blas. vs Duolingo
Duolingo and blas. solve different problems. Duolingo is a gamified habit engine. blas. is a Celtic-specific grammar engine. This is the honest comparison for the three languages where the choice matters.
Try blas. freeWhat each app actually does for Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic.
| Feature | blas. | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| Irish course | ✓ | ✓ |
| Welsh course | ✓ | ✕ |
| Scottish Gaelic course | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mutation drilling | ✓ | ✕ |
| Grammar engine | ✓ | ✕ |
| Multiple dialects | ✓ | ✕ |
| Reading passages | ✓ | ✕ |
| Spaced repetition | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio practice | ✓ | ✓ |
| Streaks and gamification | ✕ | ✓ |
| Lifetime purchase option | ✓ | ✕ |
Duolingo paused development of its Welsh course in October 2023; the existing course remains accessible but receives no updates. Its Irish and Scottish Gaelic courses are still actively maintained. blas. offers Irish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Breton, Cornish, and Manx in one app. Last verified May 2026.
Both apps have honest strengths. Pick the one that matches what you actually need.
Free with ads. Strong daily habit loop. Hundreds of languages in one app. The bird and streaks genuinely keep people coming back.
Built for the grammar of Celtic languages: mutations, conjugation, dialects, reading. Six Celtic languages with content that respects each.
Here is the kind of practice Duolingo never offered for Celtic languages. Mutation drills that target what trips learners up.
Spaced repetition tracks every rule independently. Wrong answers come back sooner.
Apply the mutation
Free to start. No credit card needed. Available on iOS, Android, and web.
Try blas. freeblas. is $15 per month, $90 per year, or $180 lifetime. Duolingo Super is around $84 per year. blas. lifetime is the long-run winner.
There's a basic streak. No leagues, no hearts, no aggressive nudges. The design prioritizes learning over retention games.
Breton, Cornish, and Manx aren't on Duolingo at all. Scottish Gaelic and Irish are deeper on blas.