Preply vs Duolingo at a glance
| Preply | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Set by each tutor; from $3, average $21 per lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (preply.com/en/online/french-tutors) | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) |
| Levels | A1–C2 (beginner to advanced) | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) |
| Free to use | No (trial or sample only) | Yes, at least in part |
| Real-speed audio | Yes | No |
| Transcripts or subtitles | Not a feature | Not a feature |
| Taught in | French, English | English |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | A huge choice of tutors at every price; pick carefully. | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Which is cheaper?
Duolingo, because every course is free; Super is $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year (US App Store, checked 6 October 2026). On Preply each tutor sets their own price: from $3, with an average of $21 per lesson, on Preply's French tutor listings (checked 9 October 2026). If the first tutor is not a match, Preply lets you try two more for free.
Which is better for speaking?
Preply, by a long way. A tutor makes you answer questions you did not prepare for, which no app can do. Preply lists thousands of tutors for one-to-one video lessons. Duolingo's speaking exercises are short sentences you repeat to the app.
Which is better for beginners?
Duolingo, for the first weeks. Its bite-sized lessons give you words and simple sentences without any pressure. A tutor works from the first lesson too, but most beginners get more from a tutor once they know a few hundred words.
Which should you choose?
If you want to start today and pay nothing, choose Duolingo. If you have a trip, an exam or a job that needs you to speak, choose Preply and book a weekly lesson. If you are on a tight budget but want speaking practice, look for cheaper tutors and keep lessons short. If you are comparing tutor sites, see italki vs Preply.
Can you use both?
Yes, and it is a good combination: Duolingo every day for vocabulary and habit, one Preply lesson a week to use it. Bring Duolingo's topics to your lesson and ask your tutor to make you talk about them. For one language in detail, see Duolingo's French course for what it covers.
What neither does
Neither gives you long stretches of real speech between native speakers. Duolingo is built for learners, and tutors adjust their speed to you. Add podcasts or video with subtitles so your ear keeps up with your speaking. On Preply, quality varies a lot, so choose carefully and expect a nudge towards weekly subscriptions.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed audio | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preply | Set by each tutor; from $3, average $21 per lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (preply.com/en/online/french-tutors) | A1–C2 | Yes | A huge choice of tutors at every price; pick carefully. |
| Duolingo | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) | A1–B1 | No | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Read more
The full listings: Preply (website) and Duolingo (app). More like these: Apps to practice speaking a language.
Guides
- Is Duolingo free? What the free version gives you (2026)
- Duolingo French: how far it takes you, honestly
- How much is Duolingo? Super and Max prices (2026)
- Duolingo energy and hearts: how to keep learning without the limits
- Is Duolingo effective? What it teaches and what it skips
- How to get a Duolingo refund
- How to cancel Duolingo Super
- Preply French tutors: prices and how it works
- How to cancel Preply and get a refund
- Duolingo vs Pimsleur vs Rosetta Stone (2026)
- Duolingo vs Praktika vs Speak (2026)
- italki vs Lingoda vs Preply (2026)