Duolingo English Test
Depends
Confidence: Medium
Buy it if your target universities accept DET and you have a quiet room, stable internet, and a second camera ready.
New check
Comparison
Duolingo English Test vs IELTS
Duolingo English Test and IELTS both land on Depends.
IELTS
Depends
Confidence: Medium
Buy IELTS only if your target university, employer, or immigration program specifically requires it . it is a paid exam, not software.
| Compare | Duolingo English Test | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Depends | Depends |
| Best for | Applicants to universities that accept DET | UK/Australia/Canada visa applicants |
| Who it's not for | Applicants whose programs require IELTS or TOEFL only | Anyone whose school accepts cheaper tests like Duolingo or PTE |
| Privacy | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. | Strict test-security regime and score-confidentiality pledges; one 2025 technical-error incident reported. |
| Support quality | Multiple reports of slow, frustrating dispute resolution | Formal complaint channels exist; users report poor service |
| Public sentiment | Test takers like the low price and home convenience but often report AI proctoring false flags, mid-test glitches, and painful review disputes.³ | Test-takers describe high stakes and stress, with complaints clustering on cost, customer service, score changes, and bans, while free prep is widely used.15 |
| Biggest gotcha | Invalidated tests are not refunded . one user lost $118 across attempts² | A Nov 2025 technical error changed some scores months after release. |
Pick Duolingo English Test when
- Applicants to universities that accept DET
- Budget-conscious test takers
- People needing at-home, on-demand testing
- Retakers improving scores cheaply
When Duolingo English Test is not a fit
- Applicants whose programs require IELTS or TOEFL only
- Anyone without a quiet, private, well-lit room
- People on unstable internet or old hardware
- Test takers who can't risk losing the fee
Pick IELTS when
- UK/Australia/Canada visa applicants
- University applicants where IELTS is required
- Migration candidates needing accepted proof
- Self-studiers using free official materials
When IELTS is not a fit
- Anyone whose school accepts cheaper tests like Duolingo or PTE
- Casual learners just wanting to gauge their English level
- People needing certified results within days
- Buyers expecting SaaS-style support . it is an exam, not software
Sources
news
review
- Trustpilot reviews of englishtest.duolingo.comtrustpilot.comreview
- Duolingo Statistics 2026sqmagazine.co.uknews
- DET Technical Manualscribd.comofficial
- The 5 most broken rules on the Duolingo English Testblog.englishtest.duolingo.comofficial
- Born Digital: human-in-the-loop AI test securityblog.duolingo.comsecurity
- Duolingo English Test selects Sumsub for exam securityprnewswire.comnews
- DET setup: secondary camera, room scan, ear scanblog.englishtest.duolingo.comofficial
- Duolingo English Test Alternativesinternationalenglengtest.comnews
official
- Free IELTS Practice and Mock Tests (British Council)takeielts.britishcouncil.orgofficial
- IELTS Official Reviews on Trustpilottrustpilot.comreview