Duolingo Replaces Hearts with Energy: What the Change Means for Learners

Looking for why Duolingo replaced hearts with energy? You're not alone. Language learners are buzzing about the latest update to the world’s most popular language-learning app. Duolingo is officially retiring its infamous “hearts” system and introducing a brand-new energy mechanic. This shift aims to make the app more motivational, less punishing, and ultimately more engaging for learners. With this update, Duolingo is answering a long-standing user concern: how can language learning feel less frustrating and more encouraging?

Previously, Duolingo users would lose a heart each time they made a mistake during a lesson. Once you ran out of hearts, you’d be locked out unless you watched ads, spent Duolingo Gems, or waited for your hearts to recharge. While this model helped with monetization and engagement, it often left users feeling discouraged after just a few errors.

Now, the energy-based system offers a smarter, more user-friendly alternative. Each exercise consumes one unit of energy, and making a mistake costs you another. But here’s the key upgrade: Duolingo rewards consistency and accuracy. Complete multiple lessons successfully in a row, and you’ll receive bonus energy—sometimes at a randomized rate—allowing you to keep going without being punished for learning.

According to Moses Wayne, a senior staff engineer at Duolingo, this change is data-backed. “We feel like this is a way that we can motivate you to focus on things you’re getting right rather than penalizing for the things that you’re making mistakes on,” he explained. The company also wanted to “gamify the experience a little more,” which aligns with broader edtech trends in user engagement and retention.

This change is particularly strategic from a behavioral design perspective. Instead of framing mistakes as setbacks, Duolingo is re-positioning them as part of a forward-moving journey. That aligns with how modern learners expect feedback: positive reinforcement, instant gratification, and dynamic progress tracking. And it’s good news for advertisers too.

Gamification isn’t new to Duolingo, but this updated mechanic refines it. The energy system introduces a subtle sense of progress and urgency while still being generous enough to prevent user fatigue. That balance between stickiness and user satisfaction is gold for digital learning apps—and a key reason why Duolingo remains dominant in the competitive language-learning space.

So, what does this mean for you? If you've ever been frustrated by Duolingo's heart system, the energy model offers a more encouraging path to fluency. It aligns better with modern mobile app monetization strategies, supports ad revenue optimization, and—most importantly—makes you want to keep learning.