For most French learners Babbel is the best course of the three, Duolingo the best free habit, and Rosetta Stone the choice only if you specifically want immersion without English; none of them teaches you to follow French at real speed.
Checked October 2026 · Rosetta Stone price: €19.99/mo, or €13.25/mo billed €159/yr; lifetime plan priced on the buy page (checked 2026-10-09 (rosettastone.com buy page, shown from Germany))
Price
Duolingo: free for the whole course; Super from $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store (checked 6 October 2026).
Babbel: from €8.99 a month on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year), or €299.99 lifetime, checked from Germany on 9 October 2026.
Rosetta Stone: €19.99 a month, or €13.25 a month billed €159 a year, on the same day; lifetime priced on the buy page.
Babbel is the cheaper of the two paid courses; Duolingo is cheaper than both.
Method
Duolingo teaches by short game-style exercises and example, with streaks to keep you coming back. Babbel teaches through everyday situations and explains the grammar in English. Rosetta Stone teaches by immersion: pictures, French and speech recognition, with almost no English and no grammar explanations.
How far each takes you
Duolingo and Rosetta Stone realistically reach about A1 to B1. Babbel's French runs from A1 towards C1 and is strongest to B1. If you want one app to carry you the furthest, it is Babbel.
What the reviews say
In the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read for each app, Duolingo's complaints were mostly hearts, energy and ads; Babbel's were billing (57) and a lack of real speaking and listening (24); Rosetta Stone's were speech recognition (30) and billing (25).
What none of them does
All three use clean audio recorded for learners. None trains your ear for the speed and dropped sounds of everyday French, and none puts you in an unprepared conversation. Whichever you choose, add a French listening app and, from A2, a weekly tutor. The two-way pages go deeper: Babbel vs Rosetta Stone, Duolingo vs Rosetta Stone and Babbel vs Duolingo.
Who it's for
Rosetta Stone: visual learners who enjoy immersion. Babbel: adults who want a structured course with grammar explained. Duolingo: anyone who wants a free daily habit first.
Who it's not for
Learners past B1, who need real listening and conversation more than another course app, and anyone hoping one of these three alone will get them understanding French people.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosetta Stone | €19.99/mo, or €13.25/mo billed €159/yr; lifetime plan priced on the buy pagechecked 2026-10-09 (rosettastone.com buy page, shown from Germany) | A1–B1 | No | Immersion-style basics; slow, and light on explanation. |
| 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
Which is best for French: Rosetta Stone, Babbel or Duolingo?
Babbel as a course, Duolingo as a free habit. Rosetta Stone only if you want immersion without English.
Which is cheapest?
Duolingo, which is free. Of the paid courses, Babbel (€107.88 a year) cost less than Rosetta Stone (€159 a year) when we checked from Germany.
Do any of them teach real spoken French?
No. All three use scripted audio recorded for learners. Add real listening and conversation alongside.
More on Rosetta Stone
The full listing: Rosetta Stone: price, levels and who it suits.