Duolingo Max

What it is

Duolingo Max is the top subscription tier of the Duolingo language-learning app. Duolingo launched it in March 2023 as a tier above Super Duolingo, built on OpenAI's GPT-4. Max includes everything in Super (no ads, unlimited energy and personalised review in the Practice Hub) and adds AI speaking practice on top.

The tier is changing in 2026. Explain My Answer, the AI grammar explanation that started as a Max feature, became free for all learners on 1 January 2026. Duolingo's February 2026 shareholder letter said the company would move Video Call into Super Duolingo and "experiment with changes" to Max. By August 2026 most new Super subscribers had Video Call, and Duolingo said existing Super subscribers would get it later in the year.

Key features

• Video Call: a spoken conversation with Lily, one of the app's characters. She usually opens with a topic you just studied, answers in real time and remembers what you talked about on earlier calls. A transcript is available after you hang up.
• Roleplay: scripted real-world scenarios with other Duolingo characters, such as ordering coffee in Paris or planning a holiday. They sit alongside the learning path as side quests that earn XP. Afterwards the AI gives feedback on how accurate and complex your answers were. Humans write the scenarios and opening messages, and learners can report AI mistakes from inside the chat.
• Explain My Answer: no longer a Max-only feature. It is now free in most Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian and Korean courses.

Who it's for

Max is aimed at English speakers who already use Duolingo daily and want speaking practice on top of tap-and-type exercises. Coverage depends on the course. Duolingo's launch post (last updated in March 2026) says that learners of Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese get both Video Call and Roleplay, while Japanese, Korean and Chinese learners get Video Call. Max runs on the iOS and Android apps and was available in 188 countries at the time of that post. If you only want Video Call, check first whether your Super plan already includes it.

Pricing

Duolingo is free to use. Super Duolingo and Duolingo Max are paid subscriptions, sold in the app. Duolingo does not publish Max prices on a public web page, and prices vary by country, so check the app for current local pricing (October 2026). The App Store listing offers a 14-day free trial of Super Duolingo.