Comparison

Duolingo vs Learn Chinese Fast?

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Duolingo

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
Read full description

Learn a new language, chess & more with the world's most downloaded education app! Duolingo is the fun, free app for learning 40+ languages through quick, bite-sized lessons. Practice speaking, reading, listening & writing to build your vocabulary & grammar skills. Designed by learning experts & loved by hundreds of millions worldwide, our lessons make learning effective & fun and help you prepare for real conversations in Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Italian, German, English and more. And now, you can learn CHESS on Duolingo! Whether you're a total beginner or looking to level up your game, you'll love learning chess the Duolingo way. Play matches and fun chess lessons for all levels, no matter the language - chess, ajedrez, xadrez, schach, Шахматы, الشطرنج. • Chess: Learn the moves, level up your game & play matches in our Chess course. Learn the basics, solve fun chess puzzles & improve your strategy with guided lessons. Whether you're new to chess or already play, our course is designed to help you have fun and build real skills. Checkmate! • Math: Forget lectures and math worksheets! Built by learning experts, our Math course makes math feel like a game. Boost learning and fight the summer slide with standards-aligned math lessons for elementary school, middle school, and high school students. • Music: Learn how to read music & play songs in our Music course, no instrument needed! Using an on-screen keyboard, you'll learn bit-by-bit. Whether you're learning a language for travel, school, career or your brain health, you'll love learning with Duolingo. Why Duolingo? • Duolingo is fun & effective. Game-like language lessons & fun characters help you build speaking, reading, listening, & writing skills, plus enjoy fun chess & competitive online chess in one app. • Duolingo works. Designed by learning experts, Duolingo has a science-based teaching methodology proven to foster long-term knowledge retention across language lessons & chess lessons alike. • Track your progress. Work toward your learning goals with playful rewards & achievements when you make practicing language lessons or chess online part of your daily habit. • Join millions of learners. Stay motivated with competitive Leaderboards as you learn languages & play chess online alongside our global community. • Every course is free. Learn Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Hebrew, Welsh, Arabic, Latin, Hawaiian, Scottish Gaelic, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, English, & even High Valyrian! And now, learn Math, Music & improve your Chess skills with fun, bite-sized lessons. What the world is saying about Duolingo: "Far & away the best language-learning app." - The Wall Street Journal "This free app & website is among the most effective language-learning methods I've tried… lessons come in the form of brief challenges, speaking, translating, answering multiple-choice questions, that keep me coming back for more." - The New York Times "Duolingo may hold the secret to the future of education." - TIME Magazine "Duolingo is cheerful, lighthearted & fun." - Forbes "I Can't Stop Playing Duolingo Chess." - Wired If you like Duolingo, try Super Duolingo for 14 days free! Learn a language fast with no ads & get fun perks like Unlimited Energy & Monthly Streak Repair. If you choose to purchase Super Duolingo, payment will be charged to your Apple account, and your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Auto-renewal may be turned off at any time by going to your settings in the App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy Policy: https://www.duolingo.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://www.duolingo.com/terms

About

Learn Chinese Fast?

This app offers an entertaining approach to learning Mandarin Chinese through a talk show format. It uses mnemonic entertainment principles to help users learn vocabulary and phrases without traditional studying or memorization. Enjoy comedy, music, and engaging segments to accelerate your language acquisition.

Highlights
  • Talk show format for language learning
  • Mnemonic entertainment principles
  • Learn without memorization or tests
  • Interactive PIE-Smashing Dialogues
  • COMBO-Word-Cooking game
  • TONGUE-Twisting Sitcoms
Features
Read full description

