Introduction

If you want to learn a foreign language, look no further than the internet. And if you’re going to learn French, you’ve got a wealth of options available to you. From full courses that last several weeks, to short classes that take only a few hours, there are resources available for those at any learning level or any age to master the French language. The good news is that as you develop your routine and build up some momentum and confidence, it’ll be easier and easier to find time and energy for your French studies every day. You may even find that you get hooked on online French learning and want to graduate from beyond just free French lessons.

Regardless of level, you want a French course that’s about equal parts vocabulary and grammar. For those of us who really want to learn the language, a French “word a day” scenario isn’t going to be enough to give us the results we want. Make sure your online French course teaches you useful vocabulary while also giving you in-depth (yet easy-to-understand) grammar explanations. To begin this article, we will introduce you to some of the top free online French courses we have found. They have all been ranked using a specific methodology we developed that helps us choose the best options. Here we come with our 5 favorite picks at the top of the list, but each of these resources deserves a look:

1. Alison: The course is entirely free, and the Alison platform makes it easy to progress sequentially with its user-friendly interface. As one of the only free online French courses on our list where students can earn a certificate, it is one of our top choices for beginners. In this basic French course offered on the Alison platform, students will learn over six to ten hours the fundamental French language skills used in everyday life.
2. Udemy:  In this course, you will learn how to use the 3 main past tenses in French: the imperfect, the passé-composé and the plus-que-parfait. You will be able to evoke memories, speak about work experiences and understand news stories, or just express past events accurately. Each section covers a specific use of the past in French and allows you to easily develop the four basic linguistic abilities: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
3. DuoLingo: The French courses on the site are intended to be completed sequentially, and beginners will start at the basics 1 level. However, advanced users can test out of the beginner levels to move on to more challenging modules. The app keeps students motivated with games, quizzes, colorful graphics, and a points system, and can be accessed on desktop or mobile for learning anywhere.
4. Elearning French: The website can also be useful to people who wish to learn or review particular aspects of French grammar, learn more about French proverbs and sayings or French slang and idioms. Each lesson also includes simple explanations of French grammar and many examples of French grammar in use. You will also be able to test your French language skills with quizzes and exercises.
5. Loecsen: The website includes several fun categories, such as French for the beach or the bar. When you choose a category, you’ll see a list of phrases in English. Click on the phrase, and the French words appear in a larger font. At the same time, you’ll see an image corresponding to the words and hear a speaker say the term in French.