Best Credit Card for Duolingo in 2026
Duolingo is classified under MCC 8299 (Schools and Educational Services ( Not Elsewhere Classified)). The best card for Duolingo purchases is the Active Cash (no annual fee), earning 2x on schools and educational services ( not elsewhere classified) — an effective return of 2.00%.
Duolingo falls under the Schools and Educational Services category (MCC 8299), making it a prime target for education-focused rewards cards that often offer enhanced cash back rates for educational expenses.
Maximize your rewards by using a card that offers bonus percentages for educational expenses or sign-up bonuses for new users.
Duolingo purchases are classified under MCC 8299 (Schools and Educational Services ( Not Elsewhere Classified)).
MCC Details for Duolingo
Best Credit Cards for Duolingo (2026)
How Duolingo Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Duolingo in the app or online, your card issuer sees MCC 8299 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a schools and educational services ( not elsewhere classified) merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "schools and educational services ( not elsewhere classified)" purchases, Duolingo transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Duolingo specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Duolingo transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 8299 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Duolingo
About MCC 8299: Schools and Educational Services ( Not Elsewhere Classified)
Merchant Category Code 8299 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Schools and Educational Services ( Not Elsewhere Classified) industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 8299, all qualifying card programs that include schools and educational services ( not elsewhere classified) as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Education industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Schools and Educational Services ( Not Elsewhere Classified) merchants: Chegg, Coursera, Skillshare.
What You Could Earn at Duolingo
Spending $200/month at Duolingo with the Active Cash (2x on schools and educational services ( not elsewhere classified)) earns approximately $48/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $24 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Signify Business Cash earns 2x at Duolingo merchants, earning $48/year with no annual fee.