The Anki decks worth using for French are frequency decks with audio and example sentences for your first few thousand words, and, after that, cards you make yourself from French you have actually heard or read; Anki itself is free, except the $24.99 iPhone app.
Checked October 2026 · Anki price: Free on desktop, web and Android; iPhone app (AnkiMobile) $24.99 once (checked 2026-10-06 (US App Store))
Shared decks worth starting with
On AnkiWeb, search the shared decks for French. The ones worth your time have three things: words ordered by frequency, so you learn the most common first; audio from a native speaker on every card; and an example sentence, so you learn the word in use. Check the number of downloads and the ratings, open a few cards before you commit, and delete any deck with no audio.
Avoid decks built from someone else's textbook unless you are using that textbook. Words you have never met in context are the hardest to keep.
Make your own cards
After your first thousand or two words, the best cards come from your own French: a sentence from a podcast, a line from a show, a phrase your tutor used. Put the whole sentence on the front with the new word marked, the meaning on the back, and audio if you can. One good sentence card is worth five single-word cards.
Sources with French text and audio together make this easy: LingQ and Lingopie let you save words as you go, and many podcasts on our podcasts page publish transcripts.
How many new cards a day
Ten to twenty. Each new card brings reviews for weeks, so a hundred new cards a day becomes hours of reviews within a month, and that is when people quit. Do your reviews every day; skipping days is what makes Anki feel like a chore.
Where Anki fits
Anki keeps words; it does not teach them or train your ear. Pair it with real listening and, from A2, conversation. In the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read, 26 of Anki's 215 one- and two-star reviews said it felt repetitive or not like progress, which is what happens when it is the only thing you do.
Prefer something ready-made? Clozemaster gives thousands of French sentences free; see Anki vs Clozemaster. Or Quizlet for a class word list; see Anki vs Quizlet. Wondering about cost? See is Anki free.
Who it's for
Learners at any level who want to keep the vocabulary they meet, from beginners with a frequency deck to advanced learners mining sentences from real French.
Who it's not for
Anyone who wants an app to decide what to learn and teach it. Anki only schedules your cards; a course or real French has to supply them.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anki | Free on desktop, web and Android; iPhone app (AnkiMobile) $24.99 oncechecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) | A1–C2 | No | The best free memory tool at any level; bring your own French. |
| Clozemaster | Free; Pro €6.45/mo billed €77.34/yr, or €15.46/mo monthlychecked 2026-10-09 (clozemaster.com/pro) | A2–C1 | No | Thousands of fill-the-gap sentences, free, good for volume from A2. |
| Quizlet | Free; Quizlet Plus monthly or annual (App Store: $9.99 and $44.99) | A1–C2 | No | Quick flashcards for a class word list; not a way to learn French on its own. |
| Memrise | Free plan; Pro $61.99/yr or $329.99 lifetime; monthly plan $24.99checked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases) | A1–B1 | Yes | Native-speaker clips for beginners; a supplement, not a course. |
| French with Amélie | Free weekly lesson; Premium $24/mo or $240/yr | B1–C1 | Yes, with a slow version and a transcript | Real-speed dialogues by email and a private podcast. Not an app. Visit |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Questions
What is the best Anki deck for French?
A frequency deck with native audio and example sentences for your first few thousand words, then cards you make from French you have heard.
How many Anki cards a day for French?
Ten to twenty new cards a day, with reviews done daily, is sustainable for most learners.
Is Anki enough to learn French?
No. It keeps words; you still need listening, grammar and conversation.
More on Anki
The full listing: Anki: price, levels and who it suits.