Duolingo costs nothing for the full French course; Super, the paid plan, costs from $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store (checked 6 October 2026), and Max, the AI tier, costs more. The yearly plan is the better deal if you are sure you will keep going, but most French learners do not need to pay at all.
Checked October 2026 · Duolingo price: Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yr (checked 2026-10-06 (US App Store))
The plans
Free: every course, with ads and a hearts or energy limit on how far you go in one sitting.
Super: from $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year in the US App Store listing. It removes ads and the limit, and adds extras such as practice built from your own mistakes. Paying yearly works out at about $6.67 a month.
Max: Super plus AI features such as explanations of your answers and role-play conversations. Max costs more than Super; we did not record a Max price on the day we checked, so check it in the app before you upgrade, and treat any figure you see online as country-specific.
There is also a Family version of Super for several accounts. Prices change by country, platform and offer, and Duolingo regularly runs discounts on the yearly plan.
Is Super worth paying for?
Only if the free limits are what stops you studying. Super does not add French: same units, same audio, same stories. In the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read, 24 complaints were about price, subscriptions and cancelling, and 26 about hearts and energy. If the limit is your problem, Super fixes it; if the problem is that you cannot follow spoken French, it will not.
For the same yearly money you could pay for a course that goes further. Busuu Premium was €57.99 a year when we checked from Germany, and Babbel €107.88 a year on its 12-month plan. Both cover more grammar than Duolingo; neither replaces real listening.
Before you pay
Try the free version for two weeks first. Note the renewal date the day you subscribe: subscriptions renew automatically, and the Duolingo Super cancellation guide shows where to switch that off on iPhone, Android and the web.
Who it's for
A learner who already uses Duolingo every day, keeps running out of hearts or energy, and wants the same course without interruptions. The yearly plan suits you if you have kept a streak for a month or more.
Who it's not for
Anyone hoping Super will make Duolingo teach more French. It will not; the course is identical. If you want more for your money, compare it with a structured course on our Babbel vs Duolingo page first.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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
How much is Duolingo per month?
Super starts at $9.99 a month on the US App Store, checked 6 October 2026. The yearly plan, $79.99, works out at about $6.67 a month.
Is Duolingo Max worth it for French?
Only if you want its AI explanations and role-play on top of Super. It adds no new French units, and its audio is the same learner audio.
Do you have to pay for Duolingo to learn French?
No. The whole French course is free. Paying removes ads and the hearts or energy limit.
More on Duolingo
The full listing: Duolingo: price, levels and who it suits.
- Is Duolingo free? What the free version gives you for French (2026)
- Duolingo French: how far it takes you, honestly
- 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