DuoCards: The Ultimate Vocabulary App?
Looking to add a mobile app to your learning? If so, I highly recommend DuoCards – a flashcard app for vocabulary.
Hi, I’m Zuzana and I’m an avid language learner and Language Mentoring team member. While learning Spanish, I stumbled upon DuoCards and I suddenly started spending a ton of time on vocabulary! I find it more fun than Anki, which might have a sophisticated algorithm, but it’s not exactly user-friendly. DuoCards, on the other hand, combines a beautiful design with the motivational feel of Duolingo. You could say it brings together the best of both worlds – it’s effective, attractive, and easy enough to use. In this article, I’ll give you a full review of the app.
What is DuoCards?
DuoCards is an app for learning vocabulary through flashcards. It uses the Spaced Repetition System (SRS), which helps you remember new vocabulary for a long time. (You can find out more about the SRS in our article on paper flashcards.)
Compared to Anki, DuoCards’ SRS is a bit less sophisticated but still solid. What it lacks in algorithm complexity, it makes up for with an attractive design and intuitive navigation – two areas where Anki is not doing so great.
DuoCards also offers a Chrome browser extension, so you can quickly add new flashcards while browsing the web.
To keep you motivated, the app uses strong gamification elements. By learning regularly, you earn ‘flames’ and take care of an adorable little mammoth called Memo. Memo lives on a meadow, and as you reach certain flame milestones, you can decorate the meadow by adding things like a pond, frogs, and even a partner for Memo! It’s super cute. But if you slack off, you start losing your flames and Memo’s lovely surroundings can disappear.
DuoCards’ main functions
As I mentioned, DuoCards is a flashcard app, and it allows you to make your own cards with words or phrases you want to learn. The app will then show them to you at specific intervals, and you swipe each card right or left depending on whether you remember the word or not.
Ready-to-use videos: A total game-changer!
One huge advantage of DuoCards is that it includes a library of YouTube videos, which can serve as a source of new vocabulary. For me, this is an absolute lifesaver – I don’t have to go searching for videos on YouTube, jot down new words, and then add them into the app. They’re already there, complete with transcripts. If I come across a word or phrase I don’t know, I can simply highlight it in the subtitles, instantly translate it with the app’s built-in translator, make any necessary edits, and save it as a new flashcard.
The videos are organized into three difficulty levels, so you can pick something suitable without wasting time trying to find something that’s the right level for you.
Plus, if you find a YouTube video you like that isn’t already in DuoCards, you can easily add it by copying and pasting its URL to the app. The only requirement is that the video has a transcript, which most educational videos do.
A library of interesting articles: I’m obsessed!
In addition to videos, the app offers a huge selection of articles, also categorized by difficulty level. Each article even includes an estimated reading time, saving you tons of effort in finding the right material – just filter by your level and the article length based on how much time you have.
While reading, you can once again tap any word to translate it instantly with the built-in translator (no need to leave the app!) and save it as a flashcard with just one click.
Adding cards has never been so easy
You can also add flashcards outside of articles and videos – just click the + button on the main screen. However, adding cards through articles or videos has a special perk: you can jump from the flashcard straight to the source of its word or phrase. In the case of videos, this feature actually takes you to the exact point where the word is mentioned, which is amazing. For articles, it’s slightly less convenient since the phrase isn’t highlighted in the text, so you’ll need to look for it. But it’s still helpful, as it’s always better to have some context when learning new vocabulary.
You can also add an image to your flashcard to make the phrase easier to remember. The app offers a huge library of images, so there’s no need to search externally – you’ll find everything you need right in the app.
Another fantastic feature is the ability to view definitions and example sentences for the new word while adding a card. However, this feature only works for individual words in their base form. For instance, the app will explain that “cuervo” (a crow) is a black bird and give you an example sentence, such as “Los cuervos son aves inteligentes” (Crows are intelligent birds). But if you save a phrase like “cuervo negro” (a black crow), you won’t get a definition or example sentence – just a translation. This is quite a drawback for me.
Pre-made card decks
DuoCards also includes pre-made flashcard decks, but if you’ve been following us for a while, you know we don’t really recommend using them. It’s much better to create your own cards from the materials you’re actively working with. That’s because the extra effort will help you learn faster and retain the vocabulary much more effectively.
That said, I understand that not everyone wants to take the time to create their own cards (though it’s totally worth it and you should definitely consider it). If you do decide to use pre-made decks, make sure to pick words that genuinely interest you and will be useful in your everyday life. Always take the time to read the example sentences carefully, and if possible, use those examples to create your own cards – for example, instead of just saving a single word, save the whole phrase it’s part of. Never try to learn new words in isolation – you won’t be able to actively use them later.
Listen to your flashcards
If you’re not sure how to pronounce a word or phrase, you can have it read aloud by the app. I’ve tested this feature with English, German, and Spanish, and while it’s not 100% perfect, it works pretty well. With the Premium version, you can even choose from three different voices, which alternate as you use the app.
Share your flashcard decks with others
If you’re a language teacher, you can use the app to complement your lessons! You’ll definitely appreciate the ability to create custom vocabulary decks based on the material you’re covering in class and share them directly with your students.
Even if you’re not a teacher, this feature is perfect for working with your conversation partner. Decide on a topic for your next conversation and create a shared glossary together. You can also use it to add words you didn’t know during your conversation.
