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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

EWA vs Duolingo

EWA 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Duolingo
Duolingo 4.7★ · Free + IAP 80

Duolingo is the better choice for most language learners due to its broader content, more engaging gamification, and better overall reliability, despite recent user frustration with monetization changes.

Full reviews: EWA · Duolingo

Duolingo offers a more comprehensive and engaging language learning experience with diverse content beyond just languages, though recent monetization changes have frustrated some free users. EWA struggles with inconsistent accents, basic lesson content for intermediate learners, and significant customer service and billing issues.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: DuolingoR1R3R4R12
EWA EWA is praised for its library of reading material, including children's books and more advanced texts, and the inclusion of video clips for learning . Some users appreciate its focus on connecting and useful words first . However, a significant drawback is the prevalence of American accents when British accents are advertised or desired R1R3R4. Users also report that lessons can be very elementary, even for intermediate levels, and that new lessons don't always open up despite progress R12. Some find the translations to be AI-generated and lacking context or containing errors R21.
Duolingo Duolingo is highly praised for its interactive lessons and its ability to teach practical phrases for travel . Beyond languages, Duolingo also offers chess, math, and music lessons, which users find engaging and effective R69R75R77. Many users appreciate the variety of courses and the overall effectiveness of the learning method .
Ease of Use & Engagement edge: DuolingoR6R7R11R16
EWA EWA is described as engaging and addictive by some users, with a good format that encourages continued learning R11. Users find it easy to navigate and appreciate the repetition for retention . The app is also noted for clear pronunciations in some instances R16. However, some users find the gamification to be 'nonsense' and struggle to pick up where they left off R7. Free users are annoyed by constant prompts to upgrade R6.
Duolingo Duolingo is widely considered fun and engaging, with users describing it as a 'game' . The interactive nature of the lessons is a strong point . However, recent updates have introduced a 'battery' or 'energy' feature that limits learning for free users, which many find frustrating and counterproductive R51R53R66R71. Some users also report issues with app navigation after updates, requiring multiple swipes to exit .
Reliability & Performance tieR17R21R33R56
EWA EWA users report issues with sound quality, especially with video clips where laughter and music make it difficult to hear R17R33. There are also complaints about the app's difficulty in progressing to the next stage after tests R17. Some users find the app to be very basic and repetitive R21.
Duolingo Duolingo generally performs well, with many users praising its effectiveness. However, some users experience technical glitches like lessons locking up or no sound during 'tap what you hear' exercises R56. There are also reports of haptics playing without consent despite settings being turned off . Some users note that translations and hints contain mistakes that are not fixed .
Price & Value tieR4R6R9R10
EWA EWA is criticized for its aggressive monetization tactics, with users reporting being charged for additional subscriptions without clear pricing R10. There are also significant complaints about difficulties in canceling subscriptions and obtaining refunds, with some users calling it a 'scam' R4R9R10. The free version is annoying due to constant upgrade prompts R6.
Duolingo Duolingo offers a free tier, but recent updates have made it more restrictive, with a 'battery' or 'energy' system limiting free learning R51R53R66R71. Users feel that the app has become more 'money-driven' and that the aggressive gamification and monetization are disappointing R51. Ads for the premium 'Super Duolingo' are frequent and annoying for free users .
Customer Support edge: DuolingoR4R9R10R21
EWA EWA's customer service receives negative feedback, with users reporting that their issues are not understood or that they are told everything is 'fine' when it's not R10. There are also complaints about difficulty in processing refunds and cancellations R4R9R21.
Duolingo Duolingo users mention difficulty accessing app support and that reported mistakes in translations are not fixed despite repeated reports .
Pick EWA if

you prioritize learning through reading materials and video clips, and are comfortable with potentially basic lesson content and navigating customer service issues .

Pick Duolingo if

you want a highly engaging and interactive app for learning languages, chess, math, or music, and are willing to tolerate or pay for premium features to avoid limitations R69R75R77.

Evidence note: Duolingo has a significantly larger number of reviews, providing a broader base of user experiences. Both apps have a free tier, and much of the negativity for both revolves around limitations and monetization in the free version. EWA's negative reviews are more focused on billing and content quality issues, while Duolingo's recent negative reviews are largely about changes to the free tier experience.

