Best Duolingo English Test practice platforms in 2026, compared honestly
Hilingo team · 4 min read · September 16, 2026
We build one of these, so read this knowing that. Here is what each DET practice platform actually offers, where the official test falls short, and which one to pick for what you need — including the cases where you should not pick us.
Disclosure first: we make Hilingo, one of the platforms on this list. Every roundup of DET practice tools is written by someone selling one of them, and most do not say so. We are saying so, and we have included the cases where another option is the better buy.
Every claim about another platform below is something that platform states publicly. Where we could not verify something, we say so rather than guessing.
Start with the official practice test — but know its limit
Duolingo's own practice test is the most authentic preview of the interface and question style, because it comes from the test maker. Take it at least once. It is free.
Its limitation is the reason this whole category exists: the official practice test gives you an overall score range, with no subscores and no feedback. You learn roughly where you sit. You do not learn which of Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation or Production is dragging you down, or what to do about it.
Everything below is trying to fill that gap.
The platforms
DET Ready — A large question bank. Its premium plan advertises 5,000+ practice questions with answers, and includes free AI tokens for AI-powered feedback. If your problem is that you have not seen enough questions, volume is a legitimate answer.
TestGlider — Known for timed full-length mocks with automated scoring and a clean results breakdown. A focused choice if what you need is repeated full-length simulation under time pressure rather than drilling.
LingoLeap — DET-specific and AI-focused, with automated scoring and study guidance built around the test.
Arno — Offers a full-length DET mock with instant estimated scores including subscores and AI feedback on every response, with the first mock free. It also covers TOEFL, so it is worth a look if you are weighing both tests.
Gurully and Prep27 — Both run DET practice alongside their PTE and IELTS products, both with free mock tests. If you already use either for another exam, staying inside one login is a reasonable reason to stay.
PrepareBuddy — Positions itself on AI feedback depth and breadth of test coverage, and publicly claims 95% scoring accuracy using a large model with multi-model verification. We have not independently verified that figure, and no platform on this list — including ours — publishes the method behind its accuracy number. Treat all such claims, ours included, as marketing until someone shows their working.
Hilingo — That is us. Full-length DET mocks scored per task by our own engine, with per-word pronunciation scoring on speaking answers rather than a single overall speaking mark. First mock free. The same platform also runs PTE, IELTS, CELPIP and OET on the same scorer.
How to actually choose
Forget the rankings. Ask what you are short of.
"I have not seen enough questions." → Volume-first platforms. DET Ready's bank is the biggest advertised.
"I run out of time / panic in the real thing." → Full-length timed simulation. TestGlider is built around exactly this.
"I do not know why I am losing marks." → You need per-task scoring with subscores, not an overall number. Arno, PrepareBuddy and Hilingo all sell this; try the free tier of each and see whose feedback you actually understand.
"I am also taking another test." → Arno if it is TOEFL. Hilingo if it is CELPIP, IELTS or PTE. Gurully or Prep27 if you already have an account there.
"I am in Canada and doing this for admission." → Read the next section before you spend anything.
The thing most DET roundups leave out
If you are in Canada, or heading there, know this now: the Duolingo English Test is accepted by universities and colleges for admission. IRCC does not accept it for permanent residence.
For PR you need CELPIP, IELTS or PTE Core in English, or TEF or TCF in French. The DET is not on that list at any score.
The common path is DET for the admission offer, then CELPIP later for PR. That is two tests, and it is worth knowing before you choose a practice platform — because a platform that only does DET will not be there for the second one.
When not to pick us
Plainly:
- If you want the largest DET-specific question bank, that is not us — we run full mocks per exam rather than the biggest single-test drill library.
- If you are taking TOEFL alongside DET, Arno covers that pairing and we do not.
- If you only ever need one DET score and never another English test, a DET-only tool will serve you fine and may cost less.
We are the better choice when you want real per-task scoring rather than an overall estimate, and when the DET is not the last English test you will sit.
Try before you decide
Every platform here has a free tier or a free first mock, including the official one. Use them. A scoring engine either tells you something useful about your own answer or it does not, and you will know within one mock which is which.
Take a free Duolingo English Test mock on Hilingo, then take the official one, then take one more from this list. Whichever explains your weakest subscore best is the one worth paying for.
Last checked September 2026. Platforms change their features and pricing; verify on their own sites before buying. If we have described your platform inaccurately, tell us and we will correct it.