10 Reasons Why lingoni Is a Great Alternative to Duolingo

Most people have heard of Duolingo. It is one of the most popular language-learning apps, known for its gamified approach and quick lessons. You will hear plenty of ‘bing bings’ and ‘ding dings’ when people around you are using it… But is that the best way to learn a language?

Let’s take a look at what Duolingo has to offer and why lingoni is a great alternative!

1. Real-Life Language Learning

One of the biggest complaints about Duolingo is that it teaches random sentences made by algorithms.

• The owl eats the banana.
• My horse drinks wine.

But let’s be honest here: when will you ever say or use that?

lingoni, on the other hand, offers an authentic approach to learning a language. You’ll learn vocabulary and sentence structures that help you communicate in daily situations. Lessons are taught by native speakers who have learned the language and lived in foreign countries themselves.

We don’t just say that! From the very beginning, the lingoni team has been a mix of globetrotters and language lovers:

For French, Alicia from Paris will be your guide (she has been living in Barcelona for over 10 years). Jenny and Jacqueline from Cologne, who have lived in the US, France, and Argentina, will help you navigate German. If you’re learning English, Emily, Haley, and Brian from the US will support you every step of the way. Brian has lived in Europe and Asia, while Emily has called Germany and Finland her home. Haley has called the UK her home, but frequently travels back to the US.

With lingoni, you’ll gain authentic language skills from these experienced educators. They understand the challenges of learning a new language and will have your back.

2. Structured Learning Path

Duolingo often feels like a random collection of words and phrases. While its “tree” format gives some structure, it lacks a clear progressive learning path. You might finish a Duolingo unit without fully understanding why specific grammar rules work the way they do.

lingoni is different—it provides a well-structured curriculum that takes you step by step from beginner (A1) to advanced (B2). Each lesson builds on previous knowledge, ensuring that you develop a solid foundation before moving to the next level. You can even take a look at the lingoni curriculum before committing! Just sign up for the free trial and browse through the entire A1-B2 curriculum!

3. Comprehensive Video Lessons

Duolingo’s lessons are text-based and rely heavily on repetitive multiple-choice exercises, which can feel monotonous after a while. It doesn’t give you the opportunity to hear detailed explanations from native speakers.

lingoni, on the other hand, offers high-quality video lessons where native-speaking instructors explain grammar, vocabulary, and cultural aspects in depth. Watching someone explain the language can make complex topics much easier to understand compared to just reading them.

4. High-Quality Listening Exercises

One of the major downsides of Duolingo is its robotic text-to-speech voices, which often sound unnatural and don’t reflect the real rhythm and pronunciation of native speech.

lingoni offers listening exercises embedded into each unit featuring real native speakers. This helps learners train their ears for real conversations and develop proper pronunciation and intonation.

5. Downloadable Worksheets & Exercises

Duolingo is designed for quick, on-the-go learning, but it doesn’t provide structured exercises that you can print out or use offline.

With lingoni, every lesson comes with downloadable PDF worksheets so that you can practice offline beyond the app. You can even work on the material with your 1:1 language teacher. If you don’t have a teacher, the answer keys allow you to learn German in self-study mode.

6. Grammar Focus

Duolingo often glosses over grammar rules, leaving learners confused about how and when to apply them. If you’ve ever found yourself asking “Why is it this way?” on Duolingo, you’re not alone.

lingoni takes grammar seriously. Each video lesson explains the “why” behind the rules, allowing learners to understand sentence structure and grammar concepts fully. The video lessons include conjugation tables, a good number of examples, vocabulary and phrases used in different contexts, and tips on how to avoid common mistakes.

7. Pronunciation Practice

Duolingo does offer pronunciation practice, but it is somewhat limited. The app includes speech recognition exercises, where users repeat words or sentences into their device’s microphone. However, Duolingo’s system does not provide detailed feedback on pronunciation accuracy. It only checks if your response is close enough to be accepted.

lingoni helps you improve your pronunciation naturally by listening to native speakers and repeating what they say. Unlike other apps that use speech recognition, lingoni’s phrases are recorded by real teachers, designed for your level, and not generated by machines.

This method is similar to how people learn a language when they live abroad—by listening, practicing, and picking up the correct pronunciation over time. With lingoni’s pronunciation tool, available in the Intensive and Premium subscriptions, you can train your accent and sound more natural in real conversations.

7. Personalized Learning Experience

Duolingo follows a one-size-fits-all approach, meaning every learner follows the same path regardless of their learning style or specific goals. This can be frustrating if you already know some of the material but can’t skip ahead.

lingoni allows you to choose your level (A1, A2, B1, or B2) so you can start exactly where you need to. Are you at the B1 level but need to review some A2 grammar? You can jump back and forth between levels in the app! You can also skip lessons or come back to lessons you have already completed a while back and review them.

8. More Than Just an App

Duolingo is only an app, which can be limiting if you want a broader learning experience.

lingoni provides a multi-platform approach with:

• YouTube videos for free high-quality educational content
• Podcasts for convenient listening practice on the go
• Printable materials for in-depth learning and reinforcement
• Interactive exercises to test your skills
• Milestone tests to assess your progress and track your level

This means you’re not just relying on one type of learning method—you’re immersing yourself in the language through different formats, which helps with long-term retention.

9. No Annoying Gamification

Duolingo’s game-like elements (streaks, XP points, and leaderboards) can be fun, but they sometimes prioritize engagement over actual learning. Many users end up rushing through exercises just to maintain their streak rather than truly absorbing the material.

lingoni focuses on meaningful learning. You will not be kept engaged for the sake of app metrics. And you won’t feel pressured to complete daily streaks—you’ll simply be motivated by your progress and improvement.

10. Perfect for Serious Learners

If you’re just looking for casual exposure to a language, Duolingo might be enough. But if you’re serious about becoming fluent, improving your grammar, and speaking confidently, lingoni is the better choice.

With structured lessons, in-depth explanations, real-life language use, and a variety of learning materials, lingoni provides everything you need to develop strong language skills.

Conclusion

While Duolingo can be a good starting point, it has its limitations—random sentences, lack of grammar explanations, robotic voices, and a focus on streaks rather than true learning.

lingoni, on the other hand, offers a structured, immersive, and practical learning experience designed for serious learners who want to gain real fluency.

If you’re ready to take your German, French, or English skills to the next level, lingoni is the perfect alternative to Duolingo!