5 Best Apps to Learn French in 2026

Key takeaways

• Live conversation practice with native French speakers accelerates fluency faster than solo study
• Free apps like Duolingo build French vocabulary effectively but can’t replace speaking with real people
• Audio-focused apps like Pimsleur and Rocket French excel at improving pronunciation practice and listening skills
• Your ideal French learning app depends on your current level, learning style, and whether you need real conversation practice

The best app to learn French transforms your smartphone into a personal language learning platform, making it possible to study anytime and anywhere. With over 300 million French speakers worldwide, learning the French language opens doors to French culture, career opportunities, and meaningful connections.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an intermediate learner looking to speak French fluently, the right learning French app makes all the difference. This guide compares 5 French language learning apps, examining their teaching approaches, features, and ideal use cases. You’ll discover which learn French app matches your learning style and helps you become a fluent speaker faster.

If you want to get started right away, find a native French tutor to personalize every lesson and kick off your French learning journey today.

Quick comparison: Which French app is right for you?

App	Best For	Price	Key Strength	Learning Approach
italki	Real conversation practice with native speakers	$3-30/lesson	Personalized 1-on-1 French lessons	Live tutoring
Duolingo	Building French vocabulary through gamification	Free (Premium $12.99/mo)	Daily habit formation	Bite sized lessons
Rosetta Stone	Immersion-based learning	$13.99-16/mo or $299 lifetime	Complete French immersion	Image-word association
Pimsleur	Audio lessons for pronunciation	$19.95-20/mo	Listening practice and speaking drills	Interactive audio lessons
Rocket French	Comprehensive course structure	$449.99 lifetime access	Grammar explanations + cultural context	Mixed audio + written

Best apps to learn French

1. italki: The best app to learn French

italki stands out as the best app to learn French for learners who want real conversations with native French speakers. Unlike automated language learning apps that follow rigid lesson plans, italki connects you with over 1,000 qualified French teachers who adapt their teaching to your specific goals.

The platform addresses a critical gap in traditional French learning apps: the inability to practice speaking with real people. While apps like Duolingo build vocabulary effectively, they can’t replicate the spontaneity and cultural nuance of conversing with a native French speaker.

italki’s flexible scheduling allows busy learners to fit lessons into unpredictable routines, making consistent practice possible where traditional classes fail.

How italki works for French learners

Finding your ideal French teacher on italki takes minutes. Search by availability, price range, specialization and teacher’s origin. Many teachers offer trial lessons at reduced rates, letting you test their teaching style before committing to regular sessions.

During lessons, you’ll practice speaking, receive immediate pronunciation corrections, and learn practical phrases you’ll actually use. Your tutor can focus on specific skills like French for business, exam preparation, or conversational French.

Between lessons, use italki’s language exchange community to practice writing skills and connect with other French learners.

italki’s flexible pricing lets you learn French online easily with tutors at every budget level. You can instantly connect with a teacher and tailor lessons to your goals, schedule, and budget.

Professional teachers with university degrees and teaching certifications typically charge $15-30 per hour, while community tutors (native speakers focusing on conversation practice) often charge $3-15 per hour. This range makes personalized instruction accessible regardless of your budget.

Pros:

• A variety of teachers for learners to choose from
• Active language learning community with useful free features
• Trial lessons available
• Pricing options to suit every budget
• Practice conversational skills from day one

Cons:

• Virtual currency system (italki credits) may be confusing for beginners
• Teacher quality varies, so trying multiple tutors is recommended

How to book French lessons on italki

italki provides a user-friendly platform that makes booking French lessons a seamless process. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced language learner, here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Create an Account

Start by creating an account on the italki website or mobile app. You can sign up using your email address or social media accounts.

Step 2: Set Your Goals and Preferences

After creating an account, you’ll be prompted to set your language learning goals and preferences. Indicate that you want to learn French and provide information about your current proficiency level, preferred learning style, and schedule availability.

