French resources we actually recommend

The largest marketplace for French tutors. Book trial lessons for under $10 and keep the ones you click with.

Best for: Conversation practice at any level

Similar to italki with a slightly more structured course-style approach. Strong for learners who like a fixed weekly schedule.

Best for: Structured weekly sessions

Best grammar progression of the big apps. Pays for itself if you finish the A2 + B1 tracks before moving to native input.

Best for: Beginner → low B1

Adaptive grammar drills mapped to CEFR. The best app for hitting the gaps that hold you back from B2 / C1.

Best for: B1 → C1 grammar gap-filling

Reading-first SRS. Import any article and look up unknown words inline; the app tracks what you actually know.

Best for: Extensive reading at A2+

Honest take: great for streak motivation, weak for actual French progress past A2. Use as supplement, not as your main course.

Best for: Daily habit, A1 only

The single most-recommended grammar workbook for A2–B1 learners. Clear explanations, real exercises, answer key included.

Best for: A2 → B1 grammar foundation

The classic first-French-book. Short chapters, child narrator, sneaky grammar workout in B1 territory.

Best for: First novel at B1

Plain, deceptive prose at B2. The book most learners successfully finish without translating every sentence.

Best for: First real novel at B2

Daily 10-minute news bulletin in slow, simplified French with full transcript. The single best A2–B1 listening source on the internet.

Best for: A2–B1 listening + reading

French news written for kids 8–13. Topics are adult; grammar is B1. Use the print version to get short, contained articles.

Best for: B1 reading

Free graded videos with comprehension exercises at every CEFR level. Run by the world's largest French-language TV network.

Best for: Listening + structured exercises

Best free grammar reference site for English-speaking French learners. Searchable and consistent.

Best for: Grammar reference