Ending your Duolingo Plus membership made easy

About Duolingo Plus subscription services

Duolingo Plus, now rebranded as Duolingo Super, constitutes a premium subscription tier offered by Duolingo Inc., a United States-based educational technology company specialising in language learning applications. The service operates under a subscription model governed by the company's Terms of Service, which form a legally binding contract between the subscriber and Duolingo Inc. In accordance with applicable consumer protection legislation, UK subscribers enter into a distance selling contract when purchasing this digital service, thereby entitling them to specific statutory rights under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

The premium subscription removes advertising content, enables offline lesson downloads, provides unlimited heart systems (attempts), and offers personalised practice features. Furthermore, subscribers gain access to progress tracking tools and mastery quizzes designed to accelerate language acquisition. The service is delivered entirely through digital platforms, including mobile applications for iOS and Android devices, as well as web-based interfaces accessible through standard internet browsers.

Duolingo Inc. maintains its principal business address at 5900 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA, from which it administers subscription services globally, including to consumers within the United Kingdom. Consequently, whilst the service is readily accessible to UK consumers, the contractual relationship exists with a foreign entity, which bears particular relevance when exercising cancellation rights and ensuring compliance with notice requirements.

Legal framework governing subscription contracts

The contractual relationship established upon subscription to Duolingo Plus falls within the purview of several legislative instruments. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 specifically address distance contracts, wherein parties do not meet face-to-face during contract formation. These regulations mandate that service providers furnish comprehensive pre-contractual information, including clear details regarding cancellation rights, the duration of contractual obligations, and procedures for terminating the agreement.

Moreover, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 establishes fundamental protections regarding digital content and services, stipulating that such services must be provided with reasonable care and skill. Nevertheless, the automatic renewal provisions common to subscription models require particular scrutiny, as they create ongoing contractual obligations unless actively terminated by the subscriber through proper channels.

Jurisdictional considerations for UK subscribers

Given that Duolingo Inc. operates from the United States whilst serving UK consumers, questions of applicable law and jurisdiction warrant consideration. In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 (retained in UK law post-Brexit), consumers generally benefit from protections under their country of residence. Consequently, UK subscribers retain the right to rely upon British consumer protection legislation, notwithstanding the company's American domicile. This principle ensures that distance selling regulations and statutory cancellation periods apply to UK-based subscribers, regardless of contractual terms that might specify alternative governing law.

Membership tiers and pricing structures

Duolingo offers its premium subscription through various billing cycles, each constituting a separate contractual commitment with distinct pricing structures. The subscription model employs automatic renewal mechanisms, whereby the contract continues indefinitely until terminated by either party in accordance with prescribed procedures. Understanding these pricing tiers proves essential when calculating notice periods and potential refund entitlements.

Current subscription options

The pricing structure demonstrates a common commercial practice whereby longer commitment periods yield reduced per-month costs. Nevertheless, from a contractual perspective, longer subscription periods may complicate cancellation procedures, particularly regarding refund calculations for unused portions of prepaid service periods.

Automatic renewal provisions

The subscription agreement incorporates automatic renewal clauses, which constitute continuing contractual obligations. In accordance with standard industry practice, the subscription automatically renews at the conclusion of each billing cycle unless cancellation notice is provided prior to the renewal date. These provisions create a perpetual contract that continues indefinitely, thereby requiring affirmative action by the subscriber to terminate the agreement.

Furthermore, Duolingo's terms stipulate that cancellation must occur before the renewal date to prevent charges for the subsequent billing period. Consequently, subscribers bear responsibility for tracking renewal dates and providing timely notice. The company typically processes payments between 24 and 48 hours before the subscription renewal date, establishing a practical deadline for effective cancellation.

Payment methods and billing practices

Duolingo Plus subscriptions are typically purchased through third-party payment platforms, including the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or directly through the Duolingo website using credit or debit cards. The payment method selected during initial subscription bears significant implications for cancellation procedures, as subscriptions purchased through app stores may require cancellation through those respective platforms' billing systems.

Nevertheless, regardless of the payment platform utilised, subscribers retain the right to cancel by providing written notice directly to Duolingo Inc. This method proves particularly valuable when encountering difficulties with platform-specific cancellation procedures or when seeking to establish comprehensive documentary evidence of cancellation requests.

