Duolingo Max
Max is worth it for a learner who already finishes Duolingo lessons daily and wants to speak out loud without a tutor: Video Call is the one Duolingo feature that forces unscripted talking, and Roleplay fills the gap between drills and conversation. Anyone not yet consistent with the free app is paying for features they will not reach, and the price is only visible in the app, differs by country and sits well above Super.
Pros
- Video Call gives unscripted spoken conversation that adapts to your level, which the free and Super tiers lack
- Roleplay scenarios come with feedback on what you said, not just a right-or-wrong mark
- Everything in Super (no ads, unlimited hearts, practice mode) is included, so there is no separate upgrade
- Backed by a public company with a large, actively updated app on both mobile platforms
Cons
- The price is shown only in the app's shop and changes by region, so it cannot be compared before installing
- Video Call and Max purchases are mobile-only; the web app cannot sell or fully run the tier
- The AI features cover a subset of the 40-plus courses, so learners of smaller languages pay Max prices for Super features
- Billing runs through the App Store or Google Play, so refunds and cancellation follow Apple's or Google's rules