Duolingo French: is it good for learning French?

Duolingo French is a free course on a game-style app, so it helps to know what it covers and where it stops. This page reads Duolingo’s own pages, one published study and Babbel’s own page, and leaves the verdict to you. For other apps, see Duolingo alternatives for French. For a wider list, see the best app to learn French and Learn French app.

Is Duolingo good for learning French?

It is built for a daily habit, and its own pages say what it teaches. Duolingo describes “quick, bite-sized lessons” where you “earn points and unlock new levels”, with courses that teach reading, writing, listening and speaking [1][2]. Its French course page says you can “learn French in just 5 minutes a day. For free.” [2]

Duolingo also says “research shows that it works” [2]. That is its claim about itself. The next sections show what it covers and what one published study measured, so you can decide how far to lean on it.

What does the Duolingo French course cover?

A Duolingo post says its courses are made of units built around communication goals, with vocabulary and grammar for each goal [3]. For French there are short dialogues called Stories, DuoRadio episodes for listening, and a podcast for intermediate learners [3].

On level, Duolingo says almost anyone learning French on the app can now study through B2 on the CEFR, and that most learners could previously go only to A2 [4]. The post defines B2 as the point where you are an “independent user” who can interact with other speakers and express views on a wide range of topics [4]. For what each level means, see French levels explained.

What did the published study on Duolingo French measure?

One peer-reviewed study looked at Duolingo’s Spanish and French courses. It appeared in Foreign Language Annals in 2021 [5]. It tested listening and reading with standardized tests and compared the learners with US university students [5].

The study reports that learners who reached the end of the beginner content (Checkpoint 5) had reading and listening results comparable to those of university students after four semesters [5]. The learners had little to no prior knowledge of French and used only Duolingo [5].

Is Duolingo free?

Duolingo’s own pages say yes, with conditions. The French course page says “For free” [2]. A Duolingo post says free learners see ads at the end of lessons and that two subscriptions, Super Duolingo and Duolingo Max, add perks [3].

The conditions have changed over time. A post dated 2 December 2024 says mistakes cost hearts, and that subscribers get unlimited hearts [3]. A separate post on Energy says Energy replaces hearts for free learners, that each lesson uses a little energy, that it “fully recharges in about a day”, and that a rewarded ad or gems can refill it [6]. That post also said Energy was then “only available to a small number of users” [6]. Two Duolingo pages therefore describe different limits, so check which one your app uses.

What is the Duolingo app like day to day?

The Duolingo app is a game wrapped around short lessons. It awards XP for lessons, Stories and practice, ranks you weekly in Leaderboards, counts a streak of days in a row, and gives gems you spend in a shop [3]. You can turn the competition off in settings [3].

Duolingo’s own tips are to keep moving down the course, to speak every chance you get, and to type answers instead of using the word bank [3]. It also says practice lessons target the mistakes you have made [3]. If you want to hear French outside the app, say these aloud: bonjour, merci, au revoir.

Babbel vs Duolingo: how do their own pages differ?

Babbel’s French page describes five- to ten-minute lessons, a voice recognition tool, spaced repetition and a structured curriculum from A1 to C1 [7]. Duolingo’s pages lead with points, streaks and a mascot [1][3]. Both describe short lessons.

A page describes features, not how they feel to use. Each company’s pricing and free terms sit on its own site, and this page gives none.

How much French do you hear already?

Try the quick check below. Two words look like English and do not mean what you expect. Tap to hear the first one.

Now say them aloud once: actuellement, demander, le chat. Speaking aloud is practice an app can prompt but a person answering you does better.

Lingwell is a French app for iPhone, in early access through a waitlist.

Common mistakes

• Reading “research shows it works” as your result. The study measured beginner-course learners in listening and reading, not you, and not speaking [5].
• Treating a streak as French. A streak counts days, not what you can say. Check what you can understand and say.
• Assuming free has no conditions. Ads, hearts or Energy, and subscriptions are part of how Duolingo describes itself [3][6].
• Skipping speaking. The study’s listed goals do not include it [5]. Say French aloud, with a person when you can.
• Choosing by a list. Pick by what you need next, using Duolingo alternatives for French.
• Trusting this page without its date. App pages change. Compare each company’s own page date with the date at the top of this one.

See also: Babbel vs Duolingo for French.

Sources