How To Develop A Language Learning App Like Duolingo?

Ever thought of developing a language learning app like Duolingo? If yes, then this blog will be helpful for you. 

We believe you know about the Duolingo app but in case you don’t know about it. Then let us start with a little introduction of the Duolingo app.

Duolingo app is one of the best language learning apps, having 120 million users around the world. It offers to learn 19 distinct languages through its app. The app generated approximately $748 million in revenue in 2024, a 40.8% year-over-year increase, making it the highest-grossing language learning app worldwide.

Now, let us begin with further procedure of app development. 

Nowadays everything is available online, people are so conscious about going out. Schools are closed, restaurants are also not available for dining. Everything is taking place through apps like food delivery apps, e-Learning apps, logistic apps, etc. Then why not learn language through interactive apps?   

Through these apps, a person can groom himself better for interviews and jobs. As there are so many international companies establishing in different countries. They do require people who can communicate in their native language. Therefore people are also very keen to learn foreign languages and wish to go abroad.

The demand for language learning apps like Duolingo is high. If you are planning to develop such an app for your business, then start today with us.

About the Duolingo Business Model Canvas 

Here is the canvas of the Duolingo business model explaining all the necessary information: 

Duolingo is a diverse app with customers spanning different demographics. The platform focuses on language learners and individuals seeking to enhance their language skills. If you want to build an app like Duolingo or Babble, you should go through the above-mentioned business model to make an effective decision. 

Benefits of Language Learning App Development

Whenever we start any business we are curious to know what benefits we will get from it? Why would people like to use the app? Many such questions arise in our minds. In this particular section, we will see why you should develop an app like Duolingo and what benefits it will offer to the users. 

Firstly, educational apps like Duolingo are really in high demand because people are looking for an affordable yet creative way of learning a foreign language. And there can’t be anything more interactive than an online learning app like Duolingo. 

According to one report of Statista, globally Duolingo is appreciated by the users and there are more than 20 million downloads of the Duolingo App. These stats clearly show how much people are in love with educational apps like Duolingo.

Now let us see why users are showing so much interest in this app like Duolingo. The language learning apps are:

• Affordable
• Convenient
• Interactive
• On-demand Online Classes
• Easy Program Switching ( Can switch to another language )

Process of Developing An App Like Duolingo

Before developing an app, one should go through the points that are given below. You need to check every point before starting an app development business.

A step-wise guide is given below that will help you build an amazing app like Duolingo. These checkpoints are very important, don’t skip any step for the best app development results:

• 1. Select Your Budget

Let’s start with finance, you need to see how much you can invest in your project, and then according to that take the steps further. If you are taking loans from the bank then work as per that. 

Once you get the money, distribute the money for a separate app development process. Do not put all the money into the app development process. Later, you also need money for advertising and promotions.

So always remember that money management is very crucial in app development. You can talk to our market expert about the same, and he will help and guide you for the best.

• 2. Choose an App Development Company

Now, once you are done with money management, it is time to choose the best mobile app development company for your project. According to your money management plan or budget, decide on the company that will help you with your app development process. Like coding, designing, developing, testing, etc. 

• 3. Coding

After you select the mobile app development company, the developers will start working on the app development procedure.

They will start working on coding. This is done by the backend team. They form the structure of the app, and then it is tested by the qualified testers. 

The latest software and programming languages are used so that your app works smoothly and your users do not face any problems. 

• 4. Designing

The Design team creates images and layouts that can be seen by everyone who uses the app. It will help your app become more creative and interactive. 

Gamification and other features that we see in the app are due to these designers only. Make sure you hire qualified and experienced UI/UX designers for your app.

• 5. Testing

Testers test the app to make sure there are no bugs that can cause the malfunctioning of app. The testing of the app is very important. This process decides whether your app is ready for launch or not. Once testers approve the app and remove all the bugs or technical glitches from the app. Now the app is ready for the next step. 

• 6. Launching

Now decide the platform for your app launch. Make your app available on Google Play Store, from where users can download the app. It is very important to choose an appropriate platform for the app launch. 

You can also provide the links on some websites and other platforms, from where users can download your language learning app.

• 7. Promotion Of The App

Now comes the promotions and advertisement part. The advertisements and promotions of the app are important to make users aware of the app’s availability. If you do not promote the app then the users will not know about it. And app will not receive as much attention as you thought. 

Now, you know when and where you have to invest your money. So plan accordingly.

Features to Integrate Into An App Like Duolingo

To make your language learning app more interactive you need to add some relevant features to it. Below, we have mentioned a few features for your help. Read them carefully:

• 1. Sign-in

The very first feature will be “sign-in”. Just the way we sign in to Byju’s app or on other e-Learning apps like Coursera. Similarly, allow users to sign in with an app like Duolingo before they can start with any course or learning. 

Allow them to sign in through Gmail or FB for easy and quick processing.

• 2. Project Management 

Allow users to manage their profiles on your app through this profile management feature. With the help of this feature, the user can manage the online class activities and assignments. 

Just the way we save our favorite videos on e-Learning apps. Similarly, with the help of this feature users can also save the lectures or educational videos for later.

• 3.  Language Selection 

Allow users to select the language that they want to learn through your app.

With the help of this feature, they can select the course duration and the level of their language learning program. 

• 4. Course Selection

You can put everything in one feature, or you can separate things for users’ convenience.

With this course selection feature, users can register themselves for the language learning course as per their budget and interest.  

• 5. Gamification

Allow users to learn through some interactive games and videos. Gamification makes the app more creative and easier for learning. 

