Busuu vs Duolingo at a glance
| Busuu | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) |
| Levels | A1–B2 (beginner and intermediate) | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) |
| Free to use | Yes, at least in part | 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 | A solid A1 to B2 path with a usable free tier. | 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?
Duolingo is the easier first week; Busuu is the better first year. Duolingo's game-style lessons are free and painless and build a daily routine. Busuu's Complete French course runs from A1 to B2 with more than 330 lessons, so you can see where you are on the CEFR scale and what comes next. If you are not sure you will stick with French, start on Duolingo; if you are, start on Busuu.
Which is cheaper?
Duolingo, because every course is free; Super starts at $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store. Busuu has many free features, but the full course needs Premium: €57.99 a year (€4.83 a month) when we checked from Germany, against a standard €116.28. Both can be used for nothing; Busuu's free tier just stops sooner.
Which takes you further?
Busuu. It goes up to B2, while Duolingo's realistic range is A1 to B1. Busuu also lets you submit exercises for feedback and has AI review tools, which help when you start writing longer answers. Most people who finish Duolingo still cannot follow two French people talking.
Which teaches real spoken French?
Neither. Both record their audio for learners, so neither trains you on fast, informal speech. Busuu stops at B2 and Duolingo's sentences are short, so both leave the real-speed listening to you.
Can you use both?
Yes. A sensible split is Busuu as the course and Duolingo as a free five minutes on days you cannot do more. Do not expect the second app to teach much new, though; they overlap heavily at A1 and A2.
What neither does
Neither app gets you understanding French at real speed or holding an unrehearsed conversation. Their audio is recorded for learners, and their speaking practice is with an app, not a person. Add real-speed listening and, by A2, a weekly conversation.
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. |
| 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: Busuu (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
- 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 Busuu free?
- Is Duolingo a waste of time? Is it accurate? Is it dead?
- How to cancel Duolingo Super
- Busuu French: course, levels, the ads