The best apps to learn French in 2026

Babbel is the best overall app to learn French in 2026 for English speakers: its courses are built for speakers of your native language, it explains grammar in context, and it asks you to speak from the first lesson, though full courses need a subscription. The best free option is Duolingo, whose French course is free with ads. Once you can follow simple sentences, add TV5MONDE EDU, a free app with hundreds of videos from across the French-speaking world and exercises from level A1 to B2.

Quick answer

• Best overall: Babbel. A structured French course written for English speakers, with grammar notes and speech recognition, from $17.99 for one month.
• Best free option: Duolingo. Every course is free, according to the listing, so you can build a daily French habit without paying.
• Best free listening practice: TV5MONDE EDU. Real French videos with transcripts and exercises from A1 to B2, and no in-app purchases at all.
• Best audio course: Pimsleur. 30-minute spoken lessons you can do hands-free, useful for training your ear to French sounds.
• Best for speaking out loud: Natulang. Most of the work is saying French dialogues aloud, with a lifetime French plan at $119.99.
• Best for post-beginners: Frantastique. One short, personalized lesson a day with a written correction, aimed at learners past the basics.
• Best for native-speaker feedback: Busuu. Structured lessons plus feedback from a community of native speakers.
• Best for offline phrases: French by Nemo. Essential words with native audio, all stored on the phone, and no data collected.

Comparison table

How to choose a French app

French looks friendly to English speakers because so much vocabulary is shared, but three things slow most learners down. First, spelling and sound part ways: final consonants are often silent, words run together through liaison, and nasal vowels (as in pain or bon) and the u in tu have no English equivalent. Second, every noun is masculine or feminine, and articles and adjectives change to match. Third, verbs conjugate heavily, and everyday speech switches between tu and vous. Pick an app that attacks your own weak point:

• If you are starting from zero and want rules explained, choose Babbel. It is the only pick here that pairs a full beginner course with grammar explanations written for English speakers.
• If you want to spend nothing, use Duolingo for a daily lesson and add TV5MONDE EDU for listening once you know a few hundred words. Both are free in their core form.
• If pronunciation and listening are the problem, an audio-first app trains your ear better than tapping tiles. Pimsleur works with headphones only; Natulang makes you say every line aloud.
• If you already know the basics and want corrected work, Frantastique sends a daily lesson with a personal correction, and Busuu lets native speakers comment on what you write or say.
• If you are preparing for the TCF exam, TV5MONDE EDU includes TCF practice tests and a simulator, according to its listing, at no cost.
• If you leave for France next week and care about privacy, French by Nemo works offline and its privacy label says it collects no data.

For a wider view across languages, see our guide to apps for learning languages.

Babbel: Best overall

Babbel is a subscription course that the developer says is tailored to your native language, so an English speaker gets different French lessons than, say, a German speaker. The listing promises "grammar in context", with explanations that appear when a new structure shows up, which suits French well: gender agreement, the passé composé and the choice between tu and vous are easier to absorb next to the sentence that uses them. The screenshots show listen-then-repeat exercises with a microphone button, and the opening screen advertises self-study lessons, live online classes, podcasts and games. The listing also mentions Babbel Speak, an AI conversation partner marked Beta, and an offline mode.

The free version is limited: the description says you can take a free lesson and that "a subscription is required to access full courses". On the US App Store in November 2026, the price list includes "French 1 month" at $17.99, a 3-month French plan at $45.99 and an All Languages 12-month plan at $107.99.

Strengths: a clear beginner path, explanations in English, speaking practice from the start.

Limits: little is free; requires iOS 17; age-rated 13+; the privacy label says purchases, identifiers and usage data may be used to track you. The live classes shown in the screenshots do not appear in the in-app purchase list, so check their cost before counting on them.

Duolingo: Best free option

Duolingo's French course is one of its largest, and the listing states plainly that "every course is free". Lessons are short, game-like exercises; the screenshots show picture-matching tasks, a progress bar and an energy counter. The description says lessons cover speaking, reading, listening and writing, which for French means a lot of matching spelling to sound, a useful habit given how many letters go unpronounced.