Step 3: Search for French Tutors

Navigate to the “Find a Teacher” section on the italki platform. Use the search filters to narrow down your options. You can filter by language (French), price range, availability, teaching style, and more.

Step 4: Explore Tutor Profiles

Click on the profiles of French tutors that match your criteria. Explore their profiles to learn about their teaching experience, educational background, teaching approach, and any specialized areas they cover (such as conversational French, grammar, exam preparation, etc.).

Step 5: Check Availability

On the tutor’s profile, you’ll find their availability for lessons. This includes the days and times they are open for bookings. Choose a time slot that works for you.

Step 6: Book a Lesson

Once you’ve selected a tutor and a suitable time slot, click on the “Book Trial Lesson” or “Book Lesson” button on their profile. Most tutors offer trial lessons at a reduced rate for you to gauge their teaching style before committing to regular lessons.

Step 7: Confirm Payment

After selecting a lesson, you’ll be prompted to confirm the booking and make the payment. italki offers various payment options, including credit/debit cards and PayPal. Once your payment is confirmed, your lesson slot will be reserved.

Step 8: Attend the Lesson

As the lesson date approaches, make sure you’re prepared for the session. Ensure you have a stable internet connection, a webcam, and any materials you and your tutor will be using during the lesson.

Step 9: Engage in the Lesson

Log in to your italki account at the scheduled lesson time. Access the lesson through the italki platform’s video call feature. Engage in the lesson, participate actively, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification from your tutor.

Step 10: Review and Continue Learning

After the lesson, you’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback and a rating for your tutor. This helps other learners make informed decisions when selecting tutors. If you’re satisfied with the lesson, you can continue booking sessions with the same tutor to further enhance your French skills.

Protip: Schedule lessons consistently, ideally 2-3 times per week. Regular speaking practice accelerates fluency far more than occasional intensive sessions.

2. Duolingo

Duolingo French is one of the most popular language learning apps for French beginners. Available on Android, iOS, and web, it focuses on vocabulary, sentence formation, and comprehension through gamified exercises.

How it works:

• Study units cover topics like tenses, daily vocabulary, and conversational phrases
• Activities include multiple-choice questions, matching games, and short stories for listening comprehension
• Spend about 20 minutes a day for consistent practice

Pros:

• Covers over 1,500 basic French words essential for beginners
• The app allows you to set goals and measure progress
• You can finish the lessons in about 5 minutes
• Free version available with core features
• Spaced repetition helps with long-term retention

Cons:

• Sample sentences can be unrealistic
• Advanced learners and intermediate learners often find Duolingo’s content repetitive
• Free version includes ads and frequent notifications
• Limited speaking exercises and pronunciation practice

For learners aiming to speak French fluently, Duolingo works best as a supplementary tool alongside conversation-focused resources like italki’s French tutors.

3. Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone French provides an immersive French learning app experience by teaching French directly in the target language. The app is available on Android, iOS, and web.

Key features

• Learn French from scratch without translating from your native language
• Speech recognition software helps with proper French pronunciation
• Live tutoring available for practice speaking

Pros:

• Non-demanding approach to grammar lessons
• Strong focus on listening practice and verbal skills
• Complete French immersion from the first lesson
• Visual learners benefit from image-word associations

Cons:

• Advanced lessons may become repetitive for advanced learners
• Full access requires a paid subscription; demo account is limited to three days
• Lacks detailed grammar instruction
• No direct translations provided

4. Pimsleur

Pimsleur French emphasizes listening and speaking through daily 30-minute audio lessons. Vocabulary and grammar are introduced gradually in context, helping you retain knowledge naturally.

Pros:

• Strong focus on French pronunciation and listening
• Can be used while commuting or multitasking
• Builds conversational confidence
• Audio lessons perfect for auditory learners

Cons:

• Limited visual or written content
• Minimal explicit grammar instruction
• Requires subscription or purchase for full access
• Not ideal for visual learners

5. Rocket French

Rocket French combines audio lessons, interactive exercises, and cultural notes. The program covers grammar, pronunciation, and everyday conversations, with multiple formats to reinforce learning.

