French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. If you are a French speaker, doors will open for you. You will be able to travel with ease, explore the richness of cultures, and it’ll look great on your resume. However, when you try to learn through apps, they have high paywalls, plus, they’re either too basic or too advanced. You don’t have to look any further. Here I will be reviewing some of the best French studying apps for beginners on the web so you can pick the right French study partner for you.
Top 3 Best French Studying APPS
After having gone through hundreds of user reviews, and having sifted through the cream of the crop. Here are my top 3 picks for the best French language learning apps that I swear by.
Babbel
If you’ve been on the internet long enough, this name might sound familiar. Babbel is a subscription based language learning app and, yes, that does include French. It is designed to help users build practical conversation skills that they would be able to use in their day-to-day life from the get-go.
It uses real-life dialogues and introduces the users to grammar-focused lessons early on, tailored to a level they’d be comfortable with. It also supports speech recognition so you can talk into your microphone and it’ll guide you through the pronunciation.
Aside from the conversational style learning, it also gives you grammar tips integrated into the lesson, and finally a personalized review session so you can assess your mistakes and improve over time.
Features
Languages Available: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Polish, English, Indonesian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian are among the fourteen languages in which Babbel offers instruction.
Bite-Sized Lessons: Because the lessons are meant to be finished in 10 to 15 minutes, it's simpler to incorporate language learning into everyday schedules.
Speech Recognition: Babbel uses artificial intelligence (AI)-driven speech recognition technology to give users instant feedback on how they pronounce words correctly.
AI Conversation Partner: This AI-powered tool lets students rehearse dialogues, improving their speaking abilities in a mock setting.
Spaced Repetition System: To help with long-term memory, Babbel's review manager uses spaced repetition strategies to enhance grammar and vocabulary.
Multi-Device Syncing: Babbel's multi-device syncing enables users to effortlessly transition between cellphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Offline Access: Learning without an internet connection is made possible by the ability to download lessons for offline use.
Flexible Plans: To accommodate a range of learning requirements and commitments, Babbel provides a number of subscription plans, including 3-month, 6-month, and lifetime options.
Price
Some of the plans that Babble offers look a little like this:
They are more flexible than most apps although on the pricier side.
Pros
Cons
During my review I noticed how easy it was for me to keep up with the lessons even when I have no prior experience with the French language. Babble helped me not only communicate better with simple sentences, but also to understand the structure of those sentences and the structures predominantly used in the French language.
As a beginner I did not feel like the learning curve was overwhelming at all but my friend who is a native speaker felt that it does not have great options for advanced learners. Even though it has that limitation in my opinion it does count as one of the best French studying apps.
Duolingo
Duolingo probably needs no introduction. From its humorous takes on social media, to its mildly passive aggressive notifications, it has done an excellent job of marketing itself to the general public. It is a gamified language learning app loved by millions.
It offers bite-sized lessons for everyday in the form of an addictive streak system kind of similar to snapchat, making it all the more motivational to use. When you’re on the app, it shows you a game-like leaderboard telling you which players have the highest scores.
It’s natural to be a little competitive and want your name on there, so players come back for more to maintain their spot. Throughout the lesson it sprinkles in some grammar tips, needless to say it is by far the smartest interface, marketing, and learning format that a language learning app has ever produced.
Features
Gamefied Learning: Duolingo has daily streaks, XP points, and leaderboards to encourage consistency and competition. With every milestone you get Badges and achievements to reward progress, plus it follows a skill tree structure for progressive learning.
AI Powered Personalization: It favors adaptive learning that adjusts the learning difficulty based on your performance. You even have an AI conversation partner for speaking practice, however, this feature is only available to premium users.
Language Practice tools: It supports speech recognition for pronunciation and speaking improvement. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking are integrated in each lesson.
Instant Feedback & Explain My Answer: It has real-time feedback and error correction. You can even ask for a detailed explanation of the answer.
Multifaceted Learning: Duolingo has short, engaging stories for comprehension, offers audio lessons for real-world listening practice in the form of Podcasts, and allows you to learn with songs in select courses.
Accessibility & Flexibility: Available on iOS, Android, and web browsers. Offline access for premium users. Progress synced across devices.
Price
Duolingo is free for the most part with ads, however there is a Duolingo Super that has a subscription package of $6.99/month. The Super gives you an ad free experience along with offline access and progress tracking. Regardless, it is among the best free apps to learn French.
Pros
Cons
Out of the top 3 best French learning apps, I’d say this one was the most addictive. I had a lot of fun playing the minigames and learning along the way. I see why this app is so popular. Is it the most comprehensive learning app? No, but it is a fun way to stay consistent and build vocabulary along with your daily learning habits.
Memrise
Probably not as popular as Duolingo but it is still good enough to make the list of best websites to learn French for free. Memrise combines memory techniques and original, authentic content to teach its users languages they wish to learn (in this case French) in a more immersive, hands-on approach.
