How to Develop an App Like Duolingo?

The world is too interdependent and interconnected and to engage globally one needs to develop proficiency in more than one or two languages. Learning a new language offers an ability to connect and communicate with others effectively. Bilinguals have great opportunities both in their professional as well as personal lives. Learning a language should not be costly and to make it convenient for everyone. To learn a language, there must be an application that offers a platform for studying, learning, and practicing such as Duolingo, Memrise, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, etc. Language learning app like Duolingo is an extremely useful app that not only helps users to learn a new language but also helps in their career advancement.

Introduction of Duolingo App

For keen learners, there comes a language learning app in the market named Duolingo. It not only makes the entire learning process much easier but also interactive. It is a free platform that helps users learn a new language from a list of more than 23 languages. There are defined training programs that help users learn a language in a hierarchical form. Different levels need to be completed by the users to get advanced knowledge.

There are also push notifications that help users to get reminded of their daily learning sessions so that they do not miss any sessions and can give regular tests and finish each chapter proficiently. The study material that is a part of Duolingo is checked thoroughly and is built using advanced AI algorithms. The users learn the new language through new words, phrases, and translations.

Working Model of a Language Learning App

While you think of how to develop an app like Duolingo, the first thing that needs to be considered is how the language learning app works. There are numerous ways by which users can learn a new language. Duolingo makes the learning experience so much easy and user-friendly. Let’s discuss the working model of the Duolingo language learning app:

1. Audio & Visual Exercises

These are the training exercises that allow users to read and learn various new words in the selected language. There are exercises related to translations as well as listening comprehension for rapid learning of the users.

2. Video Training

In these training exercises, the app makes use of the video content to help the users learn the new language. There are also music videos that help ease the learning process. Also, some subtitles provide for fast learning.

3. Chatbot

The next significant element in the working process of Duolingo is the chatbot. The users ask numerous questions, and the bot answers them. Also, the bot can provide pronunciation and translation as and when needed by the users. This functionality increases the overall cost of development by a high percentage as businesses need to hire Duolingo app developer that possesses expertise in integrating this feature in the app.

Features of A Language Learning App

When any business thinks of how to make a language learning app, the first thing that came into mind is – the features that need to be there in the application. Similarly, we have come up with the necessary features that should be there in a language learning application. Let’s check:

• Registration & Profile Creation

Users need to log in and create a profile to start using the application. The users can register or log in through their email id or their social media account. Then, their personal information is saved, and it can be changed under the privacy settings. Also, the complete data comprising the users’ activities in which the user has participated is stored.

• Social Media Integration

Once the social media account is linked with the application, the users can share their achievements on daily basis with relatives and friends. Also, it allows a one-touch login feature that enables users to fast log in through social media accounts instead of using email and password every single time. 

• Vocab Learning

This feature help users gain knowledge of basic vocabulary. It helps them to learn and study the language from scratch. The basic learning starts from words like girl, boy, apple, etc.

• Learning Levels and Courses

This feature offers all different language courses and levels from which the user selects as per their preference. There are approximately 23 different languages along with roughly 94 courses offered by the application. Also, the users can select the frequency whether they want to learn monthly, weekly, or daily.

• Daily Practice Sessions and Revision

There are different exercises in which the user participates to learn the desired language. This feature defines the true purpose and aim of this application. Some listening, speaking, and writing exercises help users successfully learn the language with continuous practice.

• Live Streaming

There is a feature of live streaming where the users can join the video conferences during group sessions. It helps users to learn effectively with better involvement. Businesses are required to hire an experienced eLearning app development company to integrate such features into the application. Such live streaming sessions make the entire process of learning more interactive and effective.

• Progress/ Test

There are progress trackers to help users celebrate their daily or weekly progress and achievements. It helps motivates them to repetitively use the application for continuous learning. 

• Push Notifications

When you go for a language learning platform development, then it is one of the key features that need huge consideration. It helps to remind the users about their daily or weekly learning exercises so that they can complete their course and do not let any gap come in between the learning process. This feature is highly beneficial for users who are not too dedicated to their online learning classes. It helps to bring regularity to the daily routine to complete the target in a set timeline.