Understanding your cancellation rights under UK law

UK consumers benefit from robust statutory protections when entering into distance contracts for digital services. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 establish specific rights that supersede contractual terms to the extent those terms would diminish statutory protections.

Statutory cooling-off period

In accordance with Regulation 29 of the Consumer Contracts Regulations, consumers possess an automatic right to cancel distance contracts within 14 calendar days from the date of contract conclusion. For subscription services, this period commences on the date the contract is entered into, typically when payment is first processed. This statutory right exists independently of any contractual cancellation provisions and cannot be waived or diminished by agreement.

Nevertheless, an important exception applies to digital content and services. Where the consumer has requested immediate access to digital content before expiry of the 14-day cooling-off period, and the service provider has commenced full performance of the contract with the consumer's express consent and acknowledgement that the cooling-off right will be lost, the statutory cancellation right may be forfeited. Duolingo typically requests such consent during the subscription process, thereby potentially limiting the application of the cooling-off period.

Contractual cancellation rights

Beyond statutory provisions, subscribers possess contractual rights to cancel as specified within Duolingo's Terms of Service. These contractual provisions typically permit cancellation at any time, though they stipulate that cancellation becomes effective at the conclusion of the current billing period. Consequently, subscribers remain obligated to pay for the entire billing cycle during which cancellation notice is provided, with no entitlement to pro-rata refunds for unused portions of that period.

Furthermore, Duolingo's terms generally specify that subscribers must cancel before the renewal date to avoid charges for subsequent billing periods. This requirement creates a practical imperative to provide cancellation notice with sufficient advance time to ensure processing before renewal occurs.

Refund entitlements and limitations

The question of refund entitlements depends upon the timing of cancellation and the circumstances surrounding the request. Where cancellation occurs within the statutory 14-day cooling-off period (and the exception for commenced digital services does not apply), subscribers generally retain entitlement to full refunds. Nevertheless, where cancellation occurs after this period, refund policies typically prove less favourable.

Duolingo's standard refund policy generally provides that no refunds are available for cancellations occurring after the cooling-off period, except where required by applicable law or where the service has failed to meet quality standards prescribed by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Consequently, subscribers cancelling mid-cycle typically retain access to premium features until the conclusion of the paid period, but receive no monetary refund for unused time.

Notice requirements and effective dates

Proper notice constitutes a fundamental requirement for effective contract termination. In accordance with general contractual principles, notice must be clear, unambiguous, and communicated through appropriate channels. Furthermore, notice becomes effective only upon receipt by the service provider, not merely upon dispatch by the subscriber.

This principle establishes the superiority of postal cancellation via Recorded Delivery or similar tracked services. Such methods provide verifiable proof of delivery, thereby establishing definitively when notice was received and eliminating disputes regarding whether cancellation was timely effected.

Why postal cancellation provides superior protection

Whilst digital services typically encourage electronic cancellation methods, postal cancellation via Recorded Delivery offers distinct advantages from a legal and evidential perspective. These advantages prove particularly valuable when disputes arise regarding whether cancellation was properly effected or when refunds are sought.

Evidential value of tracked postal services

Recorded Delivery and similar tracked postal services create comprehensive documentary evidence of communication. The Royal Mail provides proof of posting and confirmation of delivery, including the date and time when correspondence was received. This documentation proves invaluable should disputes arise regarding whether notice was provided, when it was received, or whether it was sufficiently clear to constitute effective cancellation.

Furthermore, in accordance with established legal principles, the burden of proving contract termination rests with the party asserting termination. Consequently, subscribers bear responsibility for demonstrating that proper notice was provided. Tracked postal services satisfy this burden comprehensively, whereas electronic methods may prove more difficult to verify, particularly if confirmation emails are not received or if online cancellation systems malfunction.

Limitations of electronic cancellation methods

Electronic cancellation methods, whilst convenient, present several potential vulnerabilities. Online account management systems may experience technical difficulties, preventing access during critical periods before renewal dates. Moreover, email communications may be filtered as spam, fail to send due to server issues, or be disputed by service providers as never received.

Additionally, some subscribers report difficulties locating cancellation options within online account interfaces, or encounter systems that require navigation through multiple screens designed to discourage cancellation. These \