Duolingo

Duolingo

Language learning app with gamified lessons

Overview

Duolingo creates an online language learning platform that offers bite-sized, gamified lessons. It uses a freemium model: core features are free with in-app advertisements, while a premium subscription unlocks an ad-free experience and additional features. The app works by presenting short lessons that reinforce language skills through interactive exercises and rewards, designed to keep users engaged and learning daily. Compared with competitors, Duolingo leverages a very large global user base and a well-known brand, highlighted by being the most downloaded education app in App Store history and a leading education app by revenue in 2019, along with a visible emphasis on workplace culture. Its overarching goal is to make high-quality education universally accessible to people around the world.

About Duolingo

Simplify's Rating
Why Duolingo is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Consumer Software

Education

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Founded

2011

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue rose 18% to $298.5 million, with DAUs up 23% to 58.7 million.
  • Management raised 2026 adjusted EBITDA margin guidance to 26.5%, showing strong operating leverage.
  • Duolingo targets 100 million daily active users by 2028, supported by product expansion and growth experiments.

What critics are saying

  • August 5, 2026 guidance disappointed investors; Q3 revenue of $302 million missed expectations.
  • AI-native rivals like Speak and Khan Academy attack Duolingo's weakest link: real conversation.
  • Persistent AI backlash and feed clutter erode brand trust, risking churn among loyal learners.

What makes Duolingo unique

  • August 13, 2026: Animade acquisition deepens Duolingo's motion design and product storytelling edge.
  • Duolingo's streaks, gamification, and social loops keep learners returning daily better than rivals.
  • Its freemium scale and 12.7 million paid subscribers create a consumer moat competitors struggle to match.

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Funding

Total Funding

$703.3M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

9 Rounds

Notable Investors:
IPO funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
IPO Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision for employees as well as eligible partners and dependents

Mental health benefits such as therapy sessions and coaching to support you to be your best self

Fertility benefits to support your family planning journey

Fully paid parental and adoption leave

Fully paid subscription to Care.com and paid backup days for dependents and your fur family

401(k) with generous match and immediate vesting

20 days of PTO, with two additional weeks off for winter break

Yearly professional development stipend

Transportation reimbursement for however you get to work

Lunch prepared daily by our in-house chefs

Annual international retreat for all full-time employees

On-site gym and massages

On-site game/break room

Stock Price

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

-1%

2 year growth

-3%
Duolingo, Inc.
Aug 13th, 2026
Duolingo Invests in World-Class Motion Design with Acquisition of Animade | Duolingo, Inc.

Award-winning London studio expands Duolingo's creative capabilities to build even more engaging learning experiences PITTSBURGH, Aug. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duolingo, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOL), the world's leading mobile learning platform, announced today it has acquired Animade, a London-based

FinanzNachrichten.de
Aug 13th, 2026
Duolingo acquires London animation studio Animade to boost creative design capabilities

Duolingo has acquired Animade, a London-based animation and motion design studio known for product storytelling and character animation. The acquisition expands Duolingo's Design Studio, strengthening capabilities crucial for delivering engaging learning experiences. "Motion design has become a core part of how we help learners understand, enjoy, and return to Duolingo every day," said Mig Reyes, Duolingo's Head of Design. Animade's team will support product innovation, growth experiments, and creative initiatives across the business. The acquisition also expands Duolingo's creative presence in the UK. As AI accelerates software development, Duolingo believes exceptional human creativity remains a critical differentiator for creating intuitive, delightful experiences that keep learners motivated.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 7th, 2026
Duolingo generates cash equal to 6.4% of market value despite 62% stock drop

Duolingo's stock has dropped 62% in a year, despite generating free cash flow equal to 6.4% of its market value annually — well above the 4.1% median for S&P 500 companies. The language-learning app's operating margin reached 14.2% over the last twelve months, up from a 3-year average of 8.3%, with daily active users growing 23% year-over-year. However, management is deliberately capping financial growth, guiding to just 11% full-year bookings growth and 9% for Q3. The company is prioritising user growth over near-term monetisation, targeting 100 million daily active users by 2028. Adding to investor uncertainty, management is considering discontinuing its highest-priced subscription tier, Max, raising questions about when the value of its growing user base will be fully realised.

FXLeaders
Aug 6th, 2026
Duolingo DUOL stock drops 10% but support holds, as weak guidance overshadows strong user growth after reporting Q2 financial results.

