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Duolingo alternatives for French

The best Duolingo alternatives for French are Busuu or Babbel for a more serious course, Lingopie, LingQ or FluentU for real listening, and Lingoda or italki for speaking with a teacher.

Choose by what Duolingo is not giving you. If you want the same game-style format, see apps like Duolingo instead.

Checked October 2026 · 9 listed

Ranked, our picks first

Busuu#1 · app · A1–B2 · iOS, Android, Web
A solid A1 to B2 path with a usable free tier.
Free tiergrammarvocabularyspeaking
Babbel#2 · app · A1–C1 · iOS, Android, Web
The most course-like app; a good spine for A1 to B1, light on real listening.
Paidgrammarvocabularyspeaking
Lingopie#3 · app · A2–C1 · iOS, Android, Web
Good for B1 and up who will really watch; not a course.
Free tierlisteningvocabulary
LingQ#4 · app · A2–C2 · iOS, Android, Web
Huge amounts of real French with text and audio; a tool, not a course.
Free tierlisteningvocabulary
Pimsleur#5 · course · A1–B1 · iOS, Android, Web
Best for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary.
Paidlisteningspeaking
FluentU#6 · app · A1–C1 · iOS, Android, Web
Real French video with clickable subtitles and quizzes; paid after the trial.
Paidlisteningvocabulary
Lingoda#7 · course · A1–C1 · Web
Real classes on a timetable; costly per minute of speaking.
Paidspeakingtutorsgrammar
Frantastique#8 · course · A1–C1 · iOS, Android, Web
A witty 10-minute daily lesson that adapts to your mistakes; paid.
Paidgrammarvocabulary
News in Slow French#9 · website · A1–C1 · iOS, Android, Web
Weekly news read slowly with transcripts; structured, but not real speed.
Paidlistening

How we rank

We rank apps by who they genuinely suit, what they cost, and how much they help with the skill learners neglect most: understanding real spoken French. Every price and fact was checked on the product's own site or app store listing on the date shown; where a price is not shown publicly we say "see site". Nobody pays to be listed or ranked, and there are no affiliate links. More about this site.

Questions

What is a good alternative to Duolingo for French?

Busuu if you want a structured course with CEFR levels and a free tier; Babbel if you prefer a paid course with clearer grammar. For listening, Lingopie, LingQ or FluentU.

Is there anything better than Duolingo for listening?

Yes. Lingopie and FluentU use real French TV and video with interactive subtitles, and LingQ uses real podcasts and articles with text. Duolingo's audio is short and recorded for learners.

Is there a Duolingo alternative with real teachers?

Lingoda runs live group classes on a timetable, and italki or Preply let you book one-to-one tutors who set their own prices.