As one of the last remaining holdouts on the Duolingo team, I’ve observed a noticeable shift in the app’s user experience over recent years. The once-invigorating gamification has intensified, and unfortunately, it seems that free users are bearing the brunt of these changes. The free plan now inundates users with ads for Super Duolingo and various third-party games, which cannot be skipped for several seconds. Moreover, the previous heart system, which allowed users to continue practicing until they made five mistakes, has been replaced by an energy bar that depletes even when answers are answered correctly.
However, a simple trick has emerged that allows users to revert to a more streamlined version of Duolingo—one that reinstates the heart system, eliminates ads, reduces clicks between lessons, and tones down the gamification aspect.
How to set up a Duolingo web app
Creating a web app is straightforward and transforms the way you access Duolingo. Instead of navigating to the website each time, you can install it as a dedicated app on your home screen. This process is simple: on Android, open Chrome and navigate to Duolingo.com, sign in, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, select Install and create shortcut, and then choose Install. This action will place a new Duolingo icon on your home screen, allowing you to launch it in its own window.
Once installed, using this icon instead of the standard app provides a seamless experience that closely resembles the regular version while utilizing the web interface.
Freedom for free users
The web version of Duolingo feels reminiscent of earlier iterations of the app, perhaps from two or three years ago. Many users agree that the app has deteriorated over time, making this rollback feel like a breath of fresh air. Free users will immediately notice the absence of the energy bar, which can be quite frustrating. During my testing with a new account, I found myself running out of energy near the end of my third lesson, despite making only a few mistakes. This limitation contradicts the app’s mission to facilitate language learning.
In contrast, the web app reintroduces the heart system, where the number of mistakes dictates the length of your session. This shift means that if your learning session is cut short, it is primarily due to your own performance rather than an arbitrary energy limit.
Additionally, the ads that plague the free version of the app are completely absent in the web app. Having experienced the annoyance of these ads firsthand, I can confidently say that their removal significantly enhances the user experience. The lack of ads and the return to the heart system are improvements that many users would find worthwhile, despite any trade-offs that may arise.
While the web app does retain some gamification elements, they are less intrusive. Users will encounter fewer distractions, such as the annoying animations and side quests that have become prevalent in the standard app. This streamlined approach allows for a more focused learning experience, enabling users to progress through lessons more efficiently.
The trade-offs
Despite the advantages of reverting to an earlier version of Duolingo, there are some trade-offs to consider. Certain features that enhance the learning experience, such as receiving explanations for answers after each question, are absent in the web app. Furthermore, users must prioritize learning over accumulating XP, as points and multipliers are less abundant in this version. For those who are not concerned with competing in leagues, this may not pose a significant issue.
The web app may also feel slightly clunkier and less visually appealing. For instance, when typing answers, users must dismiss the keyboard to access the ‘Check’ button, which can be a minor inconvenience. Additionally, while the absence of animations reduces clicks between lessons, users will occasionally be prompted to switch back to the normal app version, requiring an extra click to dismiss.