Duolingo DUOL stock drops 10% but support holds, as weak guidance overshadows strong user growth after reporting Q2 financial results. - Last updated: Thursday, August 6, 2026 Quick overview. * Duolingo reported strong Q2 results with an 18% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $298.5 million. * Despite impressive user growth, Duolingo's stock fell around 10% due to weaker-than-expected Q3 revenue guidance. * The company is prioritizing user expansion over short-term monetization, aiming for 100 million daily active users in the long run. * Investors remain skeptical about Duolingo's ability to convert user growth into accelerated revenue, leading to ongoing stock pressure. Duolingo delivered another strong quarter of user growth and earnings, but investors focused on weaker-than-expected guidance, sending DUOL shares sharply lower as concerns over near-term monetization returned. Strong Q2 results fail to calm market concerns. Duolingo reported second-quarter revenue of $298.5 million, representing an 18% year-over-year increase and beating analyst expectations of approximately $295.6 million. Adjusted earnings per share also exceeded forecasts, coming in at $0.66 compared with estimates of $0.58. The company's user growth remained a major strength, with daily active users (DAUs) rising 23% year-over-year to 58.7 million. A one-time Streak Revival campaign helped bring back 15.4 million learners, boosting engagement levels during the quarter. However, investors looked beyond the positive headline numbers and focused on the company's forward outlook. Duolingo stock falls as guidance disappoints investors. Duolingo shares suffered a sharp selloff on Thursday, falling around 10% to close near $122 after the language-learning platform issued a weaker-than-expected third-quarter revenue outlook. The decline came despite better-than-forecast second-quarter results and impressive user growth, highlighting how demanding investors have become toward high-growth technology companies. The market focused less on past performance and more on whether Duolingo can accelerate revenue growth in the coming quarters. DUOL stock briefly dropped toward $112, where the 100-day simple moving average (SMA) provided technical support after the stock had already broken below its 50-day SMA. Q3 revenue forecast falls short of expectations. The main reason behind the selloff was Duolingo's third-quarter revenue guidance. The company expects Q3 revenue of approximately $302 million, slightly below Wall Street expectations of $304 million. Although the difference was small, it was enough to trigger selling pressure in a market that has been rewarding only companies delivering exceptional growth and stronger-than-expected forecasts. Duolingo also maintained its full-year revenue guidance of $1.207 billion, which was slightly below the analyst consensus of $1.208 billion. Growth strategy prioritizes users over short-term revenue. Management explained that the company is intentionally focusing on expanding its user base rather than aggressively increasing monetization in the short term. Duolingo's long-term goal is reaching 100 million daily active users, with executives believing a larger and more engaged audience will create stronger revenue opportunities in the future. The company is also using open-source AI models to improve efficiency, lower costs, and support stronger margins, with gross margin reaching 72.6%. Investors remain unconvinced despite long-term potential. While Duolingo continues to demonstrate strong engagement and financial discipline, Thursday's stock reaction shows that investors are becoming less patient with growth companies facing elevated expectations. The company's strategy may support long-term expansion, but the immediate challenge remains convincing Wall Street that user growth can translate into faster revenue acceleration. For now, DUOL shares remain under pressure as traders watch whether the 100-day SMA can hold as support or whether further downside develops after the disappointing guidance. 10 best Forex brokers. | / | MIN DEPOSIT $100 | Visit Now | | / | MIN DEPOSIT $0 | Visit Now | | / | MIN DEPOSIT $100 | Visit Now | | / | MIN DEPOSIT $250 | Visit Now | | / | MIN DEPOSIT $0 | Visit Now | | / | MIN DEPOSIT $2,000 | Visit Now | | / | MIN DEPOSIT $0 | Visit Now | Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming its head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 6th, 2026
Duolingo Q2 revenue hits $298M, up 18%, beating estimates with 12.7M paid subscribers

Duolingo reported Q2 2026 revenue of $298.45 million, up 18.3% year-over-year, beating the consensus estimate of $297.35 million by 0.37%. EPS came in at $0.66, surpassing the $0.61 estimate by 8.2%, though down from $0.91 in the prior-year quarter. Key metrics exceeded analyst expectations across the board. Daily active users reached 58.7 million versus the 58.03 million estimate, whilst monthly active users hit 140.6 million against a forecast of 139.37 million. Paid subscribers totalled 12.7 million, above the 12.59 million estimate. Subscription revenue climbed 22.5% to $258.04 million, beating projections. However, in-app purchases fell 23% year-over-year to $8 million, missing estimates. Shares gained 4.4% over the past month.

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