Assimil French is a paid French course for beginner and intermediate learners (A1–B2). A classic daily dialogue method for patient self-learners; cheap to own.
Checked October 2026 on the official site ·
About Assimil French
Assimil is a French publisher's self-study method, in use since 1929: each lesson is a short natural dialogue recorded by native actors, with the text alongside, and you are asked to give it 30 to 40 minutes a day. The app lets you try the first 7 lessons free; the French course is a one-time in-app purchase ($41.99 in the US App Store), and owners of a printed Assimil pack can activate it with a delivery code. The app does not state a level; A1 to B2 is our reading. It suits a patient self-learner who likes to read and listen every day without a teacher. It does not correct your speaking, and the dialogues are recorded for learners rather than overheard real conversation.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assimil French | First 7 lessons free; French course $41.99 once (App Store) | A1–B2 | No | A classic daily dialogue method for patient self-learners; cheap to own. |
| Michel Thomas French | Start French $11.99; Foundation French $100; all courses $273 | A1–B2 | No | Audio-only, no homework; a quick way to start building French sentences. |
| Pimsleur | Premium $19.99/mo; All Access $20.99/mo or $164.99/yr; one-off levels $150 each, 5 levels $575; free first lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (pimsleur.com/learn-french; subscriptions from the US App Store, 2026-10-06) | A1–B1 | No | Best for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary. |
| Coffee Break French | Free podcast; Academy courses £199 / $269 per season of 40 lessons, one-offchecked 2026-10-09 (coffeebreaklanguages.com/coffeebreakfrench) | A1–B2 | No | A friendly free podcast course explained in English; slow by design. |
| 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.
