Comparisons

Typeflu vs Duolingo: which one should you use in 2026?

Updated: October 2, 2026

We make Typeflu, so weigh this accordingly. We checked both apps' prices and features on 2 October 2026, and we say plainly where Duolingo is the better choice.

Duolingo is the biggest language app in the world, and for good reason: every course is free, it covers dozens of languages, and its streaks and leagues keep millions of people coming back. Typeflu is a much smaller app built around one exercise: you listen to a real sentence, type it, and fix it letter by letter, with coaching in Arabic, Spanish or English. They are different tools, and plenty of learners use both. This page compares them honestly, including where Duolingo is simply better.

At a glance

	Typeflu	Duolingo
Price	Pro €7.50/month or €49/year in Europe; local prices elsewhere; half price in many countries	Super about $12.99/month or $83.99 to $95.99/year in the US; Max about $29.99/month; varies by country
Free tier	First lesson of every unit, forever; 5 hearts; 5 explanations a day	Every course free, with ads and an energy limit on lessons in a row
Courses for Arabic speakers	English A1 to B2 plus IELTS (31 courses); Spanish A1 to B1; European Portuguese A1	10 languages from Arabic, including English, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese
Courses for Spanish speakers	English, one A1 course	English plus 12 more, including Portuguese, French and Italian
Interface languages	Arabic (right to left), Spanish, English	45 interface languages, Arabic and Spanish included
Typing full sentences from audio	The core exercise, corrected letter by letter	Part of a mix of exercise types, not the main method
Speaking practice	None, no pronunciation scoring	Speech recognition exercises; AI Video Call on Max, reaching Super
Explanations of mistakes	One tap explains your mistake in your own language; coaching by native-language patterns	Explain My Answer with Max
Your own content	Import a text or link, get a lesson with audio in about 30 seconds	No
Offline	Your next lessons work offline	A Super feature
Platforms	Web app you can install on Android, iOS and desktop; no store app	iOS, Android and web
Exams	IELTS prep course for Arabic speakers (B2, 288 voiced exercises)	Duolingo English Test: $70, accepted by 6,000+ institutions

The short version

If you are starting a language from zero and want something free, fun and broad, Duolingo is the better first app. If you already study and still freeze when a native speaker talks fast, or you hear a sentence and cannot write it down, Typeflu trains exactly that skill. Typeflu is not a full replacement for Duolingo, and it does not try to be.

How they work

Duolingo gives you short, game-like lessons that mix exercise types: translating, listening, tapping words, typing and speaking into the microphone. A free account uses an energy system: each lesson costs energy, which you get back by answering well, watching ads or spending gems. Streaks, leagues, friends and notifications keep you coming back. In its Q2 2026 report Duolingo counted 58.7 million daily users, and on the App Store it holds 4.7 stars from 5.5 million ratings.

Typeflu plays a real sentence in a natural voice. You type it word by word and correct it letter by letter, replaying as often as you like at 0.75× to 2× speed. On phones, early lessons use tap-to-build word tiles. Every word shows its IPA, meaning in your language and grammar role. When you get something wrong, one tap explains why, in Arabic, Spanish or English. Typeflu also tags your mistakes by the patterns of your native language (for Arabic speakers: p and b, missing a and the, is and are; for Spanish speakers: -ed endings and false friends) and builds Weak Spots lessons from them. Reviews are scheduled with the FSRS memory model.

Both apps use the same habit tools: a daily goal, XP, streaks and a weekly league. Typeflu adds 3 daily quests and streak freezes. Duolingo's version is more polished and has a much bigger community.

Where Duolingo is better than Typeflu

Free access. Every Duolingo course is free. Typeflu's free plan opens only the first lesson of each unit.
Languages. Duolingo has 313 course pairs and 44 target languages. Arabic speakers can learn 10 languages from Arabic. Typeflu teaches three languages, and outside English for Arabic speakers its catalog is small.
Speaking. Duolingo has speech recognition exercises and AI Video Call conversations. Typeflu has no speaking or pronunciation scoring.
Native apps and polish. Duolingo has years of design work and apps in both stores. Typeflu is a young web app that you install from the browser.
A recognised certificate. The Duolingo English Test costs $70, takes about an hour online, and is accepted by more than 6,000 institutions. Typeflu gives no certificates.
Family and extras. Super Family covers up to 6 people, and Duolingo also teaches chess, math and music.
Hands-free moments. Typeflu asks you to type, so it needs your eyes and attention. It is not something to use while driving or walking.

