Would you like to learn French in a free, fun, and effective way from your mobile phone? In the digital age, there are apps and resources that make it easier. learning French For all levels: from beginners who barely know a few words, to users looking to perfect their accent or expand their professional vocabulary. This comprehensive compilation will show you The best apps to learn French for free and the complementary resources that have proven to be the most useful and popular among millions of students.
Below, you'll discover not only well-known general-purpose apps but also specialized tools so you can create your own itinerary, practice with native speakers, and improve daily. The list includes everything from gamified approaches to spaced repetition systems, authentic multimedia content, exchange communities, and platforms validated by teachers and polyglots. We also offer detailed information on the features, advantages, limitations, and tips to get the most out of each app.
Busuu: Learn French at your own pace with the support of native speakers
Busuu It's one of the most recognized and highly rated language apps for learning French from scratch or improving your level. You can download its dedicated French app, which offers a course structured in levels, which covers everything from the most basic to advanced content. Its methodology combines vocabulary exercises, audio dialogues recorded by native speakers, grammar, reading and listening comprehension, and interactive games.
One of Busuu's great strengths is its communicative and collaborative approach: allows you to interact with a global community, where you can practice your writing and pronunciation while receiving corrections from native users. This way, you don't just face automated exercises, but you can also receive real-life feedback, which is vital for perfecting your French in everyday or professional situations.
The lessons are designed to fit your goals: travel, business, studies, or just entertainment. You can set up a personalized study plan, set daily or weekly goals, and track your progress in detail. Among the built-in resources, you'll find pronunciation lessons, recordings for listening practice, and plenty of exercises to help you build useful sentences for real life.
While the app is free and offers access to much of its content, certain premium features (such as placement tests, grammar reports, or live conversation exercises) require a subscription. Still, the basic mode is sufficient to advance from beginner to intermediate level, and the social aspect and exchange of aid It is completely accessible at no cost.
- Available for Android, iOS and PC
- Includes cultural content and tips for getting around among French speakers
- Spaced Repetition System (SRS) for vocabulary retention
- Offline learning options by downloading lessons
- Official level certificates for premium users
Want some extra reinforcement? You can combine Busuu with other more fun apps to consolidate what you've learned. And remember: the key is consistency and practicing with the community, which is one of its greatest strengths.
Learn French Simply: Phrases, Flashcards, and Audio for Beginners
If you want a direct, intuitive and very beginner-oriented applicationSimply Learn French is an ideal alternative. This app brings together more than 1000 phrases and words organized into categories, along with voice recordings of native speakers. It's perfect for those who want to start familiarizing themselves with the language, learn useful expressions for traveling, or improve their pronunciation.
Offer interactive cards and quizzes to memorize vocabulary and phrases, facilitating retention through repetition. A particularly valuable feature is the ability to adjust the audio speed, allowing you to slowly listen to the pronunciation of each word and practice until you get the accent right.
Among its sections, you'll find thematic modules (greetings, numbers, food, basic situations, emergencies, etc.), slow-motion recordings, and self-assessment tests. Although its approach is self-paced, it's well-suited to self-taught learners or those looking for a complement to other platforms.
- Free app with the ability to unlock premium features through micropayments
- Essential and intermediate vocabulary modules
- Ideal for practicing idioms and improving listening comprehension
- Allows you to study at your own pace, without time pressure
You can use Simply Learn French as your primary app when you're starting out, or use it as a support app to reinforce your learning with more structured methods. It's a simple yet very useful tool for everyday use, especially if you're traveling or need to quickly incorporate key vocabulary.
Best free apps to learn French
Duolingo: The most popular and gamified approach to learning French for free
Duolingo is by far the most widely used app for learning French and other languages for free. Its big secret is its gamified methodologyLearning becomes a game where you complete levels, earn points, compete with friends, and receive rewards for your perseverance. This helps maintain motivation and a daily study habit.
The app covers all the basic skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, writing, and, to a more limited extent, pronunciation. Each lesson is short, adaptable to your lifestyle, and can be completed in short five-minute sessions—ideal for taking advantage of any free time.
Plus, Duolingo adjusts the content to your level: you can start from scratch or perform an initial test to jump directly to more advanced levels. It includes translation exercises, dictation, image and word matching, and automatic correction. Although it doesn't offer in-depth grammatical explanations, it does offer summaries and teaching notes for each topic.
