Mondly Vs Duolingo: Who’s the Winner?

Are you in dire need of a fun-filled language-learning experience? Then either Mondly or Duolingo is the right website for you. Both are extremely fun to use, and you will learn several new words and phrases easily within minutes. 

Since both websites are similar in several ways, it is natural to discuss the Mondly Vs Duolingo debate. Which one is the right option for you? This question has been rattling around your head, hasn’t it? You aren’t the only one asking this question. People have been searching for alternatives to Duolingo as it is becoming increasingly gamified. 

One of the alternatives more experienced learners point to is Mondly. So, I get why you are agonizing over which app or website to use. Even I, an ardent Duolingo lover, was tempted to switch to Mondly. Let’s see if I did and the reason behind my decision. This comparison will help you choose the website that will meet all your requirements.

About Mondly and Duolingo

Mondly is a language-learning website that helps you learn in a fun way. Several of its learning methods are similar to Duolingo, but it offers more features such as Mondly VR and AR. You can download the app and have fun learning anytime you want. The immersive experience does make a difference. 

You can choose what you want to learn and decide the order in which you will start mastering them. This freedom to pick what to learn sets Mondly apart from other language-learning websites. However, its free version is lackluster. You need the premium version if you want the best learning experience.

Duolingo is known for its gamified approach to learning. It is the most popular language-learning app for beginners and has been holding that spot for a while. Its free version is as good as some paid language-learning websites. That is why you will find Duolingo a fun and efficient teacher. 

Of course, the limited hearts per day discourages some people, while others thrive because of the pressure it creates. You can always choose Super Duolingo if you need unlimited hearts. Just try the free version first or the 14-day Super Duolingo free trial to determine if Duolingo is worth your time.

Comparing Mondly Vs Duolingo

Is Mondly better than Duolingo? This question has been haunting me, too, for a while. So, let’s compare the various features of both websites to see which one is better. After all, we have limited time to spend learning a language. So, why not choose a website that’s worth our time and effort?

Content Quality

Duolingo wins by a mile if you compare the free versions of both websites. Mondly’s premium version grants you access to specialized lessons related to business – a feature Duolingo doesn’t have. But Duolingo offers more comprehensive content and guidebooks for every unit to aid you in understanding the concepts better.

Though Mondly claims to be useful to all learners irrespective of their learning level, only beginners will benefit from using it. People often complain that Mondly lessons lack depth; that is not the case with Duolingo. Duolingo focuses more on teaching you the general language in an entertaining manner. 

You won’t find it dull despite the fact it doesn’t have VR or AR features like Mondly. You unlock more complex content in Duolingo the farther you progress. However, you can only progress to the B2 level with Duolingo. Whether you choose Duolingo or Mondly, you will come across some unnatural sentences and wacky translations.

Learning Methods

Both websites use similar methods to teach you a language. Fill in the blanks, choose the right word, match the pair, etc. are common in Mondly and Duolingo. However, Mondly offers a unique experience with its AR and VR features. You will need an Oculus headset to immerse yourself in virtual reality. 

That is a deal-breaker for many people, as they don’t want to spend money on a VR headset. After all, they only have 10 – 15 minutes a day to learn a new language. Fortunately, you only need your phone to use the AR feature. Mondly uses your phone lens to make a virtual teacher appear in front of you to teach.

The virtual teacher then shows you planets, animals, floating plates of food, etc. to help you assimilate what you learn faster. This method is effective unless you find it creepy. Duolingo helps you out by showing you hints if you hover over a word. Mondly doesn’t do that. But, it will show you the past, present, and future tense of a verb if you click on it.

Duolingo is a better motivator, though. Its interactive characters and stories make you enthusiastic about learning new words. The characters help you celebrate every time you get it right five times in a row. Who wouldn’t love such supportive characters? Duolingo Max offers some AI-powered features like Explain My Answer and Roleplay.

You can use ‘Explain My Answer’ to understand why your answer is wrong. The AI does a good job explaining the reason behind marking your answers wrong. The Roleplay feature allows you to play in different scenarios. You can order a coffee in a restaurant, help a lost tourist, go shopping, etc. 

The AI does a good job of mimicking real-life people and helps you improve your conversational skills. Awesome, right? Unfortunately, Duolingo loses this round in the Duolingo Vs Mondly battle, as it lacks AR and VR features.

Practice Exercises

Mondly’s free version is extremely limited. It doesn’t offer access to speech recognition software. You need the premium version to check how good your pronunciation is. However, the jury is still out on whether its speech recognition is better than Duolingo’s. Mondly does have an edge over Duolingo when it comes to practice quizzes.

Moreover, Mondly’s simulated conversations and chatbot make it one of the best websites for improving your speaking skills. Of course, you need to subscribe to the paid version to unlock the weekly and monthly quizzes, VR, and AR features. The main appeal of Duolingo is it’s free. For a free app, it does provide you with excellent practice.

However, its paid version falls short of expectations in this area. Though you can access legendary-level tests and the ‘Practice’ feature that helps you improve your weak skills, it is not much compared to features like real and simulated conversations, is it?

Customer Support

Customer support is not the strong suit of any language learning app or website. Mondly is no different. Some users have been fortunate enough to get hold of helpful representatives who promptly resolve their issues. However, most lament the fact they can’t get a refund or cancel the subscription.

Others reported bugs and mistakes in translations but never received a reply.  In short, dealing with customer support is like gambling. However, Duolingo is even worse. Its abysmal customer support or, should I say, non-existent customer support has sent people running for the hills. Its only saving grace is it gets some bugs fixed.

