Pimsleur Language Programs Reviews 

242
•
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.3

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 171 reviews, reviewers had a great experience with this company. Customers truly love how quickly the audio lessons get them speaking practical phrases, building real confidence and natural conversation skills right from the very beginning. Many people find these short daily sessions incredibly engaging, flexible, and wonderfully easy to fit into a very busy personal daily routine. However, some reviewers were not happy with customer service and unexpected membership charges experienced shortly after trying to cancel their ongoing subscriptions. Some people also noted that contacting support representatives for prompt refunds or account assistance was quite frustrating, unhelpful, and overall disappointing.

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Application

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of application, finding it to be the best and most helpful tool for... See more

Subscription

Customers had ambiguous experiences with subscription options, with some reviewers enjoying lifetime or... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Pimsler is the best language learning app I have used. I studied French, German and Spanish and I made better and quicker progress than with Duolingo or Babble. The only thing it lacks is reading (oth... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Pimsleur App does a good job getting you to start saying practical things quickly. Lessons and speech practice modes are both very good. I've been learning Japanese and having a good experience.... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I’ve tried learning languages in many different ways. But Pimsleur has been the best way by far. The moment I came out of the first lesson being able to say a bunch of sentences fluently, Pimsleur sta... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have been learning with Pimsleur in my free time for several years now and I just love that I can do the audio learning while driving or walking the dogs or while I'm at the gym. It's super easy to... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Educational Institution
  2. also in
  3. English Language School
  4. Foreign Languages Program School
  5. Language Course Provider
  6. Language School

Written by the company

Pimsleur has been helping people learn languages for more than 60 years through a unique speaking-first approach designed to develop real-world speaking and listening skills. Created by Dr. Paul Pimsleur, a pioneer in language acquisition research and a founding member of ACTFL (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), the Pimsleur Method™ was the first language-learning system to systematically combine language instruction with memory science. Dr. Pimsleur developed his own spaced repetition algorithm, known as Graduated Interval Recall, which remains a core part of the learning experience today. Unlike many language-learning programs that focus primarily on reading, vocabulary recognition, or translation exercises, Pimsleur was designed to help learners speak in a new language. The method helps learners process new sounds, speech patterns, rhythm, and cadence through active listening and speaking practice, building the confidence to engage in real-world conversations. Today, Pimsleur offers courses in 50+ languages through an award-winning mobile app and web-based platform. In addition to the proven speaking lessons, learners can access interactive speaking, reading, vocabulary, pronunciation, and review activities. Learning can take place at home or on the go, with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Millions of learners around the world have used Pimsleur to prepare for travel, advance their careers, connect with family and friends, and experience new cultures through language. Whether you're learning your first foreign language or your fifth, Pimsleur is designed to help you start speaking from day one.


Contact info

4.3

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

242 reviews

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4.3

All reviews

(242)

178 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

A pleasant surprise

A pleasant surprise. The current Pimsleur Latin American Spanish course is up to date. They have removed the creepy pick-up conversation that used to be in the first 8 or 10 lessons.

Sadly, other languages are not updated. I used the Croatian course for a recent vacay trip, and it still starts with that creepy dialog.

May 3, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Nadine,

Thank you for your thoughtful review and for noticing the updates to our Latin American Spanish course. We're glad to hear you found the revised content to be a better experience.

Over the past several years, we have been updating many of our courses to reflect more modern language use and cultural contexts. These updates have already been completed for our most popular languages, including Spanish and several other high-demand courses.

We recognize that some of our smaller-language courses, including Croatian, still contain content that has not yet been updated. Because these updates involve rewriting, rerecording, and revalidating course content, they are significant projects that take time to complete. We are continuing to work through the rest of our catalog and prioritize future updates as resources allow.

Feedback from learners like you played an important role in the revisions we've already made, and we appreciate you calling out Croatian specifically. Comments like yours help us identify where future improvements are most needed.

Thank you for using Pimsleur for your travels and for taking the time to share your experience.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They hate their customers

The material is dated and horribly misogynistic. Nonetheless, the Pimsleur method is great. I have subscribed off and on for many years, spending hundreds of dollars. My dad died and I asked them to refund only one month despite not having used it for several. They said no.

April 27, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Jill,

Thank you for your feedback and for being a longtime Pimsleur subscriber. First and foremost, please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your father.

We're also sorry for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions. We regret that we were unable to reach out sooner.

