You've been doing Duolingo for weeks, maybe months. You keep knocking out lessons, your streak is holding strong, and yet the moment you have to answer out loud or follow a real conversation, you freeze. If that's you, you haven't done anything wrong: speaking is a skill you build by speaking, out loud, with someone who answers you back. That's often what's missing.
Duolingo is still a very good app, and we won't ask you to delete it. But if you're looking for something else to finally speak and understand, here are the main alternatives in 2026, what each one adds and where it falls short. This comparison is based on the information each publisher provides, with prices as listed in October 2026.
The best Duolingo alternatives for speaking French in 2026 fall into four groups: a course that combines dialogues and conversation (360 French Immersion), structured or audio-based learning apps (Babbel, Pimsleur), AI tutors (Speak, Praktika), and exchanges with real people (private lessons with italki or Preply, language exchange with Tandem or HelloTalk). The right choice depends on what's holding you back, and you can easily keep Duolingo alongside it.
Overview
- 360 French Immersion - dialogues between French speakers, spoken conversations with Jean and video conversation tables. €189/year (€15.75/month), or €34.99 on the monthly plan.
- Babbel - a structured path from A1 to B2, with speech recognition and a conversation partner in beta. Several subscription lengths.
- Pimsleur - an audio method, with a lesson of about 30 minutes a day. Around $20 a month.
- Speak - phrases to learn, then use with an AI tutor. Pricing depends on your region.
- Praktika - spoken conversations with AI avatars. About $8 a month.
- Online private lessons (italki, Preply) - a teacher on video, paid by the hour.
- Language exchange (Tandem, HelloTalk) - free version, with French speakers who are learning your language.
What Duolingo offers today
Before comparing, here's a reminder of what Duolingo offers in 2026, so the comparison is fair. The app is free, supported in part by ads. Super Duolingo removes the ads, gives you unlimited hearts (except for some subscribers included in a test, according to Duolingo) and offers personalized practice, with a free one-week trial. Duolingo Max adds "Roleplay" to Super, with scenarios where you talk to the app's characters, for example to order a coffee, and "Video Call" with Lily, both available for French. Max can only be bought in the iOS or Android app, not on the website. Pricing depends on your country and is shown in the app.
Two recent changes matter too: "Explain My Answer," which explains a mistake, is no longer limited to subscribers as of January 2026 (it's free for most French learners), and since April 2026, the French course has gone up to CEFR level B2 for most learners; before that, most couldn't get past A2. Our detailed review is here: Duolingo for learning French, our review.
1. 360 French Immersion - dialogues, Jean and real people
Full disclosure: 360 French Immersion is our own course, created by Elisabeth, a French teacher, and Mathieu. We put it first because we built it to solve exactly the problem we're talking about here, but you'll find its limits below, just as we do for the others.
The course is for levels A2 to C1. You listen to dialogues between French speakers, with the text shown word by word, then practice them with a range of activities: dictation, pronunciation and role-plays. After that, you move on to speaking with Jean, a conversational AI you talk to out loud, in real time, in everyday situations. He adapts his vocabulary and pace to your level.
You choose how he corrects you. Either as you go: he stops on a real mistake, gives you the right form and has you repeat it. Or only at the end, so you can speak without being interrupted. Either way, you get a report of your corrections after each conversation.
You can add video conversation tables with other students to your conversations with Jean. They're included in the subscription, and Jean is there too, to get the discussion going and help you find your words. We explain how they work in our comparison of apps for speaking French.
What stands out
- You listen to French between French speakers, repeat it, then reuse it out loud, all in one course.
- You talk one-on-one with Jean whenever you like, and with real people at the conversation tables.
- You decide when Jean corrects you.
The limits
- The course isn't made for true beginners.
- It isn't free.
- The tables have just launched: there aren't many sessions yet outside Sunday evening.
Price: €189/year, billed once (€15.75/month), with 7 days free: nothing is charged if you cancel during those 7 days, and you can turn off renewal from your profile afterwards. There is also a monthly plan at €34.99/month, charged right away, with no free period.
2. Babbel - a structured course, from A1 to B2
Babbel's French course follows a structured path from A1 to B2, detailed on its website. Lessons are short and mix speech recognition to work on pronunciation, interactive dialogues, podcasts and grammar tips. Babbel also has "Babbel Speak," an AI conversation partner in beta. Its English-language page lists it for French, free for registered accounts for a limited time; availability depends on the language you're starting from, and Babbel says that may change.
If you're mostly torn between Babbel and Duolingo, we wrote a separate comparison: Babbel or Duolingo for French.
What stands out
- A clear path from A1 to B2, with short lessons.
- Grammar explained, plus dialogues and podcasts.
- A conversation partner to try your hand at speaking.
The limits
- The AI conversation is still in beta.
- It's a structured path, not a space for free conversation.
Price: several subscription lengths, with frequent promotions, shown on Babbel's website.
3. Pimsleur - the audio method, to speak from day one
Pimsleur is an audio method. Lessons last about 30 minutes, revolve around listening and speaking, and one lesson a day is recommended. The idea it advertises is to "speak from day one." For French, there are five levels, up to intermediate according to Pimsleur, and you can follow the lessons on the mobile app, a computer or a tablet.
What stands out
- Lessons mostly revolve around listening and speaking.
- One lesson a day is a clear rhythm to follow.
