Memrise French today is the official course of everyday words and phrases, taught with short videos of native speakers and AI conversation practice, good for about A1 to B1; the large user-made French courses many learners remember are no longer what the app is built around.
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 the French course is now
Lessons group useful words and phrases by situation: introducing yourself, ordering, getting around, talking about your day. Each phrase comes with clips of French people saying it, then exercises to recognise, type and say it. Spaced review brings phrases back before you forget them. AI conversation practice lets you use what you learned in a chat.
What is left of the old courses
Memrise built its name on courses made by users, including long French vocabulary decks. The app now centres on its own official courses, so if you are looking for a particular community deck you used years ago, you may not find it in the app. For that style of learning, shared French decks in Anki are the closest free replacement; see Anki vs Memrise.
How far it takes you
About A1 to B1. The phrases are useful and the videos give you real voices, but there is little grammar and no long listening. Use it alongside a course, such as Busuu with its CEFR-labelled path, or Duolingo for a free daily habit.
A simple routine: ten minutes of Memrise for new phrases, then ten minutes of real French at your level, such as a learner podcast from our podcasts page, listening for the phrases you just learned.
What learners complain about
In the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read, the main complaints were price and cancelling (29), AI and quality (25), lessons too easy or repetitive (20), and bugs or lost progress (15). See Memrise after the AI change.
What it costs
A free plan with limited lessons and videos and ads. 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.
Who it's for
Beginners who want everyday French phrases with real voices, and learners who want a light daily phrase app alongside a course.
Who it's not for
Learners who want a structured course with grammar, anyone looking for the old community decks, and anyone past B1.
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. |
| 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. |
| 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 good for learning French?
For everyday phrases with native-speaker videos, yes, to about B1. Pair it with a course for grammar.
Can I still use Memrise community courses for French?
The app now centres on its official courses. For user-made French decks, Anki's shared decks are the closest free option.
How much is Memrise for French?
Free plan with limits; Pro $61.99 a year or $329.99 lifetime on the US App Store, checked 9 October 2026.
More on Memrise
The full listing: Memrise: price, levels and who it suits.