We're sorry that your experience left you feeling unsupported during such a difficult time. We understand that your request was made under exceptional circumstances, and we regret that our response added to your frustration.

We also appreciate your comments regarding the course content. Over the past several years, we have updated many of our courses to reflect more modern language use and cultural contexts. In fact, our most popular language courses have been revised to remove many of the scenarios that customers have identified as dated.

We would like the opportunity to revisit your request. Please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review so we can identify your account. We will be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for an additional review.

Thank you for your years of support and for taking the time to share your concerns.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Just Think TWICE...

I purchased Arabic on the assumption I could get a refund under 30 days if I changed my mind. After a few days I attempted to do this. I gotta say the customer service is hands down THE WORST i have ever come across. Took ages to get reply in live chat. This happened over multiple sessions as the person just stopped replying. It looks like 1 person is running the live chat as I had the same "miguel" everytime. He said I will send a pdf to fill in so we can proceed with refund. Never received a pdf. Also for a language selling program his English grammar was absolutely dreadful. I also tried sending emails, have received nothing. Since then I have started using it more and the actual course is quite good but all I would say is think TWICE before buying any sub or lifetime from this company. You will struggle to get your money back. Its a poor practice to take money from people.

March 14, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience with our customer service team was frustrating, especially when you were trying to resolve a refund request.

We're also sorry for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on Trustpilot and had to work with the platform to obtain the necessary permissions. We regret that we were unable to reach out sooner.

We're glad to hear that you found the Arabic course itself valuable, but we regret that the support experience did not meet the standard we aim to provide. Long response times, dropped live chat conversations, and missed follow-ups are not the experience we want for our customers.

We would appreciate the opportunity to review what happened and make sure your request was handled properly. If this matter has not already been resolved, please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review, and we will be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for additional review.

Thank you again for your feedback. We appreciate your business and hope to have the opportunity to address your concerns.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Duolingos friend, irrelevant

I tried the free trial and the main thing should be the speaking coach, it gave me a 3 Star excellent rating every time even when I said it completely wrong on purpose. If you wanna study a language seriously this is definitely not it.

February 16, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Disappointed in the German program

I like that the program asks you to speak, so you have to remember the phrases. While the Spanish program worked on things a traveler or visitor would find useful, the German program seemed to concentrate on more intimate conversations, not what a new learner of the language would need to know, traveling to Germany. It also emphasized the familiar rather than the formal versions, again not what a visitor would use.

January 28, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very hard to cancel. Expensive. Unhelpful

I also very found it very difficult to cancel and they would only refund one month

August 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with your experience.

We'd like to clarify that subscriptions purchased directly through Pimsleur can be canceled online at any time through a customer's account without needing to contact Customer Support. We strive to make the process as straightforward as possible and regret that it did not feel that way in your case.

We also understand your disappointment regarding the refund outcome. After reviewing your situation, our team made an exception to our standard refund policy and issued a one-month refund as a gesture of goodwill. While we recognize that this did not fully meet your expectations, we did want to help where we could.

We're also sorry for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

If there are any remaining concerns regarding your account, please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review. We would be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for an additional review.

Thank you for your feedback and for giving Pimsleur a try.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Money grabbing company

Money grabbing company. Will take your cash every month and make it EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CANCEL whilst content can only be described as basic poor, and unhelpful.
I DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT.

December 11, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi,

We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience.

We'd also like to clarify that subscriptions purchased directly through Pimsleur can be managed and canceled online at any time through a customer's account. The process is fully self-service and does not require contacting Customer Support. We've worked hard to make subscription management as straightforward as possible, and we regret that your experience led you to a different conclusion.

We're also sorry that our content did not meet your expectations. For more than 60 years, Pimsleur has helped millions of learners develop practical speaking and listening skills, and much of our growth has come through customer recommendations and word of mouth. We continue to invest in updating and improving our courses based on learner feedback.

We're also sorry for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

If there are any specific concerns regarding your account or subscription, we'd welcome the opportunity to review them. Please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review, and we will be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for additional review.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Deceptive

Don't risk it!! I accidentally took out two subscription IDs on the same date apparently (through the same email address), emailed to cancel and they only cancelled one of them. I provided email confirmation as proof I cancelled in March and they're refusing to refund me for the other one, it's been going out since then. It's the same service, same language. I haven't benefited from it because I had cancelled it.

