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LingoPie vs Rosetta Stone
Discover the pros and cons of using Rosetta Stone and LingoPie to learn a new language
Most people who want to learn a second or third language have likely heard of Rosetta Stone before. After all, the company has been one of the most popular brands in the language learning industry for decades now. However, a new company (LingoPie) has been making waves lately with their innovative, fun learning method. In this article, we compare the two language learning apps so you can determine which one is better for your specific needs.
Given that this is a lengthy, detailed comparison, we’ve included jump-to links above for your convenience.
Video: Which Language App Should You Choose?
In the video above, John from the Test Prep Insight team compares the language learning programs from LingoPie and Rosetta Stone. For more detail, be sure to continue reading our full, written comparison below.
Instead of providing you with a generic overview of Rosetta Stone and LingoPie, we are instead going to focus on the major differences between these two language apps. With that in mind, let’s start with the major reasons to choose Rosetta Stone to help you learn a second language.
Clear Lesson Plan
The first pro is that Rosetta Stone provides a structured lesson plan and curriculum, whereas LingoPie does not. The short story here is that Rosetta Stone is your prototypical language learning app (similar to Babbel) that features a defined learning path. For most languages, the company’s curriculum consists of 20 learning units, each of which include several lessons.
A look at the different Rosetta Stone learning units
While LingoPie, on the other hand, functions as a video on-demand platform that teaches languages through binge-watching tv shows and movies.
However, our team are firm believers that a set lesson plan and curriculum offer advantages for two main reasons. First, a structured approach allows for systematic progression, which prevents you from feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.
Second, having clear objectives and goals for each lesson within a structured learning environment not only ensures consistency, but it also fosters a sense of motivation and excitement as learners strive to achieve various goals and milestones.
Therefore, if you prefer to have your hand held throughout the learning process, you’ll likely find Rosetta Stone’s organized courses more suitable than LingoPie’s more flexible, free-flowing approach.
Better Choice For Newcomers
Rosetta Stone is also the better choice for newcomers and beginners, and really this circles back to our previous point about having a clear, structured learning path.
Rosetta Stone does an excellent job of introducing you to your target language, starting with the basics, and then gradually building up from there. The company focuses on developing your fundamental skills first with simple concepts and words, before moving on to more complex vocabulary and sentence structures (just like Pimsleur and Duolingo).
Example practice drill from Rosetta Stone
On the other hand, LingoPie throws you right into the deep end of the pool, and expects you to pick up the language naturally by watching TV shows and movies, which can be aggravating for newcomers at times when characters begin talking too fast.
As such, if you are starting from ground zero, or you tend to get frustrated easily, then Rosetta Stone is probably the better option for you.
Immersive Learning Method
We’d also like to highlight Rosetta Stone’s immersive approach to teaching and learning.
With Rosetta Stone, when you complete lessons and various practice drills, the company does not include any English translations, and this is by design. Rosetta Stone believes that immersion helps improve fluency by encouraging learners to think and communicate directly in their target language without having to rely on translations, which ultimately leads to faster and more natural language acquisition.
No translations with Rosetta Stone
Plus, in an immersive environment, you are exposed to your target language’s natural rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation, which can improve your listening comprehension skills.
At the end of the day, I just appreciate Rosetta Stone’s emphasis on immersion rather than having to mentally translate between English and your target language constantly.
Supplemental Learning Tools
Lastly, Rosetta Stone provides learners with free access to a variety of helpful, supplemental tools and resources to enhance your language learning journey, including on-demand videos, short stories, phrasebooks, audio companions, and more.
Among these free resources, the one we’d like to spotlight are the short stories. Not only are they a great way to spice things up, and take a break from the standard Rosetta Stone lessons, but we also love the flexibility they offer to practice different skills. For example, there’s an option in which you can record yourself reading the story, and then play it back to assess your pronunciation.
The short stories from Rosetta Stone are fantastic
Not to mention, the stories themselves cover a wide range of topics, allowing you to expand your vocabulary, and gain insights into your target language’s specific culture and traditions.
All in all, we were just really impressed with the level of resources Rosetta Stone offers. These resources really help round-out their language courses.
Now that we’ve covered Rosetta Stone, let’s flip the script, and discuss the major reasons to choose LingoPie to help you learn a new language.
Impressive Video Library
One standout feature is LingoPie’s unique and entertaining approach to language learning. Unlike traditional language apps, LingoPie is more like Netflix or Prime Video, but for language learning obviously.
