Our verdict: Pimsleur is a good fit if you learn best by ear and want structured audio lessons you can do hands-free, on a commute or a walk, with a strong focus on listening and pronunciation. Skip it if you want to see and spell what you learn, want grammar explained, or want relaxed everyday language. When I used Pimsleur French, the Audio-Only version had no written French at all, the phrases leaned formal, and the Premium review exercises were harder than they needed to be. All Access costs $20.95 a month or $164.95 a year on Pimsleur's US website, with a 7-day free trial for new customers.
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Prices checked October 17, 2026.
How we tested Pimsleur
I spent a few days using the Classic (Audio-Only) and Premium versions of the Pimsleur French app on my computer and my phone. I worked through lessons and the Premium review and practice activities, and judged Pimsleur on how well it trains listening and speaking, how much written support it gives, and what it costs. Prices come from Pimsleur's US website and the US App Store.
Is Pimsleur the best French learning app?
For audio learners, especially those who want to improve their French pronunciation, Pimsleur can be a good fit. For visual learners, it's a harder sell. When I used it, the Classic version had no visuals beyond one lesson image, and the bland interface in both versions left me, a visual learner, feeling disconnected.
Pimsleur also gives no written, structured explanation of French grammar, and with the Classic version you never see how French is spelled. Premium adds review and practice activities with a visual element, but I often found them harder than they needed to be, because you have only heard the words and phrases, not seen how they're spelled.
Many other French learning apps, including audio-focused ones, let you read the sentences and dialogue transcripts while you listen.
What is the Pimsleur French app?
Based on a language learning method developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur in the 1960’s, and available in one form or another (cassettes, CD’s, downloads, etc.) for decades, Pimsleur is a language learning app you can use on your computer or mobile device(s). Pimsleur now offers courses in 51 languages.
For Dr. Pimsleur, languages are best learned through listening and repetition, as opposed, say, to writing or grammar exercises or reading.
While many other apps make listening a priority and add other resources, the Pimsleur Method relies heavily — or in some cases, entirely — on audio learning and the repetition of words, sounds, and syllables, with little or no print or visual resources. Learners listen to dialogues and then follow a series of lessons that build on vocabulary from these dialogues.
The Pimsleur French app consists of five learning levels with 30 lessons each (150 lessons total). These roughly cover from beginner to an intermediate level (roughly B1), with approximately 15 hours of audio instruction per level.
Each Pimsleur lesson typically starts with a short dialogue. You aren’t necessarily expected to understand the dialogues in the lessons at first. Typically, they will be broken down, phrase by phrase or sentence by sentence, and explained or put into context in some way. You’ll be asked to repeat certain parts or maybe asked how to say certain things.
Then, there’s usually a big shift. Suddenly, other words, sounds, or even concepts like new phrases will be added. You’ll be asked to practice (or, if you’ve heard them in previous lessons, review) them.
This is all a part of Dr. Pimsleur’s beliefs on language acquisition. On the plus side, it certainly keeps you on your toes. But at times it might feel like it’s given you whiplash, or even that you simply wanted more practice with what you were working on and now you have to move on to something else.
Luckily, you can easily pause and/or replay the lessons, which is helpful. But if you were to strictly follow the method, I get the impression that you wouldn’t do this.
Once you’ve finished the day’s lesson, that’s it. Well…unless you have the Pimsleur app’s Premium version, which includes review exercises.
An important note about the Pimsleur French app
There are two versions of the Pimsleur French app. This is very important to be aware of. Pimsleur officially calls them “Audio-Only” and “Premium” these days — the “Classic” version I refer to in this review is Audio-Only — and its All Access subscription is essentially the Premium experience for all 51 of its languages.
The Classic Pimsleur app consists of 30 lessons of about 30 minutes for each level you purchase. These are audio-only and you can’t slow down the audio speed, although you can replay/rewind lessons. There are no additional review or exercise materials offered. There are no full lesson transcripts in either version of the app, though Premium’s Speak Easy tool does show written transcripts of each lesson’s short conversation.
The Premium Pimsleur app option consists of those 30 lessons of 30 or so minutes for each level you purchase. It also includes exercises and review materials for each lesson. Most of these are actually what you’d expect from a standard app, even a free one: flash cards, speaking exercises, fill-in-the-blank sentences and the like. There are also audio lessons for selected grammar and culture concepts.
Other Premium tools: Voice Coach gives AI-powered pronunciation feedback, and games like Speed Round and Quick Match help vocabulary stick.
Pimsleur pros
Here's what I appreciated about the Pimsleur French app.
- A long track record. The method dates to the 1960s, and Pimsleur courses have been sold in one form or another for decades.
- Helpful for pronunciation and listening. The repetition and listening-only lessons keep your attention on the sounds.
- Good for audio learners and for study when your hands and eyes are busy.
- Premium adds practice. Each lesson comes with review activities such as flashcards, speaking exercises and vocabulary games, plus short audio lessons on selected grammar and culture points.
- Voice Coach gives AI pronunciation feedback on what you say.
- A free lesson lets you try the method before you start the trial.
Pimsleur cons
Here's what I didn't like about the Pimsleur French app.
- A poor fit for visual learners. I'm one, and of all the French learning apps I've reviewed, Pimsleur was the one I liked least.
