Free language tools
Two things are worth knowing before you pay for any course: what level you are actually at, and how many hours your target language really takes. These tools answer both in a few minutes, and nothing is stored or emailed — the tests run entirely in your browser.
Spanish level test
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How long to learn Spanish?
Calculate →
French level test
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How long to learn French?
Calculate →What the CEFR levels actually mean
Both level tests give you a result on the Common European Framework of Reference, the six-level scale from A1 to C2 used by schools, employers and exam boards across Europe and increasingly everywhere else. It is more useful than “beginner / intermediate / advanced” because each level describes what you can do, not how long you have studied:
| Level | Name | What you can do | Study hours (Cat I language) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | Greetings, numbers, simple questions about yourself | ~70–100 h |
| A2 | Elementary | Order food, ask directions, handle routine travel | ~180–200 h |
| B1 | Intermediate | Hold an everyday conversation, explain opinions simply | ~350–400 h |
| B2 | Upper intermediate | Talk comfortably with a native speaker, follow TV | ~600–750 h |
| C1 | Advanced | Work or study in the language without much strain | ~1,000+ h |
| C2 | Mastery | Near-native precision, including nuance and register | ~1,500+ h |
The hour figures above are for a Category I language such as Spanish, French or Italian. For German expect roughly 1.5× those hours, for Russian about 1.8×, and for Japanese, Korean, Mandarin or Arabic roughly 3×. The learning guides break the categories down in full.
How to use the results
- Take the level test first. Most people who have dabbled before are an A2, not a beginner — and starting a course at absolute zero when you are already an A2 is the fastest way to get bored and quit.
- Then set a level target, not a date. Feed your honest daily minutes into the calculator and let it tell you the date. A target of B1 by a specific month is achievable; “fluent by summer” is not a plan.
- Then choose the method. Only once you know the gap does it make sense to compare courses. The best apps round-up and the head-to-head comparisons both sort by what you are trying to reach.
- Retake the test every couple of months. It is the cheapest way to find out whether your current app is actually moving you, which is exactly the question most learners avoid asking.
More languages and tools are on the way. If there is one you would like next, tell us — requests genuinely decide what we build first.