Duolingo Max Is Ending: Video Call Moves to Super, and Is Super Worth It?

Short answer: Duolingo is phasing out Duolingo Max. Its Q3 2026 shareholder letter says it stops selling new Max subscriptions this month (November 2026), moves individual Max subscribers to a Super Family plan at the same price, and is on track to give unlimited Video Call, its AI speaking feature, to all Super subscribers by the end of 2026. Legacy Max Family subscribers will hear about their options in 2027. Super is listed at $9.99 to $119.99 in the US App Store (checked November 12, 2026). For daily Duolingo users who want to speak more, Super is better value than it has ever been; for serious speaking goals, it is a warm-up, not a replacement for a tutor.

This guide was updated on November 12, 2026. It covers what Duolingo announced, what changes for current Max users, what Super includes now, how Video Call works, what the research says and our verdict on whether Super is worth paying for.

What Duolingo Announced: Max Is Being Phased Out

In its Q3 2026 shareholder letter (filed November 3, 2026), Duolingo wrote: "Since unlimited Video Call will be part of Super, we've decided to sunset Duolingo Max, our highest subscription tier." The letter says that this month the company will stop selling new Max subscriptions and move existing individual Max subscribers to a Super Family plan at the same price, "giving them the same feature set plus the added benefit of sharing their subscription with family or friends." Options for legacy Max Family subscribers will be addressed in 2027.

The reason is cost. On the Q3 2026 earnings call, CEO Luis von Ahn said a Video Call cost about $0.30 in AI inference at launch and now costs well under $0.01, mainly after moving to open-weight models. Putting it in Super lets Duolingo offer it to about ten times as many people, because there are far more Super subscribers than Max subscribers. Management also said Max is now a single-digit share of both paid subscribers and bookings. Observer's November 11 report frames the move as giving more learners a reason to pay for an app they can otherwise use for free.

For context, the same letter reports Q3 2026 revenue of $309.0 million (up 14% year over year), 64.9 million daily active users (up 29%) and 13.1 million paid subscribers (up 14%).

What Changes for Current Max Users

In practice, an individual Max subscriber keeps paying what they paid before, keeps Video Call and gains extra seats: Duolingo's Super page says Super Family covers up to 6 Super accounts. The letter describes the switch as something Duolingo carries out, not something subscribers have to request. Exact timing for each account was not published on the pages we checked, so after the switch it is worth confirming your plan name, renewal date and price in your subscription settings, and inviting family or friends if you want to use the extra seats.

What Super Includes Now

The free version of Duolingo still includes all learning content, with ads. Super removes ads, gives unlimited energy (explained in our guide to the Duolingo energy system) and adds personalized review. The Super page also lists free challenge entry, a 1 week free trial and the Super Family option. When we checked on November 12, 2026, that web page did not yet mention Video Call, which fits the stated end-of-year rollout.

How Duolingo Video Call Works

Video Call with Lily

According to Duolingo's own description, Lily starts the conversation, adapts to your level and lets you talk about anything. You can ask her to repeat or slow down, and you are not penalized for mistakes, because the goal is low-pressure practice. Early in a course a call lasts about a minute; later it can run to about three minutes. Calls appear as nodes on your path and in the Practice Hub.

Video Call with Falstaff

Falstaff, announced in January 2026, is aimed at learners who freeze. Duolingo says he asks questions based on your level, suggests phrases and translations when you need them, gives real-time feedback in your own language and keeps the conversation on practical, everyday topics. At launch it covered English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Korean and Chinese on iOS, with a wider rollout planned during 2026.

What a call is not

A Video Call is not a lesson in the traditional sense. You will not get a detailed breakdown of every error, a pronunciation score per sound or a long free conversation on a topic you choose for twenty minutes. It is a short, friendly speaking rep placed inside the Duolingo path.

What Super Costs (Checked November 12, 2026)

Duolingo's Super page shows no prices; prices appear in the app and vary by country, platform, promotion and plan length. The US App Store listing for Duolingo shows these in-app purchases for Super Duolingo, unchanged from our previous check on November 9:

The App Store does not label each price, so the "likely billing" column is our reading, not Duolingo's. If $79.99 is a yearly price, it works out to about $6.67 a month. The price on your own paywall is the one that applies to you.