Pros:

• Structured lessons in multi-format (audio, text, exercises)
• Includes grammar explanations and cultural context
• Self-paced learning with lifetime access on purchase
• Diverse exercises for different learning styles

Cons:

• Higher cost
• Cultural lessons provide context but depth varies
• Less flexibility than personalized tutoring

Recommended reading: 5 best apps to learn Spanish

Why real conversation practice beats automated learning

Feature	italki	Automated Apps
Conversational skills	Natural dialogue with native speakers	Pre-scripted chatbot responses
Personalization	Adapts to your goals and weaknesses	Fixed curriculum for all users
French culture insights	Authentic explanations from native speakers	Generic cultural notes
Regional accent choice	Select Parisian, Canadian, or African French	Limited to one recording
Grammar drills	Customized to your mistakes	Standardized exercises
Pronunciation feedback	Immediate human correction	Automated speech recognition

Which app should beginners choose?

If you’re serious about learning French, start with italki. Many language learning apps focus on vocabulary drills or short exercises, but italki helps you speak French by putting you in real conversations with native French speakers. From your first lesson, you’re practicing the target language with a real person who corrects mistakes in real time and adjusts the lesson to your goals.

A common mistake among French learners is relying only on free apps for months before trying to speak. That approach builds recognition, but it slows down the actual learning process. Speaking early helps you develop real language skills, especially confidence, proper pronunciation, and listening comprehension. italki makes that possible from day one.

Between lessons, language learning apps like Duolingo can help with vocabulary and sentence building, especially if you’re using the free version. If your learning style leans toward listening, audio lessons like Pimsleur are useful for listening practice during a commute. These tools work best as support, not as the foundation.

If your goal is to speak French fluently, make live conversation the core of your French learning journey. Apps can support you, but speaking with native speakers is what moves you forward faster, especially early on.

For serious learners who want to move beyond bite sized lessons and build a solid foundation, personalized tutoring is extremely helpful. You can also explore how to learn French by yourself for additional self-study strategies, or discover how to learn French efficiently to maximize your progress.

If you’re studying French on a budget, check out our guide on how to learn French free to find quality resources that won’t cost anything.

Learn French faster with personal guidance from 1,000+ expert French tutors trusted by over 5 million learners worldwide. Book a trial lesson with a French tutor online and experience the difference personalized French tutoring makes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best app to learn French easily?

italki is the best app to learn French easily because it connects you with native French tutors who personalize every lesson to your needs. Unlike automated apps with fixed curricula, italki tutors adjust their teaching based on your progress, correct your mistakes in real-time, and help you practice speaking spontaneously.

Which is the best app to learn French for beginners?

italki is ideal for French beginners who want personalized lessons and guidance from native French tutors. Unlike other apps that follow a one-size-fits-all approach, italki tutors tailor each lesson to your current level, learning style, and goals. You’ll build conversational skills from day one while receiving immediate feedback on French pronunciation, verb conjugations, and French spelling. This personalized approach creates a structured learning path that adapts as you progress, making it easier to build a solid foundation in the French language.

What is the fastest method to learn French?

The fastest method to learn French is one-on-one tutoring with native speakers on combined with active daily practice. Regular, personalized lessons with a French teacher accelerate your progress because you get immediate corrections, tailored grammar explanations, and real world French content that matches your interests. Between lessons, supplement your learning by watching French TV shows with interactive subtitles, practicing words and phrases you learned, and applying new vocabulary in everyday conversations. For grammar specifically, our guide on how to learn French grammar provides targeted strategies that complement your tutoring sessions.

What’s better than Duolingo for French?

italki offers something Duolingo can’t: real conversations with native French speakers who adapt lessons to your specific needs. While Duolingo excels at building vocabulary through gamification, it lacks the live feedback and cultural nuance that comes from speaking with actual people. For serious learners, combining italki’s personalized tutoring with Duolingo’s vocabulary practice creates a more complete learning experience.