November 12, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Charlie,

We're sorry to hear about your experience and understand why this situation would be frustrating. We also apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

Based on your review, it appears that two subscriptions may have been created under the same email address and that you intended to cancel both.

We take concerns about duplicate subscriptions seriously and do not want customers paying for services they did not intend to maintain. If the facts are as you've described, we want to make sure the matter is handled appropriately.

Please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review. We will be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for a thorough review of the subscriptions, cancellation requests, and any associated charges.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We appreciate the opportunity to investigate and work toward a resolution.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No Refunds for Annual Auto Renewal

Business is very strategic and is built on deceptive auto renewal revenue. Buyer beware of annual promotions. If you miss one day you will won a whole year of a marginal language service

October 23, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Michael,

We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience, and we apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

We would like to clarify that annual subscriptions automatically renew only after a reminder email is sent approximately 30 days before the renewal date. Customers can manage and cancel their subscriptions at any time through their account using our self-service subscription management tools, without needing to contact Customer Support.

We understand that annual renewals can be frustrating if they are overlooked. However, we strive to be transparent about renewal terms by providing advance notice prior to renewal, clearly disclosing the subscription terms at the time of purchase, and making subscription management available directly through customer accounts.

We appreciate your feedback and will continue looking for ways to improve the customer experience while maintaining clear and consistent subscription policies.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Very disappointing. …

I was really enjoying the programme and was completing a lesson a day (as recommended). However after several lessons, and 3 months after starting, I discovered that Greek (which I was learning) had only 30 lessons, opposed to the usual 60. Meaning that I would have completed the course which I had paid for for a year, in a further 3 weeks. I was extremely disappointed. I was even more disappointed when I cancelled the subscription at the end of the year to find that the whole programme, which I thought I had paid for, disappeared so I was not even able to maintain my practice, revise vocabulary etc. further, I thought I had subscribed to pay monthly but discovered too late that I had paid for a whole year up front. Very disappointing.

August 15, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Fiona,

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience left you disappointed, especially after you had been enjoying the program and making consistent progress. We also apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

We'd like to clarify that the Greek course currently includes 60 audio lessons, along with approximately 40 reading lessons. We're also pleased to share that we are actively developing additional Greek content, which will be made available at no additional charge to existing subscribers.

We understand your disappointment regarding access after cancellation. Like most subscription-based learning services, Pimsleur subscriptions provide access to content while the subscription remains active. Once a subscription ends, access to the subscription content also ends. For customers who prefer ongoing access without a recurring subscription, Lifetime purchases are available and provide permanent access to the purchased course.

It's also worth noting that your progress, lesson history, and completed coursework are retained on your account even after a subscription ends. If you choose to subscribe again in the future using the same account, you'll be able to continue right where you left off.

Thank you again for your feedback. We appreciate your dedication to learning Greek and hope you'll consider continuing your language-learning journey with us, especially as additional Greek content becomes available.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I can't learn the basics with this.

The first Thai lesson was following an everyday conversation, something I would expect at Lesson 20 perhaps. I want to know how to say yes and no, and 1, 2, 3 in Thai. And after a couple of hours with this course I still had no idea.

May 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Richard,

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the Thai course did not meet your expectations.

Pimsleur is designed differently from many traditional language programs. Rather than beginning with lists of vocabulary, numbers, or isolated words like "yes" and "no," the Pimsleur Method™ introduces language through real conversational exchanges. The goal is to develop listening comprehension and speaking ability from the very first lesson, rather than focusing primarily on memorization.

Because of this approach, learners are often surprised to find that within the first 30 minutes they are already participating in and understanding a spoken conversation in their new language. For many learners, this becomes a memorable "aha" moment that demonstrates how much language can be acquired through active listening and guided recall.

We understand that this style may feel unfamiliar if you expected a more vocabulary-first introduction. Different learners have different preferences, and we appreciate you taking the time to explain what you were hoping to learn early in the course.

Thank you again for your feedback.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I'd give it 0 stars if I could

I'd give it 0 stars if I could. The customer service is TERRIBLE. They say you can share your premium account with 3 other household members, but the only way you can do this is by sharing usernames and passwords... not very secure in 2025, especially considering they advertise Single Sign On. The customer service didn't care and/or didn't respond. I wouldn't waste your time, their offering is not that great and the app functions like it was made 10 years ago. Way overpriced for what it is.

