Preply vs Duolingo: Which Is Better for Learning a Language? From a Real User
Looking to learn a new language Preply or Duolingo? I’ve used Preply to learn French, and Duolingo casually for French & German. Here’s my honest take on which one is better depending on your goals.
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If you’ve ever opened Duolingo with the best intentions, kept a streak going for a few weeks, and then panicked the second someone actually spoke to you in another language in real life…same.
Oui oui! (How far my French actually went on my first trip).
I’ve used Duolingo casually for French and German over the years, and I’ve used Preply for learning French over the last six months.
As someone who travels often around Europe, lives in London and has spent years dipping in and out of language learning—from French at school to Mandarin while living in China—I completely understand the appeal of a quick, free learning app.
But when it comes to Preply vs Duolingo, I don’t actually think they need to be enemies.
Duolingo is helpful for building a daily habit, learning vocabulary and making a new language feel less intimidating. Preply is better if your real goal is speaking, confidence, feedback and actually using the language in real life.
In other words, Duolingo can help you start. Preply can help you improve.
Shall we?
About the Author
Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.
On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.
P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.
Preply vs Duolingo: The Quick Answer
For most serious language learners, I think Preply is the better choice because it gives you access to real tutors, live speaking practice and personalised feedback.
Duolingo is still useful, especially if you’re a beginner or you want a free way to build a language learning habit.
But if your goal is to speak Spanish before a trip, improve your French pronunciation, get more confident in German, or work towards fluency, a tutor will usually get you further than app exercises alone.
The best setup, in my opinion?
Use Preply as your main language learning structure and Duolingo as a supplement between lessons.
My Experience Using Preply and Duolingo
Personally, I’ve used both platforms in different ways and have experience in both. Here’s my honest thoughts.
I used Duolingo casually for French and German and it is beyond easy to open the app, do a few lessons and feel like I’d done something productive.
I liked the low-pressure format, especially when I was just trying to familiarise myself with words, sentence patterns and basic grammar.
But I never felt like Duolingo alone made me ready to have a real conversation.
Preply felt different from the first lesson because I had to actually speak.
My weekly French lesson on Preply!
With my French tutor, I wasn’t just tapping through answers or translating sentences on my own.
I was introducing myself, getting corrected, hearing natural pronunciation, asking questions and practising the kind of language I’d actually need while travelling.
That made the experience more intimidating at first, but also much more useful.
What Is Preply?
Preply is an online tutoring platform that connects language learners with one-to-one tutors.
Instead of following the exact same path as every other user, you choose a tutor based on the language you want to learn, your level, your goals, your budget, your availability and the kind of learning style you prefer.
For example, one person might use Preply to learn Spanish for travel. Another might need English tutoring for work. Someone else might want French conversation practice before moving abroad, or German lessons to speak with their partner’s family.
That’s what makes Preply feel more personal than most language learning apps. Your tutor can adjust the lesson around what you actually need.
What Is Duolingo?
Duolingo is a (very popular) language learning app known for short, gamified lessons.
The app makes it easy to start learning a language without committing to lessons, a course or a big upfront cost.
You can practise reading, writing, listening and some speaking through quick exercises, and the streak system does make language learning feel more addictive.
For beginners, casual learners or anyone who wants a free way to start, Duolingo can be genuinely helpful.
The limitation is that it’s still an app. Even with speaking exercises and newer AI features, it doesn’t fully recreate the experience of speaking to a real person who can hear your mistakes, understand your goals and adapt the lesson in real time.
Preply vs Duolingo: Quick Comparison
| Category | Preply | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Serious language learning, speaking practice, tutoring, accountability | Beginners, casual learning, vocabulary, daily habit-building |
| Learning style | One-to-one lessons with real tutors | App-based exercises and gamified lessons |
| Speaking practice | Live conversation with a tutor | Speaking exercises and some AI-supported practice |
| Personalisation | High—your tutor can tailor lessons to your goals | More structured around the app’s course path |
| Cost | Paid tutoring, with tutor prices varying | Free option available, with paid upgrades |
| Accountability | Strong, because lessons are scheduled | Mostly self-led |
| Best use | Main learning method | Supplement between lessons |
Where Preply Is Better Than Duolingo
The biggest difference for me is in the speaking.
With Duolingo, you can complete a lesson without ever really having to hold a conversation. With Preply, speaking is literally the whole point.
That matters because language learning isn’t only about knowing words. It’s about being able to pull those words together when someone is waiting for you to respond (as I’ve humbly learned in Paris…).
