The 11 Best French Learning Apps: Ranked and Reviewed
Chad Emery
Last updated on July 24, 2023
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Bonjour! French is one of the most spoken languages in the world. It’s a common language to learn because of its popularity, beauty, and cultural importance. To help you get started on your language learning journey, I created this list of the 11 best apps to learn French at home.
There are many different ways to learn French, but not all of them work for every person or learning style. It’s important to use the best app for you so you stay motivated and consistent when you study the language.
How Long Will It Take You To Learn French?
What Are The Best Apps To Learn French?
To compile this list, I compared the prices, features, and user experience of different French language apps. I also took a look at reviews from several major sites (like PCMag.com, g2.com, and Trustpilot.com) to see what other people were saying about them.
Ultimately, I spent time using the apps. I looked for their strong points and found which apps will genuinely help you learn French.
Using one or more of the apps on this list can help you no matter what your goals are. Without further ado, here’s the list!
| Best Overall App to learn French | ||||
| Best Beginner French App | ||||
| Best App to Learn French Grammar | ||||
| Best French App with Audio Lessons | ||||
| Best App for French Immersion Online | ||||
| Best Language and Culture App for French | ||||
| Best French Podcast App | ||||
| Most Comprehensive French App | ||||
| Best French App for Speaking | ||||
| Best App to Learn French Vocabulary | ||||
| Best App to Learn French for Free |
Rocket Languages
Best Overall App to Learn French
Rocket French Overview
Rocket Languages has a course that makes learning French easy and fun. It makes the most of your study time and guides you from a complete beginner to an intermediate speaker.
The app uses native French speakers who speak at natural speeds for listening comprehension practice. Plus, there are additional exercises like flashcards, pictures, videos with transcripts, and arrangements of grammar lessons by topic type (e.g., “Formality”).
Try Rocket French for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Rocket French review.
Key Features
- Self-paced course that will help you speak French quickly
- Includes cultural aspects of French to help you communicate effectively
- Grammar explanations are easy to follow and understand
- Professional course with high-quality content
Pricing
Rocket Languages doesn’t have subscriptions like most other language apps. Instead, you buy an entire course upfront, and you only pay once. The Rocket Languages French course costs $149.95 for one level up to $259.90 for all three levels.
Take a few free lessons with Rocket Languages to see if it’s right for you.
Mondly
Best Beginner French App
Mondly Overview
Mondly is perfect for beginners who are learning French because it starts right from the basics and teaches you everything you need to know about the language. It offers interactive conversations where you can practice speaking with its chatbot. You can even learn new words and phrases in augmented and virtual reality!
If there’s one thing everyone loves about this app, it’s how good it looks. The design is modern and colorful and makes it easy to learn French in a fun environment.
Try Mondly for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Mondly review.
Key Features
- Pick and choose lessons in whatever order you want
- Grammar notes that help you sound more natural when you speak
- Easily track your learning statistics to see your progress
- The only major language app that uses AR and VR for language learning
Pricing
The premium version of Mondly starts at $9.99 per month. You can get a discount if you sign up for a longer subscription. There’s also a free version of the app that gives you limited access to some of the content (but not much).
Try Mondly free for 7 days to see if it’s the right French app for you!
Babbel
Best App to Learn French Grammar
Babbel Overview
Babbel is the overall best app to learn French because of its customized course, interactive lessons, and quality of content.
The lessons are different than just listening to a short audio clip or watching an instructional video. They have you actively make choices, put together phrases, and practice speaking with voice recognition technology. This can help you learn the language faster and more effectively than other apps.
Try Babbel for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Babbel review.
Key Features
- Professional linguists created the course specifically for French learners
- The lessons cover common, everyday situations
- Each lesson builds on what you already learned to continue improvement
- Spaced repetition helps you review and remember words and phrases long-term
Pricing
Babbel costs $14.95 for a monthly subscription, but that price goes down if you purchase a longer subscription. There’s also a 20-day money-back guarantee in case you change your mind.
Sign up now for a free lesson with Babbel to start learning French today.
Pimsleur
Best App to Learn French with Audio
Pimsleur Overview
Pimsleur is an app-based language program that uses audio to teach you French. It follows a “gradual immersion” method, which means you are exposed to French words at a steady pace and then learn how they are used in context with other words.
This app is great for beginners because it simplifies French grammar so you can focus on understanding the content of what you’re listening to. You can also set your own schedule and go at your own pace. Pimsleur is best for people who want to immerse themselves in the language without having to take too much time out of their day to study.
Try Pimsleur for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Pimsleur review.
Key Features
- Audio lessons help your conversational skills from the moment you start learning
- The lessons are easy to follow and won’t overwhelm you
- The focus is on speaking instead of learning difficult grammar
- Comprehensive course that will help you become conversational quickly
Pricing
You can access the Pimsleur French course by subscribing to the app, which costs between $14.99 and $20.99 per month. You can also choose to purchase the complete French course upfront, which starts at $119.95.
