Coursera vs Duolingo
Business model, scale, and a side-by-side Litmus framework score — which model wins, and for whom.
Duolingo wins on gamified consumer scale and profitability; Coursera wins on credentials, degrees and enterprise depth.
At a glance
| Metric | Coursera | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $757M (FY2025, +9% YoY) | $1.04B (FY2025, +35% YoY) |
| Profit | Record FCF $78M; small GAAP net loss | Profitable (GAAP) |
| Active users | 197M+ Registered Learners | 133M MAU / 52.7M DAU |
| Employees | ~1,400 | ~900 |
| Founded | 2012 | 2011 |
| HQ | Mountain View, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
LLitmus Framework Score
Overall: Coursera 88 · Duolingo 93
Customer Segment
92
98
Value Proposition
94
96
Marketing Channel
88
99
Engagement
85
97
Income Source
87
90
Asset Validation
90
92
Core Operations
82
88
Strategic Alliance
95
82
Expense Validation
80
94
Coursera leads 1 module, Duolingo leads 8. Overall edge: Duolingo.
Head to head
| Dimension | Coursera | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue (FY2025) | $757M (+9% YoY) | $1.04B (+35% YoY) |
| Users | 197M+ registered learners | 133M MAU / 52.7M DAU |
| Profitability | Record FCF $78M; small GAAP loss | GAAP profitable |
| Model | Course/degree marketplace + enterprise + certs | Gamified freemium + ads + Super + DET test |
| Monetisation | Certificates, degrees, Coursera for Business | Consumer subscriptions (~8% convert) |
FAQ
Is Coursera or Duolingo a better business?
Duolingo wins on gamified consumer scale and profitability; Coursera wins on credentials, degrees and enterprise depth. It depends on what you optimise for — see the module-by-module breakdown above.
What is the difference between Coursera and Duolingo's business model?
Coursera operates in EdTech / SaaS (Learn without limits), while Duolingo is EdTech / Consumer Apps (Learn a language. Free. Forever.). Their revenue, scale and Litmus scores are compared in detail above.
Which is more profitable, Coursera or Duolingo?
Coursera: Record FCF $78M; small GAAP net loss. Duolingo: Profitable (GAAP).