Chat with AI in the app
DuoCards has jumped on the AI trend, and I couldn’t be happier! So, how does it work? After reviewing your flashcards for the day, Memo the Mammoth pops up and offers to tell you a story using the cards you’ve just reviewed. He then asks you questions related to the story, and you need to answer them. Pretty clever, right?
In the free version, you can send Memo up to 10 messages per week, but with Premium, you can chat with him as much as you want.
How do reviews work in DuoCards?
DuoCards tests your memory in several ways. We recommend always going from your native language to the foreign language because that’s the best way to learn how to use words actively. The app does, of course, offer this type of exercise, which is awesome.
Other types of reviews aren’t as effective, but unfortunately, they can’t be turned off, which is a downside. Sometimes the app tests you in the opposite direction – going from the foreign language to your native one, which isn’t ideal.
Additionally, there are exercises where the app reads a word to you in the foreign language and you have to translate it into your mother tongue either by typing it or by saying it out loud. However, for some reason, the app accepts your answer as correct even if you write or say the word in your foreign language, which can be a bit confusing.
What I do quite like is another type of exercise where the app presents 5 words in the foreign language in one column and their translations in another, and you have to match them up. To make this exercise more effective, start by covering the column in the foreign language and try to translate the words from your native language into the foreign language. Say them out loud from the memory. Then, check your answers against the native language column and match them up. This way, you’ll really have to think about the words and as a result you will learn them better.
Is Premium worth it?
Of course, the free version comes with ads, like most apps. I found them pretty annoying, but I know everyone has a different tolerance for that. You can also only have 20 cards in the ‘To learn’ category, which isn’t a lot, but if you’re studying diligently, these cards will change fairly quickly.
The Premium version costs $50.99 per year, but when you create a new account and go through the initial tutorial, you’ll be offered a 40% discount. If you’re serious about your learning, I think it’s worth it. You’ll get rid of the ads, be able to add as many new flashcards as you want, and make use of the AI chat without limits.
DuoCard also offers a Family Plan. With this plan up to six of your family or friends can enjoy the DuoCards premium version on their devices.
Additionally, the Premium version allows you to filter cards, change the app’s color scheme, and choose from different voices for the read-aloud feature.
If you truly want to make progress in your learning, I highly recommend you consider going Premium. However, if it’s not within your budget, there’s still the free alternative of Anki, though that one is not quite as nice to use.
What I like and don’t like about DuoCards
✅The video and article libraries are a game-changer – you don’t have to search for your own materials. However, if you have any interesting content, you can easily add it to the app.
✅In addition to vocabulary, you can use the app to improve your reading and listening skills.
✅High-quality SRS algorithm that helps you remember words in the long-term.
✅Adding new flashcards is super easy.
✅A huge library of available images for flashcards – no need to search for and upload your own.
✅Highly motivating gamification – I love Memo and his beautiful meadow!
✅If you add a phrase from a video or article, you can access the source directly from the flashcard.
✅Built-in translator – you don’t have to leave the app to translate something.
✅The app has a beautiful design and is easy to navigate.
✅With the browser extension, you can quickly create flashcards even when you’re on your computer.
Disadvantages of DuoCards:
❌The built-in translator works best with individual words, not phrases.
❌Not all exercise types in the app are effective.
❌The app doesn’t offer speaking practice. I definitely recommend saying all the reviewed phrases and example sentences out loud, which will help a bit, but it won’t replace a real conversation with a language buddy.
❌If you edit a flashcard that contains an image, the image will disappear even if it’s still relevant to the word. You’ll need to find and add it again.
❌If you saved a flashcard from an article and want to go back to the source, the app won’t highlight the word in the article for you. Instead, you’ll have to look for it.
❌The free version has a lot of ads, and the number of words in the ‘To learn’ category is limited to 20.
❌Occasional bugs in the app.
Summary: Should you try DuoCards?
If you want to expand your vocabulary through an app, DuoCards is, in my opinion, the perfect compromise between ease of use and effectiveness. It’s definitely more effective than Duolingo and far more intuitive and visually appealing than Anki.
It’s not without its flaws, but it’s still a fantastic app that I highly recommend incorporating as one of your main learning methods – ideally, alongside regular conversation practice.
HAND ON HEART, WHAT’S THE LEVEL OF YOUR FOREIGN LANGUAGE?
If you’ve spent a lot of years/energy/money to learn a language and still can’t use it with confidence and ease in real life… you’re probably thinking that you simply don’t have “talent for languages''. There’s no other explanation, right?!
Well, there actually is a reason why you haven’t seen the desired results. Do you want to know what it is? Register for my FREE WEBINAR and find out:
- How to go from hating the process of learning to absolutely loving it!
- How ANYONE can successfully learn a language at home.
- Why “talent for languages” is NOT necessary to succeed.
- What the biggest mistakes are that people make when trying to learn a language.
The author of this blog post is Zuzana Ralbovská, member of the Language Mentoring team.
Language Mentoring provides a complete guide for learning any language using simple and often free resources on the internet and in bookshops. It was founded by polyglot, language mentor and author of this website, Lýdia Hric Machová, PhD., in 2016. She's learned 9 languages by herself and she adds another one every other year. Her philosophy is that everybody can learn a language regardless talent, age or other qualities – if they know how to do it.