Is the Spanish course on Duolingo good?

Duolingo is a good supplementary tool for Spanish, excellent for building basic vocabulary and reinforcing words through repetition, but it's not sufficient for fluency; it struggles with in-depth grammar (like subjunctive), lacks real-time speaking practice with natives, and provides unnatural phrases, requiring additional resources like grammar books, tutors, or media for real conversational skills.


Is Duolingo actually good for Spanish?

The problem with Duolingo Spanish is that it can take a really long time to learn Spanish. If you do just one lesson per day, you really won't make much progress. You'll get a long streak, but you won't become fluent.

Can you actually become fluent in Spanish with Duolingo?

No, Duolingo alone won't make you fluent in Spanish; it's a great starting point for vocabulary, grammar basics, and building confidence, but true fluency requires active speaking, conversation with native speakers, immersion (reading books, watching shows), and using other tools for deeper understanding, as the app lacks real-world conversational depth and context for connected speech. 


Has anyone finished the Duolingo Spanish course?

After over 6 years of doing my lessons every single day, I finally finished the Spanish course on Duolingo. It was one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2025, and on October 8th, I reached my goal.

Can you reach C2 with Duolingo?

Advanced English: C1 and C2 Levels

While Duolingo can give you a strong foundation, reaching these advanced levels usually needs extra resources. Think of Duolingo as your training wheels. You'll need to start reading books, watching movies, and having deep conversations to fully reach these levels.


If You're Learning Spanish With Duolingo, Watch This



Why do people stop using Duolingo?

People are deleting Duolingo due to a major shift towards AI-generated content, leading to lower quality lessons with grammatical errors and robotic, culturally insensitive sentences, compounded by the shutdown of community forums, perceived disingenuous marketing (like "Duo's death"), and a focus on engagement/upsells over genuine learning, alienating long-time users who miss the original, human-curated experience. 

Is it hard to get 130 on Duolingo?

130 is an excellent Duolingo score, showing strong English proficiency at a C1 level. Understanding the test structure helps you stay calm and perform better on exam day. It's always necessary to take regular practice tests and get feedback so you can spot mistakes and improve faster.

Is Duolingo really B2?

It allows learners around the globe to gauge their progress and see how their friends and family are doing, too. Your Duolingo Score is out of 160 points—just like the Duolingo English Test—and our most advanced courses currently cover content through 120 (the end of the CEFR level B2).


Why is Duolingo pushing LGBTQ?

Their blog says “Duolingo believes deeply in diversity and representation. This made it a no-brainer to include all types of characters of different ages, ethnic backgrounds, and sexual orientations.” This prioritization of inclusivity has created queer characters Lin, Bea, and Oscar.

Which is better, Babbel or Duolingo for Spanish?

For Spanish, Babbel is generally better for serious learners who want structured grammar and conversational skills through in-depth lessons, while Duolingo excels at fun, gamified vocabulary building and basic practice, making it great for beginners or as a supplement, though neither guarantees fluency alone. Choose Babbel for a more traditional, expert-designed course or Duolingo for a free, engaging introduction to Spanish.
 

How many hours a day to learn Spanish on Duolingo?

If you practice for 15 minutes a day, you can finish the Duolingo Spanish course in 6 to 12 months. However, there is a major difference between finishing the app and speaking the language. Because Duolingo focuses on translation games rather than conversation, it can take years to become fluent using their app.


Is Babbel or Duolingo cheaper?

Duolingo is completely free, and Babbel starts at $12.95 per month. The quickest way to describe the differences between Babbel and Duolingo would be… Duolingo is best for casual learners who may want to dabble in a few different languages, may struggle with staying motivated, or aren't willing to spend money.

Which is the best app to learn to speak Spanish?

Table of Best Apps to Learn Spanish
  • Best For Speaking from Day 1: Pimsleur.
  • Best Dictionary App: SpanishDict.
  • Best for Easy Vocabulary Practice: Memrise.
  • Best for Practice in Context: Clozemaster.
  • Best for Finding any Tutor: Preply & italki.
  • Second-Best for Finding a Tutor: Verbling.


