No, Babbel is not free: you can take the first lesson of the French course without paying, and everything after that needs a subscription, from €8.99 a month on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year) when we checked from Germany. If you want French for nothing, Duolingo and Busuu's free tier go much further.
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))
What you can try free
The first lesson of the course, which is enough to see how Babbel teaches: short dialogues, vocabulary in context, grammar explained as it comes up, and speech recognition for repeating phrases. Free trials appear in some app-store offers and countries; when you see one, it turns into a paid plan automatically at the end unless you cancel before then.
What is locked
The rest of the course: every lesson after the first, the review sessions and the levels from A1 towards C1. There is no free tier that lets you keep going slowly, as there is with Duolingo or Busuu.
Babbel's paid plans on the day we checked: €8.99 a month on the 12-month plan, about double that billed monthly, or €299.99 for lifetime. See Babbel cost for what each works out at.
Free alternatives for French
Duolingo is free for the whole French course, with ads and a hearts or energy limit. Busuu has a free tier with many features, and Premium was €57.99 a year on the offer we saw. For listening, TV5MONDE's Apprendre le français is free from A1 to B2. Our free French learning apps page lists what each one keeps behind a paywall.
None of the free options, and not Babbel either, gives you much real-speed spoken French. Add a free podcast at your level from our podcasts page.
If you try the trial
Put a reminder in your calendar for two days before it ends. Billing and cancelling were the most common complaints in the 500 most recent Babbel reviews we read on the App Store: 57 of 203 one- and two-star reviews. Our guide on how to cancel Babbel covers the web, iPhone and Android.
Who it's for
Babbel suits a learner who is willing to pay for a structured course after one free lesson and wants grammar explained. Try the first lesson to see whether the style suits you.
Who it's not for
Anyone looking for a free way to learn French. Babbel has no lasting free plan; Duolingo, Busuu's free tier and free listening sites will take you further without paying.
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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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
Is any part of Babbel free?
The first lesson of each course. After that you need a subscription.
Does Babbel have a free trial?
Some app-store offers and countries include one. It converts to a paid plan unless you cancel before it ends.
What is the cheapest Babbel plan?
The 12-month plan, at €8.99 a month (€107.88 a year) when we checked from Germany on 9 October 2026.
More on Babbel
The full listing: Babbel: price, levels and who it suits.