French Learning Apps (2026): 10 Apps and Sites Compared

French is one of the most popular languages people pick up on a phone, and it's easy to see why. It's close to English in vocabulary, it's spoken on several continents, and there's a huge amount of French audio and video to learn from.

The ten apps and sites below cover gamified courses, audio lessons, video immersion and a couple of free options from broadcasters. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from each provider's own website, read this week. If you'd like to use AI alongside them, my guide to ChatGPT prompts for learning a language shows how to turn it into a patient practice partner.

French learning apps at a glance

I checked the free plan column on each app's own website or App Store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page says the app, a course or a version of the app is free. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start, so check before you sign up.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Babbel	Subscription language app	Structured lessons aimed at real conversations	Not stated
Busuu	Language app with courses by level	Beginner to advanced French courses	Yes
Coffee Break French	Podcast and online French course	Learning with a teacher explaining as you go	Yes
Duolingo	Gamified language app	A daily habit with bite-sized lessons	Yes
FluentU	Video-based language learning site	Learning from French films, news and music	Not stated
Frantastique	Daily emailed French lessons	Ten minutes of personalised French a day	Trial only
Lingvist	Vocabulary-focused language app	Building French vocabulary fast	Trial only
Mauril	French and English learning app from Canada	Canadian French with CBC and Radio-Canada clips	Not stated
Mondly	Language app by Pearson	Short daily lessons from a big publisher	Yes
TV5MONDE Apprendre	Free French course site from a TV network	French practice built on TV5MONDE programmes	Yes

Ten French learning apps and sites to try

Babbel

Best for: Adults who want short, structured French lessons that build towards conversation, with a free first lesson to see how it feels.

Busuu

Best for: Learners who want a French course split into beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons, plus a separate pronunciation course.

Coffee Break French

Best for: Busy people who want to learn French a little at a time, with teachers who explain how the language works.

Duolingo

Best for: Complete beginners who want quick, game-like French lessons with points and levels that make a daily streak easier to keep.

FluentU

Best for: Visual learners who want to study French through clips from films, news and music videos instead of textbook dialogues.

Frantastique

Best for: Working adults who want one short, personalised French episode a day, with humour and a story running through it.

Lingvist

Best for: Intermediate learners who want to grow the words they need most, in sessions as short as ten minutes a day.

Mauril

Best for: Learners in Canada who want to practise listening with audio and video from CBC and Radio-Canada at their own pace.

Mondly

Best for: Casual learners who want a free French option from Pearson, with lessons on grammar, phrases and pronunciation.

TV5MONDE Apprendre

Best for: Students and teachers who want free French exercises built around real TV programmes from the French-language broadcaster TV5MONDE.

Match the app to the way you learn French

• You need a daily habit: a gamified app such as Duolingo.
• You want someone to explain the grammar: an audio course such as Coffee Break French.
• You learn best from films and music: a video site such as FluentU.
• You live in Canada or want Canadian French: Mauril, built with CBC and Radio-Canada content.
• You want a free course built on TV: TV5MONDE Apprendre.
• You have ten minutes a day at work: a daily email course such as Frantastique.

How long it takes an English speaker to learn French

The US Department of State's Foreign Service Institute trains diplomats in dozens of languages and publishes how long each one takes. It puts French in Category I, the group of languages closest to English, and lists it at 30 weeks of training.

Here's the part people miss: a typical FSI week is 23 hours in class plus 17 hours of self-study. So even an easy language for English speakers is a big commitment. A French app is a brilliant daily habit, but on its own it won't get you to fluent in a few months.

A simple weekly French routine

1. Do one short app lesson every day, even on busy days, to keep the habit alive.
2. Listen to French for at least twenty minutes a few times a week: a podcast, the news or a series with subtitles.
3. Learn the twenty or thirty words you'd need for your own life, your job, your family and your hobbies.
4. Say things out loud. Read lesson sentences aloud or record yourself and play it back.
5. Once a week, write five sentences about your week and check them with a teacher, a friend or an AI tool.

Free French options worth knowing about

You don't need to spend anything to start. Several of the providers on this list offer free courses or free levels, including broadcaster-backed sites that build lessons around real TV and radio. Start free, find out which style you enjoy, and only then think about a subscription.

If a provider only offers a trial, set a reminder for the day before it ends. That gives you time to decide whether it's earned a place in your routine.

Signs your French practice needs a change

• You can read lessons but not follow a conversation. Add more listening.
• You keep repeating the same easy units. Take a level test and move up.
• You never speak. Read aloud or book a conversation session.
• You've stopped opening the app. Shorten the daily goal rather than quitting.

Do you make a French learning app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on learning French with an app

Pick one app for the daily habit and one source of real French you enjoy, such as a podcast or a series. That pairing beats juggling five apps you open once a week.

If you've studied before, take a level test or start at a higher unit so you're not bored on day one, and pick up a few phrases that make you sound more natural. My guide to how learning a new language can boost your career is a good nudge to keep going.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to learn French on my phone?

Use one app for short daily lessons and add real French listening, such as podcasts or series, so you hear how people speak.

Can you learn French for free?

Yes, you can start for free. Several apps and broadcaster sites offer free courses or levels, so try those before paying for anything.

How long does it take to learn French?

The US Foreign Service Institute lists French at 30 weeks of full-time training for English speakers, so expect months of steady practice, not weeks.

Is Canadian French different from French in France?

There are differences in accent and some vocabulary. If you'll live or work in Canada, choose content made with Canadian speakers.

Should I learn grammar or vocabulary first?

Learn both together. Start with the words you need for your own life and pick up grammar as it appears in real sentences.

Do French apps help with speaking?

Some include speaking practice, but you'll also need to talk with real people, a teacher or an AI tool to build confidence.