TOEFL vs Duolingo English Test at a glance
| Feature | TOEFL | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $185-$250 per attempt | $65 per attempt |
| Languages | English only | English only |
| AI adaptive | Yes | Yes |
| Certificate | Score report accepted by 12,000+ institutions worldwide | Digital certificate accepted by 5000+ institutions |
| CEFR levels | B1 to C2 mapping (0-120 scale) | A1 to C2 mapping |
| Test duration | 3 hours | 60 minutes |
| Best for | US university admission, widely accepted globally | University admissions in US/Canada, affordable alternative to IELTS |
Price and format
TOEFL costs $185-$250 per attempt and takes 3 hours. Duolingo English Test costs $65 per attempt and takes 60 minutes. Neither is inherently better on price alone since each serves a somewhat different primary purpose.
Recognition and best use case
TOEFL is best known for us university admission, widely accepted globally. Duolingo English Test is best known for university admissions in us/canada, affordable alternative to ielts. If your target university explicitly lists both as accepted, Duolingo's speed and lower cost make it attractive, but always verify acceptance directly, since some programs still prefer or require TOEFL specifically.
Weaknesses to know about
TOEFL's main drawback: very expensive, long test, primarily academic. Duolingo English Test's main drawback: expensive ($65), english only, primarily academic use.
Is there a cheaper alternative to both TOEFL and Duolingo English Test
If neither exam's formal accreditation is a strict requirement for your situation, an independent CEFR-aligned test like Examinizer offers a faster and considerably cheaper option. It costs €8 for a verified certificate with a QR code, compared to $185-$250 per attempt for TOEFL or $65 per attempt for Duolingo English Test, and gives an instant result rather than days or weeks of waiting.
This works well for employer screening, CVs, LinkedIn profiles, and personal tracking, though it does not replace either exam where a specific accreditation is legally required, such as most visa applications or university admissions that name TOEFL or Duolingo English Test directly.
Compare with Examinizer →See the full TOEFL vs Examinizer breakdown
Common questions about TOEFL vs Duolingo English Test
No, not yet universally, though acceptance has grown substantially. Some institutions and visa categories still specifically require TOEFL or another named exam.
Duolingo costs $65 compared to TOEFL's $185 to $250, making it three to four times cheaper.
Duolingo delivers results within 48 hours from a fully remote test. TOEFL results typically take 4 to 8 days and require either a test centre visit or a proctored at-home session.
Yes, both assess reading, listening, speaking, and writing, though the exact question formats and scoring methodologies differ.