"A LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW" (For learning Chinese.) "The Mandarin Show" is the most entertaining language learning app on the planet. And you can learn to speak Mandarin Chinese up to 3X faster just by watching the "show:" - PIE-Smashing Dialogues! - DUNG-Lighting Demos! - FAN-Food-Fighting! - COLD-LUNG Eating! - FUNKY-Wind Singing! - PING-The-Bottle Game! - COMBO-Word-Cooking! - TONGUE-Twisting Sitcoms! - and more... TRY IT FREE FOR 7 DAYS. Check out "The Mandarin Show" and see how much fun it is to learn to speak Mandarin. Try it FREE for 7 days. CAN LEARNING CHINESE BE A FORM OF "ENTERTAINMENT?" "The Mandarin Show" is a NEW form of language learning app that looks and sounds just like a late night talk show... for learning Mandarin Chinese. OUR GUARANTEE: "The Mandarin Show" is the ONLY app on the planet where you can watch Mandarin comedians from Beijing to Broadway, who will DO ANYTHING to teach you how to speak Chinese. BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE EXCITING? It's all about what you DON'T DO on "The Mandarin Show:" 1) You DON'T study Mandarin. 2) You DON'T do Mandarin tests. 3) You DON'T MEMORIZE Mandarin. SO... HOW DO YOU LEARN? That's easy: you just sit back... and WATCH the "SHOW." THE "STUPID SECRET" TO SUCCESS: Studies show that you can learn Chinese words up to 3X faster by watching "The Mandarin Show." But how is it possible that an app that critics call "stupidly easy" and "insanely entertaining" be so successful at teaching Mandarin? HINT: "The Mandarin Show" app is based on a stupidly simple formula: "MANDARIN = ENGLISH" Mandarin = English? (No, that's not a typo.) On "The Mandarin Show" you can WATCH Mandarin Chinese words as they "TRANSFORM" themselves into English. "TOTALLY MENTAL" CONNECTIONS Here's how it works: "The Mandarin Show" literally "SHOWS" you how Mandarin words and their English meanings are linked together with logical, MENTAL CONNECTIONS. So now, you don't need to MEMORIZE any Mandarin. You just WATCH the "show." It's that easy. "MNEMONIC ENTERTAINMENT?" "The Mandarin Show" is the first, and ONLY app that is based on the proven, scientific principles of "mnemonic entertainment." You learn by experiencing logical (and entertaining) mental CONNECTIONS between English and Mandarin words... instead of memorizing. And memorizing. And memorizing. "GLUE" YOUR MIND TO MANDARIN The original process of "mnemonic entertainment" was first discovered during language research by "GLU" (Global Learning Universe.) And today, each episode of "The Mandarin Show" GLUES Mandarin and English words together in your mind, through real, live performances on the 'show," with guests, gags, comedy sketches, sitcoms and music videos. IS IT JUST FOR BEGINNERS? Whether you are just starting out, or if you already know a little Mandarin, "The Mandarin Show" is a fast, fun and easy way to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. WHAT ARE AUDIENCES SAYING? "Having way too much fun." John Riendeau, Boston, MA "You just WATCH it. That's it." William Murray, London, UK "I'm binge-speaking Mandarin." David Punch, Los Angeles, CA TRY IT OUT FOR FREE! (IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE HERE.) Check out "The Mandarin Show" for FREE and get Premium access to all 500 mini episodes of language entertainment. And, if you're having fun watching "The Mandarin Show" you can choose a Monthly, Annual, or Lifetime Premium subscription. TALK TO "THE MANDARIN SHOW." "The Mandarin Show" would like to hear from you. Let us know how you are doing. Please contact: chris@themandarinshow.com Terms of Use: https://themandarinshow.com/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://themandarinshow.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Duolingo4 screens
Learn Chinese Fast?4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Learn Chinese Fast? at none against Duolingo's shown. Learn Chinese Fast? also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 65%) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.0). Duolingo's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (5.5M vs 13). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Duolingo sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Learn Chinese Fast? sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Duolingo holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Duolingo has 5.5M ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Duolingo's written reviews are positive against 75% of Learn Chinese Fast?'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Duolingo ships an update weekly, Learn Chinese Fast? every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Duolingo versus Learn Chinese Fast?: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDuolingoLearn Chinese Fast?
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (5.5M ratings) — better4.4 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews64.7% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5.5M — better13
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#1 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size491 MB76 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDuolingoGlobal Learning Universe, Inc.

Customer experience

Duolingo

All ratings5,475,037 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.5%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews29,503 reviews
Positive64.7%
Neutral9.6%
Negative25.7%

Learn Chinese Fast?

All ratings13 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

Duolingo

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Learn Chinese Fast?

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

16 purchases

Duolingo

Subscriptions10
  • Super Duolingo7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Super Duolingo7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Super Duolingo14 Days trial$12.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Super Duolingo2 variants$59.991 Year
  • Super Duolingo14 Days trial2 variants$79.991 Year
  • Super Duolingo14 Days trial4 variants$83.991 Year
  • Super Duolingo7 Days trial$83.991 Year
  • Super Duolingo7 Days trial4 variants$95.991 Year
  • Super Duolingo1 Month trial$119.991 Year
  • Super Duolingo7 Days trial$119.991 Year
One-time6
  • Chest of Gems$0.99
  • Barrel of Gems (1200)$4.99
  • Chest of Gems (1200)$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Cart of Gems (3000)$9.99
  • Barrel of Gems (3000)$9.99
  • Cart of Gems (6500)$19.99
11 purchases

Learn Chinese Fast?

Subscriptions7
  • Play Videos$10.991 Month
  • 3-Month Plan7 Days trial$27.003 Months
  • Quarterly Subscription Plan$33.003 Months
Show 4 more
  • 1 Year Plan7 Days trial$48.001 Year
  • Annual Subscription$49.001 Year
  • Play Videos$49.996 Months
  • Play Videos$69.991 Year
One-time4
  • Life-time Plan$64.00
  • Play Videos$69.99
  • One Time Purchase$77.00
Show 1 more
  • Play Videos$99.99

Questions

Is Duolingo free?
Duolingo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Learn Chinese Fast? free?
Learn Chinese Fast? is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Duolingo or Learn Chinese Fast??
Duolingo is rated higher. Duolingo averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.5M ratings, while Learn Chinese Fast? averages 4.4 from 13 ratings.
Do Duolingo or Learn Chinese Fast? have ads?
Duolingo shows ads; Learn Chinese Fast? does not.
Which is updated more often, Duolingo or Learn Chinese Fast??
Duolingo ships an update weekly, and Learn Chinese Fast? every 5 weeks. Most recently, Duolingo was updated on September 29, 2026 and Learn Chinese Fast? on June 1, 2026.

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