We checked the public prices of the big language apps. Then we built the comparison they don't want you to see. Same job — learn a language. Very different bills.
Standard individual plans, billed the cheapest normal way (annual where offered). List prices from each company's public pricing pages, July 2026 — sales come and go.
| App | Cheapest full plan | Per year | Over 5 years | Thai course? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STKD WRLD | Everything is free — no premium tier | $0 | $0 | ✅ 198 lessons · 2,200+ words |
| Duolingo Super | $95.99/yr (free tier: ads + daily energy caps) | $95.99 | $479.95 | ❌ No Thai for English speakers |
| Duolingo Max | $167.99/yr — AI features live here | $167.99 | $839.95 | ❌ No Thai |
| Babbel | ~$8.95/mo on 12-month plan | ~$107 | ~$537 | ❌ No Thai |
| Rosetta Stone | $11.95/mo × 12 — one language | $143.40 | $717 | ❌ No Thai |
| Pimsleur All Access | $20.95/mo | $251.40 | $1,257 | Audio course |
| Ling | $89.99/yr (list $149.99) | $89.99 | $449.95 | Paid |
| ThaiPod101 Premium | $10/mo regular | ~$120 | ~$600 | Paid audio/video library |
Prices from public pricing pages July 2026 (Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, Ling, ThaiPod101). Promotions can lower them; free trials excluded. Duolingo, Babbel and Rosetta Stone offer no Thai course for English speakers.
The pattern in this industry: the useful stuff lives behind the paywall. Our pattern: everything ships free, for everyone.
| Feature | STKD WRLD | Duolingo | Babbel | Rosetta Stone | Ling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per year | $0 | $0 with ads · $95.99–167.99 paid | ~$107 | $143.40 | $89.99 |
| Unlimited lessons every day | ✅ Free | ❌ Free tier has energy caps | ✅ Paid | ✅ Paid | ❌ Limited free |
| No ads | ✅ | ❌ Ads on free | ✅ Paid | ✅ Paid | ❌ Ads on free |
| AI tutor chat | ✅ Included | Only Max — $167.99/yr | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| AI roleplays (taxi, market, café…) | ✅ Included | Only Max | ❌ | ❌ | Scripted chatbot |
| Camera scan — signs & menus | ✅ Included | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Offline mode | ✅ Free | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Speech practice | ✅ Listen & Repeat + dialogues | Limited | ✅ | ✅ TruAccent | ✅ Paid |
| Spaced-repetition review | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Thai depth | 198 lessons · 2,216 words | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ None | ~200 lessons, paid |
| Sync across devices | ✅ Free account | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Feature availability from each product's public pages and free tiers, July 2026. "Paid" = locked behind that app's subscription.
You subscribe to @stkdwrld on YouTube and follow us on social media. That's the whole price.
Watch time and ads on our weekly lessons earn the money that subscriptions would normally take from you.
Every lesson, AI tutor chat and feature stays free for everyone — including people who could never afford $100+ a year.
Start learning in 10 seconds — no account, no card. We encourage you to subscribe to @stkdwrld on YouTube — so we can keep the app free for everyone.
▶️ Open STKD WRLD — free 💛 Subscribe on YouTubeThe free tier has ads and daily energy limits. Super Duolingo is $95.99/year ($13.99/month); Duolingo Max — where the AI conversation features live — is $167.99/year ($29.99/month). And there is still no Thai course for English speakers.
Typical 2026 pricing: Babbel ~$8.95/month on a 12-month plan (~$107/year). Rosetta Stone $11.95/month billed yearly ($143.40, one language). Pimsleur All Access $20.95/month (~$251/year). None of them teaches Thai except Pimsleur's audio course.
Yes — STKD WRLD has no premium tier at all. Unlimited lessons, AI tutors, AI roleplays, camera scan, offline mode, streaks and spaced repetition: all free. Follows and views fund it — every subscribe funds more free lessons for everyone.
STKD WRLD is premium for everyone, for free. There is no locked tier and nothing to upgrade to — the whole app is the top tier: unlimited lessons with no energy caps, no ads, AI tutor chat and AI roleplays included (features Duolingo sells in Max at $167.99/yr), plus camera scan, offline mode and spaced repetition, in 20+ interface languages. Follows and views fund it instead of subscriptions.
The big three don't offer Thai for English speakers. Ling ($89.99/yr) and ThaiPod101 (~$120/yr) are solid paid options. STKD WRLD gives you 198 Thai lessons, 2,216 words and phrases, AI tutors and speech practice at $0.
Public pricing pages of each app, checked July 2026. Prices change and sales are frequent — check theirs before buying. Ours is easier to check: it's always $0.