Is LingoDeer Better Than Duolingo for Korean? Full Review + Features (2025)

안녕하세요 리더님! It's Koreanstudyjunkie~

I started learning Korean when I was a bright eyed 14 year old – about 9 years ago! Back then I couldn't really afford to buy any resources, which meant I had to spend hours finding, compiling, and researching the best resources for my goals and then even more time writing out notes, chasing down lessons and vocab, painstakingly making hundreds of flashcards by hand just to not use them.

Which is great and all when you have that kind of time, but as adults we tend to not have that. Luckily, once I was adult enough I could start spending my big kid money on resources that made my life easier. If that sounds like you, you might want to keep reading.

Disclaimer: I'm not a LingoDeer affiliate, but they've given me access to their platform to review their courses and make a blog with my detailed review and experiences. In exchange for writing this review, I will receive payment, but all opinions are my own!

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What is LingoDeer

LingoDeer is a language learning platform designed to help users master new languages through fun, dialogue-driven lessons and engaging exercises.

Even though It was originally focused on Asian languages, it has since expanded to offer courses in various languages – Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic, and English.

If you are a language lover like me, this premise is the most exciting! You can access LingoDeer through their website and app. It’s really flexible and easy to navigate. 

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My Favorite Features // Key Features

‘Key Points’ Section

LingoDeer provides multiple learning routes based on your goals. For example, I was most interested in the “Fluent Korean” route. Before each lesson, LingoDeer provides a 'Key Points' section that outlines the grammar and vocabulary that will appear in that lesson and I’m a big fan of it. The Key Points section helps you understand the concept that will be introduced in the lesson. 

Other platforms like LingoDeer either fail to provide lessons or explanations on the actual concepts or include a lackluster one. The key points section is not too long or too short. I prefer a less grammar-focused approach to language learning, so this is gonna be perfect for me later down the line when I start learning my next language.  

A Context-Based Approach 

LingoDeer employs natural conversations and examples to introduce new vocabulary and grammar structures. The one thing my students always get caught up on when learning is context. Korean is a highly contextual language which makes it hard to self-study certain concepts.

LingoDeer’s contextual approach is so valuable for understanding how Korean is used in real-life situations. The example sentences are not a random string of adjectives and nouns, but rather things that are actually said in daily life.

In the other learning paths, there are “stories” used to showcase the concepts and vocab you need to know for upcoming lessons. There’s even a function that allows you to read the story out loud and record yourself saying it. It is an amazing way to shadow native Korean pronunciation. 

You hear the person say the line, you repeat after them as closely as you can, and then it plays back your attempt. At the end you can hear yourself reading the whole story. You can hear other learner’s recording attempts as well which is kind of motivating, but if you don’t want others to hear your recording you can choose not to share it.

Toggle On and Off Translations

For learners who prefer immersion (like me), LingoDeer allows the option to toggle off translations (especially in the Fluent Korean learning path). This feature allows you to focus solely on the language. I see so many learners make the mistake of relying way too heavily on English translations and it results in many awkward sentences.

For deeper comprehension this is one of my favorite parts of LingoDeer. When I don’t completely get what the sentence is supposed to mean, a quick tap of a button will clear up any of my confusion. 

Clicking on Individual Words

Within those aforementioned dialogues, we can click on individual words to view their dictionary forms. This functionality is particularly beneficial for understanding root forms and conjugations, which is essential for mastering Korean grammar.

When my students look up vocab in online dictionaries or translators, they often will get a form that is not the dictionary form. Which means when they see it again used differently, they have a hard time conjugating it or recognizing its meaning. I honestly really don’t like when vocab is listed as 예쁜 instead of 예쁘다 (to be pretty).

Starring Unfamiliar Vocabulary & Grammar

LingoDeer allows learners to 'star' challenging words or grammar points. You can highlight words or grammar that you would like to study more. Once a word or grammar is starred you can study it individually – It’s so easy to review past things you’ve learned this way!

Sometimes you only have a few minutes to spare and you can simply open up the app and spend 5 minutes reinforcing your past lessons. 

Vocab from every lesson you’ve done is available to study as flashcards. You no longer have to spend hours making digital flashcards, since LingoDeer does it for you.  

Taking Courses in Languages Beyond English

The platform supports instruction in multiple languages, making it possible to learn a new language through a language other than English. For someone like me who loves to learn languages, It’s always been a dream of mine to study a new language in one of the languages I already know. LingoDeer makes that easier.

I already know that I’m gonna have so much fun doing Japanese lessons in Korean. It is worth noting that not all learning paths or languages are fully fleshed out, but the LingoDeer team is constantly developing and adding to the platform.

Learning Offline

This next one may seem like such a small thing, but LingoDeer offers offline access to lessons. It’s super convenient to just download a few pieces of content and study them while I’m away from home. If you’ve been learning languages for a while then you know that life always gets in the way. There’s a power outage, work gets too busy, or you’re stuck in a waiting room somewhere – a perfect time to open up your downloads and get your daily lesson in. 

Consistency is key in learning Korean! Unfortunately, I find myself having less time, energy and sometimes even less motivation to have a dedicated sit down study session, so I need to be able to study whenever and wherever I can without worrying about an internet connection.

