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

Drops vs Duolingo

Drops 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Duolingo
Duolingo 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75

Duolingo offers a more comprehensive and engaging language learning experience, despite its flaws, while Drops is better suited for focused vocabulary acquisition.

Full reviews: Drops · Duolingo

Duolingo provides a broader language learning experience with grammar and sentence structure, but users report issues with AI, gamification, and aggressive premium prompts. Drops excels at vocabulary building with a visually appealing interface, though recent updates and subscription management have caused user frustration.

Head to head

Features & Learning Approach edge: DuolingoR2R4R8R13
Drops Drops is praised for its focus on vocabulary, visual learning, and bite-sized sessions, making it easy and fun for many users R2R8R56. Some users specifically prefer its vocabulary-centric approach over full sentence learning . However, recent updates have introduced AI art and redundant grouping, making navigation difficult for long-time users R4R13. There are also complaints about a lack of depth, especially for advanced learners, and a shift from pure vocabulary to phrases .
Duolingo Duolingo is lauded for teaching vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and sentence construction, with users reporting significant progress in multiple languages . It's also noted for its gamified approach and fun learning environment . However, recent AI-powered updates have led to repetitive lessons, a lack of new content, and buggy, unhelpful features R64R70R73R76. Some users find the gamification excessive and distracting for serious learning .
Ease of Use & User Experience tieR2R4R9R13
Drops Drops is generally considered easy to use with an intuitive interface and simple app design R2. However, recent updates have made navigation harder, with topics buried in new folder structures R4R13. Some users also report persistent bugs, like audio issues and login difficulties R9R33.
Duolingo Duolingo is seen as engaging and fun, with a clear learning path . However, many users find the app overly gamified, requiring too many taps after each lesson and featuring excessive pop-ups and ads, which disrupts the learning flow . There are also complaints about confusing course updates that scramble progress .
Reliability & Accuracy tieR1R7R9R12
Drops Drops users report significant issues with incorrect translations and pronunciations, which can be confusing for new learners R1R12. There are also reports of audio not working for certain words R9. A major concern is the disappearance of lifetime memberships after updates, with users struggling to prove their purchases R7.
Duolingo Duolingo's AI-powered features are criticized for being buggy and not understanding correct pronunciations R70. Some users note that the app's grammar for European languages can be nonsensical in longer sentences . There are also reports of glitches, such as the app not processing speech correctly during timed lessons .
Price & Value tieR15R16R22R25
Drops Drops is heavily criticized for its restrictive free tier, limiting users to 5 minutes a day or 2 languages, making it feel like 'pay to play' R16R22R25R28. The premium price is considered hefty, with some users feeling it's not worth it after learning all the offered content R15. There are also serious complaints about manipulative marketing, where free trials automatically convert to expensive annual subscriptions without clear notification .
Duolingo Duolingo's free version is also seen as restrictive, with frequent paywalls and a constant push for premium subscriptions . Users are frustrated by aggressive tactics for upgrading, including free trials that auto-charge for expensive annual plans without proper notification R61R100. Many feel the paid 'Super Duolingo' is too expensive for what it offers, especially given the reported issues with AI and ads even in premium versions .
Support tieR7R33R79R91
Drops Drops users report difficulty with customer support, particularly when trying to resolve issues with disappeared lifetime memberships R7. Some users also note that obvious bugs persist for years without being fixed R33.
Duolingo Duolingo users express frustration with the lack of explanations for mistakes and the inability to get reimbursement for points lost due to glitches . There are also complaints about aggressive notifications and the app's inability to be deleted by some users R79R91.
Pick Drops if

you prefer a vocabulary-focused approach with visual learning and bite-sized lessons, and you are willing to pay for a premium subscription to avoid restrictions R8R56.

Pick Duolingo if

you want a more comprehensive language learning experience that includes grammar and sentence structure, and you enjoy a gamified learning environment .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews related to recent updates, AI integration, and aggressive premium subscription tactics. Duolingo has a much larger user base, leading to a higher volume of reviews overall.

