Although education can open the door to economic opportunity, it is also among the principal sources of inequality: the privileged get the best education in the world, while those with fewer resources, especially in developing countries, may not be able to get even basic schooling. Duolingo looks to address this and aims to provide individuals access to high quality education, regardless of how wealthy they are, by building products native to the smartphone, a technology available in the hands of billions of people worldwide and by using a freemium business model (allowing anyone to download the Duolingo app, use it for as long as they like, and complete as many of our courses as they choose, all without paying anything).

One of the hardest parts of learning something new is staying motivated. Therefore, Duolingo has built its learning product built for the mobile generation, bite-sized, on-demand and fun, with gamification features built into to platform to motivate learners. Additionally, the Duolingo English Test (DET) offers an affordable and accessible alternative to traditional English proficiency exams, breaking down financial barriers to certification.