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Pimsleur vs Babbel
We directly compare the language learning courses from Babbel and Pimsleur in this head-to-head guide
One question that we see over and over again is whether someone looking to learn a new language should go with Pimsleur or Babbel. And it’s not an easy question to answer given each company’s wide popularity and seemingly similar language programs. However, if you know where to look, there are important differences that make each program more ideal for different sets of learners. In this comparison guide, we evaluate how these apps stack up, and who each is best for, regardless of whether you’re trying to pick up Spanish, Italian, or German.
Because this is a long, detailed comparison, we’ve provided easy jump-to links above so you can skip to the section you’d like to read.
Video Review: Pimsleur or Babbel?
In the video above, John from the Test Prep Insight team provides a head-to-head look at the language learning courses from Pimsleur and Babbel. Feel free to simply keep reading for a more detailed analysis.
From a very high-level, the Pimsleur method is rooted in conversational practice. To start each lesson, you complete a 30-minute audio exercise, where a moderator speaking in English walks you through a native conversation step-by-step.
You’ll listen to a few sentences in your target language, the moderator will stop to explain the situation to you, and then he’ll ask you questions and have you engage in the conversation.
So essentially, you can think of this exercise as a guided conversation – that’s really at the heart of the program.
The Pimsleur lessons place a heavy emphasis on audio
Then as you move up levels, the English moderator starts to phase out more and more as you become more familiar with the target language.
Then following each audio lesson, you review what you just learned through a variety of exercises. These assignments include reading drills, digital flashcards, matching exercises, and speed games.
Strengths Of The Pimsleur Language Programs
Now that you know what the Pimsleur program is like in terms of structure and format, let’s get into the major strengths that our team took away after testing the program.
The Pimsleur Method
For me, the first clear highlight of this Pimsleur program has to be the educational framework that forms the backbone of their program. Some people refer to this as the “Pimsleur method,” based on the teachings of expert linguist Paul Pimsleur. Frankly, I’m a big fan.
It’s essentially just a variation of the popular spaced repetition system, but Pimsleur does put an interesting spin on it.
Instead of just listening to or reading an individual word or phrase, and then repeating it in order to remember it (like you do with Babbel most of the time), the Pimsleur audio lessons ask you to say words or phrases and respond to a native speaker in the context of an actual conversation.
Pimsleur backstops its audio lessons with a variety of drills
This helps keep you from becoming a passive listener. You’re actively involved in tracking the conversation and the moderator of the listening drills keeps you on your toes since you need to understand what’s going on and respond at various intervals.
In my opinion, this active participation is powerful at getting you to recall essential phrases and use the verbiage under pressure, just as you would in real life situations.
That’s the most important point here – you’re getting simulated real-world experience. And if we’re being honest, this is about the best environment for truly mastering a new language. This is in comparison to just listening to and repeating words in a vacuum.
Flexibility In Learning
The second major strength of this course that I identified is the ability to study from anywhere, at anytime, while doing just about anything.
Because the heart of the Pimsleur lessons are audio-based, I like that you can complete the work while you’re working out, washing dishes, taking your dog for a walk, or laying in a hammock.
It’s just nice you don’t have to be glued to your computer or phone at all times like you do with Babbel. In fact, the Pimsleur mobile app even comes with a special driving mode so you can make progress on your way to work or during a long road trip.
You can do a Pimsleur lesson from anywhere, at any time
So overall, I have to give props to Pimsleur for how flexible their lessons are. I love that you don’t need to stay in one place with your head buried in your phone or laptop – you can complete units while you’re on the go.
Cost Savings By Account Sharing
Finally, I like that Pimsleur offers access to all their courses for only $1 more per month.
Now I realize the vast majority of people out there are only looking to learn one language, so this really doesn’t matter too much. But for the few that do plan on mastering multiple languages, this is definitely a nice perk.
For the record, they offer courses for more than 50 languages, including Japanese, French, and Italian.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to save some money and you know a family member or friend who’s also looking to pick up a new language, you can partner up and split the cost of one account.
This would effectively make the cost of Pimsleur $10.50 per month each, or less if you can rope in a third person, which is a killer deal.
Babbel’s lessons are generally shorter. Each one is roughly 10 to 15 minutes long, and they go by really fast.
This is largely because each one is made up of several quick-hit, interactive exercises. For the first couple minutes you’ll listen to new vocabulary words and repeat them, before quickly transitioning into a digital flashcards drill for a few minutes.
The Babbel lessons are quick moving and engaging
From there, you might read a quick tip on grammar or conjugation, then spell out words or phrases by typing them with your keyboard. And finally, you might be tasked with completing a fill-in-the-blank exercise by tracking a mock conversation.
In sum, it’s just a very fast moving, blended approach, which I was a huge fan of.
The key takeaway here is that the Pimsleur lessons take around 45 minutes to an hour to complete from start to finish, and place a strong emphasis on listening and speaking within the context of actual native conversations.
The Babbel lessons, on the other hand, are much shorter, include more variety in terms of drills, and place a stronger emphasis on reading, writing and visuals.
Strengths Of The Babbel Language Programs
Now, let’s cover the major strengths of the Babbel program.
Fast, Engaging Exercises
The first major pro of the Babbel app has to be the variety of their exercises. I love how they throw the same content at you in a variety of ways in a very short time frame.