Frequently asked

Does EWA offer British accents?
Despite promotional videos suggesting British RP accents, EWA primarily uses American accents, which has disappointed users seeking British English R1R4.
Can I learn more than just languages on Duolingo?
Yes, Duolingo has expanded its offerings to include chess, math, and music lessons, which users find engaging and helpful R69R75R77.
Are there issues with canceling subscriptions on EWA?
Yes, several users report significant difficulties in canceling subscriptions and obtaining refunds from EWA, with some claiming they were still charged months after unsubscribing through the App Store R4R9R10.
Why are Duolingo users frustrated with recent updates?
Recent Duolingo updates introduced a 'battery' or 'energy' feature that limits the number of lessons free users can complete, which many find frustrating and a push towards paid subscriptions R51R53R66R71.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 100 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] EWA 1/5 · GB Accents: Surely the app should be mirroring good practice and helping us to pay attention to honing our accent, instead too often there are American accented mispronunciations of words and particularly those with the letter J, why? Also, for a paid app, there are a ridiculous number of cookies that need to be denied access in a protracted exercise that should be accepted or denied with a single cl
  2. [R3] EWA 3/5 · GB Doctor: Could i have a narrator with British Accent ?
  3. [R4] EWA 1/5 · GB Scam Scam Scam Scam Scam Scam Scam Scam Sca Scam Scam Scam: I downloaded this app because their promotional videos use a British RP accent, which is what I wanted to learn. In reality, the app only uses an American accent. I unsubscribed from the App Store the same day, but three months later I noticed they were still charging me. When I contacted them, they said I must cancel through their websi
  4. [R12] EWA 3/5 · GB Very elementary: Unless you’ve never heard a word of Spanish, don’t do “ beginners” I’m really a beginner, but even intermediate is very basic
  5. [R6] EWA 3/5 · GB Okay, but some times annoying.: This at first seemed like a really good app. And while it is not terrible, some improvements would help. (i) I use the free version, but every time I use it I have to state I don’t want to buy. When I click I don’t want to see the message again, it reappears the following day. (ii) when the words of a sentence have been put together, there is no translation to what
  6. [R7] EWA 1/5 · GB Waste of Money: Gamified nonsense. Impossible to find where to pick up having made progress yesterday. Less gamification and more focus on learning. 2/10 see me after class
  7. [R11] EWA 5/5 · GB So far so good: I’ve been using EWA for a few days now, although it’s early days I like the format and feel that I am engaged so wanting to continue learning. Hopeful that it continues.
  8. [R16] EWA 5/5 · GB Clear pronunciations: The best bit about this app is hearing the phrases and the pronunciations
  9. [R17] EWA 1/5 · GB Poor App: I completed first stage of this but then had to complete a test before moving on to the next stage. It is so hard to make out the sound on bits of videos and I am constantly getting 6/9 which doesn’t let me progress to next stage. How do I skip this. Using overdubs on tv shows like Friends is not ideal with laughter and music making it so difficult to hear.
  10. [R21] EWA 1/5 · GB Translated by AI, very basic and difficult to cancel: No free trial and they make you jump hoops to get a refund. It’s a Babbel and Duolingo ripoff without any of the investment. It is created using AI so the translations lack context and it is full of errors. The lessons are very basic and repetitive.
  11. [R33] EWA 5/5 · GB French: Pretty good. My only niggle is the quality of the sound clips of the movie clips. Otherwise a good all round learning hub.
  12. [R56] Duolingo 3/5 · GB Problem: tap what you hear but I get no sound
  13. [R9] EWA 3/5 · GB About refund: Hello, I subscribed to the 3-month plan today. I saw that refunds are available within 14 days, would it be possible for me to receive a refund? Could you please let me know how I can proceed with the refund process?
  14. [R10] EWA 1/5 · GB Scam: I bought a subscription and set my level to intermediate, but the app started teaching me as if I knew no English at all. Then a message appeared asking if I wanted “better learning tools” with no price shown. After I clicked yes, it turned out to be another paid subscription. I contacted customer service immediately to cancel. First they said they didn’t understand the issue. After I asked
  15. [R69] Duolingo 5/5 · GB Learning: I think this app is really good because it helps me learn different things like languages and chess
  16. [R75] Duolingo 5/5 · GB AVAH: I do chess, it’s so fun and you build up difficulty by the lessons. I really recommend it. At the start there is so many options to help you
  17. [R77] Duolingo 5/5 · GB Best learning app ever!: Learning with Duolingo is so fun as well as languages you can learn chess, maths and music as well. It is definitely effective.
  18. [R51] Duolingo 1/5 · GB Disappointing: Im not one to usually leave reviews, however I am disappointed to see that Duolingo have changed the “hearts” feature to the new battery feature which majorly limits how much you learn as you run out very quickly. Learning your language and culture, or even a new language and culture should not be limited by the amount of funds you are able to pay. very saddening to see Duolingo tak
  19. [R53] Duolingo 3/5 · GB The app has changed: I started learning Spanish a few years ago, and have gone back on and off over the years and I went back onto the app today as I found the motivation to start learning again and it’s massively changed. One of the things I used to love was the idea that you could learn for free and it encouraged it (obviously offered a paid subscription for benefits but not at the cost of those
  20. [R66] Duolingo 4/5 · GB Good but: Bro why is this battery feature added I used all my gems to get more this trash and duo only gives me +1 battery and I just wanna learn byee
  21. [R71] Duolingo 4/5 · GB The energy: Duolingo is so fun to use but whenever you run up energy it’s really stupid cause then you can’t do any more lessons. I think we should only just have the lessons. I mean it’s a really cool idea to have like an energy thing but you only have 25 and you should have like 100 and you have to have like 15 energy to do like a specific lesson, which is currently stupid but overall it’s prett

Synthesized from 100 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store