The free tier has ads. Super Duolingo removes them and adds unlimited energy, and the listing offers a 14-day free trial. On the US App Store in November 2026, Super Duolingo is listed at prices from $9.99 to $119.99, and gem packs cost $0.99 to $19.99.

Strengths: genuinely free, very regular updates (the latest on November 2, 2026), easy to keep a daily streak.

Limits: the listing does not describe grammar explanations, so learners who want to know why a word is la rather than le may need a second resource. The privacy label declares eight data types used for tracking, the most of any app on this page. Requires iOS 17. If Duolingo's style does not suit you, our list of Duolingo alternatives covers other options.

TV5MONDE EDU: Best free listening practice

TV5MONDE EDU comes from the French-language international TV channel and teaches through its videos: news reports, music videos and film clips, each with subtitles and a French transcript. The listing says you hear French as spoken in Paris, Geneva, Dakar, Montreal and Brussels, which is rare in a learning app and useful for anyone heading to Quebec or West Africa rather than France. Exercises run from beginner (A1) to upper intermediate (B2), and the developer says they are created by French teachers at Alliance Française centres. The screenshots show comprehension questions under a video ("Que voyez-vous ?") and vocabulary games with quiz and card modes.

The description ends with "Everything is free", and there are no in-app purchases. It also includes TCF practice tests with an exam simulator, plus content you can download for offline use.

Strengths: free, authentic audio with many accents, exam practice, no paywall.

Limits: the screenshots show an interface mostly in French, so it suits learners who already have the basics. It stops at B2. The privacy label lists usage data used for tracking, and the app is rated 13+.

Pimsleur: Best audio course

Pimsleur's French course is built around 30-minute audio lessons: you hear a phrase, are prompted to say it, then hear it again later at spaced intervals. The listing says you can learn offline and hands-free, which makes it the pick for commutes and workouts. For French, learning by ear first has a real advantage: you meet ils ont and ils sont as sounds before spelling can mislead you. The screenshots also show reading lessons, flash cards and a Quick Match quiz alongside the audio.

The description promises a free lesson in 51 languages. On the US App Store in November 2026, the price list shows an All Access Subscription at $20.99 and annual All Access plans at $131.99 and $164.99; single-language Premium plans at $19.99 appear for Spanish, Japanese and Italian, but no French-specific item is listed.

Strengths: strong listening and pronunciation drill, works without looking at the screen.

Limits: the developer says it teaches "without the burden of grammar tables", so gender and conjugation rules are not explained in depth. The AI conversation coach is described for Spanish and Japanese, and the listing says feature availability depends on the language. Five data types may be used for tracking.

Natulang: Best for speaking out loud

Natulang is built on one idea: you should spend most of your time speaking. The screenshots show a chat-style dialogue in which the app tells you what to say in English ("Tell her: …") and you answer aloud in the target language, with speech recognition checking you. The screenshots use Spanish, but French is in the list of supported languages. The listing says it works hands-free and fully supports VoiceOver, which makes it one of the few options here for blind and visually impaired learners.

According to the description, some lessons are free and a subscription unlocks the rest. On the US App Store in November 2026, the price list includes Natulang Premium at $9.99, a "Natulang Lifetime French" purchase at $119.99 and an all-languages option at $199.99.

Strengths: forces you to produce French, not just recognize it; a one-time lifetime price is available.

Limits: a small user base (425 ratings), an English-only interface, and iOS 17.6 or later required. The listing says little about grammar teaching, so pair it with a structured course.

Frantastique: Best for post-beginners

Frantastique, made by Gymglish, sends one personalized French lesson a day that the developer says takes 10 to 15 minutes. You answer, press send, and get a correction with your score, explanations, scripts and the vocabulary you asked about. The screenshots show a cartoon episode with subtitles, a note naming the speakers' accent, and a transcript you can switch between French and English. The listing says later lessons focus on your own points of difficulty.