Test Out of Sections If Needed

This is a HUGE one for me. I used to get so frustrated with language learning apps back in the day, because I’d have to start way back at the beginning even though I already knew all the information. That’s honestly one of the reasons why I stopped using apps altogether. 

When LingoDeer approached me about trying out their platform I must admit I was a bit hesitant, because I originally thought I’d have to redundantly scroll through super easy content I learned years ago. To my surprise, I could easily skip through.

For those of us with prior knowledge, LingoDeer always has options to test out of sections. You can use this to focus on new or challenging material.

Even though my Korean is more advanced than what LingoDeer offers in its app on the surface, as a self-studier I still see concepts pop up that I either skipped over unknowingly or just never learned. I can see myself using it much more in the future to “tie up” some loose ends.

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Other Features

I just went through all my favorite key features, but there are some honorable mentions I feel inclined to mention.

Achievements & Different Levels

LingoDeer incorporates gamified elements, awarding achievements as learners progress through different levels. This system motivates users and provides a sense of accomplishment.

Statistics & Streaks

The platform tracks your learning statistics and maintains streaks. I’ve heard of people having streaks of hundreds and hundreds of days! It’s crazy how something like that can motivate us to keep showing up. It is actually really encouraging to see the statistics as well. Whenever I feel discouraged in my studies, looking back on how far I’ve come always puts me back in the mood to learn.

Speaking Exercises

LingoDeer includes speaking exercises that use voice recognition technology. This is a great feature for learners to practice pronunciation and speaking. Not living in a Korean-speaking environment can be a hindrance for many beginner learners. I always tell my students that listening to a lot of Korean and reading out loud is a simple yet effective way to improve their pronunciation. With LingoDeer that’s all built in. 

Writing Exercises

For languages with special scripts, like Korean, LingoDeer offers writing exercises to help users learn character formation and improve writing proficiency. I have seen writing exercises used for making sentences with concepts from the lesson as well like the picture above. Korean sentence structure can be tricky, so I think that’s gonna be a huge help for beginners especially. 

I started learning Chinese a little while back and I just know I’m gonna be using their Character Drill function! I may also need to try it out for Japanese, since my Kanji is lacking. 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: I don’t want to rely on romanization. Is only romanization used in the lessons?

A: No, LingoDeer allows users to choose between using Hangul (the Korean alphabet) and romanization. This flexibility supports learners who prefer immersive experiences without relying on romanized text.

Q: Are these lessons only for beginners?

A: LingoDeer caters to a range of proficiency levels, from absolute beginners to B1 (low-intermediate) learners. The structured curriculum ensures a gradual progression through the language.

Q: Can a more advanced learner benefit from using LingoDeer?

A: While LingoDeer is designed primarily for beginners and intermediate learners, advanced users can benefit from the review features, learn things they may have forgotten, and practice exercises to reinforce their knowledge.

Q: Is LingoDeer free? How much does it cost?

A: LingoDeer offers some free content, including the alphabet and the first unit of each language course. To access the full range of lessons and features, a premium subscription is required. Pricing details can be found on their official website.

Q: What is included in the premium membership?

A: Premium members have full access to all content and functions on LingoDeer, which includes a comprehensive curriculum, detailed grammar explanations, HD audio from native speakers, and personalized review tools. LingoDeer Support

Q: Can I use LingoDeer on multiple devices?

A: Yes, LingoDeer synchronizes your progress across devices. You can study using their app on iOS or Android devices, as well as on their web version on your computer.

Q: Does LingoDeer Plus come with the regular LingoDeer subscription?

A: No, LingoDeer Plus is a separate app that offers different learning materials and features. You will need an additional subscription to access LingoDeer Plus. LingoDeer Support+

Q: How do I cancel my subscription?

A: You can cancel the automatic renewal of your subscription at any time through your account settings on the platform where you purchased the subscription (e.g., App Store, Google Play, or LingoDeer's website). LingoDeer Support

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How to Get Started

Step 1: Choose Your Platform

• Website: Visit LingoDeer to access the web-based platform.

• Mobile App:

  • iOS: Download from the App Store.

  • Android: Download from the Google Play Store.

Step 2: Create an Account

Sign up using your email address or social media accounts to create a personalized learning profile.

Step 3: Select Your Language

Choose Korean or any other language you wish to learn.

Step 4: Choose a Learning Path

You can choose between two main options:

• Course Mode: A structured path with lessons organized by topic and grammar level.

• Review/Practice Mode: Use this to revisit specific lessons, focus on vocabulary, grammar, or specific skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing).

Step 5: Customize Your Experience

Before you begin, LingoDeer will ask you to:

• Set a daily goal (e.g., 5–20 minutes/day).

• Decide whether you want to use romanization, Hangul only, or both.

• Download lessons for offline use (optional but great for commutes).

Step 6: Start Learning

Begin with the first unit or, if you already have some knowledge, take the placement test to skip ahead. Use features like:

• Key Tips before each lesson.

• Listening and speaking practice during exercises to build pronunciation and comprehension.

• Flashcards and review sessions at the end of each unit to solidify what you’ve learned.

• Starring and revisiting tricky vocabulary or grammar for personalized study.

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Thank you so much for reading through my review! And thank you to LingoDeer for reaching out. I want to make more reviews of Korean resources in the future, let me know what you think in the comments.

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If you'd like me to make a review on your language learning platform, you can reach out to me at: koreanstudyjunkie@gmail.com