Get a 7-day free trial to Pimsleur and start speaking French today.
LingoPie
Best App for French Immersion Online
LingoPie Overview
LingoPie is an immersive way to learn French because you watch tv shows and documentaries to learn your target language. Each video has subtitles and you can click on individual words to see the translation.
You can also create your own custom flashcard set for each show. When you click on the word to see the translation, LingoPie automatically adds it to your list that you can review at any time. There are tons of shows to choose from, so you’re sure to find something you like.
Try LingoPie for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this LingoPie review.
Key Features
- Watch tv shows and documentaries with subtitles
- Fun and immersive way to learn
- Create custom vocabulary lists
Pricing
A LingoPie subscription costs $12.00 per month or $67.00 per year ($5.60 per month). You can try LingoPie for free with a 7-day trial. It gives you access to all the languages and features available.
MosaLingua
Best App to Learn French Language and Culture
MosaLingua Overview
A lot of apps will teach you the French language, but most of them completely ignore French culture. That’s what makes MosaLingua stand out. In addition to learning French vocabulary you’ll use on a daily basis, MosaLingua also teaches French culture.
It does this by compiling a bunch of resources that let you immerse yourself in French. These include videos, songs, and even complete books. Try MosaLingua for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this MosaLingua review.
Key Features
- Learn language and culture at the same time
- Huge list of additional tools to enhance your learning
- Create custom vocabulary lists using any website you want
- Costs less than most other French language apps
Pricing
A subscription to MosaLingua Web costs $4.99 per month or $9.49 per month on the app. You can also get a yearly subscription for $59.90.
Sign up to try MosaLingua free for 7 days!
FrenchPod101
Best French Podcast App
FrenchPod101 Overview
FrenchPod101 has a lot of different videos, audio, and text lessons that can help you improve your communication skills in French. The topics will prepare you for every situation you may encounter, and the content is organized to help you learn it quickly. There are 5 levels from absolute beginner to advanced, so there is content for every learner.
Try FrenchPod101 for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this FrenchPod101 review.
Key Features
- Content is constantly updated so you can always learn something new
- Some subscriptions let you work directly with a French tutor
- Listen to the lessons anywhere you want
- Extra learning resources like vocab lists, quizzes, and games to reinforce what you learn
Pricing
A basic subscription to FrenchPod101 costs $8.00 per month, but the price goes down to $4.00 per month if you get a longer subscription. You can also get a Premium or Premium+ subscription that includes more features.
Sign up for an account to get free French lessons every week.
Rosetta Stone
Most Comprehensive French App
Rosetta Stone Overview
Rosetta Stone is a language learning program that is flexible and comprehensive. It focuses on teaching conversational French, so you’ll be ready to speak with people in real-life situations.
It also has an immersive approach, which means you won’t see any English when you use it. From the second you start using it, you’ll only see French. While that could be intimidating at first, it’s the perfect way to learn with an app!
Try Rosetta Stone for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Rosetta Stone review.
Key Features
- One of the biggest brands in language learning
- Native speakers voice all the lessons so you’ll only hear natural speech
- The course builds on what you already learned from previous lessons
- The app is easy to use and the lessons are quick to complete
Pricing
A Rosetta Stone subscription costs $36.00 for 3 months, but you can get a discount if you choose a longer subscription.
Sign up for a free 3-day trial to see if Rosetta Stone is a good fit for you.
italki
Best App to Learn French Speaking
italki Overview
italki is the best French app for speaking practice because it can connect you with a French tutor that teaches online lessons. There are over 1,100 on-demand tutors who specialize in teaching French with a variety of qualifications to choose from.
You can filter based on a number of criteria, such as native language, location, and specializations (like medical French). You’re in control of what you want to learn and your French tutor is there to help you. It’s the perfect way to improve your speaking skills.
Try italki for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this italki review.
Key Features
- Easily filter French tutors to find the best one for you
- Tutors can offer discounts if you book multiple lessons
- You control what you want to learn during your lessons
- This is the fastest way to improve your speaking skills
Pricing
italki tutors set their own prices for classes. They usually range anywhere from $4.00 per hour to over $60.00 per hour for more specialized classes. Most tutors offer a 50% discount if you take a trial lesson with them, so you can try a few different tutors until you find the perfect one.
Try italki and sign up for a discounted trial lesson today!
Drops
Best App to Learn French Vocabulary Online
Drops Overview
Drops is the best way to learn new French words and phrases quickly. It’s ideal for beginners who need to build up their vocabulary, Drops works by showing you a word or phrase in English with an animation, and then giving you the definition and translation in French.