The first lessons are free, along with a level assessment and a personalized report. After that it is a subscription. On the US App Store in November 2026, the price list runs from $9.99 to $254.99, with several "Frantastique 1 month" items between $9.99 and $35.99 and 12-month plans at $99.99, $199.99 and $254.99, so check which plan the app offers you before paying.

Strengths: written corrections that explain mistakes, humor and cultural content, business French.

Limits: the developer describes it as adapted for post-beginners from age 15, so it is not a first course. Pricing is hard to read from the listing, and the privacy label lists usage data used for tracking.

Busuu: Best for native-speaker feedback

Busuu offers a complete French course in bite-sized lessons, but its distinct feature is a community of native speakers who, according to the listing, give feedback and tips on your exercises, and you can correct learners of English in return. For French, a human reading your written answer catches agreement and gender slips that automated checks often accept. The screenshots show video flashcards with real people and true-or-false questions. The description also mentions a personalized study plan, a Smart Review tool for grammar and vocabulary, and official certificates.

The listing says "a lot of the features are free" but a subscription is needed for everything. On the US App Store in November 2026, the price list runs from a $6.99 monthly subscription to $139.99 for 12 months of Premium Plus.

Strengths: human feedback, clear structure, review of grammar you have already met.

Limits: it requires iOS 18, the newest minimum on this page; age-rated 13+; identifiers and usage data may be used for tracking. Plan names and prices vary widely, so compare before subscribing.

French by Nemo: Best for offline phrases

French by Nemo is not a course. The developer says it is "not built around lessons at all" and is meant to be opened for a few minutes at a time to drill the most common words and phrases, each recorded by a native speaker. Its Speech Studio lets you record yourself and play your voice next to the teacher's, a simple way to hear whether your nasal vowels and r are close. The screenshots show word cards such as "Bonjour / Hello" and topic lists for food, shopping, hotels and travel. It also runs on Apple Watch.

The app is free to download with a starter set; the complete version is one in-app purchase, the Nemo French Foundation pack, at $14.99 on the US App Store in November 2026. All audio is stored on the device.

Strengths: works offline, no subscription, and a privacy label that says no data is collected.

Limits: last updated in August 2024, more than two years ago. It teaches phrases, not grammar, so it will not explain gender or conjugation.

What we left out

• Memrise: it has a French course with native-speaker videos, but its free plan includes ads and limited lessons, and its prices run up to a $329.99 lifetime plan. We give it a slot on our other language pages.
• Learn French by MindSnacks and In 24 Hours Learn French: last updated in 2015 and 2019, too old to recommend.
• Generic "Learn French for Beginners" apps: several clones list the same topic menus (alphabet, numbers, colors) without a clear method of their own; the courses above cover the same ground better.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a completely free app to learn French?

Yes. TV5MONDE EDU has no in-app purchases and its description says everything is free, but it suits learners who have the basics. For a beginner course, Duolingo's French course is free with ads, according to its listing.

Is Babbel or Duolingo better for learning French?

Duolingo is better if cost matters or you need a game to keep you going; its course is free. Babbel is better if you want grammar explained in English as you go, since its courses are built for your native language, but full access needs a subscription that starts at $17.99 for one month on the US App Store.

Which app helps most with French pronunciation?

Audio-first apps help most because French spelling hides how words sound. Pimsleur trains you through listen-and-repeat audio lessons, Natulang makes you speak whole dialogues aloud, and French by Nemo lets you record yourself and compare with a native speaker.

Can you become fluent in French with an app alone?

Unlikely. The US Foreign Service Institute puts French in its easiest group for English speakers but still estimates about 750 classroom hours to reach professional working proficiency. Apps can cover the beginner and intermediate stages; fluency needs regular conversation with people, which is why we suggest pairing a course with listening practice and real speaking. The same is true for learning Spanish.

Is there an app to prepare for a French exam?

TV5MONDE EDU includes practice tests and a simulator for the TCF, the French proficiency test, plus training for professional French certificates, according to its listing. Busuu offers its own certificates, which are not the same as official exams.