Babbel's French course is a well-built path from complete beginner towards C1, strongest from A1 to B1, with grammar explained in English and lessons built around everyday situations; what it does not cover is French as people actually speak it at real speed.
Checked October 2026 · Babbel price: From €8.99/mo on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year; €215.88 at the monthly rate); lifetime €299.99; first lesson free (checked 2026-10-09 (babbel.com/prices, shown from Germany))
How the course is organised
The French course is split into levels, from a newcomer level for absolute beginners through beginner, pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper-intermediate towards advanced. Each level is a set of short lessons, ten to fifteen minutes each, followed by review sessions that bring back the words you are forgetting.
Lessons start from a situation, such as booking a room or talking about your weekend, introduce the words and phrases you need, then explain the grammar behind them in English. Speech recognition asks you to repeat phrases out loud.
Level by level
A1 and A2: greetings, numbers, the present tense, the passé composé, ordering and asking. This is where Babbel is at its best, and where most of its users are.
B1: the imparfait, the future, pronouns and longer dialogues. Still clear and well paced, but this is where 30 of the 500 most recent App Store reviewers we read said the course felt too easy or repetitive.
B2 towards C1: more grammar and vocabulary, but at this level any app becomes one tool among several. You need real conversation and a lot of real listening.
What it leaves out
Real spoken French. Every Babbel dialogue is scripted and recorded clearly for learners. In 24 of the recent reviews we read, learners complained that the app did not get them speaking or listening for real. Spoken French drops sounds and links words, and you only learn to hear that by listening to it.
Pair Babbel with one of our French listening apps from the start, and once you reach A2, a weekly conversation with a tutor on italki or Preply.
What it costs
From €8.99 a month on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year) when we checked from Germany, or €299.99 for lifetime. The first lesson is free. See Babbel cost for every plan, and Babbel vs Busuu for the cheaper structured alternative.
Who it's for
Adult beginners who want an ordered French course on the phone with grammar explained, and returning learners who want to rebuild A1 to B1 properly.
Who it's not for
Learners who already read French well but cannot follow it spoken; another scripted course will not fix that. Look at listening apps such as Lingopie or LingQ instead.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babbel | From €8.99/mo on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year; €215.88 at the monthly rate); lifetime €299.99; first lesson freechecked 2026-10-09 (babbel.com/prices, shown from Germany) | A1–C1 | No | The most course-like app; a good spine for A1 to B1, light on real listening. |
| Busuu | Free tier; Premium €4.83/mo billed €57.99/yr (standard €116.28); Premium Plus €5.83/mo billed €69.90/yr (standard €142.80)checked 2026-10-09 (busuu.com/products, shown from Germany) | A1–B2 | No | A solid A1 to B2 path with a usable free tier. |
| Duolingo | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) | A1–B1 | No | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
| 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. |
| 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 level does Babbel French go up to?
Babbel's French runs from complete beginner towards C1. It is strongest from A1 to B1.
Does Babbel French teach grammar?
Yes. Grammar is explained in English, in context, as each lesson introduces it. That is its main advantage over Duolingo.
Is Babbel French good for listening?
Only for clear, scripted learner audio. For real-speed French you need a listening app, podcasts or a tutor alongside it.
More on Babbel
The full listing: Babbel: price, levels and who it suits.