Online language learning platform Duolingo announced on Wednesday that it will make advanced language learning content previously only available to paying subscribers free to all users, covering nine languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Users can access relevant courses through the web and iOS and Android clients.
The advanced content opened this time corresponds to the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which is widely recognized by schools and employers and is used to measure learners’ language proficiency. B2 level learning materials emphasize breaking away from the translation environment and helping learners understand and express themselves in real contexts through complex situations and more professional vocabulary training. Duolingo said that this means that free users have the opportunity to move further from basic communication skills to the level of "independent users".
The newly provided content will include features such as “Advanced Stories” to strengthen reading comprehension; it will also provide DuoRadio, a podcast-like audio experience to help users improve listening comprehension. With these tools, users can train around more complex language situations, such as preparing for a job interview, planning to study abroad, or trying to read news reports, watch videos, and read books without relying on a translator.
Duolingo says it will be the only app to still offer free learning paths at advanced levels in the nine languages mentioned above. In contrast, although competitors such as Babbel and Busuu also offer advanced courses aligned with CEFR, most of them require a subscription fee to fully use them. For example, Busuu also provides courses up to B2 level, but the free version has obvious limitations in the number of courses and functions. It does not include detailed grammar explanations and other contents. If users want to learn completely, they still need to upgrade to a paid account.
Before this adjustment, Duolingo's free courses were usually capped at the A2 or B1 level, focusing mainly on basic communication in daily scenarios, and it was difficult to systematically cover higher-level language use abilities. The company emphasizes that making premium content available for free will, on the one hand, extend users’ learning paths on the platform. On the other hand, it also hopes to strengthen its differentiated positioning in the language learning market by improving the overall depth of learning.
Duolingo also positioned this initiative as a tool to help job seekers improve their competitiveness, trying to more closely bind language learning with employment prospects. The company pointed out that in the context of slowing growth and increasingly fierce competition in the global labor market, mastering a second language is regarded as a realistic path to improve job search advantages. Research from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages shows that learning a second language can improve an individual’s chances of employment by up to 50 percent.
Bozena Pajak, head of learning science at Duolingo, said in a statement that in the past, achieving work-appropriate foreign language proficiency often required years of expensive courses or immersive learning experiences, which was too high a barrier for many. By making advanced courses free, the company hopes to reduce the cost of learning and allow more people to approach "work-ready" levels through online learning.
From a commercial perspective, this move is also seen as a strategy for Duolingo to continue to expand its free user base. In the latest fourth quarter financial report of 2025, Duolingo disclosed that its daily active users have reached 52.7 million, a year-on-year increase of 30%, which is significantly higher than its 12.2 million paid subscription users. However, Duolingo's stock price fell under pressure after the company expected a slight slowdown in year-on-year booking revenue growth in the second quarter of 2026, indicating that the market is still waiting to see its strategy of "prioritizing user growth rather than short-term monetization".
Duolingo clearly hopes that by lengthening the learning life cycle of free users and enhancing the depth of learning and sense of achievement, it can drive users to convert to paid subscriptions and other value-added services in the long term. In the context of widespread homogeneity of language learning products and increasingly diversified charging models, how to strike a balance between expanding user coverage and achieving sustainable revenue will be a question that this online education platform needs to continue to answer.