# Duolingo vs Idyoma

The clearest difference is rating: Duolingo at 4.7 against Idyoma's 4.2. Duolingo also leads on ratings volume (5.6M vs 244) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks). Idyoma's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Duolingo sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Idyoma sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Duolingo holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Duolingo has 5.6M ratings behind it against 244, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Duolingo's written reviews are positive against 47% of Idyoma's.

Duolingo ships an update every 5 days, Idyoma every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Duolingo | Idyoma |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duolingo-learn-languages/id570060128/reviews)** | [4.2 (244 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idyoma-language-exchange-app/id1236608549/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.6M** | 244 |
| Positive reviews | **64.7% of reviews** | 46.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 490 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Duolingo, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/570060151) | [Idyoma, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039636716) |

## What reviewers say

### Duolingo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duolingo-learn-languages/id570060128)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Education, #1 Top Grossing · Education, #32 Top Grossing, #91 Top Free (US App Store)

Learn languages, math, music, and chess through fun, bite-sized lessons. Build vocabulary, grammar, and real-world skills with a science-based methodology. Track progress and stay motivated with a global community.

**Highlights:** Bite-sized language lessons, Speaking, reading, listening, writing practice, Math skills development, Music reading and playing, Chess strategy and gameplay, Progress tracking and rewards

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Super Duolingo | $9.99 | per month |
| Super Duolingo | $12.99 | per month |
| Super Duolingo | $12.99 | per month |
| Super Duolingo | $59.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $79.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $83.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $83.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $95.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $119.99 | per year |
| Super Duolingo | $119.99 | per year |
| Chest of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Gems (1200) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Gems (1200) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Cart of Gems (3000) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Gems (3000) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Cart of Gems (6500) | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Fun and entertaining learning experience
- 🎉 Motivating streak and league features
- 🎨 Cute and engaging animations
- 📚 Effective for learning vocabulary and basics
- 🤖 Useful AI-powered features like voice lessons

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Issues with voice recognition and pronunciation feedback
- 🤑 Aggressive monetization tactics and paywall for key features
- 🤯 Frustrating heart/health system that penalizes mistakes
- 🤔 Lack of grammar explanations and focus on just memorizing phrases
- 🤷‍♀️ Inconsistent app experience across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing or crashing during lessons
- Incorrect translations or answers marked wrong
- Inconsistent behavior of certain features like leagues

**Requested features**

- Add more languages, especially less common ones
- Improve grammar lessons and explanations
- Allow more flexibility in navigating the course content
- Provide better feedback and corrections for mistakes
- Sync progress and features consistently across app and web


### Idyoma

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idyoma-language-exchange-app/id1236608549)

Connect with native speakers worldwide for authentic language practice. Engage in short conversation sessions, find pen pals, and join group chats to improve fluency and cultural understanding. Build confidence through real-world interactions.

**Highlights:** Connect with native speakers, Short conversation sessions, Pen Pal program, Group chats, Instant message translation, Customizable profile, Track progress

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $3.49 | per month |
| Weekly Premium Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| 6 Monthly Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| 6-Monthly Premium Subscription | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| ID Verification | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Sub 50% | $49.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Subscription | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 💬 Effective language exchange with real speakers
- 🤖 Helpful chatbot for building confidence
- 🌍 Connects language learners worldwide
- ✨ Modern, aesthetically pleasing design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Misleading free/paid model and hidden charges
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and errors
- 👥 Small user base and inactive community
- 🚫 Poor safety features and harassment issues
- ⚠️ Broken blocking and reporting functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on 'Get Started' button with error message
- Unable to complete account creation/onboarding process
- Login failures with Apple Account (expired token error)
- Monthly conversation limit doesn't reset
- Photo verification screen shows black screen

**Requested features**

- Add more languages (Hebrew, Yiddish, Esperanto, Italian, Hindi, Thai, Bulgarian, etc.)
- Advanced filtering by age, interests, location, and language proficiency
- Online status indicator
- Audio message functionality
- Ability to search by country


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Duolingo free?

Duolingo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Idyoma free?

Idyoma is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Duolingo or Idyoma?

Duolingo is rated higher. Duolingo averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.6M ratings, while Idyoma averages 4.2 from 244 ratings.

### Do Duolingo or Idyoma have ads?

Duolingo shows ads; Idyoma does not.

### Which is updated more often, Duolingo or Idyoma?

Duolingo ships an update every 5 days, and Idyoma every 4 weeks. Most recently, Duolingo was updated on November 1, 2026 and Idyoma on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*