• Gamification

When you develop a language learning app like Duolingo, gamification is the core feature of the application. It is there to enter the gaming functions in the app. It helps to make the app super engaging for the users so that it can make users stay. There are attractive sound effects as well as animation that are there while practicing sessions and they are changed with a change in the levels. When the screen is appealing and engaging, the users are likely to remain involved.

This feature increases the overall Duolingo app development cost, but it is worth that. Also, there are badges and other articles that are awarded when the user completes the course. These achievements attract and motivate users to continue with their language learning. Also, this feature has a leaderboard screen for the users where they can check all their achievements.

• Feedback

There is a feature of user feedback where the users can give valuable feedback about the learning process and exercises. It helps apps to make improvements in the course learning patterns and user experience. 

• Online Learners community

There is a community for all the learners where they can communicate, ask questions, have discussions, and can exchange opinions. It helps in better learning and understanding the language.      

Global Stats of Famous Language Learning Mobile Apps in Feb. 2022 by Downloads

As per the data, Duolingo has been the most used mobile application for language learning across the globe. According to the February 2022 data, it is observed that there are approximately more than 8.6 million downloads of the Duolingo mobile app.

This app is primarily focused on the English language and thus it increases the number of worldwide downloads. Because of the gamification feature, Duolingo is popular among both kids and adults for practicing and learning new languages.

Top Language Learning Apps Like Duolingo

In the online language learning market, several other players give tough competition to Duolingo. Following are those top language learning apps like Duolingo:

Monetization Model of a Language Learning App

While any business goes for language learning app development, they always check upon how much the app will earn along with the calculation of how much does Duolingo app development cost. And for this, they consider various ways by which they can generate revenue from that application.

Let’s discuss the monetization model of a language learning app like Duolingo:

1. In-App Advertisements

In-app advertisement is one of the most popular and potential revenue generation strategies for the app. Advertisements from different businesses are shown in the app and the application charges a fixed percentage from them. It helps both the applications to earn revenues and the enterprises to promote their products and services through these in-app advertisements.

2. Subscription Model

The language learning app can be used without paying any charges but there comes a lot of advertisements in between the learning process. Whereas there are users that do not want to see these ads and for that, they need to purchase a subscription. With this, the businesses earn a fee for the paid subscription plan by providing the users with an ad-free version of the app. Other than providing the users with an ad-free experience, there are many other benefits availed by the users with this subscription. There is an in-app currency and gems that help the users to have access to the content before other users.

3. Certification Courses

Certain certificates are given to the users who undertake certain courses and once they have completed those additional learning courses, they are given these competition certificates to the users for performing well. But these certification courses are not for free, and the businesses charge the users for these courses. This revenue model helps businesses earn a large income regularly.

Technology Stack Required for Duolingo-like App Development

There is a set of technology stacks that are required for all kinds of mobile app development. To have a high-responsive and user-friendly language learning app, it is necessary to integrate adequate and advanced technologies. Check the primary technologies required for language learning app development:

i) For UI/UX Design & Development

For iOS and Android, developers use Swift and Java and for the web version, Bootstrap and CSS3 are used for front-end development, and Django, AngularJS, JavaScript, Python, or Ruby are used for backend of an on-demand app development process.

ii) For Real-Time Analytics

For this, there is a need for technology that will help to conduct real-time virtual tours effectively. Developers use technologies like Cisco, Spark, Apache Flink, IBM, Hadoop, and BigData.

iii) For Database

There is a lot of information and data in the language learning app, therefore, updated, and reliable technologies must be used. Primarily Postgres, HBase, MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, etc. are used by the developers.

iv) For Cloud

For safe and secure storage of data, Google cloud storage and Amazon data servers can be used. These help to keep the data highly secure and easily accessible.

While deciding upon the technology stack for the language learning app development, you must make sure that you hire a mobile app developer that has enough experience in using these technologies so that proficient results can be attained.