The course forces you to interact with the material through several different perspectives, including listening, talking, reading and writing. And as a result, not only do you get experience with all these mediums, but you also don’t get bored.
Our team loves the variety of Babbel’s drills
Simply put, Babbel does a great job holding your attention. And if I’m being totally honest, I can’t always say the same about Pimsleur (or Rosetta Stone for that matter). Sometimes their audio-based lessons can just move a little slow.
So overall, I just really like the swift, interactive nature of Babbel’s drills, and I think you’ll appreciate them too.
Better For People With Busy Schedules
Babbel is perfect for busy people – moms, dads, working professionals, or full-time students – because the exercises are short and to the point. Unlike Pimsleur’s longer sessions, Babbel’s bite-sized lessons fit easily into a packed schedule, whether it’s during a lunch break or while the kids nap.
This makes it easier to stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, the quick lessons help you build skills little by little, so you’re always making progress, even on the busiest days.
Great For Visual Learners
The second noteworthy aspect of the Babbel course is that their coursework is better suited for visual learners. Where Pimsleur places a strong emphasis on listening and speaking, Babbel’s drills span the spectrum.
Of course you will practice and listening and speaking with Babbel as well, but there’s just broader coverage. In addition, they utilize voice recognition technology so it can tell you when you’re pronouncing words correctly or incorrectly. This is something missing from Pimsleur’s program.
Furthermore, you’ll also be asked to complete drills where you have to practice using your keyboard to type in words or phrases. In some instances, you’ll even be asked to reconstruct words and phrases in their entirety.
But perhaps most importantly, Babbel incorporates grammar content in a sly way. They don’t hit you over the head with dense, boring grammar instruction, which I think is a very good thing. Sometimes that approach can do more harm than good when you’re first getting started with a new language.
Babbel’s exercises are great for visual learners
Instead, Babbel integrates grammar instruction in a very subtle and efficient way.
For example, one grammar exercise might include just a quick one or two sentence explanation in English regarding adjectives vs adverbs, and then you participate by filling in blanks in example sentences.
In short, the key takeaway here is that with Babbel you get to practice listening, speaking, reading and writing, and you’ll figure out key grammar principles in your target language along the way without even knowing it.
New in 2025: Babbel Speak (AI Powered Speaking Trainer)
Babbel Speak helps you move from knowing words to actually saying them, using calm, voice-led practice in real-life scenarios.
What it is: an AI guided conversation tool inside the Babbel app
How it works: step-by-step dialogues with feedback and visual cues
Why it matters: lowers the fear of talking out loud, builds real-world confidence
Availability: open beta for Spanish, French, Italian, German, and English
Before we dive into the final verdict, let’s quickly cover pricing and affordability, as it’s an important decision point. In short, both companies offer multiple packages.
With Pimsleur, you have your choice between two packages: Pimsleur Premium, which costs $20 per month and includes access to one language, or for $1 more per month, you can upgrade to Pimsleur All Access, which includes access to all 50+ languages they offer.
Babbel, on the other hand, offers four different subscription types, all of which include access to one selected language.
In total, there are around 14 languages to choose from, but no matter which one you choose, there’s the following plans:
The 3-month plan costs around $13-15 per month
The 6-month option costs around $10-12 per month
The 12-month track costs $8-9 per month
The Lifetime plan costs around $200-300 and includes access to all Babbel languages
So from an overall cost perspective, there’s no question that Babbel is the clear winner. On average, their packages are around $5 to $12 less than Pimsleur per month, depending on which option you go with.
That said, both companies do give you the chance to test the waters before fully committing. With Pimsleur, you can get a 7-day free trial period, and with Babbel, there’s a 20-day money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.
Verdict: Babbel or Pimsleur For Language Learning?
Now that we’ve covered all the detail in this comparison, let’s get to the final verdict – should you choose Pimsleur or Babbel?
Well, after testing each program, it’s a very close call. While Pimsleur is a great choice for auditory learners and anyone who does a lot of driving, overall, I have to say that Babbel is the more affordable and efficient option.
If you’re super busy and you can only spare 10-15 minutes per day to complete a lesson, Babbel will likely be preferable. This is particularly true if you’re more of a visual learner – in other words, you want to see tons of images and you need to regularly practice reading and writing in order to grow your skills.
Honestly, you really can’t go wrong here, because these are two of our all-time top-rated language apps. Whichever way you go, you’re definitely going to make a lot of progress towards your fluency goals. But if I have to pick a winner, the affordable price tag, plus all the diverse, engaging drills that help keep learning fresh and interesting, make Babbel an absolute steal.
FAQ
Which language program is better, Pimsleur or Babbel?
After a thorough review of each language learning program, our team had a very difficult time declaring a winner between Pimsleur and Babbel. They both have unique strengths and weaknesses.
Is Babbel based on Pimsleur?
Babbel is not really based on Pimsleur. Some of the language acquisition techniques in Babbel are descended from the Pimsleur method, but by and large, the two programs are very different.
What is the Babbel learning app like versus Pimsleur?
Whereas Babbel focuses on engaging, quick-hit drills and images, Pimsleur tends to focus more on audio-based lessons and speaking exercises.
What is the difference between Babbel and Pimsleur?
The primary differences are that Pimsleur’s lessons are longer and emphasize more audio exercises, whereas Babbel’s lessons are shorter and rely more on quick-hit drills.
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