Pricing And Value For Money

Mondly’s monthly subscription costs $9.99/month, the annual plan costs $4/month, and the lifetime access subscription costs $99.9. Is the cost worth the benefit? Maybe. It depends on how many languages you want to learn and what level you need to advance to. If you need to master only one language, Babbel is a better option.

There is a reason why people have heated debates about Babbel Vs Duolingo Vs Mondly. Babbel is a better (paid) language-learning website than Mondly. Duolingo is the best free language learning app. Mondly allows you to learn all languages it provides if you subscribe to any of its plans. 

So, is there a way to end this debate? Nope. Each website caters to the needs of different learners with specific learning styles. Therefore, the Mondly Vs Duolingo Vs Babbel debate will never end. Moreover, Mondly Premium gives you access to AR and VR features. Super Duolingo can be useful for those who spend more time honing their language skills.

You will be charged $12.99/month if you opt for the Super Duolingo monthly subscription. The two reasons for considering upgrading to Super Duolingo are the unlimited hearts and mistakes review feature. You only have to pay $6.99/month if you opt for the annual plan. The Super Family Plan costs $119.99/year.

Duolingo Max is a tier above Super Duolingo and costs $29.99/month. The annual plan costs $168/year. If you are an ardent lover of AI-powered features, subscribing to Duolingo Max is totally worth it.

Community

Mondly has a fantastic learners community. You can pick up and exchange tips to wrangle complex concepts, make friends, and compete with other learners.

Unfortunately, no such welcoming community is there for Duolingo users. The official forums were closed and the sentence discussions were shut down. However, you can use the unofficial Duolingo discord server to connect with fellow language learners.

User Interface

Duolingo’s interface is sleek, smooth, and easy to navigate. Its vibrant nature keeps people enthralled and motivated. The same cannot be said for Mondly. I don’t know what they were trying to achieve when they designed the user interface. Maybe they were going for a futuristic design like the glowing, transparent screens we see in Ironman films.

Or perhaps, they were trying to capture the allure of the incandescent tesseract. But, they ended up designing a user interface that resembles ‘The Blue Painting’ in the Netflix series Blue Period. Modly is more like a washed-up version of Duolingo. At least, the VR and AR features are cool; that’s a win, I guess.

Device Compatibility

Mondly and Duolingo are compatible with all devices. Therefore, you can learn using any device you want – desktops, laptops, androids, or iOS. I am sorry if you were looking forward to deciding whether to use Mondly or Duolingo based on device compatibility. They are both winners here.

User Feedback

Duolingo keeps finding ways to improve its courses. Therefore, it has mostly positive feedback from its learners. After all, it delivers on its promise to advance the learners to the intermediate level. However, users are miffed with the closing of forums. Also, they would like some semblance of customer support. 

Mondly has fabulous virtual reality conversations, but people want more depth and additional scenarios. Before subscribing, use the free trial to determine whether the VR and AR features meet your expectations.

Of course, some users are outraged by its no-refund policy. Moreover, there have been complaints of auto-renewal getting enabled even after users disable it. So, be careful, and cancel your subscription before it gets renewed if you don’t like using Mondly. 

Who Should Use Mondly?

Beginners who want a unique learning experience should opt for Mondly. Mondly’s virtual and augmented reality features set it apart from all other language-learning websites. However, the course content is pretty basic for a paid language-learning website. Frankly, Babbel, Mango Languages, and LingoDeer do a better job of teaching grammar.

But if you compare only Super Duolingo and Mondly Premium, Mondly is a better choice. Also, Mondly is fairly inexpensive, so it is a great option if you are a beginner trying to advance to the intermediate level. In short, Mondly is for beginners who want to learn multiple languages and have an immersive experience.

Who Should Use Duolingo?

Casual learners will benefit the most from using Duolingo. Moreover, Duolingo is the best app for beginners. After all, the entire course content for all languages is free. Duolingo is the answer, if you want a basic understanding of a language and to feel comfortable speaking in it. 

Ultimately, its effectiveness depends on your learning style. Some users can hold a two-hour conversation with native speakers within a few weeks of using Duolingo, whereas others feel stuck. Why? Because Duolingo emphasizes learning by practicing. 

You should use Duolingo if you don’t mind repetitive exercises and can infer grammar rules by familiarizing yourself with a few sentences. Also, Duolingo works seamlessly well with other language-learning websites. 

Duolingo and Memrise, Busuu and Duolingo, and Duolingo and Pimsleur are fantastic combinations. Therefore, you should use Duolingo if you are looking for an app or website that can help you fill the gaps in the app you are using.

Alternatives

Babbel, Memrise, FluentU, and Mango Languages are the best alternatives for Duolingo and Mondly. Babbel is renowned for its structured learning, while Memrise is good for quickly building your vocabulary. You can watch movies and TV shows on FlunetU with transcripts and translations to learn a new language. 

Mango Languages has a unique teaching method that helps you recall the new words you learn faster. However, no app or website is good enough on its own to make you fluent. You must use a combination of podcasts, YouTube channels, and books to master a language.

Subscribe to the channels of YouTubers such as Olly Richards, Richard Simcott, Lindsay Williams, and Conor Clyne if you plan on becoming a polyglot.  Learn a Language, The Fluent Show, Multilinguish, and Coffee Break Languages are excellent podcasts to learn any popular language you want.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, don’t put too much stock in the social media’s words about the Mondly Vs Duolingo debate. Choose Mondly if you like immersive learning. Pick Duolingo if you are a casual learner who doesn’t have the time to use VR headsets but needs learning to be fun. Duolingo is effective; otherwise, it wouldn’t have lasted so long at the top.