- Completely free with the option to pay to remove ads and access extra features
- Available for Android, iOS and web
- More than 28 languages available; French is one of the most comprehensive courses.
- Allows you to track your progress and mark daily streaks
- Includes sprints, competitions and weekly challenges
Duolingo has demonstrated that it's possible to make consistent progress using the app alone: internal calculations and studies conducted by the platform itself indicate that 34 hours of use can be equivalent to a semester of language learning at university. However, to achieve fluent pronunciation, it's recommended to complement it with other apps focused on oral expression.
Drops: Learn French in short, visual sessions
Drops proposes a fresh and effective methodology: learning French through visual sessions of just 5 minutes a day. Its philosophy is that brevity and consistency are more effective than long, sporadic sessions. The app is carefully designed to make learning visually appealing, highly interactive, and deeply focused on useful vocabulary.
Its approach is based on the rapid memorization of words and phrases Using images, native audio, and drag-and-drop games, the thematic course covers everything from the basics (colors, numbers, greetings) to specific modules (business, travel, food, everyday situations). The exercises are varied, including matching, image selection, short dictations, and quizzes.
An added value is that prioritizes pronunciationEach word is presented with audio recorded by native speakers, and the app encourages you to repeat and imitate pronunciation to improve naturally. Although Drops doesn't go into as much depth on grammar, it's perfect for expanding vocabulary and automating listening comprehension.
- Free 5-minute sessions, with a premium option for unlimited learning
- Ideal for beginners, travelers, and those who want to expand their vocabulary in a fun way.
- Supports multitasking: you can study while waiting or traveling
- Integrates statistics and gamified progress tracking
We recommend using Drops as a daily support to strengthen key vocabulary and combining it with apps that help structure sentences or practice speaking. By reducing study time, it's ideal for busy people who want to maintain daily contact with the language.
Best free apps to learn French
Tandem: Improve your French by practicing with native speakers from around the world
There is no better way to learn a language than practicing with native people. Tandem is the leading language exchange app, designed to connect French learners with real speakers from all over the world who also want to learn your language. This way, both partners benefit, and learning becomes a real and motivating communicative experience.
Within the platform, you can search for language partners by filtering by interests, level, country, or age. Once connected, you can practice by text chat, voice messages, video calls, or even sending memes and multimedia content, making the process natural and fun. You can also request direct corrections on your pronunciation or writing and help others with your native language.
Among the benefits of Tandem is the ability to set learning goals together, schedule regular practice times, and ask for advice on colloquial language and accents, as well as receive recommendations on French culture, idioms, and everyday expressions.
- Free app with access to premium features
- Ideal for fine-tuning pronunciation, correcting mistakes and gaining real fluency
- Connect with millions of users around the world
- Perfect for both beginners and advanced users
- Available on Android, iOS and web
Tandem is the perfect complement to automated or self-learning applications: only through real conversation can you gain the fluency and confidence to use the language in real life.
In addition to the main apps we have analyzed, there are other resources and complementary applications that can help you with different aspects of learning French. Here's a selection of the best-rated and most recommended by experts and users:
- Babel: Popular for its professional method, it offers conversation, grammar, and vocabulary exercises, as well as voice recognition to perfect pronunciation. Although it requires a fee after a free trial, it's considered ideal for students who want to progress quickly.
- FluentU: It stands out for its learning through real videos (movie clips, commercials, TV shows, and music). Its interactive subtitle system allows you to learn contemporary French and gain insight into Francophone culture, with personalized exercises for each video. Unlimited subscriptions are subject to a fee, but there is a free version with partial access.
- TV5Monde: Learn French: The official app of the French-language television channel TV5Monde. Ideal for learning through current videos, reports, and film clips, all accompanied by subtitles and interactive activities to practice comprehension and vocabulary. Perfect for learning real-life French in context and practicing current affairs, cooking, art, history, and more. It offers new weekly exercises and is completely free. Available on mobile devices and the web. It also allows you to download videos for offline study.
- MosaLingua: It uses the SRS (Spaced Repetition) system, with more than 3000 vocabulary cards, useful phrases, and native audio. It includes mini-grammar lessons, expert tips, and real-life dialogues. The app is ideal for those who want to learn on their own and strengthen their long-term memory. It has a free version and a paid version with extra content.
- Memory: Focused on beginners, it offers short exercises and videos recorded by native speakers, as well as games for memorizing vocabulary and phrases. Its quick review and gamification system helps consolidate what you've learned.
