Busuu French is a solid, CEFR-labelled course from A1 to B2 with more than 330 lessons and corrections from native speakers, and one of the cheapest paid French courses; it stops at B2, its audio is recorded for learners, and the free tier comes with ads.
Checked October 2026 · Busuu price: 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))
The course
The Complete French course runs from A1 to B2, each level split into short lessons that mix vocabulary, grammar, dialogues and review. Grammar is explained, more briefly than in Babbel but more clearly than in Duolingo. AI review tools bring back what you are forgetting, and you can submit written and spoken exercises for correction by native French speakers in the Busuu community.
Level by level
A1 and A2: introductions, everyday situations, the present tense, the passé composé and the near future. Clear and well paced.
B1: longer dialogues, the imparfait, pronouns, giving opinions. The community corrections matter more here, because you start writing your own answers.
B2: more complex grammar and topics. This is where the course stops; beyond B2, you need real French, not a course app.
The ads
Ads were the most common complaint in the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read, with 12 of the 38 one- and two-star reviews; one reviewer called them invasive. Ads appear on the free tier; Premium removes them. Overall, Busuu had the fewest one- and two-star reviews of the ten apps we checked.
The price
Premium €57.99 a year (€4.83 a month) and Premium Plus €69.90 a year (€5.83 a month) on the offers we saw from Germany on 9 October 2026, against standard prices of €116.28 and €142.80. See is Busuu free for what the free tier covers.
What to add
Real-speed listening. Busuu's dialogues are clear and recorded for learners, so pair it with a French listening app or a podcast at your level. From A2, a weekly conversation on italki puts the course to use. If you are choosing between course apps, see Babbel vs Busuu and Busuu vs Duolingo.
Who it's for
Learners who want a clear A1 to B2 path with CEFR labels, like tracking progress level by level, and want a paid course at a modest price.
Who it's not for
Advanced learners past B2, and anyone expecting a course app to teach them to follow fast, informal French. For that you need real listening.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 level does Busuu French go up to?
B2. The Complete French course runs from A1 to B2.
Does Busuu French have ads?
On the free tier, yes; Premium removes them. Ads were the top complaint in recent App Store reviews.
Is Busuu good for French grammar?
It explains grammar briefly and clearly in each lesson, more than Duolingo and less than Babbel.
More on Busuu
The full listing: Busuu: price, levels and who it suits.