- Little written French. The Classic version had no transcripts or written French at all. Premium adds flashcards and a few visual exercises, and its Speak Easy tool shows each lesson's short conversation in writing, but there are no transcripts of the full lessons. Since French spelling and pronunciation are often so different, you may not learn how to spell the words and verb endings you can say.
- No written, structured grammar lessons or explanations.
- A narrow range. Pimsleur helps you learn and remember basic vocabulary and phrases. It won't teach you to talk about a wide range of topics, improvise a conversation or discuss a niche subject.
- Fairly formal language. The French I learned tended to be more formal than everyday conversational French.
- Frustrating review exercises. Because the lessons are audio-only, you haven't read the words you're asked to review, and some review phrases had no audio recording to refer to.
- Microphone trouble. Neither the web nor the mobile version could access my computer's or phone's microphone, and the app asked me to change settings to allow cookies. That was especially disappointing in a paid app built around spoken French.
- No free plan. Beyond the free lesson and the 7-day trial, you need a subscription or a one-time course purchase.
How much does Pimsleur cost?
Pimsleur sells three kinds of subscription: Audio-Only (the core audio lessons for one language), Premium (one language, with the practice tools) and All Access (Premium for all 51 languages). These are the current US prices on Pimsleur's website:
- Premium monthly (one language): $19.95/month ($19.99 in the US App Store)
- All Access monthly (all 51 languages): $20.95/month ($20.99 in the US App Store)
- All Access annual: $164.95/year; a limited-time offer cut the first year to $131.96 when we checked
- All Access Lifetime: $798, shown at $478.80 with a limited-time 40% discount when we checked
New customers can try All Access free for 7 days; the subscription renews unless you cancel. You can share a Premium or All Access course with up to three family members.
One-time purchase options: If you'd rather not subscribe, Pimsleur also sells lifetime access to its French course. You can buy a single level or the complete five-level course outright, and the lessons never expire. These prices change often and go on sale regularly, so check Pimsleur's site for the current numbers.
Pimsleur's 30-day money-back guarantee covers purchases made directly on pimsleur.com, but not subscriptions that started with a free trial of 7 days or longer, gifts, or purchases through Apple or Google.
Note: Some users have reported difficulty cancelling subscriptions, so it's worth knowing the process before you sign up: you cancel from your account page on pimsleur.com (or through Apple or Google Play if you subscribed in-app), and Pimsleur itself warns that simply deleting the app won't cancel your subscription.
Should I use Pimsleur to learn French?
Pimsleur suits learners who want to handle basic, somewhat formal French conversations on a trip, and people who are very focused on French pronunciation.
But for visual learners, or anyone who wants everyday conversational French, reading skills or at least a little basic grammar, it's probably better to look elsewhere.
Pimsleur for Spanish, and Pimsleur vs Duolingo
Pimsleur's other courses use the same audio method. If you're learning Spanish, read our Pimsleur Spanish review. If you're deciding between Pimsleur and the most popular free app, our Pimsleur vs Duolingo comparison sets them side by side.
An alternative for speaking practice: Copycat Cafe
If you like Pimsleur's focus on speaking but want to see the words and practice everyday conversations, try Copycat Cafe. You watch a short everyday conversation at normal or slow speed and rebuild its lines by ear. You say each line out loud and get a pronunciation score on every word. Then you use the same language with Copy, your AI conversation partner, by text or voice call. It teaches French, Spanish (Latin America or Spain), Italian and German, with structured lessons from A1 to B2.
Copycat Cafe costs $174 a year ($14.50 a month) or $29 a month, with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first payment. Choose Pimsleur instead if you want hands-free audio lessons, one of its 51 languages, or a lower monthly price. Copycat Cafe has no free plan and runs in your phone's browser rather than as an app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pimsleur worth it?
Pimsleur is worth it if you learn best by ear and want structured, hands-free audio lessons that focus on listening and pronunciation. It's a weaker choice if you want to read and spell what you learn, get grammar explained, or practice relaxed everyday conversation. All Access costs $20.95 a month or $164.95 a year on Pimsleur's US website, and new customers can try it free for 7 days.
Is Pimsleur good for learning French?
Pimsleur is good for French listening and pronunciation, thanks to its audio-first lessons with spaced repetition. It suits audio learners and people who want hands-free practice. It's weaker on reading, writing, spelling and grammar explanations.
Is Pimsleur good for learning Spanish?
Pimsleur has separate courses for Latin American Spanish and Spanish from Spain, built on the same audio-first method. We cover the Spanish course in detail in our Pimsleur Spanish review.
How much does Pimsleur cost?
On Pimsleur's US website, Premium (one language) costs $19.95 a month, and All Access (all 51 languages) costs $20.95 a month or $164.95 a year, with first-year discounts on some offers. All Access Lifetime lists at $798. You can also buy individual courses outright. New customers can try All Access free for 7 days. Prices checked October 17, 2026.
Can Pimsleur make you fluent in French?
Pimsleur builds a foundation in listening and pronunciation, but on its own it won't make you fluent. You'll also need reading, writing, grammar study and longer conversations with real people.
Is Pimsleur better than Duolingo?
Pimsleur is better for developing pronunciation and listening through audio lessons. Duolingo is better for building a daily habit with free, gamified visual exercises. They serve different learning styles and work well together. See our Pimsleur vs Duolingo comparison for the details.
How long does it take to complete Pimsleur French?
Pimsleur French has five levels of 30 lessons each (150 lessons total). At one 30-minute lesson a day, finishing all five levels takes about five months.