You have probably kept a streak on a language app for months and still cannot hold a conversation. That is not a failure, it is the limit of the tool.
Apps like Duolingo are excellent for vocabulary and building a daily habit. The streak mechanic keeps you showing up, and that consistency is genuinely useful early on.
Fluency, however, comes from real use. Listening to native speech, speaking out loud, and reading content made for native speakers are what actually bridge the gap.
So keep the app for the habit and the basics, then add real input. Watch shows, join a language exchange, and start speaking badly on purpose. The app gets you started, but fluency lives in the messy real-world practice.