Independent choices, disclosed ownership

Apps like Duolingo for history: what actually exists in 2026

By William Souef · Published September 1, 2026

What people mean by “Duolingo for history”

When people search this phrase they usually mean four things Duolingo popularized: lessons short enough to finish in a coffee break, a streak that makes you come back tomorrow, constant quizzing instead of passive reading, and a free way in. Duolingo itself teaches languages — plus math, music, and chess — but no history, as of September 2026. So the real question is which history app reproduces most of that loop. Here is how each candidate scores on the documented record.

The seven candidates

1. Paladin — closest to the Duolingo formula

Five-minute animated story lessons, quizzes, collectible characters, and streaks, per its official listing and site; sold by DEEPSTASH SRL on iOS and Android, with a 4.6-star average across roughly 20,000 US ratings. The free version is limited by its own terms, and the US listing shows yearly subscriptions at six price points from $29.99 to $99.99 (monthly is $12.99), so read the purchase screen carefully. Full analysis in our Paladin review.

2. Histia — the map-and-stories take (our app)

Histia keeps the short-session habit loop — stories of a few minutes, streaks, quiz rounds — and adds what a language app never needed: an interactive map and timeline spanning 3000 BCE to 2025 CE, with synchronized audio and text. Honest limits: iPhone and iPad only (iOS 18+), no Android, and quiz questions on all but a handful of stories are currently generic. US pricing: free download, then $3.99 weekly, $7.99 monthly, or $69.99 lifetime.

3. Kinnu — the most free-feeling gamified option

Kinnu (Kinnu Limited) structures knowledge into pathways you progress through with reading bursts and quizzes, history included. Its US listing shows a 4.8-star average — across a small base of about 500 ratings — and an in-app purchase list of only minor items (a $1.99 monthly item and paid certificates), which matches its reputation as free to use in substance. iOS 17+ and Android.

4. Chunks — stories with a real free tier

Chunks delivers five-to-ten-minute narrated stories with synchronized text, streaks included, and its free tier — one story a day, no card — is the most honest in the category. No quiz layer is advertised, so it is the least Duolingo-like mechanically. Premium is $9.99 monthly, $34.99 yearly, or $59.99 lifetime per its site. Full analysis in our Chunks review.

5. Nibble — the gamified generalist

Nibble applies the interactive-lesson-plus-quiz loop to nine-plus subjects, history among them, with games and chat-style formats; 4.3 stars across roughly 46,000 US ratings. A July 2026 developer response says there is no free plan — only a seven-day trial — and the US listing shows annual prices from $12.99 to $89.99. If you would use the other eight subjects, it is efficient; if you only want history, see our Nibble review before subscribing.

6. Khan Academy — free, structured, not a game

Khan Academy's nonprofit app is entirely free — no ads, no subscriptions in its listing — and includes full world and US history courses with videos, readings, and exercises. It has the quizzing and the progress tracking, but sessions are course-shaped rather than streak-shaped. As the free option with the deepest history content, it belongs on this list even though nobody would mistake it for a game.

7. Herodotus — the literal attempt, but not on iOS

Herodotus is an indie app whose developer explicitly cites Duolingo as the model: points, streaks, and quizzes across historical periods. It ships on Android and the web; we found no iOS App Store listing, so iPhone users will need one of the six options above.

Side-by-side comparison

Prices from US listings and official sites, checked September 1, 2026. Offers change by market and onboarding path; confirm on the purchase screen.

How to choose in thirty seconds

Frequently asked questions

Is there an app like Duolingo for history?

No app is a verified one-to-one Duolingo equivalent for history. Judged by documented mechanics — short daily lessons, streaks, quizzes, game elements — Paladin is the closest match, with five-minute animated lessons and collectibles. Histia (our app), Kinnu, Chunks, and Nibble each reproduce parts of the loop; Khan Academy offers free structured history courses without the game layer.

Does Duolingo itself teach history?

No. Duolingo teaches languages and has added math, music, and chess courses, but its catalog contains no history course as of September 2026. That is why this search always ends at other apps.

What is the best free Duolingo-style history app?

Khan Academy is entirely free, including its history courses, but it is structured like a course rather than a game. Kinnu's US listing shows only minor optional purchases, making it the most free-feeling gamified option. Chunks offers one genuinely free story a day. Paladin, Nibble, and Histia are freemium with paid full access.

What about the Herodotus app?

Herodotus is an indie quiz-and-streak history app whose developer cites Duolingo as the inspiration, but it ships on Android and the web; we found no iOS App Store listing, so iPhone users need one of the other options here.