The short answer
Spanish is generally considered easier than French for English speakers, mainly because of more phonetic spelling and simpler pronunciation rules. But the difference is smaller than most people expect, and for many learners the right choice depends more on motivation than difficulty.
Pronunciation
French
French pronunciation is genuinely challenging. Silent letters, nasal vowels, liaison rules, and the French "r" all take time. The relationship between spelling and pronunciation is unpredictable enough that beginners often feel like the written and spoken languages are almost separate things.
Spanish
Spanish is nearly fully phonetic. Once you learn the sounds each letter makes, you can read any Spanish word correctly. No silent letters except "h" and "u" in certain combinations. What you see is close to what you say.
Verdict: Spanish is meaningfully easier for pronunciation.
Grammar
French
French grammar includes grammatical gender, verb conjugation across multiple tenses, subjunctive mood, and a large number of irregular verbs. The tu/vous distinction adds a social layer English doesn't have.
Spanish
Spanish grammar has the same core complexity: grammatical gender, verb conjugation, subjunctive, irregular verbs. Spain also uses a distinct "vosotros" form for second person plural. The two languages are roughly comparable in grammatical difficulty.
Verdict: Roughly equal.
Spelling
French
French spelling is one of the harder aspects for beginners. Identical sounds can be spelled multiple ways. Many letters are silent. Beaucoup (a lot) is a good example: 8 letters, 3 sounds. Written French often looks quite different from how it sounds.
Spanish
Spanish spelling is much more consistent. Accents exist but follow clear rules and mainly indicate stress or distinguish homophones. Writing what you hear works reasonably well.
Verdict: Spanish is significantly easier for spelling.
Vocabulary
Both languages share substantial vocabulary with English through Latin roots. French has contributed more directly to English vocabulary - estimates suggest 30-40% of English words have French or Latin origins, which means French learners often recognize written words immediately. Spanish cognates are also numerous but slightly less dense in everyday English.
Verdict: Roughly equal, slight edge to French for passive recognition.
Usefulness
Spanish has around 500 million native speakers across Spain, Latin America, and significant US communities. It's one of the most practically useful languages if you live in or near the Americas.
French has fewer native speakers (around 80 million) but is official in 29 countries including much of sub-Saharan Africa, Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland. It's the working language of many international organizations and a major language in diplomacy.
Verdict: Depends on your geography and goals.
Which to choose?
Choose the one you're more motivated to learn. Motivation is a better predictor of success than any difficulty comparison. A French learner who genuinely loves the language will outperform a Spanish learner who chose it because someone told them it was easier. Think about where you want to travel, what you want to read, what culture draws you in - and start there.