Duolingo English Test Fee 2026: Price, Bundles, Faster Results and Hidden Costs
How much the Duolingo English Test costs in 2026: the single test price, the 2-test bundle, faster results, retakes, refunds, payment methods and how to avoid paying twice.
The Short Answer
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is one of the cheapest English proficiency tests accepted by universities. A single test costs US$70 (checked on the DET checkout page in November 2026), and a two-test bundle is sold at a discounted price per test.
Duolingo does not publish a price table on its public pages. You see the exact amount, in your currency where available, when you click Purchase a test inside your DET account. Prices can change, so always treat that checkout screen as the final word.
This guide explains everything that affects what you actually pay: bundles, faster results, retakes, refunds and the small rules that make people buy a second test they did not need.
DET Costs at a Glance
| Item | What it costs | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single test | US$70 | DET checkout page (November 2026) |
| 2-test bundle | Discounted price for two tests | DET Help Center: test bundles |
| Faster results | Paid add-on, results in 12 hours instead of 2 days | DET Help Center: faster results |
| Sending scores to institutions | No extra fee, results can be shared without limit | englishtest.duolingo.com |
| Practice test | Free | englishtest.duolingo.com/practice |
Local taxes, bank conversion fees and card foreign-transaction fees can make the amount on your bank statement slightly higher than the listed price.
What You Get for One Test Fee
One purchase gives you one test credit. According to the DET Help Center:
- A credit gives you one certified result.
- You have three attempts to complete and upload the test on that credit. Any time you start the test, it counts as an attempt.
- If a technical error stops your test from being uploaded or certified, you can retake it at no extra cost as long as you still have attempts left on the credit.
- You must use the credit within 21 days of purchase. Unused credits expire and the date cannot be extended.
That 21-day window is the most common way people lose money. Do not buy the test "to motivate yourself" two months before you are ready. Buy it when you can sit the test within three weeks.
The 2-Test Bundle: When It Makes Sense
The bundle lets you buy two tests at once at a lower price per test. The official rules are:
- You have 21 days to take your first test after buying the bundle.
- After you receive your first result, you get another 21 days to take the second test.
- Bundle purchases are not refundable, and the credits cannot be shared with another account.
Buy the bundle if your target score is close to your current level (for example, you are scoring around 110 in practice and need 120). A second attempt within a few weeks is realistic, and the discount pays for itself.
Skip the bundle if you are still far from your target. If you need a month or more of preparation after the first attempt, the second credit may expire before you are ready.
Faster Results: Is the Extra Fee Worth It?
Standard results arrive in about 2 days. The faster results add-on cuts that to 12 hours. Duolingo states that the test still gets the same human proctoring and AI scoring, and that faster results do not guarantee a certified result. Faster results purchases are also not refundable.
It is worth paying only when a real deadline is inside the next two days, such as a scholarship or application portal that closes tomorrow. For everyone else, the standard 2-day turnaround is already faster than most other English tests.
Sending Your Score Is Free
Unlike many tests that charge per score report, DET results can be shared without limit. From your account, open My Tests, choose your certified result and click Share Score. You can select up to 25 institutions at a time and add more later. If you need more than 25, you can ask support, but approval is not guaranteed.
Sending a score is not the same as applying. You still have to submit an official application to each university.
Retakes and Purchase Limits
You can buy a new test after your previous result arrives, but there is a cap: you may purchase up to three tests in any 30-day period. If you are planning several attempts before a deadline, count back 30 days from today before you buy.
A smarter approach is to treat every retake as expensive. Most score jumps between attempts come from fixing one or two specific weaknesses, usually the writing and speaking production tasks, not from simply sitting the test again.
Refunds
The official policy is short: if there is a problem with your test, contact support within 24 hours of the issue. You are not eligible for a refund if you break any test rule or requirement. Bundles and faster results are not refundable at all.
Before you start a real attempt, read the test rules carefully. A result that is not certified because of a rule violation (looking away from the screen, background noise, an unapproved setup) costs you the full fee. Our guide on why DET results are not certified covers the most common causes.
How to Pay
You buy the test inside your Duolingo English Test account. Duolingo states that it accepts all major credit cards, and Alipay in China. If you do not have a credit card, many students use a debit card that supports online international payments, or ask a family member to pay. Someone else can pay for your test, but the test itself must be taken in your own account.
Institutions sometimes provide coupon codes (for example, through partner programs), and some universities take part in Duolingo's Access Program, which offers fee waivers to eligible students through the institution. If you are applying to a university that participates, ask the admissions office before you pay.
DET vs Other English Tests on Cost
Even before counting travel to a test center, the DET is usually much cheaper than IELTS or TOEFL, whose fees vary by country and often cost several times more. Free score sending and online, at-home testing widen the gap further.
The real question is whether your target institution accepts the DET and what score it requires. Check the university score requirements guide and, if your school lists only IELTS or TOEFL scores, use our Duolingo score converter to see the official equivalents.
How Not to Waste Your Test Fee
- Take the free official practice test first. It gives you a rough score range at no cost.
- Only buy when you can test within 21 days. Credits expire.
- Check your setup the day before. Quiet room, stable internet, a valid ID and a working camera and microphone.
- Practice the production tasks under time pressure. Write About the Photo and Speak About the Photo feed several subscores, and they are where most avoidable points are lost.
- Do not pay for faster results unless a deadline forces you to.
Wono DET is an independent practice tool (not affiliated with Duolingo) for Write About the Photo and Speak About the Photo. You answer with the real time limits and get an AI score estimate, grammar corrections and a stronger model answer. Your first corrections are free, which is a cheaper way to find your weak spots than a second test fee.
Official Sources
- Duolingo English Test for test takers: test length, 2-day results, unlimited score sharing
- DET Help Center: test bundles, faster results, test credits and attempts, purchase limits, refund policy, payment methods and score sending
- Free official practice test
Prices and policies can change. Check your DET account and the Help Center before you buy.
Conclusion
The DET costs US$70 for a single test, with a cheaper per-test price if you buy two at once. Sending scores is free, results take about 2 days, and faster results are an optional paid extra.
The biggest hidden cost is not a fee at all: it is a wasted attempt. Buy only when you can test within 21 days, prepare your setup, and practice the timed tasks first.
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