Pimsleur review: price, free version and privacy

Our verdict

Pimsleur suits learners who want to speak and understand, and who can listen during a commute or workout. If you need grammar explained in writing or want to avoid tracking, add or choose another app.

What Pimsleur is

Pimsleur teaches languages through 30-minute audio lessons: you hear a conversation, are prompted to answer out loud, and recall earlier phrases at spaced intervals. The listing says lessons work offline and in a hands-free mode, with reading lessons, flashcards and quick-match games around the audio. Its course list covers more than 50 languages and names regional varieties such as Egyptian Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese and Castilian Spanish.

Who it suits

• Screen-free learning by ear
• Pronunciation and listening practice
• Choosing a specific dialect or variety

Strengths

• Audio lessons you answer out loud, usable offline and hands-free, for example while driving.
• Over 50 languages, with separate courses for varieties such as Eastern, Egyptian or Modern Standard Arabic.
• A free first lesson in 51 languages, according to the description.
• Reading, flashcards and quick-match games alongside the audio.

Limits

• Little written grammar: the developer says it teaches without "grammar tables".
• A 30-minute core lesson is a real daily commitment.
• The privacy label lists five data types used to track you, including location.
• The listing says feature availability depends on the language; AI conversation practice is described for Spanish and, in release notes, Japanese.

What the free version does

The description offers a free lesson in 51 languages. Everything after that needs a single-language or All Access subscription.

Price

On the US App Store in November 2026, single-language Premium subscriptions are listed at $19.99 for Spanish, Japanese and Italian, the All Access Subscription at $20.99, and annual All Access items at $131.99 and $164.99.

Privacy

The privacy label says purchases, location, contact info, identifiers and usage data may be used to track you. Location, contact info, user content and identifiers are also linked to your identity.

What the screenshots show

The screenshots show a Lesson 1 page with skill badges such as "Meet + Greet" and "Polite Phrases", a Download button, and links to reading, flash cards and Quick Match.