I know that the Sicilian is regarded as a top defense for black but I feel like more people will know how to play it at my level. Then considering the French, not as advertised as the Sicilian.
At your level (and anyone below 2000 or so), your opponents are not going to know enough about either opening for it to make a difference.
"Which" Sicilian you're comparing to is important -- there is a wide variety between the different variations. Also, the French can take on different character, especially whether or not you play the Winawer, but also variations like the burn and mccutcheon.
So Sicilian vs French is too deep to have a clear answer really. But both are good.
One thing that I think is important in amateur play and Swiss tournaments is that if you're playing French as black vs a lower rated player, and they play the exchange variation and play for a draw, it can be a pain in the ass. Or any situation where white is happy with a draw and you are not. They can just make your life hell. It's not an guaranteed draw, but it's going to be a long and annoying grind.
With the Sicilian, at amateur level, you will face sidelines (non open-sicilian) roughly 40-50% of the time. These sidelines are not bad, but not especially challenging either (especially if you avoid the Rossolimo).
Just pick one and stick with it, it's really not crucial which one.
So I have looked at the basics of the Sicilian and of the French defenses and I can't decide which one I would like to be my main defense against 1.e5. I know that the Sicilian is regarded as a top defense for black but I feel like more people will know how to play it at my level. Then considering the French, not as advertised as the Sicilian. Which do some of you prefer and why?