Duolingo Max is a good choice for users who value AI-powered personalization and explicit grammar explanations, and are willing to pay a premium for it. Rosetta Stone v5 is better suited for learners who prefer an immersive approach, a wider selection of languages, and more affordable subscription options.
| Attribute | Duolingo Max | Rosetta Stone v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription Cost | $29.99/month or $168/year (US). Family plan: $200-$240/year (US). Prices may vary by location. | 3-Month: ~$48. 12-Month: ~$126. Lifetime: $399 (often discounted). |
| Languages Offered | French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Japanese (for English speakers). English for Spanish speakers. Availability may vary. | Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Turkish, Vietnamese. |
| Learning Methodology | Gamification, AI-powered personalization (GPT-4), interactive lessons, "Explain My Answer", "Roleplay", immersive techniques. | Dynamic Immersion (words with images), native speaker audio, implicit grammar. |
| Speech Recognition Accuracy | AI provides real-time feedback. Accuracy may vary. | TruAccent provides feedback on pitch, rhythm, intonation, and sound accuracy. |
| Personalized Learning Paths | Tailored to individual needs, smart learning pathways. | Users set goals (travel, work, etc.), adaptive learning adjusts path. |
| Grammar Explanations | "Explain My Answer" feature offers detailed explanations. | Primarily implicit learning, no explicit explanations. |
| Vocabulary Retention Rate | Spaced repetition. | Associates words with images and real-world contexts. |
| Offline Access | Premium benefit. | Available for downloaded lessons on mobile devices. |
| Progress Tracking & Reporting | Tracks learning progress, motivates users. | Tracks goals, time spent, course progress. Admin monitoring available. |
| User Interface & Experience | User-friendly, visually appealing, gamified. | Polished, intuitive, consistent across platforms. |
| Customer Support Quality | "Explain My Answer" feature (AI-powered support). | Personalized assistance and follow-up. |
| Mobile App Availability & Features | iOS and Android, cross-platform synchronization. | iOS and Android, access to lessons, speech recognition, offline learning. |