Pimsleur vs Rosetta Stone Comparison

Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone are two of the most popular learning-language apps worldwide. Both have been in the industry for decades and know their market well. However, their courses are entirely different from each other. While Pimsleur is audio-based and focuses only on speaking and listening, Rosetta Stone uses an immersive approach where everything is written in the language being learned. Both applications are perfect for learning the basics of a new language at a fast pace, but only one will work best for you. Users can try Pimsleur through its free lesson, and Rosetta Stone through its 3-day free trial.

Since the courses are entirely audio-based, it’s easy to use and students can learn while doing daily chores. This also means that Pimsleur only focuses on speaking and listening, and doesn’t address other essential characteristics such as grammar. However, Pimsleur may be just the perfect option for people looking for a quick way to learn the basics before traveling to a foreign country.

Users looking for extra content have to upgrade their accounts to premium. This option adds $5 to the monthly plan and provides access to several interactive games. Among these, Speed Round and Speak Easy get the spotlight since both offer simulations similar to real conversations.

There are various pricing options: customers may get Pimsleur courses by purchasing separate units or lessons, the full course, or by subscribing to a monthly plan. The latter offers the best price, costing $9.95 per month.

Unlike other market players, Rosetta Stone uses an immersive approach where everything inside the app is written in the language the user is learning. It teaches speaking, listening, reading, and writing by using various exercises and speech recognition software.

Rosetta Stone users can improve their language-learning experience even further through the Extended Learning features. There’s a live chat where students can speak with one another and interactive games that can be seen as consolidation exercises. Furthermore, it’s possible to book live tutoring lessons with native speakers, either solo or in a group.

Subscriptions providing access to Rosetta Stone’s web platform and mobile app start at $10.98 per month. Due to the synchronization feature, lessons can be started in one device and finished on another – perfect for the digital era.

Conclusion

Both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone are reliable language-learning apps that rely on repetition, and the choice between them lies in how you prefer to learn. While Rosetta Stone offers a more comprehensive program than Pimsleur, the latter is perfect for people who need a quick way to understand the basics. At first sight, Rosetta Stone can seem more affordable due to its billing options. However, if we compare Pimsleur’s premium monthly price ($19.95) with Rosetta Stone’s three-month plan ($26.94 per month), Pimsleur ends up being more attractive for people looking for a lower commitment. Regardless of the choice, it’s advisable to test each product through its free option before purchasing a subscription. And to get a full scope of both services, we encourage you to read our reviews of both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone, which contain thorough information on how each app works.