Head-to-Head Comparison
IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo: 2026 Guide
Three tests dominate global university admissions — each has different formats, costs, and acceptance rates. Heres how to choose.
Format
IELTS: in-person/online, 4 sections. TOEFL iBT: online or center, 4 sections. Duolingo: 60-min adaptive online.
Cost (2026)
IELTS: $225-330. TOEFL iBT: $215-300. Duolingo: $59. Duolingo wins on cost.
Test duration
IELTS: 2h 45m. TOEFL: 2 hours. Duolingo: 1 hour. Duolingo wins on speed.
Acceptance worldwide
IELTS: 11,500+ universities. TOEFL: 11,000+ universities. Duolingo: 5,000+ universities (growing).
Scoring
IELTS: 0-9 scale. TOEFL: 0-120. Duolingo: 10-160.
Speaking section
IELTS: live examiner. TOEFL: recorded responses. Duolingo: recorded short answers.
Result turnaround
IELTS: 3-13 days. TOEFL: 4-8 days. Duolingo: 48 hours. Duolingo wins on speed.
Verdict
IELTS for traditional universities (UK, Australia). TOEFL for US institutions. Duolingo if cost/speed matter most and target school accepts it.