Where Typeflu is better than Duolingo

Real listening practice. In Typeflu every exercise is a full sentence from audio that you have to write down. That builds the skill of catching fast speech, which many learners say Duolingo did not give them.
Letter-level correction. You see exactly which letters were wrong, so spelling problems such as brobably for probably get fixed.
Coaching in your language. Explanations come in Arabic or Spanish and are tied to the mistakes speakers of your language usually make.
IELTS listening for Arabic speakers. A B2 course with 6 units and 288 voiced exercises: forms and lectures, paraphrase, True/False/Not Given, writing and speaking tasks. Duolingo has no IELTS prep that we found.
European Portuguese. Duolingo teaches Brazilian Portuguese only. Typeflu has European Portuguese for Arabic speakers (two A1 courses for now).
Your own material. Paste an article, an email or lyrics you own and get a private lesson with audio.
Price. Typeflu Pro costs less than Duolingo Super in most places, and it is half price in many lower-income countries.

Price

Duolingo is free, with ads and energy. Super Duolingo removes those limits and adds offline lessons. In the US it costs about $12.99 a month or $83.99 to $95.99 a year, Super Family is $119.99 a year for up to 6 people, and Max (with the AI features) is about $29.99 a month. Prices change by country and store, so check the app for yours.

Typeflu Pro is €7.50 a month or €49 a year in Europe, with local prices elsewhere and half price in many countries (most of Africa, the Arab world outside the Gulf, Latin America, South and Southeast Asia). Pro unlocks every lesson, unlimited hearts, explanations and review, and 30 imports a month. The free plan keeps the first lesson of every unit, 5 hearts, 5 explanations a day and 2 imports a week. See the courses.

Which one should you pick?

Pick Duolingo if you are a total beginner, you want to pay nothing, you want to learn a language Typeflu does not teach, you want speaking practice, or you need an accepted English certificate.
Pick Typeflu if you are an Arabic speaker learning English and listening is your weak point, you are preparing for IELTS listening, you want European Portuguese, or you want explanations in your own language.
Use both if you like Duolingo's daily routine but feel your listening is not improving. Keep your Duolingo streak and add 10 minutes of Typeflu dictation.

We checked every price and feature on this page on October 2, 2026. Prices change and can differ by country, so confirm on each app's own site before you pay.

Questions

Is Duolingo free?

Yes. Every Duolingo course is free to use, with ads and an energy system that limits how many lessons you can do in a row. Super Duolingo removes ads and energy limits and adds offline lessons.

Is Typeflu free?

Partly. The first lesson of every unit is free forever, with 5 hearts and 5 mistake explanations a day. Pro unlocks every lesson for €7.50 a month or €49 a year in Europe, with local and half prices elsewhere.

Is Duolingo good for Arabic speakers?

Yes for getting started: Duolingo has an Arabic interface and teaches 10 languages from Arabic, including English and Spanish. If you can read English but struggle to follow it when spoken, add focused listening practice such as Typeflu.

Can Duolingo help with IELTS?

Not directly. Duolingo has its own exam, the Duolingo English Test, but no IELTS course that we found. Typeflu has an IELTS listening and reading course for Arabic speakers, and our guide to IELTS listening dictation explains the method.

Can I use Duolingo and Typeflu together?

Yes, and many learners should. Duolingo gives variety and speaking practice; Typeflu adds concentrated listening and spelling work. A common routine is a Duolingo lesson in the morning and a Typeflu session later in the day.

Does Duolingo teach European Portuguese?

No. Duolingo's Portuguese course is Brazilian Portuguese. Typeflu has beginner European Portuguese courses for Arabic speakers, such as Portuguese basics.