Language Learning App Development Process

The development process is one of the key segments that highlight the necessary steps involved in the Duolingo like education app development. Check the following steps:

Step 1: Market Research

There is a need to perform market research to check who are the existing competitors of the app and how they are working. There is a need to gather information related to the customer segment, market strategies of the competitors, and the loopholes in serving the adequate needs of the users. This market research helps in identifying key opportunities for business growth while having an estimation of the Duolingo app development.

Step 2: App Designing

This step of the development process is highly crucial as in the existing market competition, it is essential to create an app that is attractive as well as interactive. Businesses go for education app development services to help get an app that is user-friendly and responsive. It is required that the wireframes and prototype be developed to make the application seamless. The selection of UI/UX design can help make the app responsive. Therefore, an appealing app helps to fetch the attention of the users.

Step 3: App Development

This step requires the selection of a complete tech stack. As per the platform selected for the app development, the milestones are defined. The codes are developed for the app development. Businesses hire mobile app developers that can write these codes and are efficient to use advanced technologies. For improved user experience, a translation app development company is also required to efficiently use AR (Augmented Reality) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies too.

Step 4: App Testing

For the successful launch of an application, it is essential that the app first goes through the various testing phases. When the functionality of the application is tested, it helps to make the app safe, secure, and seamless. The business needs to hire experts that can check and test the app on various parameters such as security, user experience, performance, and functionality. When the app passes all these tests without any errors or bugs, then only it can move to the launching phase.

Step 5: App Launching

App launching is the final step where the app is being presented by launching it on the decided platform. After the successful launch of the application, the users can give their reviews and share their experiences. Based on these reviews, the app developers need to check and keep a track of the maintenance so that users do not face any difficulty in using the application. While taking care of all the steps during the process of how to build an app like Duolingo, the app maintenance part also needs adequate attention from the developers.

Factors Affecting the Cost to Develop an App like Duolingo

There are numerous factors on which the Duolingo like app development cost depends upon. Let’s discuss some of the key factors:

1. Selection of the App Platform

While developing an application, the first and foremost requirement is to select the platform as the overall cost varies with a huge difference with the change in the app platform. The businesses need to finalize whether they are selecting iOS, Android, or both. The level of complexity, team structure, and tech stack all are further dependent upon the type of platform chosen for app development.

2. Required Team Structure

The app development is solely in the hands of the team who is assigned for its development. There is a team structure that needs to be built for the successful development of an app, but you must be more attentive to it as it can affect the cost to develop an app.

• Business Analyst
• Project Manager
• UI/UX Designers
• iOS or Android Developers
• Quality Analyst Professionals

All these together build a strong team for the development of an application.

3. Designing

The cost of designing an application plays a vital role while calculating the total development cost. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the key factors that impact the cost to design an app. There are design elements, tools, animation content, etc. that are used for app designing. Several companies charge a separate fee for user journey mapping, UX/UI research, and the user persona. Hence, it impacts the cost of development with a big difference.

4. Testing

Lastly, the cost to develop a learning app like Duolingo is impacted by the selection of testing tools for conducting the quality check of the application. There are numerous types of tests and to implement them, different tools are required.

Depending upon the integration of features and the use of advanced technologies, the cost of development varies. On an average basis, the cost of developing a language learning app ranges from $15,000 to $25,000.

To get insights into all other factors that can affect the cost of development, businesses can contact a mobile app development company that will help them to discuss their projects and provide them with a detailed analysis of the cost affecting factors.

Conclusion

In the present time, where the demand for learning foreign languages is increasing, businesses can find good earning opportunities from it. Several companies provide Android app development services and iOS app development services for businesses that need to have sound app solutions. Similarly, businesses seeking to grow in the education sector can contact these app development companies for developing responsive language learning applications. Duolingo is one of the language learning apps that has a wide user base across the globe. There is an immense opportunity for businesses to dip into this market and gain a competitive edge and a strong market share by coming up with a new and advanced language learning application.

If you are also seeking a good and experienced language learning app development company, then SemiDot Infotech is the one that can help you get a highly responsive app for your business. There is a team of expert developers that have hands-on experience in developing several web and mobile apps for clients worldwide.