Mondly vs Duolingo 2024: Which One to Choose?

Think like you are going out to buy something, and there are similar things of two different brands. In such a situation, what will you do? Start comparing the features. This is exactly what we should do when choosing a language-learning platform. We must compare them. As I have used many platforms, I know how each of them works. Thus, I am here with a comparison between Mondly vs Duolingo. If you are also planning to choose one of them, read the guide below and decide which is the better choice for you.

Mondly vs Duolingo: What are the differences?

Learning the differences is very important to compare two platforms. Thus, I have mentioned how the platforms are different from each other below-

1. Languages Offered

There is not much difference in the number of languages offered on both platforms. Mondly offers 41 languages, whereas Duolingo offers 40 language courses. However, some languages offered are different from each other. Below I am mentioning the languages offered on both platforms-

German	Korean	Turkish	Arabic	Portuguese
Russian	Japanese	Greek	Swedish	Hebrew
French	Spanish	Danish	Latin	Dutch
English	Hindi	Finnish	Norwegian	Romanian

Some of the languages offered by Mondly but are not available on Duolingo-

• Afrikaans
• Thai
• Bengali
• Tagalog
• Slovak

Some of the languages offered by Duolingo but are not available on Mondly-

• Navajo
• Yiddish
• Klingon
• Esperanto
• Swahili

2. Placement test 

When I started learning French with Duolingo, the test helped me check my fluency level. This test is known as the Duolingo placement test. As I had basic knowledge, I took the test. Though I was unsatisfied with the level it gave me, I took the unit test. But there was no such feature on Monday. I had to start from starting. 

3. Pricing

Both platforms have some free content to offer. But with every free thing, there are some limitations. To unlock them, it is important to take the subscription plan. For monthly there are two plans-

• Monthly (for a single language) 
• Annually (for single and 33 languages)

The cost of monthly plans is $9.99 per month. But for annually, the cost depends upon the number of languages. If you want to access only a single language, the price will be $47.99 ($4.00 per month). However, it increases to $479.99 for 33 languages. 

Note: Many times there is a 90% sale on the annual plan for 33 languages. The cost is reduced to an equal amount for an annual plan in a single language. Keep checking the platform. You may get lucky enough to get that discounted price.

Whereas, If I talk about Duolingo, the pricing is different. The subscription plan of Duolingo is known as Super Duolingo. There are two types of plans-

• Individual plan
• Family plan

In both the plans, the prices are different. For the family plan, there is only an annual subscription. However, for individual plans, it depends upon the duration of the plan. Below I have added the table for individual plans-

Duration of the plan	Pricing of the plan
Monthly	$12.99 a month
Annually	$6.99 a month

On the other hand, the price of the Family plan is $119.99.

How is the course created on Mondly?

Before going deep into the lessons, let me clear one thing, the course is not for the advanced level learners. The lessons are designed in a way to have a grasp on various elements of the language including grammar, vocabulary, and spoken elements. Duration for each lesson is very short i.e. 5-15 minutes each. It follows a particular path following different themes. All the lessons are split into bubbles. Each bubble represents a different element. After choosing an element, there is a wide range of lessons with various exercises.

One thing that I like about the lesson is the rating system. When I complete a lesson, there is a 3-star rating. Some lessons were uncleared to me. I could redo them of any element also. The lessons are created in a way that requires you to either choose the correct word or create the correct word.

A feature that I think is not that useful is sharing the progress on social media once you reach the right milestone. Of Course, it feels like an achievement, but sharing it on social media will not give any benefit. 

Another feature offered on it is daily lessons. They are a little bit different from the normal lessons. However, let me tell you that the vocabulary for all the languages is the same. I used this platform for French, German, and Russian. Trust me I got bored when I switched to Russian. The repetition of the vocabulary and the content made it boring for me.

How is the course created on Duolingo?