- LingQ: It stands out for offering authentic materials (podcasts, articles, and videos), allowing you to import your own texts and learn from what interests you most. The system generates personalized vocabulary cards to review and reinforce concepts.
- Mondly: Focused on practical and useful phrases for travelers, with short interactive exercises and a chatbot, ideal for those who want to navigate everyday situations.
- Anky: A flashcard app that you can customize to create your own vocabulary bank or download decks posted by other users. Based on spaced repetition, it's effective for long-term memorization.
- Pimsleur: Ideal listening method for improving listening comprehension and pronunciation, based on listening to guided conversations and repeating key phrases. Perfect for those looking to learn French by listening while they're busy.
- FrenchPod101: A collection of podcasts and audio lessons with materials for all levels. It includes everything from everyday expressions to advanced grammar.
- Rosetta Stone: A classic platform that fully immerses the user in French, with visual and audio exercises, as well as speech recognition to improve pronunciation. It allows users to download lessons and use them offline.
- LingoDeer: Ideal for students looking for detailed grammar explanations and interactive exercises, with error analysis and progress tracking.
- Gus on the Go (kids): A gamified and visually appealing app for children who want to learn French in a fun way, with interactive exercises and educational games.
- Good morning: includes explanations of grammar, vocabulary, native audio and French culture, designed by FLE experts.
- Leocsen: An app focused on pronunciation and learning useful phrases, with conversation guides and audio clips from native speakers, completely free.
- Three good: specialized app with more than 70 thematic lessons based on real-life situations, native audio recordings, and interactive games.
- French for Kids, Fun French, and Mindsnacks: Fun and colorful proposals aimed at the little ones, with games and exercises adapted to their age.
Advantages of learning French with mobile applications
The rise of educational apps has radically transformed the way we learn languages. Among the main Benefits of using apps to learn French are:
- Full accessibility: You can study from anywhere, at any time, adapting your learning to your lifestyle and taking advantage of “downtime.”
- Interactivity: The apps combine text, audio, videos, and games, creating a multisensory experience that facilitates language retention and practical use.
- Personalization: The content is tailored to your level, interests, and goals. You can choose modules for travel, business, culture, or academic training.
- Immediate feedback: Automated apps and native speaker exchanges allow you to quickly identify and correct errors.
- Motivation and monitoring: Rewards, challenges, leaderboards, and stats encourage consistency and celebrating progress.
- Variety of resources: You can combine grammar, vocabulary, conversation, listening, and speaking apps, maximizing overall learning.
Tips to boost your French learning with apps
To get the most out of these tools, we recommend:
- Set realistic goals and adjust your weekly plan according to your availability.
- Vary the type of exercises: combines vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, writing and real conversation.
- Make frequent check-ups with spaced repetition systems such as MosaLingua, Memrise or Anki.
- Support yourself in the community: Participate in exchanges, search for conversation groups, and ask native speakers for corrections.
- Expose yourself to real content: Listen to podcasts, watch videos, series and music in French, and use apps like FluentU or The best free apps to learn French to immerse yourself in the language and culture.
- Don't neglect pronunciation: Use voice recognition and record your own audio to improve your accent.
- Have fun: Playful learning is the most effective. Use games, challenges, and rewards to keep motivation high.
Frequently asked questions about French learning apps
- Can I learn French only with apps? The apps allow you to reach an intermediate level and acquire vocabulary, comprehension, and basic communication skills. To achieve advanced proficiency, it is recommended to complement this with classes, oral exchanges, or stays in French-speaking countries.
- Are all the features really free? Most of the apps mentioned offer a free version that's sufficient to progress, although they often have premium options with additional content, ad removal, or advanced exercises.
- What is the best app to improve pronunciation? Tandem, Busuu, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, and Leocsen stand out for their recording systems, voice recognition, and native user feedback.
- Are there any specific apps for children? Yes, Gus on the Go, Mindsnacks, French for Kids, and Fun French are fun options tailored to the little ones, with games and visual content.
- How to take advantage of official exam apps? TV5Monde and some apps like MosaLingua, Busuu, and Babbel include test simulators and training for certificates like the TCF, DELF, or DALF.
Technology has democratized language learning. Now you can study Free French at your own pace, from any deviceWith the help of these apps, daily practice, motivation, and access to international communities, mastering French is within your reach. There's no excuse not to start today!