The apps also come with more features so that you can review vocabulary at any time and make sure you remember it. It also includes an offline mode so you don’t need internet access to use it – perfect for when you’re abroad and need to pick up a few new words!
Try Drops for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Drops review.
Key Features
- Sleek user interface and well-designed
- Large amount of useful and important vocabulary
- Animations make it easier to remember new words
- You choose how long you want to study each day
Pricing
You can use Drops for free for up to 5 minutes every day. If you want to use it more than that or access other features, it starts at $13.00 per month. You can also get a yearly or lifetime subscription at a discount.
Sign up and try Drops for free for 5 minutes today!
Duolingo
Best Free App to Learn French
Duolingo Overview
Duolingo is the perfect app for those looking to learn French in their spare time, mainly because it’s free!
Duolingo is based on play – when you’re learning, it feels like a game instead of a lesson. One unique aspect of Duolingo is that it’s constantly updating the content with more lessons all the time. This means that it always has new words to teach you and you keep moving forward.
Duolingo lets you track your progress so you can see your stats and how much you’ve learned. Try Duolingo for free by clicking the link below or learn more about it in this Duolingo review.
Key Features
- Duolingo is free to use (but it has ads)
- The course is fairly comprehensive
- It helps you review what you’ve already learned
- Lighthearted and fun approach to language learning
Pricing
Duolingo offers its entire French course for free, but there are ads that pop up every once in a while. If you want access to more features and to learn without ads, you can subscribe to Super Duolingo. This starts at $12.99 per month or $83.99 per year.
Try Super Duolingo free for 14 days!
Why You Should Use Apps To Learn French
An app is a quick and easy way to learn and improve your French skills. By using apps to learn French, you have the ability to study at any time without having to search through a bunch of websites or chapters in a textbook.
Language apps also track your progress so you know what needs more work. Some apps are also helpful if you want to learn French with other people. They have features like instant messaging or video chats to help you practice real-time communication.
Apps are ideal for people who want a simple and flexible way to learn a language using different formats like articles, videos, interactive lessons, quizzes, or games.
How To Use Apps To Learn French
Using apps to learn French is easy, but first, you have to find the right one for you. This list is a good place to start. Once you’ve found a few apps that look interesting, you can use the free trials to see which one you like best and fits your learning goals. Next, you can create a study routine. Most apps recommend studying every day, even if it’s just for a short amount of time.
It’s also important to use more than one method to study. For example, you can use a language app to learn vocabulary and practice pronunciation, but a French book or an online course might give you more detailed grammar explanations and practice questions. However you choose to learn, consistency is the most important aspect of language learning.
Best Apps To Learn French: Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a fun and rewarding way to learn French, these 11 apps are the best place to start. I’ve reviewed them based on their features and pricing in order to help you narrow down your options.
Check out a few of them or sign up and give all 11 a try! All you need is motivation and a few minutes each day with one of these apps and soon enough, you’ll be fluent in French. As one of the most spoken languages in Europe, you’ll be able to meet a lot of new interesting people by speaking the language.
Best Apps To Learn French: FAQ
To become completely fluent in French, most people need to study consistently for at least a year. However, it can take much longer. If youre goal is to become conversational, you can achieve this in around 6 months.
To see how long it will take you to learn French, check out this fluency calculator.
The best app to learn French is Babbel. With a complete course designed by professional linguists, Babbel can take you from complete beginner to conversational in just a few months. Other great apps to learn French include MosaLingua, Mondly, and Busuu.
It’s possible to learn French at home, but you will need to study consistently and find ways to practice your communication skills. Using an app like Babbel to learn the language and Tandem to practice it with native speakers can help you become conversational.
If English is your native language, French is considered an easy language to learn, especially when compared with other languages like Arabic or Mandarin Chinese. However, learning French (or any language) is not an easy thing to do. If you study consistently and practice your communication skills, you may be surprised how quickly you can learn French!
4 Comments
Dianne Shuntich says:
Can you tell me if any of the French language apps teach you using the polite forms of the pronouns for “you”? I tried Duolingo and it uses only “tu”, which will be considered rude when I go to France this summer.
It would be a big help if you can answer this question.
I’m not sure how to receive your reply on this website, so if you could copy it to my email, ****, it would be great.
Thank you so much!
Dianne
Chad Emery says:
Hi Dianne, thanks for your comment! You could give Babbel a try. It has specific lessons dedicated to tu vs. vous. Busuu and LingoDeer are also good options for practicing the formal and informal “you” forms. Hope this helps!
James Collier says:
I am learning French. I *read* French fairly well, but I lack *listening* comprehension.
What would be very helpful are DVDs which have both French and English subscripts. That way, I can tie the subscripts to spoken French and use the English to ensure comprehension.
Do you know of such?
Chad Emery says:
Hi there, sounds like Lingopie could be a great choice that fits your needs. Learn more about Lingopie here: lingopie