Pay to learn? Duolingo's new experiment angers free users

Update 20/11/24 01:13 pm (IST): What started off as an experiment seems to have morphed into a full-blown change. Despite the initial negative feedback from users, Duolingo is apparently set to make users cough up money to earn hearts. Many users have taken to platforms like Reddit to share their frustrations regarding the new change. While most are unhappy with the change, some have taken it positively.

Original article published on August 2, 2024, follows:

Duolingo, the popular language-learning app, has sparked controversy with its latest update that removes a key feature for free users. According to numerous user reports, the app is testing the removal of the option to practice lessons to earn back “hearts” – the app’s system for limiting mistakes.

Previously, free users could practice old lessons to regain hearts after making mistakes. Now, many users report this option has disappeared, leaving them with only two choices when out of hearts: wait for hearts to regenerate over time or pay for the premium version. The main thread on Reddit has over 550 upvotes and 166 comments at the time of this writing, indicating that the community is indeed outraged with the move.

The heart system, a core mechanic of Duolingo, allows users to make a limited number of mistakes before being locked out of lessons. Traditionally, users could replenish hearts through practice exercises, watching ads, or waiting for them to regenerate over time. The removal of the practice option significantly impacts the learning experience for non-paying users. Here’s a screenshot shared by a user on X highlighting the UI now:

“It’s manufactured difficulty,” said one user. “You’re punishing free users to be perfect or don’t try at all, where paid users can make mistakes and learn.”

This change has been met with widespread criticism from the Duolingo community. Users argue it goes against the app’s educational mission by discouraging learning through trial and error. Many see it as a push towards forcing users into paid subscriptions.

“I know someone who uhm…found a way to have premium without paying. If this gets worse, I’ll just ask her what exactly she did,” one user commented, hinting at seeking out ways to pirate the premium version.

The impact appears to be particularly severe for those learning languages significantly different from their native tongue. As one user pointed out, “It punishes users for trying to learn languages that deviate substantially from their native languages (i.e., expanded phonetics or alternative writing systems).”

Duolingo moderators have stated this is currently an A/B test, meaning only some users are experiencing the change. However, the backlash has been swift, with many threatening to abandon the platform if the change becomes permanent.

“I will stop using Duolingo if I’m slightly inconvenienced,” one user stated. “Duo is a supplementary learning tool, not a primary.”

Some users have reported that the practice option reappears when they reach zero hearts, but disappears again after earning back one or two hearts. This inconsistency has added to the frustration and confusion among the user base.

That said, the outcome of this test could significantly influence the future of free language learning apps and their business models, too. Hopefully, the company considers the overwhelming amount of negative feedback as a sign to not move forward with this decision. We’ll keep tabs on the situation and will post an update if and when there are any further developments.