La Classe Française

Learn French

The best apps to learn French (and what they can't do)

By Published Updated 3 min read

Teléfono móvil con una aplicación para aprender francés
Contents
  1. Comparison of the best-known apps
  2. Free resources I genuinely recommend
  3. Can you learn French with an app alone?
  4. A combination that works
  5. Frequently asked questions

Apps to learn French have made language learning accessible to everyone: ten minutes on the bus are enough to review vocabulary. But many learners come to their first lesson with me after months on an app… unable to hold a conversation. Here is what each one is really good for, and how to combine them.

Comparison of the best-known apps

The main apps to learn French
AppWhat it's good forIts limitsPricing model
DuolingoBuilding a daily habit, basic vocabularyLittle grammar explanation, almost no real conversationFree with ads, paid version
BabbelStructured lessons with dialogues and explained grammarLimited speaking practicePaid
BusuuCourses by CEFR level and corrections from other usersCorrections depend on the communityFree with paid features
AnkiMemorising vocabulary with spaced repetitionYou have to create or choose the flashcards; it doesn't teach grammarFree on computer and Android, paid on iPhone
MemriseVocabulary with videos of native speakersLittle grammatical depthFree with paid features
Rosetta StoneTotal immersion, no translationsSlow for understanding grammar; no explanations in EnglishPaid

Each app's terms and prices change often: check them on their official websites, such as Duolingo, Babbel or Anki.

Free resources I genuinely recommend

Beyond paid apps, there are excellent free resources made by French-language media:

Can you learn French with an app alone?

You can start with an app and learn a fair amount of vocabulary. But an app cannot:

  1. Make you really speak and react to what you say.
  2. Spot your recurring mistakes and explain why you make them.
  3. Adapt the content to your goal: an exam, an interview or a meeting.
  4. Correct your pronunciation precisely.

That's why apps work best as a daily complement to a method with real interaction, as I explain in how to learn French in 6 steps.

A combination that works

How to combine apps and lessons
WhenToolGoal
Every day, 10 minAnki or DuolingoVocabulary and consistency
Every day, 10 minPodcast or radioTraining your ear
Once or twice a weekPrivate lessonSpeaking, correcting mistakes, progressing with a plan
Before an examTargeted mock examsMastering the format and timing

To prepare for an official exam, general apps are not enough: you need mock exams in the real format. That's why I created DelfOnline, a platform for preparing the DELF, DALF and TCF designed for Spanish speakers, with mock exams that follow the official timing and marking scales.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free app to learn French?

To start with, the free version of Duolingo, plus Anki for vocabulary. For listening, the free resources from RFI and TV5MONDE are of very high quality.

Is Duolingo good for learning French?

It helps you build a habit and learn basic vocabulary, but it is not enough to speak fluently or pass an official exam.

Which app is best for preparing for the DELF?

A dedicated platform with mock exams, such as DelfOnline, combined with a teacher's corrections for writing and speaking.

How long should I use an app each day?

Between 10 and 15 minutes a day is enough if you combine it with listening to real French and conversation.

If you want to move from the app to real conversation, my French conversation lessons are designed for exactly that.