Duolingo
LinkedIn Learning
| Feature | Duolingo | LinkedIn Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $9.99/mo | From $19.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | language-learners, students, travelers, beginners | professionals, job-seekers, corporate-teams, career-changers |
| Founded | 2011 | 2015 |
| Lessons | ✓ | ✗ |
| Stories | ✓ | ✗ |
| Podcasts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Leaderboards | ✓ | ✗ |
| Streaks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Placement Tests | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Courses | ✗ | ✓ |
| Certificates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learning Paths | ✗ | ✓ |
| Linkedin Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Offline Viewing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Exercises | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recommendations | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Duolingo Pros
- Completely free core experience
- Gamification makes learning addictive
- AI conversation practice
- 40+ language courses
✗ Duolingo Cons
- Limited for advanced learners
- Ads on free tier
- Grammar explanations can be minimal
✓ LinkedIn Learning Pros
- Certificates display directly on LinkedIn profile
- 16,000+ courses covering business, tech, and creative
- High production quality with industry experts
- Personalized learning paths and recommendations
✗ LinkedIn Learning Cons
- No free plan (only 1-month trial)
- Content can feel surface-level for advanced topics
- Not recognized as formal education credentials
The Verdict
Duolingo is built for language learners and students, with a focus on lessons and stories. LinkedIn Learning targets professionals and job seekers and leads with video-courses and certificates.
On pricing, Duolingo is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $9.99/mo compared to $19.99/mo for LinkedIn Learning. That $9.999999999999998/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Duolingo has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. LinkedIn Learning requires a paid subscription from day one.
Bottom line: Duolingo has a slight overall edge — but if certificates display directly on linkedin profile matters most to you, LinkedIn Learning may still be the right call.