French · App comparison · 2026
Best apps to learn French (2026)
French opens France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and much of West Africa — but it's the language where sounding right matters most, and where most learners get stuck.
Short answer: the best app to learn French depends on your goal. For real-life and relocation French, Language Lab is purpose-built; Babbel is the best structured course, Duolingo the best free habit-builder, and Pimsleur the best for speaking. The smart move is to pair a conversation app with a vocabulary tool like Anki.
This comparison is our own assessment, written for people learning French for real life abroad. Other apps’ features and pricing change often — please check each app directly before you decide. All product names belong to their respective owners.
The apps to learn French, at a glance
| App | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Language Lab | Real-life & relocation conversation | Free to start |
| Babbel | Structured, practical courses | Subscription |
| Duolingo | Free daily habit & basics | Free + paid tier |
| Busuu | Structured path + native feedback | Free + paid tier |
| Pimsleur | Audio speaking & pronunciation | Subscription |
| Memrise | Native-speaker video + AI chat | Free + paid tier |
| Anki | Vocabulary retention (flashcards) | Free (paid on iOS) |
The hard part of learning French
French spelling and pronunciation diverge sharply (silent letters, liaison, nasal vowels), so listening and speaking practice matter far more than flashcards. Prioritise apps that make you hear and say real French.
The apps, reviewed for French
1. Language Lab
Built for the reason many people learn French at all — moving to a French-speaking country. It teaches the real-life and bureaucratic conversations most apps skip and lets you rehearse them out loud with Sonia, a live AI voice tutor. Free to start; newer and pre-launch, but uniquely relocation-focused.
2. Babbel
The reliable structured course for French: short, practical, linguist-designed lessons that build steadily. The best paid all-rounder if you want a clear path rather than a game.
3. Duolingo
One of the best-known free ways to build a daily French habit and foundational vocabulary. Its style is game-like and focused on the basics, so in our view it works best as a warm-up alongside real speaking practice.
4. Busuu
A structured French course with a nice extra: native speakers can review your writing and speaking. A good option if you want feedback alongside lessons.
5. Pimsleur
Audio-first French lessons that focus on speaking and pronunciation, hands-free. More geared to listening and speaking than reading — a good fit for practising on the go.
6. Memrise
Its edge for French is thousands of short clips of real native speakers plus an AI chat partner — great for training your ear to how French is actually spoken.
7. Anki
The free spaced-repetition flashcard tool serious learners use to actually retain French vocabulary. A tool, not a course — pair it with one of the above.
Learning French because you're moving to France or francophone Canada and want to be understood, not just correct on paper?
Language Lab teaches the French of real life — start free and rehearse it out loud.
Start learning French free