What are the drawbacks of Duolingo?

Duolingo's main disadvantages are its shallow lessons lacking real-world context, unnatural sentences, weak grammar explanations, and focus on gamification (streaks/ads) over deep understanding, making it insufficient for true fluency; users often find it repetitive and struggle to transition to actual conversations despite completing the app, highlighting its role as a supplement, not a sole resource, for serious language learners. 


How long does it take to complete Spanish Duolingo?

Finishing the Duolingo Spanish course can take anywhere from a few months to several years, depending heavily on your daily study time, learning pace, and consistency; while it might take 30-50 hours to "finish" the lessons, achieving real fluency often takes much longer, with some users reporting 1-4 years of consistent practice for significant progress, though Duolingo itself estimates around 34 hours for the equivalent of a college semester. 

What's better than Duolingo for Spanish?

Duolingo Alternatives: Our Top Picks. The best Duolingo alternatives for us are Lingodeer, Drops, Ling, Busuu, uTalk, Babbel, Memrise, and Write It! Each of these apps is fairly similar to Duolingo in terms of the format: you will learn the language through short, gamified, daily practice.

Why are people canceling Duolingo?

People are deleting Duolingo due to a major shift towards AI-generated content, leading to lower quality lessons with grammatical errors and robotic, culturally insensitive sentences, compounded by the shutdown of community forums, perceived disingenuous marketing (like "Duo's death"), and a focus on engagement/upsells over genuine learning, alienating long-time users who miss the original, human-curated experience. 


Can I put Duolingo on my CV?

Can you put Duolingo on your resume? Yes, but with a caveat. If English is not your native language, you can list your Duolingo English Test (DET) or the Duolingo Language Certification to show that you have proficiency in English.

What is replacing Duolingo?

Alternatives to Duolingo: Who Does It Better?
  • Mondly – The Motivation Champion. Mondly centers on learning without repetitive memorization. ...
  • Mosalingua – From Basic Flashcards to Our Favorite App. ...
  • Rosetta Stone – An Intuitive Path to a New Language.


Why do people say not to use Duolingo?

In the translation exercises (which are the bulk of what Duolingo is about), the software is programmed to only accept one right answer. This is problematic as most languages have many ways of saying the same thing. Students who input an answer that is right but not recognised on Duolingo may think they are wrong.


Is B2 Spanish considered fluent?

Yes, B2 Spanish is widely considered the first level of true fluency, allowing for spontaneous and detailed conversation on many topics with native speakers, though some define "full fluency" as C1/C2, while others find B2 sufficient for most daily and even professional interactions. B2 users can understand complex texts, produce clear explanations, and interact without strain, but C1/C2 levels offer greater ease with nuance, specialized vocabulary, and complex professional contexts.
 

Is it hard to get 125 in Duolingo?

The average score on the Duolingo English Test is 110. The 75th percentile score is 125. (This means that 25% of test takers scored above 125.) So, unless you are applying to a school that requires a 130 or above, it won't be too difficult to get the score that you need.

What is a good Duolingo score for Harvard?

125-140. Harvard University's Duolingo score range for undergraduate admissions is between 125 and 140, with the 25th percentile at 125 and the 75th percentile at 140. Being within this range is not a guarantee of admission; however, scoring closer to the upper end is a positive indicator.


What Duolingo score is considered fluent?

There's no single Duolingo score for "fluent," as fluency is subjective, but reaching a B2 level (scores of 100-129 in the app), or ideally C1/C2 (130+), signifies independent use for complex situations, considered near-fluency by Duolingo's goals. A score of 130+ (C1/C2) means you can understand nuanced language and express yourself fluently, though true mastery often requires more than just Duolingo, especially for speaking and writing skills. 

Which Duolingo level is C1?

B1 Level: DET score range 60-95. B2 Level: DET score range 100-125. C1 Level: DET score range 130-150. C2 Level: DET score range 155-160.