How to Change Your Duolingo Super Subscription to Duolingo Max

If you're already paying for Duolingo Super and want to upgrade to Duolingo Max, you're not alone in wondering how the switch actually works. The process isn't as straightforward as flipping a toggle — and depending on how you originally subscribed, the steps can look quite different.

What's the Difference Between Duolingo Super and Duolingo Max?

Before getting into the mechanics of switching, it helps to understand what separates these two tiers.

Duolingo Super (formerly Duolingo Plus) removes ads, provides unlimited hearts, and unlocks a handful of practice features. It's Duolingo's long-standing premium tier and is available broadly across regions and devices.

Duolingo Max is a higher tier built on top of Super's features. It adds AI-powered tools — most notably Explain My Answer (which breaks down why you got something right or wrong) and Roleplay (an open-ended AI conversation practice mode). These features are powered by GPT-4 and are designed for learners who want deeper, more interactive practice.

How the Upgrade Process Generally Works

Duolingo Max is treated as a separate subscription tier, not a simple add-on to Super. This means you're not toggling a feature on — you're moving from one plan to another.

Step 1: Check Your Current Subscription Source

This is the most important variable. Your subscription is managed by whichever platform processed the original payment:

• App Store (iOS/Apple) — your subscription is managed through Apple
• Google Play (Android) — managed through Google
• Duolingo's website (web browser) — managed directly by Duolingo

You'll need to handle the change through the same platform where you originally subscribed. Duolingo does not have direct control over subscriptions billed through Apple or Google.

Step 2: Navigate to Your Subscription Settings

On iOS: Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions, find Duolingo, and look for the option to change or upgrade your plan. If Duolingo Max appears as an available option there, you can switch directly.

On Android: Open the Google Play Store → Profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions, locate Duolingo, and see if an upgrade path to Max is offered.

On web (Duolingo.com): Log into your account, go to your profile or settings, and look for a "Manage Subscription" or "Upgrade" option. Web-managed subscriptions often allow direct plan changes.

Step 3: Select Duolingo Max and Confirm

If the upgrade option is visible, selecting Duolingo Max will typically:

• Apply the new plan at the start of your next billing cycle or immediately with a prorated credit for unused Super time (this varies by platform and billing method)
• Update your account features within a short sync period after confirmation

🔄 If you don't see an upgrade option in your current subscription management screen, you may need to cancel your Super subscription first, wait for it to expire, and then subscribe to Max fresh. Avoid canceling immediately without checking whether prorated billing applies in your case.

Availability Is a Real Variable Here

Duolingo Max is not available to everyone. As of its rollout, Max has been limited to:

• Specific languages (primarily English speakers learning Spanish or French, with gradual expansion)
• Specific countries and regions
• Both iOS and Android apps, with web access varying

If you open Duolingo and don't see Max as an option, it may not yet be available in your region or for the language pair you're learning — not necessarily a billing issue.

Billing Timing and Proration 💳

How you're charged during the switch depends on:

• Your platform (Apple, Google, and Duolingo handle prorations differently)
• Whether you're on a monthly or annual Super plan — annual plans sometimes require canceling and waiting, while monthly plans may allow a cleaner mid-cycle switch
• Promotional pricing — if you're on a discounted Super plan, switching to Max will typically move you to Max's standard rate

Neither Apple nor Google guarantees automatic proration on subscription downgrades or upgrades in all cases, so it's worth reviewing your specific platform's subscription policy before confirming any change.

What Stays the Same After Switching

When you move from Super to Max, your learning progress, streaks, XP, and course data are entirely unaffected. The change is purely at the subscription and feature-access level. Your Duolingo profile stays intact.

The Gap That Determines Your Experience

The mechanics described above apply broadly, but your actual path through this process depends on factors that vary significantly from one user to the next: which platform manages your billing, whether Max is available for your language and region, whether you're mid-cycle on an annual plan, and what your current pricing arrangement looks like.

Understanding those variables — and checking them in your own account before making a move — is what determines whether this is a one-tap upgrade or a multi-step process. 🎯