Is Anki Better Than Duolingo? (Honest Comparison)

If you really want to remember what you learn, Anki is usually a better bet than Duolingo. While Duolingo feels more like a game, Anki is built to help you memorize thousands of words without hitting a wall.

Why people switch to Anki

• Duolingo eventually ends, but Anki can help you learn as many words as you want.
• You can add your own sentences from things you watch, so you aren't just learning textbook phrases.
• You only spend time reviewing the words you're actually about to forget — the core principle of spaced repetition, based on Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve.
• It helps you learn the real language people use in shows and podcasts.

When to stick with Duolingo

• If you're just starting out in your first month.
• If you really need the game-like feel to stay motivated.
• If you're just learning for fun and aren't in a rush.

The Main Downside of Anki

The biggest problem with Anki is that it can feel like a lot of work to set up. Making cards one by one is slow, but that's what tools like SubSmith are for. It lets you grab sentences and audio from movies so you don't have to type everything out.

Related guides:

• Is Anki Better Than Duolingo? - Deep-dive comparison with migration strategies
• The guide to sentence mining