Rocket French is a partly free French course for beginner and intermediate learners (A1–B1). A one-time-purchase audio course for beginners; try the free lessons first.
Checked October 2026 on the official site ·
About Rocket French
Rocket French is a paid course in three levels plus a role-play module called Play the Part, built around long interactive audio lessons (60+ hours per level), voice recognition to check your pronunciation, and separate language and culture lessons. You can try a set of lessons free, with no card and no time limit, then buy a level once instead of subscribing; the US App Store lists Level 1 at $149.99 and Levels 1 to 3 at $249.99. Rocket does not map its levels to the CEFR; A1 to B1 is our reading. It suits a beginner who wants a structured audio course they own outright. It does not give you real-speed French between native speakers, and it is expensive if you stop after a month.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket French | Free trial lessons; Level 1 $149.99, Levels 1–3 $249.99 once (App Store) | A1–B1 | No | A one-time-purchase audio course for beginners; try the free lessons first. |
| Pimsleur | Premium $19.99/mo; All Access $20.99/mo or $164.99/yr; one-off levels $150 each, 5 levels $575; free first lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (pimsleur.com/learn-french; subscriptions from the US App Store, 2026-10-06) | A1–B1 | No | Best for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary. |
| 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. |
| Mango Languages | $13.99/mo or $119.99/yr (App Store); 14-day free trial; free through many libraries | A1–B1 | No | Check your library first: free there, and a solid beginner 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.