You can watch premium TV shows and movies in Spanish, Italian, Japanese, or your chosen language. These are popular shows and movies you might watch in your free time anyways, like Biohackers or Welcome To Eden, for example.
A look at the LingoPie Spanish video library
While you watch, there are subtitles in both English and your target language, along with other tools to help you understand and learn. The idea is that by merging binge-watching with education, it makes learning a new language less tedious and frustrating.
This approach makes language learning feel less daunting and more relaxed, which can help you stick with it for the long term.
Helpful Tools & Features
Our team was quite impressed by the array of features and tools that LingoPie provides to enhance the learning process. The program is much more than simply watching tv shows and movies with subtitles.
For example, when you click a word in the subtitles, LingoPie offers a thorough definition and analysis of the word or phrase.
Additionally, the company automatically generates interactive, video-based flashcards when you click a word. These are great for reviewing vocabulary at a later time for material retention purposes.
Example flashcard from LingoPie
Furthermore, LingoPie includes a loop setting that repeats the scene you just watched until you grasp its content. You can also control the playback speed, which is especially useful when you’re first starting out, and need to slow down the pace if the characters in the show or movie begin speaking too quickly.
Grammar Coach
However, arguably the most impressive resources that LingoPie offers are related to grammar. In fact, we consider grammar instruction to be one of the program’s greatest strengths, and there are three main reasons for this.
First, the company color-codes its subtitles to help users identify and learn the various grammatical elements of their target language. For instance, adjectives are highlighted in green.
Second, as mentioned earlier, clicking on any word within the subtitle provides a detailed explanation, including its definition, gender (masculine or feminine), number (singular or plural), and more.
Lastly, LingoPie offers a grammar coach. If you need further details about a word or phrase, you can click the lightbulb icon below the video screen, and the company will provide a comprehensive explanation of the grammar rules involved in the sentence or phrase.
LingoPie provides detailed grammar explanations
This multi-faceted approach to grammar instruction is quite impressive. In contrast, Rosetta Stone takes a different approach, emphasizing intuitive grammar absorption through exposure and repetition. The goal is for learners to naturally recognize, and internalize grammar patterns themselves, making grammar instruction less of a priority in Rosetta Stone’s language courses.
Affordable Subscription Plans
Rosetta Stone offers a few different plans to choose from: two subscription options that range from $10 to $15 per month, and one lifetime plan that costs around $400.
The LingoPie plans, on the other hand, cost around $6 to $12 per month.
Therefore, you’re looking at a cost savings of call it $3 to $9 per month by going with LingoPie, though its worth noting that both companies are considered to be quite affordable within the world of language learning (same cost ballpark as Babbel).
After testing both apps, it’s challenging to declare a winner due to their vastly different approaches to learning. Each app has its own unique pros and cons.
Ultimately, here’s what our team suggests: use both apps together.
That’s right, sign up for one of Rosetta Stone’s plans, which typically costs between $10 and $15 per month (sometimes cheaper if there is a sale),in order to establish a solid foundation in your target language.
Additionally, you can purchase LingoPie’s annual plan for $6 per month. This combined approach, totaling $15 to $20 per month (still cheaper than Pimsleur), allows you to benefit from Rosetta Stone’s structured lessons while leveraging LingoPie’s extensive video library and supplementary tools.
As you progress from a newcomer to a beginner, and then to an intermediate level of fluency, LingoPie’s resources will become increasingly valuable.
This way, you can enjoy the advantages of both apps, and tailor your learning experience to suit your needs at each stage of language acquisition.
What is the difference between LingoPie and Rosetta Stone?
Lesson format is likely the biggest difference between Rosetta Stone and LingoPie. While Rosetta Stone offers a defined lesson plan consisting of different learning units, LingoPie offers a more flexible, unrestricted curriculum through watching international tv shows and movies.
Which language app is better - LingoPie or Rosetta Stone?
It depends on your specific needs and learning style. If you are a newcomer, and need guidance to learn the basics of a language, Rosetta Stone is likely the more ideal choice. However, if you want to try something new and fresh, and learn a language through watching videos, then LingoPie is a great choice.
What languages can you learn with LingoPie and Rosetta Stone?
LingoPie offers video content for 10 languages, whereas Rosetta Stone offer courses for 25 different languages.
