Megan Ellis / Android Authority
It’s no secret that I have been frustrated with the experience Duolingo offers. A few months back, I considered why it might be time to ditch my Duolingo streak. However, I clung onto my streak as the app’s mascot pestered me and I grappled with letting go of what felt like an achievement. However, now over 700 days into my streak, I’m finally quitting Duolingo due to the app’s introduction of a new energy system.
What do you think of Duolingo's new energy system? 190 votes I'm fine with it. 12 % I like it better than hearts. 4 % I dislike it. 48 % I haven't used it yet. 36 %
How energy works differently to hearts in Duolingo
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
As long as I can remember, Duolingo has used the hearts feature for free users. The system granted you five hearts, which would deplete as you made mistakes. If you used all of your hearts, you would have to wait for them to recharge or do practice lessons to earn hearts back.
However, in July 2025, Duolingo announced a switch to an energy system. Instead of five hearts, free users would get 25 energy points. The main difference is that while hearts depleted only when you made mistakes, energy depletes with every exercise you do. If you get a certain number of answers correct in a row, some of this energy replenishes. But ultimately, even if you get perfect lessons, free users will eventually run out of energy.
You only ran out of hearts if you made mistakes. But even perfect lessons result in depleted energy.
To replenish energy, users can use in-game gems to buy more energy, do practice lessons, or watch ads. Ultimately though, the app pushes you to subscribe to its premium plan so that you can avoid the energy system entirely.
The Duolingo subreddit has been a source of heavy criticism of the feature. While announced in July, the feature has been rolling out gradually. My own app switched over to the system in September. And over the past few weeks, I can see why people are so against it.
... continue reading