- Since the lessons are audio, you can do one without looking at a screen.
The limits
- You answer a recording, not a person.
- Thirty minutes in a row is a lot for some people.
Price: a subscription of around $20 a month according to Pimsleur's official blog, with a 7-day free trial (you have to cancel before it ends to avoid being charged).
4. Speak - learn phrases, then use them
Speak teaches French and follows a simple logic: you learn phrases, you practice saying them, then you use them with an AI tutor. The app gives you pronunciation feedback in real time. It comes in two plans, Premium and Premium Plus, with a 7-day trial.
What stands out
- You start from useful phrases and put them straight into practice.
- Pronunciation feedback arrives while you speak.
The limits
- You only practice with an AI.
Price: depends on your region, shown in the app.
5. Praktika - avatars to speak out loud
Praktika is built around spoken conversations with AI avatars. The corrections cover pronunciation, grammar and word choice, and you set the tone of the corrections: gentle, balanced or strict. The tutor can also explain your corrections in your own language, which is reassuring when you're still unsure of yourself.
What stands out
- You choose how demanding the corrections are.
- Explanations can be given in your own language.
The limits
- You talk to AI avatars, never to a person.
Price: the official site shows an indicative price of about $8 a month, without saying which commitment length it corresponds to.
6. Online private lessons (italki and Preply)
Both platforms put you on video with a teacher or tutor of your choice. It's the closest thing to a real-life conversation, with someone who can explain why you're getting it wrong. According to italki's page of French teachers, lessons cost between $4 and $60 an hour, with up to three trial lessons, one per teacher. On Preply, lessons start at $3 and cost $21 on average, and the platform says that if your first tutor isn't a good fit, you can try two others for free.
What stands out
- Your tutor adapts the session to what you need.
- You choose your tutor, your budget and your schedule.
The limits
- The cost climbs quickly if you want to talk often.
- You have to book ahead.
- Prices and tutor experience vary widely.
7. Language exchange (Tandem and HelloTalk)
Tandem and HelloTalk offer a free version. You chat with French speakers who are learning your language, by text, voice message, audio call or video call. Tandem has built-in correction and translation tools, and HelloTalk offers group audio rooms, called Voicerooms.
What stands out
- It's free, and you talk with real people.
- You can start by writing, then move on to audio when you feel ready.
The limits
- There's no set path: it's up to you to organize your exchanges.
- It all depends on who you end up talking to.
- Part of the exchange may happen in your language, since the other person wants to practice it too.
At a glance
Here's why you might choose each option instead of Duolingo or alongside it, with prices listed in October 2026.
| Option | Why choose it instead of Duolingo or alongside it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 360 French Immersion | Listen to French speakers, speak out loud with Jean and join conversation tables with other students | €189/year (€15.75/month) or €34.99/month |
| Babbel | Lessons organized by theme, with grammar explanations, dialogues and podcasts | Varies by length |
| Pimsleur | An audio method focused on listening and speaking, one lesson a day | About $20/month |
| Speak | An AI tutor to use the phrases you've learned, with pronunciation feedback | Varies by region |
| Praktika | Conversations with AI avatars and corrections with an adjustable tone | About $8/month |
| italki / Preply | A teacher who explains your mistakes | Hourly, depending on the tutor |
| Tandem / HelloTalk | Conversations with French speakers | Free version |
What should you replace in your Duolingo routine?
To choose, start with what you're missing today rather than with the best-known app.
- You want more explanations and structure: Babbel, for its organized lessons and grammar explanations, or a teacher on italki or Preply, who explains your mistakes.
- You want to speak out loud more: Jean in 360 French Immersion, Speak or Praktika to chat with an AI, or Pimsleur if you'd rather follow audio lessons.
- You want to talk with a person: a private lesson, a language exchange with Tandem or HelloTalk, or the conversation tables in 360 French Immersion.
Keep Duolingo if…
Switching doesn't mean giving it all up. There are good reasons to keep Duolingo, and we'd rather be straight with you about them.
- You value the daily habit. Opening the app every day is already a good start, and it's often the hardest part to get going.
- You want to stay free. The app is free, which is a plus if you want to learn without spending anything.
- You're building your basic vocabulary. For the first words and simple sentences, the short format works well.
- The course now goes further. Since April 2026, it goes up to B2 for most learners.
- You like understanding your mistakes. Since January 2026, "Explain My Answer" is no longer limited to subscribers.
You can also combine the two: Duolingo for your routine and your vocabulary, and another option for the speaking side. If you're wondering why speaking still isn't coming together despite the lessons, we wrote an article about it: Why you still don't speak French after Duolingo.
How to switch without losing your habit
Keeping up your rhythm is much harder than finding a new option. A few tips to get there:
- Stick to the same time of day. If you did your lesson on the train or after dinner, that's where your new practice should slot in.
- Replace one lesson with a short spoken conversation. Ten minutes of talking is a good start, and it doesn't make your day any longer.
- Jot down two or three corrections. After each session, keep only what tripped you up, and reuse it the next day.
- Talk with other people once a week. A conversation table, a lesson or a language exchange: what matters is that someone really answers you.
- If you care about your streak, keep five minutes of Duolingo. Do the day's lesson, then add speaking on top, without having to choose.
Going further
If you want to see more options, we've gathered the tools worth knowing in the best apps for learning French, and in the best apps for speaking French if your goal is mostly speaking.
