Rocket Languages is a partly free language-learning course for beginner and intermediate learners (A1–B1). One-time-purchase audio courses in 14 languages; try the free lessons first.
Checked October 2026 on the official site ·
About Rocket Languages
Rocket Languages sells 14 self-study courses, among them Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Hindi and sign language. Each is built around long interactive audio lessons, voice recognition to check your pronunciation, and separate language and culture lessons. You can try a set of lessons free with no card, then buy a level once instead of subscribing, with lifetime access and updates; prices depend on the language and the store (Rocket French Level 1 was $149.99 in the US App Store). Rocket does not map its levels to the CEFR; A1 to B1 is our reading for its three levels. It suits a beginner who wants a structured audio course they own outright. It does not give you real-speed conversation between native speakers, and it is expensive if you stop after a month.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed audio | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Languages | Free trial lessons; each course bought once by level (Rocket French Level 1 $149.99, Levels 1–3 $249.99)checked 2026-10-09 (US App Store, Rocket French) | A1–B1 | No | One-time-purchase audio courses in 14 languages; try the free lessons first. |
| Pimsleur | Premium $19.99/mo; All Access $20.99/mo or $164.99/yr; one-off levels $150 each, 5 levels $575; free first lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (pimsleur.com/learn-french; subscriptions from the US App Store, 2026-10-06) | A1–B1 | No | Best for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary. |
| 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. |
| Michel Thomas | Sold per course and language (French: Start $11.99, Foundation $100, all courses $273); free sample lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (michelthomas.com, French courses) | A1–B2 | No | Audio-only, no homework, in 19 languages; a quick way to start building sentences. |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
