In-depth guide covering Pimsleur pricing, and whether their subscription plans are a good value
In today’s day and age, it can be difficult deciding which language program to use to help you learn a new language. Some people opt for free language apps, while others pay hundreds of dollars for personalized tutoring. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about the cost of one of the most popular language apps on the market, Pimsleur. We cover how much their subscription options cost, and how their prices compare to others in the industry like Babbel and Rosetta Stone.
In the video above, John covers everything you need to know about the different Pimsleur subscription plans and how much they cost. For more detail, be sure to continue reading our full, written article below.
Does Pimsleur Cost Money?
Yes, unfortunately, Pimsleur does cost money. Unlike other language apps such as Duolingo or Memrise, you do have to pay money in order to access the Pimsleur language courses.
With that said, the company does offer a trial period that does not require payment. The trial period lasts for seven days, after which you will be charged.
But at least you can test out their app and see what the Pimsleur lessons are like. For example, the Pimsleur lessons revolve around detailed audio lessons, so if you are more of a visual learner, you may come to find out that Pimsleur may not be a good fit for your learning style.
Pimsleur audio lesson
On the flip side, if you identify as an auditory learner, you may find Pimsleur is the perfect fit for your needs.
Cost of Pimsleur
When signing up for Pimsleur, you have several different options to choose from. However, the company’s most popular options are their monthly and annual plans. As you can see below, there are two different choices within each category.
Monthly Premium costs $20 per month, and includes access to one language
Monthly All Access costs $21 per month, and includes access to all Pimsleur languages
Annual Premium costs $150 per year, and includes access to one language
Annual All Access costs $165 per year, and includes access to all Pimsleur languages
Pimsleur offers courses for over 50 different languages, including Spanish, Japanese, and Italian. For the record, that is way more than what Babbel and Duolingo offer.
Therefore, I think it’s safe to say that the extra $1 per month, or $15 per year is totally worth it. Most consumers opt for the all access plans as opposed to the monthly plans.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that Pimsleur does offer sales and special promotions from time to time. For example, I’ve seen the company discount their annual plans by up to 30% before, so make sure to keep an eye out for discounts.
It seems like there is no rhyme or reason to their sales calendar, so you’ll just have to monitor the company’s website if you are looking to learn a new language and want to save money.
Pimsleur Lifetime Subscription Cost
In addition to the four subscription options described above, Pimsleur also offers a lifetime purchase option for individuals who do not want to deal with a monthly or annual subscription.
The Pimsleur Lifetime plan costs $475, and includes access to one Pimsleur language course for life. This is a great option for people who plan on learning a language slowly over an extended period of time, or want to be able to periodically brush up on a language that they already know.
A look at the Pimsleur Premium plans
Like the monthly and annual subscription plans, Pimsleur does offers sales on their lifetime plan as well from time to time. The last time I saw Pimsleur running a sale, the company discounted their lifetime plan by around $75.
Therefore, if you are seeking lifetime access, it may behoove you to wait until the next big Pimsleur sale.
Pimsleur App Cost
Luckily, it does not cost any money to download the Pimsleur app. You can do so free of charge by visiting the app store on your smartphone or tablet.
You can even sign up and try the app for seven days for free. However, following the trial period, you will be charged depending on what subscription option you selected.
Last I checked, the Pimsleur app had a 4.7 rating with over 12,000 ratings within the Apple App Store, and it clearly states the app is free to download.
Pimsleur Sharing Policies
While we’re on the topic of cost, it is important to mention that Pimsleur allows you to share your subscription with three additional family members or friends. In other words, you can essentially divide the cost of your Pimsleur membership among four different people.
Plus, the best part is that progress is tracked separately for each user. That way, your learning path is not disrupted by the other three people you share you account with.
You can share your Pimsleur account with family members
Assuming you sign up for the Monthly All Access Plan, that effectively brings the monthly price down to $5.25 per person, which is an absolute steal. At that price, Pimsleur is cheaper than Babbel and Busuu, and pretty much every other language learning app for that matter.
Pimsleur Price vs Other Language Apps
Now that you have some background regarding what Pimsleur costs, you’re probably wondering how their pricing stacks up against others in the language learning industry.
Well, the answer is that Pimsleur lands somewhere in the middle. Their subscription options are more expensive than the likes of Babbel, Rosetta Stone, and Busuu, but they are still cheaper than Rocket Languages and Michel Thomas, for example.
Honestly, at around $12 (annual plan broken down monthly) to $21 per month, I actually think Pimsleur is a good value. Their language courses are some of the best in the entire industry.
FAQ
How much does Pimsleur cost per month?
If you opt for one of Pimsleur’s monthly plans, you will be charged either $20 or $21 per month. The Premium monthly option costs $20, and gives you access to one language, while the monthly All Access plan costs $21, and includes access to all of the language courses that Pimsleur offers.
How much does Pimsleur cost per year?
If you opt for one of Pimsleur’s annual plans, you will have to pay either $150 or $165 for the entire year up front. The company’s Premium annual plan costs $150 and includes access to one language, while the company’s annual All Access plan costs $165 and includes access to all of Pimsleur’s languages.
Is Pimsleur expensive?
No, at $12 to $21 per month, our team does not consider Pimsleur to be an expensive language learning app. Yes, other language apps are cheaper, but Pimsleur is still more affordable than many other apps and programs out there.
