Memrise vs Duolingo at a glance
| Memrise | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan; Pro $61.99/yr or $329.99 lifetime; monthly plan $24.99checked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases) | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) |
| Levels | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) |
| Free to use | Yes, at least in part | Yes, at least in part |
| Real-speed French | Yes | No |
| Transcripts or subtitles | Subtitles | Not a feature |
| Taught in | English | English |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | Native-speaker clips for beginners; a supplement, not a course. | 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, as a first course. Its bite-sized, game-style lessons cover reading, writing, listening and speaking, and every course is free. Memrise teaches useful vocabulary and phrases with short videos of native speakers and speaking practice; it is phrase-learning rather than a full course. A beginner gets a broader start from Duolingo and better ears from Memrise.
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. Memrise has a free plan with limited lessons and videos and ads, and Pro at $61.99 a year on the US App Store. Both can be used for nothing, but Memrise's free plan runs out sooner.
Which teaches real spoken French?
Memrise gets closer. Its clips show native speakers saying phrases at a natural pace, with subtitles. Duolingo's sentences are short and recorded for learners. Neither gives you a full conversation at real speed, but Memrise at least lets you hear real voices.
Which takes you further?
Neither takes you far. Both realistically cover A1 to B1, and Memrise will not take you past the basics on its own. Plan to move on to a fuller course, real listening and conversation by the time you finish either.
Can you use both?
Yes, and this pair works: Duolingo for the structured daily habit and Memrise for phrases and real voices. They overlap less than two course apps would.
What neither does
Neither app explains French grammar in depth, gives you long stretches of real conversation, or puts you in front of a person. Both are good beginnings that stop around B1. Add a course with explanations, longer real listening, and a weekly conversation as you progress.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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: Memrise (app) and Duolingo (app). More like these: Apps like Duolingo 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 Duolingo a waste of time? Is it accurate? Is it dead?
- How to cancel Duolingo Super
- Is Memrise free? What changed
- Memrise after the AI change: still worth it for French?
- Memrise French: what's left of the courses