Learning a language to job-level fluency used to cost serious money. Duolingo just changed that.

The popular language learning app is rolling out free advanced content across nine of its most popular languages, including English, Chinese, and Spanish. These lessons are available on the free tier of both the iOS and Android apps, meaning you don’t need a paid subscription to access them.

Advanced Language Learning, Now Free on iOS and Android

The new content is designed to take learners all the way from their very first word to genuine professional fluency. Think job interviews, university lectures, and navigating daily life in a country where you’re not a native speaker.

“What we’ve built is an expert-designed curriculum that supports learners from their first word through advanced language content relevant to getting a job, attending university, or navigating life in a new country, and it’s free,” said Bozena Pajak, Duolingo’s head of learning science.

Duolingo Score of 129 corresponds to CEFR B2 proficiency level

That’s a bold promise. But the curriculum backs it up with real language standards.

What CEFR B2 Proficiency Means for Real Life

The advanced lessons aim to bring learners to a B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR. If that sounds like alphabet soup, here’s the plain version.

A B2 speaker is considered an “independent user.” That means you can hold your own in complex conversations, follow technical discussions in your area of expertise, and understand nuanced written content. You’re not quite fluent at a native level, but you’re far beyond tourist phrases and basic small talk.

Free advanced content across nine languages now available without subscription

So for someone eyeing a career move to another country, B2 is genuinely useful. It’s the level where things start to feel natural rather than exhausting.

Your Duolingo Score Tracks the Progress

Duolingo measures your journey toward B2 using something called the Duolingo Score. You’ll find it sitting in the top left corner of the app’s home screen. Tap it, then tap “More About Score” to get a full breakdown of what your number means.

A score of 129 corresponds to CEFR B2 level. So as you work through lessons, that number gives you a concrete sense of how close you’re getting to professional-level communication.

It’s a small but genuinely satisfying way to track real progress. And because the advanced content covers languages like Italian, Korean, and Spanish alongside English and Chinese, there’s a solid range of options depending on where life or career ambitions might take you.

B2 level enables job interviews, university, and navigating life abroad

Why This Matters More Than You’d Think

Most language apps lock their best content behind paywalls. Premium tiers, monthly subscriptions, and one-time unlocks are standard practice in this space. Duolingo has always offered a free tier, but it typically capped learners well before professional-level content.

Pushing B2-level lessons into the free experience is a meaningful shift. It means someone with a smartphone and enough motivation can genuinely prepare for a job abroad or a university program in another language without spending a cent.

That’s not nothing. For learners in countries where premium app subscriptions feel expensive, or for anyone just testing the waters before committing to a new career path, this removes a real barrier.

If you’ve been sitting on a language goal because you weren’t sure the free version would take you far enough, this update is probably worth another look.