Babbel vs Duolingo at a glance
| Babbel | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 freechecked 2026-10-09 (babbel.com/prices, shown from Germany) | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) |
| Levels | A1–C1 (beginner to advanced) | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) |
| Free to use | No (trial or sample only) | Yes, at least in part |
| Real-speed French | No | No |
| Transcripts or subtitles | Not a feature | Not a feature |
| Taught in | English | English |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | The most course-like app; a good spine for A1 to B1, light on real listening. | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Which is better for beginners?
Both work for a complete beginner, but in different ways. Duolingo is the gentler start: short game-style lessons, every course free, and a streak that keeps you coming back. Babbel asks a little more of you and gives more back: its lessons are built around real situations and explain the grammar in context, so you understand why a sentence works, not only that it does. If you have never studied French, a week of Duolingo costs nothing; if you already know you want a proper course, start with Babbel's free first lesson.
Which is cheaper?
Duolingo, because every Duolingo course is free; Super, which removes ads and adds extras, starts at $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store. Babbel lets you try one lesson free, 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, or €299.99 for lifetime. If money is the deciding factor, Duolingo wins outright. If you are going to pay for something, Babbel's subscription buys a more complete course than Duolingo's paid extras.
Which takes you further?
Babbel. Its French curriculum runs from A1 towards C1, while Duolingo's realistic range is A1 to B1. Most people who finish the Duolingo tree can read simple French but still cannot follow two French people talking. Babbel is a solid spine from A1 to B1 and carries on beyond it, though at B1 and above any app becomes one tool among several.
Which teaches real spoken French?
Neither, really. Both record their dialogues for learners: Babbel's are scripted, and Duolingo's sentences are short and clear. Neither has real-speed French between native speakers, so neither trains your ear for the contractions and speed you hear in France. Babbel's speaking practice gets you saying more, but for listening you need something else.
Can you use both?
Yes, and plenty of learners do: Babbel as the course, Duolingo as a free extra five minutes on busy days. They overlap a lot at A1 and A2, though, so two course apps mostly repeat each other. A better pairing is one of them plus real listening, such as a podcast or a show with French subtitles.
What neither does
Neither app gets you understanding French at the speed people actually speak it. Both use clean, scripted audio recorded for learners, and neither puts you in an unprepared conversation with a person. Whichever you pick, add real-speed listening from the first months and, once you reach A2, a weekly conversation with a tutor or a language exchange.
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. |
| 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.
Read more
The full listings: Babbel (app) and Duolingo (app). More like these: Duolingo alternatives for French.
Guides
- Is Duolingo free? What the free version gives you for French (2026)
- Duolingo French: how far it takes you, honestly
- Babbel cost: every plan and what it works out per month (2026)
- Is Babbel free? Trial, free lessons, what's locked
- How much is Duolingo? Super and Max prices (2026)
- Duolingo energy and hearts: how to keep learning French without the limits
- Is Duolingo effective? What it teaches and what it skips
- Is Babbel worth it for French?
- Is Duolingo a waste of time? Is it accurate? Is it dead?
- How to cancel Duolingo Super
- Babbel French: what the course covers, level by level
- Babbel lifetime: is the one-off plan worth it?
- Rosetta Stone vs Babbel vs Duolingo for French
- How to cancel Babbel