Frequently asked

Is Drops good for beginners?
Yes, Drops is recommended for beginners due to its simple, easy-to-use interface, visual learning, and focus on important everyday words in bite-sized sessions R2R8R32R56.
Are there issues with Duolingo's AI?
Yes, many Duolingo users report that the AI has negatively impacted the app, leading to repetitive lessons, a lack of new content, and buggy features that don't understand correct pronunciations R64R70R73R76.
Can I learn multiple languages with Drops for free?
No, the free version of Drops typically limits you to learning only one or two languages at a time, requiring a premium subscription to learn more R18R28.
Does Duolingo offer free trials and are they safe?
Duolingo does offer free trials, but many users report that these trials automatically convert to expensive annual subscriptions (e.g., $95.99 or $120) without adequate notification, leading to unexpected charges R61R100.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 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. [R2] Drops 5/5 · US I Like: Very Easy
  2. [R4] Drops 1/5 · US Too much ai clutter: I have the lifetime membership and have enjoyed the use of this app until I was forced to update due to pop up screens refusing to let me study. Finally update and find that it's changed and for the worse. Ai art at every crevice, organization made a mess with redundant grouping where it's a duplicate of other groups. I can't just go straight to a section, I have to find where
  3. [R8] Drops 5/5 · US Excellent: The blend of repetition, visuals, listening, and bite sized sessions work perfect for me. If anyone is learning Hebrew, this app is amazing btw!
  4. [R13] Drops 1/5 · US Great until the last update: I’ve been a multi-year user and use the app every day. Since the last major update, it’s become significantly harder to navigate. The new folder structure has made it difficult to see what I’m actively working on and what I haven’t completed yet. Topics that were previously visible at a glance are now buried inside categories, and progress feels hidden. Even when I go
  5. [R9] Drops 3/5 · US Audio not working: I want to hear tones and reinforce using new words, but it only has audio files for house
  6. [R1] Drops 2/5 · US Potential: This app does have potential and with a company like kahoot I’m sure they can make the adjustments. My main issue is the translations are wrong and you may not catch it if you are new to a language. This is important because it can cause misunderstanding it a conversation where it may already be hard to understand each other. I did make a note of this in the improvement comment box befo
  7. [R7] Drops 1/5 · US Canceled my permanent membership.. beware: Bought this outright in 2023. They shifted to purely subscription based and told me they couldn’t find any records of my purchase. I sent them the correct email and they said nothing was found. I found my purchase receipt and it was with the email I thought it was. If you had a permanent account, make sure you still have access. They apparently will ask f
  8. [R12] Drops 3/5 · US Good app, but a lot of mistakes: Fun and easy way to learn language, but there are quite a few errors. For example, a word will say “el secreto” but the pronunciation will be “un secreto,” or the word will be “estás” but the pronunciation will be “está.” It’s quite annoying and makes me wonder how much of it is powered by AI.
  9. [R15] Drops 3/5 · US Free is fine but meh: Not worth the hefty price, and it only took me 318 days to learn everything they offered. Kinda pointless after that. Just do Duolingo.
  10. [R16] Drops 1/5 · US WHY IS THERE LGBTQ ON THE INTEREST?: Take that down Update: and blooket is better kahoot it’s to boring I trusted duo for Icelandic they don’t have it. But drops is straight up boring too much stupid ads and you have to pay money just to LEARN? CHOSE BLOOKET! and a different learning app
  11. [R22] Drops 1/5 · US All about money: It’s basically pay to play at this point. I used to love this app, but now it’s slow, cluttered, restrictive and focused on subscription ads.
  12. [R25] Drops 1/5 · US It doesn’t let me keep going: I like this app but it doesn’t let me keep going if I don’t have premium
  13. [R33] Drops 3/5 · US Good training but persistent bugs: The language training is good. There is a substantial vocabulary in a lot of languages. Using the software can be irritating because there are obvious bugs that the authors have not bothered to fix in the years I have been using the product. Worst is if you get logged out, signing back in can be difficult.
  14. [R79] Duolingo 1/5 · US How awful!: this app won’t let me delete it I’m very scared
  15. [R91] Duolingo 1/5 · US Annoying waste of space: Can’t delete the app and I’m never going to use it
  16. [R32] Drops 5/5 · US Try it out: Helps with important everyday words
  17. [R56] Drops 5/5 · US Great App: Simple to use and very helpful! I would recommend for beginners.
  18. [R64] Duolingo 2/5 · US AI has ruined this app.: This app was once a fun and reliable source for learning a language. There were lots of games and I learned multiple new words every time I got one the app. Ever since they made the aggravating switch to being proudly AI powered, I haven’t learned something new in ages. Every lesson in the course has been the same few useless words drilled again and again. I am very disapp
  19. [R70] Duolingo 1/5 · US Duo can Bo better! (PLEASE READ THIS!!!): I was learning some Chinese and chess to talk and play with my best friend. I honestly think Duolingo is a mean and a creepy app! I did my first chess lesson with Oscar, but then when I was in the middle of the lesson when Oscar said some really mean stuff. Which made me stop learning chess. When I was practicing my Chinese, I said multiple words properly
  20. [R73] Duolingo 1/5 · US This AI slop is SO BAD.: I rarely even wrote reviews, but I’m canceling my subscription after this. I was doing really well with this, but the overhaul is AI-driven, unhelpful, buggy, and frustrating. The app is placing pure profitability over actual quality. Too bad, since I won’t be giving them my money anymore.
  21. [R76] Duolingo 1/5 · US Any AI chatbot is better than this: The app keeps moving further away from actual language learning and more towards promoting products and charging you more for poor usage of AI. The hints to help explain odd verb tenses is practically nonexistent, the chatbot is awful at understanding what you’re saying, and get ready to constantly be put into competitions each week with bot accounts that have 3
  22. [R18] Drops 3/5 · US Reasoning for rating: This app only lets you learn 2 languages at a time. What if I want to learn 3 or maybe even 4. I get why you guys would want us to only learn a small number of languages at a time, but I need to learn 3. Thank you for understanding.
  23. [R28] Drops 2/5 · US Used to be great. Now there’s way more restrictions?: Drops used to be a good, versatile language-learning app that could let you learn and practice each of your chosen/added languages whenever you wanted; now, drops is restrictive and obstructive with how much and what languages you learn. You learn only one by default, unless you purchase the real deal. Do better.
  24. [R61] Duolingo 1/5 · US Upgrades never notify you: This app always prompts you to upgrade to Super Duolingo. When they offer free trials they NEVER notify you before a $95.99 charge hits your account.
  25. [R100] Duolingo 1/5 · US Do Not Get A Free Trial: I took a free trial for seven days. They said they would remind me two days before my trial ended. That didn’t happen. Anyways, on the day that my trial ended, I woke up to find that at 4:00 am they had charged my card with 120$. I was so shocked and immediately deleted Duolingo and canceled my subscription and I had to cancel my card. They are scammers and I definitely do

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store