The best French speaking app depends on what you want to say and who answers you. Pimsleur has you reply to recorded French, Praktika and Talkpal answer you as an AI, and italki, HelloTalk and Tandem put you in touch with people. This page compares what you say aloud in each app, what feedback comes back and what stays free. For courses and reading apps, see our French app comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn French. You learn from French you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your French lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it, or talk it through with her in a voice chat.
With Regenerative Review™, words you save show up again in new lessons, so you can review words in new contexts without having to use flashcards.
- Every French lesson is written at your level, about things you like.
- Talk with Poppy by voice chat in French, and ask her to explain any sentence.
- Saved words come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™, and you can send them to Anki too.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- You can't turn a whole French novel into a lesson. But Poppy will explain a passage you paste or a page you photograph.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
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Pimsleur
Pimsleur suits learners who want to speak along with a recording rather than with a partner. After the free lesson and the trial, the French course is a paid subscription.
- You hear French, pause and answer aloud in guided audio lessons.
- The first lesson is free, and the French page also advertises a seven-day trial.
MobileWeb
Busuu
Busuu suits learners who want a course to follow and a person to read what they write or say.
- French lessons come with feedback from a community of French speakers.
- You can start with the free version.
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Praktika
Praktika suits learners who like to practice face to face with an avatar.
- You speak French with an AI avatar in role-play.
- The publisher advertises pronunciation and fluency feedback.
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italki
italki suits learners who want a person to correct their spoken French.
- You pick a French teacher and book a live one-to-one lesson.
- Corrections come from a person who hears you.
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HelloTalk
HelloTalk suits learners who want to chat with French speakers and help them with English in return.
- You can find a French exchange partner for messages, voice notes and calls.
- Basic exchange is free, with a paid VIP plan.
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Tandem
Tandem suits learners who want scheduled calls with an exchange partner.
- You choose French and English exchange partners for text, voice notes and calls.
- Basic exchange is free, with optional Pro.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (1)
- TalkpalVoice chat, scripted dialogues, Call Mode and role-plays with an AI. It downloads free, and detailed feedback and the advanced modes are in Premium.
| App | What you say | Conversation | Feedback | English help | Free boundary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Live voice chat with Poppy | Open, with Poppy | Poppy answers and explains what you ask about | Partly | Lessons by other learners are free to read; unlimited custom lessons need Pro |
| Pimsleur | Replies to recorded prompts | Fixed audio lesson | Recorded prompts, no live reply | Yes | Free first lesson and a seven-day trial, then paid |
| Busuu | Course exercises | Lessons with community feedback | Corrections from French speakers | Yes | Free version, full features paid |
| Praktika | Role-play with an avatar | Open AI | Pronunciation and fluency feedback advertised | Yes | Free download, subscriptions |
| Talkpal | Voice chat and role-play | Open AI | Pronunciation and grammar corrections in Premium | Yes | Free download, Premium paid |
| italki | Live lessons | Open, with a teacher | A teacher corrects you | Partly | Account free, teachers set prices |
| HelloTalk | Messages, voice notes, calls | Open, with a partner | Depends on the partner | Partly | Basic free, VIP paid |
| Tandem | Messages, voice notes, calls | Open, with a partner | Informal partner corrections | Partly | Basic free, Pro optional |
If you want to read and listen to French before you speak, our French comprehensible input app comparison covers reading and listening apps. For speaking apps in any language, see apps for speaking practice.
Which French speaking app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning French, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or choose Pimsleur if you want a recording that tells you what to say.
Does Pimsleur have AI conversation for French?
The Pimsleur app describes its AI partner roleplay as a Spanish feature. French learners get the guided audio lessons, which you can download to use offline.
Can I practice speaking French for free?
HelloTalk and Tandem have free basic exchange with a French speaker. italki is free to join, and each teacher sets a lesson price. Pimsleur gives you the first lesson free and advertises a seven-day trial, and Praktika and Talkpal are free to download with paid plans.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Pimsleur: learn French
- Pimsleur: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Praktika: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Talkpal: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Busuu: learn French
- Busuu: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- italki: French teachers for English speakers
- italki: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- HelloTalk: French partners in France
- HelloTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Tandem: practice French online
- Tandem: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Bubblegum
- Praktika
