Memrise is still worth it for a beginner who wants to hear real French people say everyday phrases and practise saying them, at $61.99 a year on the US App Store; it is not worth it as a main French course, and the AI features have not changed that.
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 changed
Memrise has moved from the user-made courses it was known for to its own courses built around short videos of native speakers, and has added AI conversation practice in which you chat with a bot that answers and corrects you. The core is still learning useful words and phrases by hearing and repeating them.
What the reviews say
In the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read, 167 were one or two stars. Behind billing (29), the next biggest complaint was AI and quality, with 25 reviews: reviewers describe AI conversations that drift or correct wrongly, and a sense that the app has become less careful. 20 said it felt too easy or repetitive, and 15 reported bugs or lost progress.
We could not verify individual reviews, and happy users review less often, but the pattern is clear enough to test the AI features in the free plan before paying.
What is still good
The native-speaker videos. Few apps let a beginner hear many different French people, of different ages and accents, say the same everyday phrase. That is genuinely useful for listening, at the level of single phrases.
The speaking practice: repeating and recording yourself against a real voice is good pronunciation work.
Where it stops
It is phrase-learning, not a course. Grammar is thin, the realistic range is about A1 to B1, and short clips of single phrases do not train you to follow a conversation. AI chat is practice with a machine, not a substitute for a person.
If you want a course, Busuu or Babbel cover far more; see Babbel vs Memrise and Busuu vs Memrise. For conversation, a weekly tutor on italki.
What it costs
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). See is Memrise free for what the free plan covers.
Who it's for
Beginners who want to hear and copy native speakers saying everyday French, and learners who use it as a phrase supplement to a proper course.
Who it's not for
Learners looking for a complete course, anyone past B1, and anyone who wants their speaking corrected by a person rather than a bot.
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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.
Questions
Is Memrise still good for French?
For hearing native speakers say everyday phrases, yes. As a full course, no.
Is the Memrise AI chat accurate?
Some users say not: 25 of the 167 recent one- and two-star App Store reviews we read complained about AI or quality. Test it on the free plan.
Is Memrise Pro worth $61.99 a year?
If you use it daily as a phrase supplement, it can be. If it is your only French app, a full course is better value.
More on Memrise
The full listing: Memrise: price, levels and who it suits.