Duolingo
American educational technology company offering language learning platform with gamified lessons and mobile apps for learning multiple languages.
Company Type
public
Founded
2011
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Stock
NASDAQ: DUOL
About Duolingo
What does Duolingo do?
Duolingo operates the world's most popular language-learning platform, offering free gamified courses in more than 40 languages through its mobile app and website. The company also operates the Duolingo English Test, an online English proficiency assessment accepted by hundreds of universities, and Duolingo for Schools, a classroom tool for teachers.
Duolingo operates the world's most popular language-learning platform, offering free gamified courses in more than 40 languages through its mobile app and website. The company also operates the Duolingo English Test, an online English proficiency assessment accepted by hundreds of universities, and Duolingo for Schools, a classroom tool for teachers.
Is Duolingo publicly traded?
Yes, Duolingo, Inc. trades on NASDAQ under ticker symbol DUOL. The company went public in July 2021. The company has a dual-class share structure that gives co-founders Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker significant voting control.
Yes, Duolingo, Inc. trades on NASDAQ under ticker symbol DUOL. The company went public in July 2021. The company has a dual-class share structure that gives co-founders Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker significant voting control.
How many users does Duolingo have?
Duolingo had more than 40 million daily active users (DAUs) as of Q4 2024, representing 51% year-over-year growth. The total registered user base is much larger, with hundreds of millions of people having downloaded the app.
Duolingo had more than 40 million daily active users (DAUs) as of Q4 2024, representing 51% year-over-year growth. The total registered user base is much larger, with hundreds of millions of people having downloaded the app.
Who founded Duolingo?
Duolingo was founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Von Ahn, a Guatemalan-American computer scientist, had previously invented CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA and sold reCAPTCHA to Google in 2009.
Duolingo was founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Von Ahn, a Guatemalan-American computer scientist, had previously invented CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA and sold reCAPTCHA to Google in 2009.
Is Duolingo free?
The core Duolingo language-learning app is free to use, supported by advertising. Duolingo offers paid subscription tiers including Duolingo Max, which provides an ad-free experience, unlimited hearts, and AI-powered features including conversation practice and explanations.
The core Duolingo language-learning app is free to use, supported by advertising. Duolingo offers paid subscription tiers including Duolingo Max, which provides an ad-free experience, unlimited hearts, and AI-powered features including conversation practice and explanations.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency assessment that can be taken at home for $49 per attempt, significantly cheaper than TOEFL and IELTS. The test is accepted by hundreds of universities worldwide as evidence of English proficiency for international student admissions.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency assessment that can be taken at home for $49 per attempt, significantly cheaper than TOEFL and IELTS. The test is accepted by hundreds of universities worldwide as evidence of English proficiency for international student admissions.
History of Duolingo
Duolingo was founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker, both of whom were at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Von Ahn, a Guatemalan-American computer scientist, had previously invented CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA and sold reCAPTCHA to Google in 2009. He conceived Duolingo as a way to provide free, high-quality language education to people around the world, particularly those who could not afford traditional language courses.
The founding insight was that language learning could be made more engaging and effective through game mechanics, and that a free platform could be sustained through advertising and premium subscriptions. Von Ahn and Hacker developed the initial Duolingo app while at Carnegie Mellon, launching a public beta in November 2011.
The beta launch generated enormous interest, with over 300,000 people signing up on the first day. The app offered Spanish, English, French, German, and Portuguese courses, with a distinctive owl mascot named Duo that became one of the most recognizable characters in educational technology.
Duolingo expanded rapidly through 2012 and 2013, launching iOS and Android apps and adding new languages. The platform's gamified approach, with daily streaks and experience points, proved highly effective at encouraging consistent practice. The company introduced Duolingo Plus, a premium subscription service offering ad-free learning, in 2014.
The company raised significant venture capital funding through the mid-2010s, including investments from Google Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and other prominent investors. Duolingo expanded its language offerings to more than 40 languages and introduced new products including Duolingo for Schools (a classroom tool for teachers) and Duolingo ABC (a literacy app for young children).
In 2019, Duolingo launched the Duolingo English Test, an online English proficiency assessment that could be taken at home for $49, significantly cheaper than TOEFL ($200+) and IELTS ($200+). The test gained acceptance at hundreds of universities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person testing was disrupted.
Duolingo went public on NASDAQ in July 2021 in an IPO that raised approximately $521 million, valuing the company at approximately $5.7 billion. The IPO reflected strong investor interest in educational technology following the pandemic-driven acceleration of online learning.
Following the IPO, Duolingo continued to invest in AI and personalization. The company launched Duolingo Max in 2023, a premium subscription tier powered by GPT-4 that includes AI conversation practice (Roleplay) and AI-powered explanations (Explain My Answer). The integration of large language models into the learning experience represented a significant product advancement.
In FY2024, Duolingo reported 51% year-over-year growth in daily active users to more than 40 million DAUs, reflecting the success of its product investments and viral growth. The company achieved record revenue and profitability in FY2024.
Brands Owned by Duolingo
Duolingo owns 0 brands in our database.
Stock Information
Duolingo Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +FY2024 record revenue and 51% DAU growth to more than 40 million DAUs demonstrate exceptional platform momentum
- +World's most popular language-learning app with strong brand recognition and viral growth dynamics
- +Duolingo English Test provides a growing, high-margin revenue stream with significant market opportunity
- +AI integration through Duolingo Max creates a differentiated premium product and higher average revenue per subscriber
- +Freemium model builds a large user base at low customer acquisition cost, with strong conversion potential
Considerations
- -Dual-class share structure concentrates voting control with co-founders von Ahn and Hacker
- -Criticism from educators that gamified approach does not produce genuine language fluency
- -Contractor layoffs in 2024 to replace roles with AI generated reputational risk
- -Competition from Babbel and other language-learning apps targeting similar demographics
- -Expansion into math and other subjects (beyond language learning) is unproven and may dilute focus
Frequently Asked Questions About Duolingo
What does Duolingo do?
Duolingo operates the world's most popular language-learning platform, offering free gamified courses in more than 40 languages through its mobile app and website. The company also operates the Duolingo English Test, an online English proficiency assessment accepted by hundreds of universities, and Duolingo for Schools, a classroom tool for teachers.
Is Duolingo publicly traded?
Yes, Duolingo, Inc. trades on NASDAQ under ticker symbol DUOL. The company went public in July 2021. The company has a dual-class share structure that gives co-founders Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker significant voting control.
How many users does Duolingo have?
Duolingo had more than 40 million daily active users (DAUs) as of Q4 2024, representing 51% year-over-year growth. The total registered user base is much larger, with hundreds of millions of people having downloaded the app.
Who founded Duolingo?
Duolingo was founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Von Ahn, a Guatemalan-American computer scientist, had previously invented CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA and sold reCAPTCHA to Google in 2009.
Is Duolingo free?
The core Duolingo language-learning app is free to use, supported by advertising. Duolingo offers paid subscription tiers including Duolingo Max, which provides an ad-free experience, unlimited hearts, and AI-powered features including conversation practice and explanations.
What is the Duolingo English Test?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is an online English proficiency assessment that can be taken at home for $49 per attempt, significantly cheaper than TOEFL and IELTS. The test is accepted by hundreds of universities worldwide as evidence of English proficiency for international student admissions.
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