Duolingo Max 12 Months: Is the AI Tier Worth It, and How to Pay Less
Max is Super plus two AI speaking features, and they only work on some courses and only in the mobile app. Here is how to tell whether Max is worth it for you, and what the 12-month upgrade involves.
Duolingo Max is the tier for learners who have hit a specific wall: they can read and tap their way through lessons but freeze when they have to produce a sentence. Max includes everything in Super and adds two features built around conversation. Whether it's worth the step up depends almost entirely on which course you're taking and where you study.
The SpandyUpgrades 12-month Max upgrade costs €55 against a retail reference of €168, a saving of 67%. If you want cheap Duolingo Max, it's applied to your existing account, with your streak and progress untouched.
What Max adds on top of Super
According to Duolingo's Max help article, as of October 2026 Max is Super plus:
- Roleplay. You hold a written conversation with one of Duolingo's characters in a set scenario, such as ordering coffee or shopping for furniture, and get feedback on your answers afterwards.
- Video Call with Lily. An on-demand spoken conversation with the character Lily. It sits on the learning path and in the Practice Hub.
Everything Super does is included as well: unlimited hearts, no ads, review of your mistakes and unlimited Legendary attempts.
The two conditions that decide whether Max is worth it
1. Your course has to support it. Duolingo lists:
| Feature | Supported courses (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Roleplay | English speakers learning French, Spanish, German, Portuguese or Italian; English for speakers of Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German or French |
| Video Call | Learning English, French, Spanish, Italian, German or Portuguese |
On a course that isn't listed, Duolingo says you keep the Super benefits, which means you'd be paying the Max price for Super.
2. You have to study in the app. Max features only exist in the iOS and Android apps. Duolingo lists Video Call for iOS and Android "Versions 13+ only". If you do most of your lessons in a browser, Max adds nothing you'd see.
If both conditions hold, Max is the only Duolingo tier that makes you speak and write freely rather than pick from given words.
How Max compares to the other two plans
| Plan | Price | Accounts | AI speaking features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max (this guide) | €55 | 1 | Roleplay and Video Call |
| Super | €35 | 1 | None |
| Super Family | €45 | Up to 6 | None |
The step from Super to Max pays for two features and nothing else. It's good value if you'll open Video Call or Roleplay a few times a week, and wasted if you won't. If you're unsure, Super is the safer choice.
Super Family doesn't include Max features for any member. Max is sold here as a single-account upgrade.
Ordering step by step
- Check your course against the table above. This is the step most people skip.
- On the Duolingo product page, choose Max · 12 months.
- Enter your Duolingo email and password, and a Discord or Telegram username.
- Pay by card or crypto at checkout. PayPal and direct wallet payments are handled in a Discord ticket. First-time buyers get 10% off.
- Most orders are delivered within 0–24 hours. Follow it on your order page.
- Open the Duolingo app on your phone. Video Call shows up on the path and in the Practice Hub, and Roleplay appears as character side quests. Change your password afterwards.
Before you order
- Leave any Family Plan. Your account must not be in a family, as a member or as manager.
- Let any existing subscription expire. An active paid plan on the account gets in the way.
- Update the app. Video Call needs a recent version of iOS or Android.
Risks and limits specific to Max
Course coverage can change. Duolingo adds courses to Max over time and says some AI features aren't available on every course. The supported list above is what Duolingo published as of October 2026. Check its help page if you're learning something else.
Max is single-account. Unlike Super Family, you can't spread Max across a household here.
The usual account conditions apply. You share your login once, so change the password after activation. The warranty replaces the plan if it stops working during the 12 months for a reason you didn't cause; claims go through Discord with your payment ID. It doesn't cover a region change after the upgrade, shared logins, or a ban for breaking Duolingo's terms.
Frequently asked questions
Does Max work on duolingo.com in a browser?
You'll have the Super benefits there. Roleplay and Video Call with Lily are only in the iOS and Android apps.
My course isn't on the supported list. Should I buy Max anyway?
No. Duolingo says learners on unsupported courses get Super benefits only, so Super gives you the same thing for less.
Is Video Call a real person?
No. Lily is one of Duolingo's characters, and the conversation is generated by AI. The point is unlimited speaking practice without booking a tutor.
Can I learn two languages and use Max on both?
The subscription is on your account, not on a course, so switching courses doesn't remove it. Roleplay and Video Call only appear on the supported courses.
Will upgrading reset my streak?
No. The streak, XP and course progress stay on your account. Only the plan changes.
For the wider comparison see the Duolingo buying guide, or order from the Duolingo page.