It’s known for helping users retain whatever they learn effectively, which is something a lot of apps miss in their curriculum. The biggest up-side to using Memrise is the real-life videos of native speakers. It allows the user to have a deeper respect for the language while also learning from the best possible teachers there are.
The app uses spaced repetitions for better memorization of the lessons and the courses are user-generated and official. Throughout the lesson you’ll have interactive quizzes to keep you engaged while also testing your abilities as you move forward.
Features
Spaced Repetition: Helps you memorize vocabulary more effectively by reviewing words at scientifically timed intervals.
Native Speaker Videos: Shows real people speaking the language so you can get used to natural pronunciation, slang, and everyday expressions.
AI-Powered Chatbot (Membot): Lets you practice conversations with an intelligent chatbot to build speaking confidence in realistic scenarios.
Gamified Learning: The app keeps you motivated with points, streaks, and leaderboards that make learning feel like a game.
Offline Access: Memrise allows you to download lessons, so you can study without needing an internet connection. You can learn on the go if you so please.
Official Courses: It offers professionally designed language courses available in over 30 languages, with structured lessons and engaging content.
Cultural Insights: Memrise makes sure to include cultural context and nuances to help you understand how language is actually used in real life.
Wide Language Coverage: It supports everything from major world languages to regional and endangered ones, catering to all kinds of learners.
Price
For Memrise there is a free basic plan and a pro plan that costs about $8.49/month and $59.99/year. The free plan is still quite the package and that is why users often suggest Memrise as one of the best free language learning apps.
Pros
Cons
Memrise helped me expand my French vocabulary fairly quickly as I was required to memorize the words as I went along the lesson. I loved the experience of having a real native speaker teach me French.
The videos felt more natural and immersive than the robotic audio that most apps use. It is a great supplement to grammar-focused apps. If the rest of the apps teach you the rules, Memrise teaches you applications.
A Quick Breakdown
To give you a side-by-side comparison of some of the best apps for learning French, here you are.
App | Babble | Duolingo | Memrise |
---|---|---|---|
Features | - Structured Lessons - Grammar Tips | - Gamified Lessons - Streak Tracking | - Native Speaker videos - Spaced repetition |
Price | From $13.95/month | Free + $6.99 for super | Free + $8.49/month |
Pros | - Great for grammar - Conversational focus | Fun, habit-forming, great for beginners | - Excellent vocabulary tool - Natural speech |
Cons | - Paid only. - Limited advanced content. | Limited grammar depth | Some features are locked behind a paywall |
The Best Language Learning Helper: AnyDoc Translator
While most of these apps are a great addition to your language learning experiences, they are not meant for translation. If you’re truly invested in learning a language, chances are the app is not the only way you’re doing it.
Let's say you are to go through French source materials to practice or to try and read some of the text and see how you fare. You can’t immediately tell if your translation is correct, and cross-checking it using a translation handbook is a painstakingly long process.
The point is, sometimes you don’t want to meticulously go through each line in a document to figure out the meaning on your own just because you’re learning French or Turkish on the side. Sometimes you just want it translated without all that effort.
AnyDoc Translator is the answer to that particular problem. Not only is it absolutely free, it also supports over 30 file times to translate. It works with websites, PDFs, Word docs, you name it. There are no ads and you don’t even need to sign up to use it.
AnyDoc Translator is free for users and helps them with their daily learning of various languages,including French. Toolsmart AnyDoc can transform your French language learning experience, enabling you to achieve more without breaking the bank.
It preserved the formatting and made my lessons all the more easier. I can test myself without the learning apps on my own time. This is a must have for anyone looking for authentic translation content that is apart from their learning course.
How to use AnyDoc to Study A Foreign Language Document
Here is how to use AnyDoc to take any reference file from your source language and then obtain the best translation into the target language.
Step 1: Open your browser on your computer and navigate to the AnyDoc Translator website.
Step 2: You’ll be greeted by a homepage where on the top left you’ll see a “Translate File” button. Click it.
Step 3: Select “French” from the list of languages in the drop-down.
Step 4: Now, click the button that says “Select from your computer” just below the two boxes, and upload the file you want translated, I uploaded a PDF.
Step 5: Wait for a few seconds for the document to be translated.
Step 6: Review both versions using the split-screen layout and hover over text for comparison.
Step 7: Click on the “Download” button on the top right to save the translated document onto your computer.
FAQs
1. How to Start With Babbel?
You can start by creating an account on Babbel’s website or app. Choose your language level, and you’ll be guided through the lessons.
2. Can I use AnyDoc Translator on my phone?
Yes! You can use AnyDoc on both your laptop and your phone. It’s mobile-friendly and works in your browser.
3. Which app is best for absolute beginners?
If you’re a beginner, Duolingo is great for starting from zero. It’s free, simple, and helps build a daily habit.
4. Do these apps offer certificates?
Babbel and Duolingo offer completion certificates, but they may not be officially recognized.