Duolingo Max vs Memrise: pricing, features and which to choose

Duolingo Max is Duolingo’s premium language-learning subscription, made by the company founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker. Duolingo reported 130.2 million monthly active users and 10.3 million paid subscribers in the first quarter of 2025. Max combines Super Duolingo benefits with AI conversation features, although the company has since expanded some former Max features to free or Super users. The product targets learners who prefer short, game-like lessons and need extra speaking practice. It is not a standalone tutor. Max runs through Duolingo’s mobile apps, and the company says it cannot be purchased or accessed through the web platform. Course and language support also varies, which makes the subscription less uniform than its name suggests.

A normal workflow starts with Duolingo lessons, then adds speaking practice through Roleplay or Video Call when the learner’s course supports those features. Roleplay presents practical situations, such as ordering coffee or shopping, with Duolingo characters supplying prompts. Video Call with Lily offers on-demand spoken conversations that adapt to the learner’s level and allow repetition requests. Video Call with Falstaff adds a more guided format, including level-based questions, suggested phrases, translations, and feedback in the learner’s language. Calls can appear on the path or in the Practice Hub. Explain My Answer now gives personalized grammar and vocabulary feedback to all learners, rather than remaining a Max-only benefit.

Max makes the most sense for a Duolingo regular who wants structured, low-pressure speaking drills. It is less suitable for learners seeking live teachers, human correction, advanced open-ended discussion, or a full course outside supported languages. Babbel offers more traditional lesson structure, Busuu adds community correction, and ChatGPT supports broader conversation without Duolingo’s course progression. Max’s feature advantage has narrowed as Explain My Answer and Video Call expand beyond the tier. Choose it when character-led practice and Duolingo’s familiar progression matter more than unrestricted tutoring, web access, or predictable feature availability. Learners focused mainly on AI calls should first check whether their Super subscription already includes Video Call. It suits structured language practice.

Memrise began in London in 2010, founded by Ed Cooke, Ben Whately, and Greg Detre after their Oxford neuroscience and psychology studies. Its approach combines memory science, practical vocabulary, linguistic expertise, and real speech. The company reports more than 80 million learners and courses covering 149 languages. The service supports beginners, intermediate learners, travelers, workers, culture-focused students, and exam candidates. Its public experience emphasizes practical scenarios and conversation preparation rather than vocabulary as an isolated flashcard exercise. Specialized goals include passing exams, speaking at work, building relationships, traveling, and understanding cultures. Native-speaker examples help connect studied words with spoken usage, while structured practice supports learners working independently across web and mobile.

Learners select a language, goal, and scenario, then study vocabulary through review sessions and varied lessons. Native-speaker videos provide accents and context. Pronunciation practice asks learners to speak and receive feedback. Word Information combines translations, literal meanings, status tracking, scripts or romanisation, audio, and video. My Words functions as a personal dictionary, while My Activities records practice habits. Learners can practice hundreds of real-life scenarios, listen before speaking, and use AI Buddies for role-play, translation, culture, conjugation, assistant, and pronunciation activities. Pro adds grammar and verb drills, unlimited AI conversation, and an ad-free experience. The service is available on web and mobile, with feature coverage depending on language, device, and approved course.

Memrise suits independent learners who want authentic speech, broad language choice, and structured vocabulary. Duolingo is more game-like and habit-focused, while Babbel offers a more conventional course structure. Busuu adds community correction and certificate-oriented courses, and Pimsleur emphasizes audio-based speaking practice. Memrise is less suitable for learners needing a teacher-led syllabus, guaranteed human correction, or consistent pricing across regions. AI feedback can be imperfect, advanced depth varies by language, and privacy materials describe analytics and conversation processing. Choose Memrise for practical speaking preparation with native video and scenario practice. Choose Babbel for linear lessons, Busuu for peer interaction, or Duolingo for stronger game mechanics and daily habit loops.