Does Video Call Really Improve Speaking?

Duolingo's research report (March 30, 2026, written by researchers in its Efficacy Research Lab) describes three internal studies:

• French and Spanish early beginners who used Video Call with Falstaff were better at speaking useful conversation phrases than those who did not.
• Japanese speakers learning intermediate English who used Video Call at least twice a day for a month improved more on a standardized speaking test than learners who stuck to regular lessons.
• English speakers learning early intermediate Spanish who did calls with Lily showed greater speaking improvement and reported higher confidence than those who only did lessons.

Those results point in a sensible direction: speaking more produces better speaking. Two caveats matter. First, the report is company research, and the public page does not give sample sizes or effect sizes. Second, "more than regular Duolingo lessons" is a low bar, because ordinary lessons involve little spontaneous speech. The fair conclusion is that Video Call is better than not speaking at all, not that it equals a full conversation tutor.

Strengths and Limits

Is Super Worth It in Late 2026? Our Verdict

Super is a better deal at the end of 2026 than at any point before, because the feature that used to justify the more expensive Max tier is now included at Super prices. Whether it is worth paying for depends on how you use Duolingo:

A sensible way to decide: start the 1 week free trial, check that Video Call appears for your course, use it every day of the trial, and only then commit to a yearly plan.

Who Needs More Than Video Call

If you want detailed feedback on grammar, pace and filler words, or longer conversations on your own topics, add a dedicated AI speaking tutor. Our top pick for adults working on spoken English is Enverson AI, which offers role play, multi-character "meeting" practice, an AI Advisor that tracks weak spots, and vocabulary review; its site lists it at about $9 a month (checked November 12, 2026). Speak and Praktika are strong alternatives, compared in our Speak vs Praktika vs Duolingo guide.

Not sure which kind of tool you need? The Find Your Fit matcher asks a few questions and points you to a shortlist, and our methodology explains how we rate speaking tools.

How to Get the Most From Duolingo Video Call

1. Do one call a day, not one a week. The intermediate study cited above used at least two calls a day.
2. Say more than the minimum. Answer with two or three sentences instead of one word.
3. Review the transcript afterwards and write down one phrase you wanted but did not have.
4. Reuse that phrase in your next call or in a longer session with a speaking tutor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Duolingo Max being discontinued?

Yes. Duolingo's Q3 2026 shareholder letter says it is sunsetting Max: it stops selling new Max subscriptions in November 2026 and moves individual Max subscribers to a Super Family plan at the same price.

What happens to my Duolingo Max subscription?

If you have an individual Max plan, Duolingo says it will move you to Super Family at the same price, with the same features plus sharing for up to 6 accounts. Legacy Max Family subscribers will hear about their options in 2027.

Does Super Duolingo include Video Call now?

New Super subscribers have had unlimited Video Call since mid 2026, and Duolingo says it is on track to give it to all Super subscribers by the end of 2026. If you do not see it yet, the rollout is still in progress.

How much does Super Duolingo cost?

The US App Store lists Super Duolingo at $9.99, $12.99, $79.99, $83.99, $95.99 and $119.99 (checked November 12, 2026). Duolingo's own Super page shows no prices, so your in-app paywall shows the exact price for your country.

Is Super Duolingo worth it in late 2026?

For daily Duolingo users who want speaking practice, yes: Super now bundles unlimited Video Call with no ads and unlimited energy. Casual learners can stay on the free tier, and anyone with a serious speaking goal should add a dedicated tutor.

Is Video Call enough to become fluent?

Not on its own. Duolingo's research shows learners who use it speak better than those who only do lessons, but calls are short and light on correction. Pair it with longer speaking practice and real conversations.

Sources

• Duolingo Q3 2026 shareholder letter (SEC filing)
• Observer: Duolingo's Luis von Ahn phases out Max, expands A.I. calls (November 11, 2026)
• Duolingo Q3 2026 earnings call transcript (The Motley Fool)
• Duolingo: Super Duolingo page
• Duolingo Blog: Video Call with Lily
• Duolingo Blog: Video Call with Falstaff
• Duolingo Blog: Video Call research report
• Duolingo on the US App Store (in-app purchase list)

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