The 7 Best Online Courses to Learn French Fluently
Kelsey Wetherbee
Last updated on September 26, 2023
Langoly is supported by our readers. We review products independently, but we may earn affiliate commissions if you buy through links on this page. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
Bonjour! Ça va? If you’re learning French, it can be hard to find the right way to get started. There are apps, books, classes, and more. Online courses are one of the best ways to learn French, especially if you like a structured plan. This article puts together some of the best online French courses available. There are different options for every type of learner and to fit every budget.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Online Courses to Learn French
- Best Overall: French Uncovered
- Best for Beginners: French Today
- Most Convenient Lessons: Frantastique
- Best for Live Classes: Lingoda
- Best for Self-Paced Learning: Ouino Languages
French is the 3rd most spoken language in Europe and has 71.5 million native speakers. It is the official language of France, but it’s also an official language in 24 countries, mostly located in Europe and Africa. There are also large pockets of French speakers in countries like Lebanon, Vietnam, and Cambodia even though it’s not an official language
How Long Will It Take You To Learn French?
There are many reasons to learn French. It’s considered to be the language of love because of its melodious tone. Ironically, it’s also a Romance language, similar to Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Learning French can be useful if you plan to learn another Romance language. Similarly, if you already know another Romance language, it will be easier for you to pick up French.
French is also a language of culture. France is a hub for art, fashion, literature, music, and more. Learning French means you could read Victor Hugo in the original language he wrote in or understand what Édith Pilaf was singing about in “La Vie en Rose.” And who wouldn’t want to attend Parish fashion week?
What Are The Best Courses To Learn French?
To find the best online French courses, I searched the internet to find some of the most reputable and popular options available. Then, I researched each course to see what it does well and who would benefit from it. I also read through past student reviews to see what people liked (and didn’t like) about each one. The final results are all high-quality options that will help you speak French fast.
Below you’ll find the best online courses to learn French. Scroll down to learn more about each one.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | French Uncovered
| Try for Free → |
Best for Beginners  | French Today
| Try Now → |
Most Convenient Lessons  | Frantastique
| Try for Free → |
Best for Live Classes  | Lingoda
| Try for Free → |
Best for Self-Paced Learning  | Ouino Languages
| Try for Free → |
Best for Podcast Lessons  | Coffee Break French
| Try Now → |
Best for Intensive Learning  | Institut Linguistique Adenet (ILA)
| Visit Now → |
French Uncovered
Best Overall French Course
French Uncovered is the best overall French course because it’s comprehensive and helps you improve all language skills. It provides an immersive experience without being overwhelming. Throughout the course, you follow a story, with each unit focusing on a new chapter. First, you listen to part of the story. Then, you watch lessons that break down the grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation from the chapter in different lessons.
Each unit has extensive lesson notes that make the course worth it because they have detailed explanations and practice questions with an answer key so you can check your progress. You can try French Uncovered for free for 7 days.
Key Features
- Learn through stories
- Video lessons and independent practice material
- Extensive lesson notes
Pricing
You get lifetime access to the entire French Uncovered course for a one-time payment of $297. You can try it out with a 7-day free trial, and there’s a 365-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the course.
French Today
Best for Beginners
French Today is the best for beginners because it starts with the basics. There are four levels that will take you from beginner to advanced. Each level has an audiobook with detailed explanations in English of the important grammar topics. You practice what you learn through a story that you follow throughout the course.
There are 3 different types of pronunciation available – slower, enunciated, and modern spoken pronunciation – so you can hear how French people really talk. In addition to the audiobook for each level, there are also exercise books, French verb drills, audio novels, and more.
Key Features
- Specifically designed for English speakers
- Audiobooks that teach grammar and useful vocabulary
- Hear 3 types of pronunciation: slower, enunciated, and modern
Pricing
The audiobook for each level costs $79.99, but you can save a lot if you buy more than one level or bundle other books.
Frantastique
Most Convenient Lessons
Frantastique is a unique way to learn French. You receive a daily lesson in your email that you can complete when it’s convenient for you. Each lesson is short and only takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. In each lesson, you watch a short video clip and then complete practice activities about the video to learn grammar and vocabulary topics. Every lesson includes a cultural note to learn more about francaphone countries.
You receive immediate feedback on your answers with explanations as to why your answers were correct or incorrect, something that not many other courses or apps offer. Over time, the difficulty of the lessons adapts to your needs, and the artificial intelligence that powers the lessons is impressive. You can try Frantastique for free for 30 days or read more about it in this overall Gymglish review.
Key Features
- Convenient lessons sent to your inbox
- Immediate feedback on your answers
- Lessons adapt to your level over time
Pricing
The price for the Frantastique course varies based on which tier you choose and the length of your subscription. You can pay monthly or pay for 6, 12, 24, or 36 months. The price decreases if you buy a longer subscription. The price ranges from $17.00 to $98.00 per month.
Lingoda
Best for Live Classes
Lingoda is the best platform for live French classes because it follows a set curriculum to make sure you’re progressing. Lingoda offers a lot of flexibility because you can choose when you take class and what lesson you want to cover. You also have the option to take group classes or private lessons.
The focus of each class is to practice speaking and listening with the teacher and other students. You have access to a self-study area and homework after each lesson. The independent practice allows you to make the most of your time in class. All teachers on the Lingoda platform are qualified and have at least 2 years of experience teaching languages. To learn more about the platform, check out this Lingoda review.