Whether your target audience is kids or adults, everyone likes fun learning. So, try to integrate this feature into your app like Duolingo.

• 6.  Online Revision Test 

This feature is absolutely important for making your language learning app more user-friendly. If a user wants to check his performance then, he can take the online revision test. Through this online test, the user can know about the areas where he is lacking and what they can do to improve.

• 7. Short Clips and Movies 

Provide short videos or clips in a different language, which the user can watch for learning. It will make your language learning app more interactive and fun.  

• 8. Provide Certificate

You can also collaborate with other institutes or educational centers to provide certificates to deserving students. This will make your app more user-friendly and trustworthy.

• 9. Payment 

Add different digital payment modes to your language learning app like Duolingo. If the user wants to pay for the subscription, then they can pay through these modes. 

This will help users make easy payments while accessing any premium services of your app.

Also read: How AI in Education is Transforming Learning: Benefits and Use Cases

How Does Duolingo Make Money?

Many businesses ask, “How to create a language learning app like Duolingo and monetize it,” but the answer is not that simple. The success of the Duolingo app depends on the revenue it generates. Here are some of the ways by which Duolingo makes money: 

• 1. Super Duolingo Subscription

One of the key ways revenue of the Duolingo app comes is through its Super Duolingo premium subscription plan. While anyone can enjoy learning on Duolingo for free, subscribing eliminates ads, provides unlimited “hearts” for mistakes by offering customized practice sessions. This enhances the learning experience for users by making it smoother and more motivating. Additionally, the subscription model ensures a steady stream of income for Duolingo from those eager for a premium experience.

• 2. Language Certification Tests

Another growing revenue stream comes from language certification tests. Duolingo created its own test, the Duolingo English Test (DET), which has gained global acceptance from thousands of universities and institutions. It’s cheaper and more accessible than traditional tests like TOEFL or IELTS. Each test comes with a fee, and with the rise of online education, this segment has become a strong contributor to Duolingo’s income.

• 2. Advertising Partnerships

If you are willing to develop a similar app like Duolingo and make money, then advertising partnerships are something you should consider. Duolingo shows ads in between lessons for users who stick with the free plan. These ads are short and non-intrusive, but when you multiply them across millions of learners, they generate significant revenue. It’s a clever way to make even the free users valuable without forcing them to pay.

• 4. Language for Business Solutions

The company also provides Language for Business solutions. Organizations looking to motivate their employees to pick up new languages can team up with Duolingo for structured training programs. This creates great opportunities for B2B revenue. Moreover, it also broadens Duolingo’s approach beyond just catering to individual learners.

• 5. In-App Purchases

Lastly, let’s talk about in-app purchases. While they might not be at the front like different revenue streams Duolingo. The app does offer users the chance to buy items like “gems” or streak freezes. These little extras can really enhance the learning experience and help keep motivation levels up. Even though these microtransactions might seem minor on their own, they can add up and create a significant revenue stream for the app.

Things to Consider While Developing An App Like Duolingo

When you start any business, always remember to check these points, which are given below. These pointers will help you to develop an app that will get the attention of the users immediately. 

• 1. Select Your Target Audience

Decide the audience for whom you want to develop the app. You need to decide whether you want to develop an app like Duolingo for kids or adults. 

If you start with the app development process without focusing on your target audience. Then you won’t be able to plan things properly.  

• 2. Advertisements and Promotions

Always remember that you have enough funds for the promotion of the app. Many big app development plans flopped because the owners were not able to make the right money management strategy and ended up with nothing. So, always remember that promotions and advertisements are an integral part of the app development process and one should always keep enough funds for this. 

• 3. Good Quality Video Streaming

When you are developing an app like Duolingo or any such educational app. You should always remember that the quality of your content and services is everything in your app. If the video quality of your app is not as per the user’s expectations, then you can never be able to get enough acknowledgment from the users. 

To handle this issue, you must hire the best mobile app experts who have worked on such projects. 

• 4. Qualified Teachers 

Language learning is not any fun; some people pursue these courses for their career too. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that the users of your app are learning from experts.

Allow qualified and highly professional teachers to register on your app. Good quality teachers can also be one of the salient features of your app that can attract more and more users.

What Technologies Are Required To Build A Language-Learning App?

When you create an app like Duolingo, you require tools and technologies that will make your app functional, scalable, and robust. Below, we have provided a table with tools and technologies that will help you develop a language learning app like Duolingo. 

Cost Required to Develop An App Like Duolingo

Although the cost required for developing such an educational app like Duolingo is high. It will cost somewhere between $20,000 to $1,80,000. This amount is directly proportional to the number of hours required for app development.

Below we have mentioned a table that can clear some of the cost-related queries. 

Well, if you are not willing to invest such a huge amount then you can also opt for other options like white-label app development. This process helps in reducing your app development cost and also helps you to start your business with a ready-made app. This is an advanced technology used for the next generation’s demands. To know more about the app development cost, you can directly contact us for more information.

A Comprehensive List of Language Apps like Duolingo 

The first step when opting to develop your own Duolingo-like app is studying your competitor. This information helps businesses to know what makes every app unique. Here is the list of the top 10 language learning apps like Duolingo:  

Final Thoughts

Many people want to work abroad, and for that, they need to learn the native language of that respective country or continent. Therefore, this is definite that people are excited to learn new foreign languages. But the foreign language learning offline programs are too expensive. That is why people search for affordable options. And other than online apps, there can’t be any options that are affordable yet interactive. 

So, if you are planning to develop an app like Duolingo, then start today with us. We have developed many educational apps like this before; therefore, you can completely trust us for your project. Call us today for a free demo.