For Duolingo learners
A calmer alternative to Duolingo, for French
Madeleine is a French vocabulary app for iPhone. It pairs useful words and phrases with lifelike French audio and adaptive review, as a focused daily practice alongside a course or tutor, without streaks or points.
The short answer
Reviewed September 16, 2026
Duolingo is the broader course and has a free option. Madeleine is a paid vocabulary supplement with 1,647 words and 616 phrases. It does not replace grammar instruction or conversation practice. You can use the two together.
Side by side
Duolingo and Madeleine, on the parts of French that matter.
| Dimension | Duolingo | Madeleine |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | A guided course with short exercises, streaks and XP | Focused vocabulary cards, without streaks or points |
| French practice | Reading, listening, writing and speaking exercises; practice varies by course and plan | 1,647 words and 616 phrases with written French, audio, and English meanings |
| Review | A free Practice tab: mistakes review, targeted listening and speaking, stories and radio | FSRS-6 spaced repetition adapts to your memory |
| Conversation | Roleplay in Max; AI Video Call rolling out to Super. iOS and Android, not the web | No chatbot, conversation lessons or speech scoring |
| Audio | Audio and listening activities in the French course | Lifelike French audio on every word and phrase; four voices |
| Price | Free with ads and a daily Energy limit. Super removes both. US prices vary by plan. | $9.99/month or $49.99/year from September 22, 2026. Local prices may vary. Seven-day free trial for eligible new subscribers. |
| Devices and progress | iOS, Android and web with an account; the AI features are mobile only | iPhone with iOS 26 or later, English translations and on-device progress |
| Best fit | Learners who want a broad course and a free starting point | Learners who want a French vocabulary supplement for lessons and conversation |
When Duolingo is the better choice
Choose Duolingo if you want a free starting point, a guided course with varied exercises, or learning across several languages. If streaks and XP help you keep practising, those features may suit you. Madeleine focuses on one part of the work: vocabulary recall.
What Madeleine won't do: teach grammar, give you a full course, or make you fluent. It makes high-frequency French vocabulary stick, in the ear as well as the eye.
Who Madeleine is for
- Adults coming back to French after a break, who want to start with what is most useful.
- People who quit Duolingo over streak pressure but still want a daily practice.
- Learners who can read some French but cannot follow it spoken, and want to fix that.
- Anyone who would rather pay for a quiet, private tool than use an ad-supported one.
Sources
Checked September 16, 2026
Features can vary by language, device, plan and market. Duolingo's features and pricing may change.
Duolingo is a trademark of Duolingo, Inc. Madeleine is not affiliated with or endorsed by Duolingo.
A daily French practice, without the streak.
1,647 words and 616 phrases, with lifelike French audio and adaptive review. No streaks, no points, no guilt, and nothing leaves your iPhone.
iPhone with iOS 26 or later. The app opens with a real session on the real cards, and eligible new subscribers get a seven-day free trial.
FAQs
- Is Madeleine better than Duolingo for French?
- The better choice depends on your goal. Duolingo offers a broad French course with several exercise types and a free option. Madeleine focuses on remembering French vocabulary and hearing words and phrases. It is a supplement to a course, tutor or conversation practice.
- Is Madeleine free like Duolingo?
- The full Madeleine iPhone app is paid: $9.99/month or $49.99/year from September 22, 2026, with a seven-day free trial for eligible new subscribers. Local App Store prices may vary. The website has 100 free French flashcards with audio in the browser.
- Can I use Madeleine and Duolingo together?
- Yes. You can use Duolingo for its course and Madeleine for extra vocabulary recall and listening to words and phrases. Their progress and review schedules are separate.
- Does Madeleine teach grammar or conversation?
- Madeleine does not include grammar lessons, conversation practice, a chatbot or speech scoring. Use a course, tutor or speaking practice for those skills.