That’s the part I’ve always found hardest with French and Duolingo. I can recognise more than I can confidently say. I can understand a menu, read signs and remember random vocabulary, but when it’s time to speak out loud, my brain suddenly wants to leave the building.
Using Preply helped because I had to practise that exact skill.
A tutor can correct your pronunciation, explain why a sentence sounds unnatural and help you practise the situations you actually care about.
For me, that means travel French: ordering food, checking into hotels, asking questions, making small talk and not immediately switching back to English out of panic. That’s difficult for a learning app to recreate properly.
Speaking my best French in Paris!
Where Duolingo Is Still Useful
I don’t think Duolingo is pointless at all.
For a free learning app, it’s a nice way to keep a language in your day without overthinking it. I especially like it for casual German practice because it lowers the barrier to doing something, even on a busy day.
That matters because consistency is one of the hardest parts of learning.
Duolingo can help with:
- basic vocabulary
- sentence structure
- daily repetition
- listening and reading practice
- getting comfortable with a language before lessons
But I’d see it as a supporting tool, not the full plan.
If you’re using Duolingo and wondering why you still don’t feel confident speaking, I don’t think that means you’ve failed. It probably means you need a different kind of practice.
Preply vs Duolingo Cost: Which Is Better Value?
Duolingo wins if your main priority is cost because it has a free version. That makes it very easy to start.
Preply costs more because you’re paying for real tutoring time. Tutors set their own rates, so the final cost depends on who you choose, how often you take lessons and your learning goals.
But I’d think about value slightly differently.
If you only want to casually learn a few words before a trip, Duolingo may be enough.
If you want to improve your speaking, build confidence and get feedback from someone who can actually hear what you’re doing wrong, Preply is likely better value because the learning experience is much more targeted.
That’s especially true if you’re someone who needs accountability. I can easily (and do) ignore an app notification. It’s much harder to ignore a scheduled lesson with an actual tutor.
Can Duolingo Make You Fluent?
I wouldn’t rely on Duolingo alone to become fluent to be very honest with you.
That doesn’t mean Duolingo is bad. It’s just fluency usually needs more than app practice, you need listening, speaking, feedback, correction, repetition, confidence and real conversation.
Duolingo can support some of that, especially at beginner level. But if your goal is to speak naturally with other people, I’d add a tutor, conversation practice or another real-world speaking method as soon as possible.
This is where Preply comes in.
Is Preply Good for Beginners?
Absolutely, as long as you choose your tutor carefully I’d say.
When I booked my first Preply lesson, I wanted someone who could make French feel approachable rather than terrifying. And I did!
Make sure to look for tutor profiles that mention ‘beginner lessons’, ‘conversation practice’, travel language or structured learning plans. Reviews also help because you can see what other students say about the tutor’s teaching style.
My trial lesson with my French tutor Céline!
The trial lesson is super useful for this. You can explain your goals, see how the tutor teaches and decide whether the fit feels right before continuing.
Who Should Use Preply?
I’d recommend Preply if you:
- want to get better at speaking a new language, not just knowing more vocabulary
- feel nervous using a language out loud
- need structure and accountability
- are learning for travel, work, relocation or family reasons
- want personalised feedback
- have already tried apps and feel stuck
- want a tutor who can adapt to your level
It’s especially useful if you’re the kind of learner who knows more than you can speak. That’s where live tutoring can make a real (and amazing) difference.
Final Verdict: Is Preply Better Than Duolingo?
For serious language learning, yes, I think Preply is better than Duolingo.
Not because Duolingo is useless, but because Preply focuses on the part of language learning that many people struggle with most…
…actually speaking.
After using Preply for French and Duolingo casually for German, my honest take is this:
Duolingo is great for keeping a language warm and in your head.
Preply is better for making progress you can feel in real conversations.
If your goal is to learn a few words, keep a streak and make language learning feel fun, Duolingo is a nice place to start.
But if your goal is to improve your speaking, get feedback and feel more confident using a language in real life, I’d choose Preply.
Happy learning,
Candace x
I hope this has inspired you to pick up your language learning journey. If you have any more questions about Preply or how my progress is going —feel free to say hello over on Instagram.
CHECK OUT MORE language learning & TRAVEL GUIDES:
- Preply Review (2026): Does 1:1 Tutoring Actually Work? (From a Real User)
- How to Do a Solo Trip from London to Paris
- 10 Unique Ways to Learn Chinese
- Rome Solo Trip: Your Ultimate Guide for 2026
- How to Do a Trip to Malaga, Spain
Happy travels,