Key Features
- Private or group lessons
- Focus on speaking in classes
- Homework and self-study practice
Pricing
The price of Lingoda ranges from $10.00 to $15.00 per hour for group classes and $21.00 to $35.00 per hour for private lessons. You can sign up for a free Lingoda trial, which includes 3 group lessons or 1 private lesson.
Ouino Languages
Best for Self-Paced Learning
Ouino Languages is a good choice if you’re an independent learner. It’s a comprehensive computer program and mobile platform designed to be an all-in-one stop for learning French. The lessons cover the most important language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
It’s self-guided so you can choose what lessons you want to take and in what order. There are 5 different types of lessons, that cover grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Each lesson begins by presenting and explaining the concept, and then you complete a series of practice exercises to reinforce what you learned. You can also change the difficulty of the exercises depending on your level. You can try each of the 5 types of lessons for free to see if you like Ouino French.
Key Features
- Learn independently
- Covers all language skills
- Lots of practice exercises
Pricing
The price depends on how long you want access to Ouino. A 3-month subscription costs $12.99 per month and can go as low as $6.99 per month for a 12-month subscription. There’s also the option to get lifetime access for one payment of $95.76.
Coffee Break French
Best for Podcast Lessons
Coffee Break French is a series of podcast lessons that you can listen to in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Each lesson is about 15-20 minutes and is completely audio-based so you can listen anywhere. Your lesson hosts guide you through a series of vocabulary and grammar topics, and you hear what correct French sounds like, and practice saying the words and phrases along with the teacher.
There are 4 seasons (or levels) available that go from beginner to advanced French, and each season has 40 episodes. For more advanced learners, there are additional series, like “La Vérité éclate toujours” where each new lesson is a chapter of a drama story, and The Coffee Break French Magazine series that discusses French history and culture.
Key Features
- 100% audio lessons
- Practice listening and speaking
- Video lessons, bonus audio, and lesson notes for subscribers
Pricing
You can listen to all of the audio content for free. But if you want the additional learning resources that include lesson notes and bonus lessons, it costs $124 per level. You can also sign up for a free trial and receive the first 3 lessons for free.
Institut Linguistique Adenet (ILA)
Best for Intensive Learning
Institut Linguistique Adenet (ILA) is a language school based in Montpellier, France that offers in-person or online French classes. They have general French classes that go from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1). The online classes are small group classes (5-8 students) led by an experienced French teacher. Classes are conducted via Zoom.
Before you begin class, you take a placement test to find the best level for you. The lessons are interactive and focus on conversation with the teacher and other students. ILA also has DELF and DALF test preparation courses and other specialized courses per request. Online courses begin every Monday and you can start at any time of the year. Learn more at the ILA website and take advantage of the free trial session
Key Features
- Online or in-person classes
- Small groups
- Interactive lessons
Pricing
Prices vary depending on what course you want to take and how many weeks you sign up for. Prices start at 150€ per week for 20 hours of group lessons.
Why You Should Take an Online Course To Learn French
An online French course is an effective way to study if you enjoy a structured plan. Courses take the guesswork out of what to study next by laying out a plan that’s easy to follow. Depending on your schedule, some are more flexible than others. Some require you to take classes at a specific time, but others are self-paced and you can do them when you have free time. Whatever your availability is, an online course can easily fit into a busy schedule.
How To Use Online Courses To Learn French
Taking an online course to learn French is most effective when it’s part of a dedicated learning routine. You can set aside an hour a few times a week, or even every day if you have time, to take a lesson or complete other practice activities. Studying frequently helps you remember what you learned and continually develop skills.
It’s a good idea to use more than one way to study. Courses are excellent for practicing speaking if you have a live class, or learning about important grammar topics. But a French language app might work well to learn more extensive vocabulary. Or if the course is comprehensive, but you still have some questions, a self-study book might be the best answer.
Best Online Courses To Learn French: Final Thoughts
French is a beautiful language, but it can be difficult to learn. Finding the right way for you to study will make it easier and more enjoyable. Feel free to use this list as a starting point to find a course that’s a good fit for you. Courses are best used in conjunction with other learning methods. There are a lot of different ways to learn French. Once you find the right one, you’ll be speaking French before you know it!
Best Online CoursesTo Learn French: FAQ
The best program to learn French depends on your learning style. Rocket French, French Today, and Frantastique are effective programs that will guide you through the language step-by-step. But each one excels at different things. For example French today is great for learning grammar, and Frantastique is convenient since it has 10-15 minute lessons.
Yes, you can learn French online. There are many options that can help you study without having to leave your home. An excellent way is to take an online course with live classes. This will help you practice all language skills. The classes focus on speaking and listening, and there is usually homework and other independent practice activities so you can make the most of your time in class. Another option is to use one of the many French language apps available.
Duolingo is a language app that offers its entire French course for free. However, it’s ad-supported so your learning will be interrupted from time to time. There are also many free resources available online. LingoHut offers an extensive vocabulary course completely free and the French Experiment website has free lessons that cover the basics of French.
Although French is considered an easy language for English speakers to learn, realistically, you won’t be fluent in French in 3 months. But you can reach a basic level of conversation. Becoming completely fluent takes more time and lots of studying. You’ll also be able to learn quicker if you already speak a similar language, such as Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese.
To see how long it will take you to learn French, check out this fluency calculator.
