Memrise is partly free: the free plan gives you a limited number of lessons and native-speaker videos with ads, and the rest needs Pro, which is listed on the US App Store at $61.99 a year or $329.99 for lifetime, with a monthly plan at $24.99 (checked 9 October 2026); it is less free than it used to be, because the user-made courses that once made Memrise a free favourite are no longer its focus.
Checked October 2026 · Memrise price: Free plan; Pro $61.99/yr or $329.99 lifetime; monthly plan $24.99 (checked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases))
What you get free
A taste of the official French course: short lessons of useful words and phrases, clips of native speakers saying them, and speaking practice. The free plan limits how many lessons and videos you get and shows ads. It is enough to see whether the format suits you, not enough to learn French on.
What Pro adds
Every lesson and video without ads, plus the AI conversation features. Pro is listed on the US App Store at $61.99 a year or $329.99 for lifetime, with a monthly plan at $24.99 (checked 9 October 2026). The yearly plan is the one to compare; the monthly price is high for an app you would use daily for months.
Billing was the most common complaint in the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read: 29 of 167 one- and two-star reviews were about price, subscriptions or cancelling, including annual renewals that arrived without a reminder. Note the date if you subscribe.
What changed
Memrise used to be known for thousands of free courses made by its users, including long French vocabulary decks. It has since moved its focus to its own courses, built around videos of native speakers, and to AI conversation practice. Learners who remember the old Memrise often search for this because the free experience they knew has narrowed.
The change shows in the reviews: 25 complained about AI features or a drop in quality, and 15 about bugs or lost progress. We look at whether it is still worth paying for in Memrise after the AI change.
Free alternatives
For free vocabulary in the old Memrise spirit, Anki is free on computers, the web and Android, with shared French decks, and Clozemaster gives thousands of fill-the-gap sentences free. Duolingo is free for its whole course. Our free French learning apps page lists what each keeps behind a paywall.
Who it's for
Beginners who want to hear real people say everyday French phrases and are willing to pay for Pro once the free lessons run out.
Who it's not for
Anyone looking for a free French course. Memrise's free plan is a sample; Duolingo, Anki and Clozemaster go further without paying.
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. |
| Anki | Free on desktop, web and Android; iPhone app (AnkiMobile) $24.99 oncechecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) | A1–C2 | No | The best free memory tool at any level; bring your own French. |
| 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. |
| 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
Is Memrise completely free?
No. The free plan has limited lessons and videos with ads. Pro unlocks everything.
How much is Memrise Pro?
On the US App Store, $61.99 a year or $329.99 for lifetime, with a monthly plan at $24.99, checked 9 October 2026.
What happened to Memrise community courses?
Memrise moved its focus to its own video-based courses and AI practice, so the user-made courses are no longer central to the app.
More on Memrise
The full listing: Memrise: price, levels and who it suits.