Duolingo is a platform created to learn a language engagingly. It follows the gamified approach to teaching a new language. The course follows a particular path which is divided into different sections. Each section is further divided into units, which are the compilation of sets of lessons. The lessons are very short, 10-15 minutes each, improving the focus level on the content. Every time, I complete a lesson, I earn the gems. The exercises included in each lesson are:

• Match the words
• Fill in the blanks
• Choose the right option
• Matching drills

Every course, from French to Hindi, follows a similar approach. Although the number of sections and units may differ, the path is the same. This path was earlier known as the Duolingo tree, which had some differences from it. At the end of each unit, there is a legendary level. These levels are like tests for the particular unit. To take this test, I had to use my gems. The gamification element of this platform makes it an interesting platform to learn the language. In addition to that, there are also Duolingo achievements and tests. However, trust me there is no need to focus on them much. Just go on with the course, and complete the lessons.

Quick Comparison

The following table shows a quick comparison between both platforms-

Features	Mondly	Duolingo
Placement test	No	Yes
Number of languages	41	40
Cost	$47.99 annually for single language	$83.88 annually for all the languages
Lesson duration	5-10 minutes	5-10 minutes
Approach followed	Spaced repetition	Gamified approach
Best for	Individuals	Individuals

What are the benefits and drawbacks of using Duolingo?

I am adding a table below to understand the pros and cons of using Duolingo-

Pros	Cons
It follows the gamified approach	It has very little grammar.
The platform is free to use	The heart system only gives 3 chances to make new mistakes.
Best for beginners	No content for advanced learners
Keeps motivated	Some teach irrelevant or hilarious and weird sentences
Helps in learning a lot of vocabulary and phrases

What are the benefits and drawbacks of using Mondly?

I am adding a table below to understand the pros and cons of using Mondly-

Pros	Cons
Teaching practical vocabulary	All the lessons are almost the same
Spaced repetition system	The interface is not very smooth
Provide courses for work professionals
Keeps motivated by providing weekly and monthly challenges
The subscription plan is not tht costly

Mondly vs Duolingo: Which one should you choose?

After using both platforms, one thing is confirmed, their main focus is on learning vocabulary. They do their job commendably. The styles of both platforms are the same but with little differences. Duolingo’s main aim is to serve the language learned freely. Thus, the while courses are free. But this is not the case for Mondly. Mondly offers free content, but not the whole content is free to use. The second thing according to me is the selection of the topics. Although the courses are created similarly, Mondly allowed me to choose the topic of my own choice. It was not an option on Duolingo. However, to skip the unit, I had to test the unit. 

The two of them are almost similar, you can choose any of them. But still, for your help, I would like to give two statements-

“Choose Mondly if“

You have no budget and want more practical phases. 

“Choose Duolingo if“

There is a tight budget and you want some engaging exercises. 

Alternatives of Mondly and Duolingo

Though both platforms are amazing in their own way, there are a lot of things they lack. Some of the important aspects are grammar, practicing, etc. To bridge the gap between both things, I am adding some alternatives to it-

1. Lingolia

This is an app that I always use to learn new grammar. It teaches language fully, but its main focus is on Grammar. I think using it can actually help you. I am a person who learns by understanding the concepts behind it. Learning the sentences without knowing the appropriate grammar, is a wastage for me. Thus, using this platform made my life easier.

2. Speaky

There are so many language exchange programs on the internet today. Tandem and HelloTalk are very popular platforms that offer this service. But there is another platform that I use sometimes, that is Speaky. Speaky works exactly like both of them. There is a translation and autocorrection tool on the platform. By using both platforms, I can communicate with other native people. Everything is the same, so why use it? It’s because speaking gave me people of my age. So, if you want to people of your age, try it. 

3. iTalki

iTalki is a popular name in the world of learning the language. It is a platform where I got so many tutors to teach me the language. I used it to learn Japanese and Italian from it. Some so many teachers helped me to learn them properly. They taught me basic vocabulary to grammar. Also, iTalki allowed me to take demo sessions on the platform. I love the platform because it provides me with the best teachers.

Conclusion

When there are two platforms, there is great confusion in selecting it. It happened with me for Mondly and Duolingo. But after using them, I know which platform is best for me. I am a person who loves to learn with fun. Duolingo is known for that. Thus, I prefer using it. Also, it provides a course for free, which makes it even better. On the other hand, if you want more practical vocabulary and are not on a budget, try Mondly. It also has a lot of flexibility in choosing topics.

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