Duolingo (Max) vs Busuu
Duolingo is gamified self-study; Busuu adds structured courses plus feedback from a community of native speakers.
The verdict — For gamified habit, Duolingo; for structured learning with human correction, Busuu. Both have free tiers, so trying both costs nothing.
| Tool | Curriculum | Language | Price | Device | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo (Max)United States | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Freemium; Super Duolingo and higher 'Max' tiers |
| BusuuUnited Kingdom | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Freemium subscription + B2B |
Checked for a student in the United States, from each maker’s own facts: ✓ fits · ~ partly · ✕ doesn't fit · – no exam claimed · ? not verified · – bought by schools. How it’s worked out
Independence: our publisher builds learning products too. We never review or score its products, and no tool pays to be listed or to rank higher — how we assess fit.
Where Duolingo (Max) wins
Duolingo: the most gamified and habit-forming, with a strong free tier and the widest language range.
Where Busuu wins
Busuu: structured courses combined with real correction from native speakers and AI conversation — closer to how you actually use a language.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Busuu have native speaker feedback?
- Yes — that community correction is Busuu's distinctive feature, alongside its AI conversation practice; Duolingo's practice is AI/roleplay-based without the native-speaker community.