer such a large variety of languages as Duolingo, which definitely distinguishes it from other alternatives.
But, many users have reported having issues with mistranslations and unnatural language in Duolingo’s courses. While Duolingo can help you learn a lot of vocabulary quickly, some of the phrases it makes you learn can be useless for daily situations you might encounter as a beginner. The frequency with which you can run into a mistranslated phrase can also make Duolingo feel like an unreliable source to study a new language, which is sad considering the amount of free content it offers.
Duolingo has a set lesson plan that doesn’t let you pick what to study next. You can take a test to jump to the next unit but, if you fail, you will be stuck until you complete the lessons or get all the answers in the test right. Overall, it doesn’t seem like it would be of much help for more advanced language students.
Memrise: Pros and Cons
The Memrise app is a great place to start learning a language like a game. It uses flashcards and spaced repetition to teach you the meaning of words. Each flashcard comes with video and audio by different native speakers, which helps you listen to how different people pronounce the vocabulary. This way, you get used to different accents and won’t have to struggle to understand what’s being said.
And, if you want to focus on your conversational skills, Memrise also has a chatbot that you can write or talk to. You can choose which scenario you want to roleplay and the chatbot gives you a question to start the conversation. What’s great about this chatbot is that it can provide feedback on your skills. Or, if you’re struggling to find what to say, it has suggested responses to keep the conversation going. I think this is a friendly way for beginners to practice using their new language skills in real life.
But, I couldn’t overlook the fact that grammar is almost completely missing from the Memrise language courses. While I understand that Memrise focuses on vocabulary, I also think that teaching some grammar is necessary for learners to understand how to communicate. Otherwise, you’re simply memorizing phrases.
Another area of improvement is the videos available in the video section. Unlike the videos that come in the flashcards, these are meant to help you test your comprehension skills. The problem is that most of them last less than a minute, which makes them quite easy to understand. If you’re already at an intermediate level of language, these videos might not be too useful for you.
Which Language Learning App is Better? Memrise or Duolingo
Memrise and Duolingo are both good apps to learn a language for free. They both have a gamified approach to learning and multiple languages available on their platforms. However, when it comes down to features, I would recommend using Memrise over Duolingo.
Duolingo uses many game-like features like collecting points, challenges, and quests, but has had many issues with unnatural language and mistranslated words over the years. It also can’t provide feedback for your language skills and lacks the video and audio elements that Memrise offers.
Memrise is similar but its courses are better at using natural language, closer to what you would hear in daily life. Its chatbot adds a lot of value to the app, especially if you’re starting to test your conversational skills and need feedback. I also like that you can choose which scenario you want to learn and practice because you can focus on the language you want to learn rather than studying random topics. If you’re looking for an app that teaches you the language you’re going to need for a conversation, Memrise is the more convenient option.
Memrise and Duolingo: FAQ
Depending on your language goals, many apps can be better than Duolingo. Babbel and Mondly have comprehensive courses that can help you work on your vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking skills. You can also use authentic language resources like videos, podcasts, and news articles to develop a more natural understanding of the language.
You can use Memrise to learn vocabulary quickly, but you might need to use other language resources if your goal is to become fluent. Memrise has audio and voice recognition tools you can use to practice pronouncing words and phrases, but it won’t teach you grammar. If becoming fluent is your goal, I’d recommend combining Memrise with other resources.
Memrise is a great tool for learning the basics of a language, but it has some disadvantages. One area of improvement is that it lacks grammar explanations. Mondly and Rocket Languages are good alternatives that teach you basic grammar.
Duolingo is better for you if you are a casual learner and want a gamified learning experience. However, if you want to focus on learning to communicate quickly, Memrise is better for you.
