Free alternatives to Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu and Memrise for learning French
The big apps are good, but most keep their best features behind a subscription. If you want to learn French properly without paying, here's what each one really offers for free, and the alternatives.
What's free in each app
| App | Free | Paid | French levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| SparkAI Language Learning | Everything, during the beta: lessons, flashcards, reading, audio, AI partner | Nothing to pay | A0 to C2 |
| Duolingo | Free with ads and an energy limit | Super about $13/month or $84/year; Max about $30/month | Up to B2 (according to Duolingo) |
| Babbel | First lesson only; then a subscription | About $15/month, $9/month on a yearly plan, or $250–300 lifetime | A1 to C1 (according to Babbel) |
| Busuu | Limited lessons and flashcards; review tools need Premium | Premium about $10/month or $70/year; Premium Plus more | A1 to B2 |
| Memrise | Core lessons and vocabulary review; speaking and offline need Pro | Pro about $62/year (US App Store), monthly and lifetime plans too | Beginner to intermediate, with videos for all levels |
SparkAI Language Learning: a free French course from A0 to C2
- A guided path. One Continue button picks the next lesson, review, story or listening session.
- Grammar explained. 155 lessons, each with a full explanation; mistakes show the rule.
- Vocabulary that sticks. 5,012 flashcards with FSRS spaced repetition, plus your own decks.
- Real reading. 22 graded stories and 21 classic French books with tap-to-translate.
- Listening and speaking. Hands-free audio lessons, pronunciation feedback and an AI conversation partner.
- Free tools. A level test, verb drills and conjugation tables.
Limits, honestly: it's new and in beta, made by one developer; it's web-only (installable on your home screen), and French is the only language.
Detailed comparisons
Other free French resources worth using
No single app does everything. These are free and pair well with any course:
- TV5MONDE – Apprendre le français. Free exercises built around news reports and videos, sorted by level (A1 to C1).
- RFI – Journal en français facile. A free daily news bulletin in simpler French, with transcripts.
- Coffee Break French. A long-running podcast for learners, with many free episodes.
- Anki. Free flashcard software (desktop, web and Android) for your own vocabulary.
- Lawless French. Free articles explaining French grammar and vocabulary.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Duolingo for French?
If you want a complete French course for free, SparkAI Language Learning is a strong option: 155 grammar lessons from beginner to C2, 5,012 spaced-repetition flashcards, graded stories and classic books, audio lessons and an AI conversation partner, with no ads, no energy limit and no account needed to start. Duolingo itself is free with ads and an energy limit, and goes up to B2.
Is there a free alternative to Babbel, Busuu or Memrise for French?
Yes. Babbel is paid after the first lesson, and Busuu and Memrise keep key features for paying users. SparkAI Language Learning is free during its beta with every feature included. Free resources such as TV5MONDE's Apprendre le français, RFI's news in easy French and the Anki flashcard app are also worth using alongside any course.
Can you learn French for free?
Yes, to a high level, if you combine a structured course with reading, listening and speaking practice. A free course like SparkAI covers grammar, vocabulary and reading in one place; add French podcasts, films and conversation as you progress.