August 20, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi CJ,

We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience, and we apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

We appreciate your feedback regarding household access and account sharing. Our Family Plan is designed to allow multiple members to learn under a single subscription. This shared-account approach is similar to the model used by many subscription services that support multiple users under one account, including Disney+, Max, Paramount+, and Peacock. While we understand that some customers would prefer individually managed logins for each member, the use of a shared account for family access is a common and intentional approach across the subscription industry. The Family Plan is designed as a single subscription that can be used by up to four members at no additional cost beyond the Family Plan subscription. At the same time, each member can maintain their own learning progress, lesson history, and language selection, allowing different members to study different languages independently.

We're also sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with your interactions with our customer service team. Providing responsive and helpful support is important to us, and feedback like yours helps us identify areas where we can improve.

Pimsleur has helped millions of learners develop real-world speaking and listening skills over the past 60 years, and we continue to invest in improving both our learning platform and customer experience. While we recognize that no single learning method is the right fit for everyone, we appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective and will share your comments with the appropriate teams.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I had the free trial and had entered to…

I had the free trial and had entered to pay for a year membership which was charged to my account. When I canceled, the membership was also canceled. I was then "assisted" to reactivate which incurred another charge. Communication was via the application. CC company dispute unsuccessful. Reached out to customer service and after I answered 2 questions via chat was sent to a "assistant site" what wanted to charge me again. I am happy with the program but have paid double for 1 year-not happy with responsiveness or lack of verifiable communication.

June 22, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Melissa,

We're sorry to hear about your experience, and we apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

Based on your review, it appears there may have been confusion surrounding the cancellation, reactivation, and resulting charges on your account. We understand how frustrating that would be, particularly when you were attempting to resolve the issue and felt that your concerns were not being adequately addressed.

After reviewing your comments, we'd like the opportunity to take another look at your account history and the charges you referenced. If duplicate charges were incurred as part of reactivating your subscription, we want to ensure the matter has been reviewed correctly.

We're pleased to hear that you were happy with the language program itself, but we're sorry that your customer service experience did not meet expectations.

Please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review. We will be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for a thorough review of your account and billing history.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Beginner lessons not having basic phrases or words

I took the Swahili (beginner) course. I've reached lesson 13 and there was no mention of how to say basic phrases like "what's your name?" and "where are you from?". Very absurd.

July 8, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Hamza,

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the Swahili course did not meet your expectations.

Pimsleur is designed differently from many traditional language programs. Rather than introducing vocabulary through themed lists and memorization exercises, the Pimsleur Method™ teaches language through conversational context and guided recall. The goal is to provide learners with the tools to actively use the spoken language, not simply memorize words and phrases.

Our courses are built around language structures that allow learners to create their own questions, responses, and statements. Rather than teaching isolated phrases as standalone items, the method focuses on helping learners understand how the language works so they can communicate independently. It is a building-block approach to spoken language that emphasizes listening comprehension, pronunciation, recall, and conversation skills from the very first lesson.

Many learners are surprised to find that within the first 30 minutes, they are already participating in and understanding a spoken conversation in their new language. For many, this becomes an "aha" moment that demonstrates how much language can be acquired through active listening and guided recall.

We understand that different learners have different goals and preferences, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

It’s a trap - avoid!

I signed up for a week’s free trial. I cancelled before the week was up but received no confirmation. I then noticed a fee had been taken from my account. I sent 2 emails to the company explaining I had cancelled in time and requesting a refund but received no reply.

Finally I went on the online chat and was told I wasn’t due a refund as I couldn’t send proof I had cancelled in time.

I asked for their formal complaint’s procedure and was told I couldn’t have that information via the online chat I would have to email. I told them they didn’t reply to their emails at which point the customer service person became bordering on hostile and very rude.

At this point I requested a DSAR so I could prove I had cancelled in time and asked that it include the current chat. I was cut off and now can’t access the chat!

Awful company! DO NOT USE THEM!!

June 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Isobel,

We're sorry to hear about your experience, and we apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

We take concerns regarding cancellations, refunds, and customer service interactions seriously, and we're disappointed to hear that you felt your concerns were not adequately addressed.

After reviewing your account, we can see that a full refund was issued on July 5, 2025. We’re glad that this matter was resolved, although we regret that the experience leading up to the refund left you feeling frustrated.

For clarity, customers who enroll in a free trial are required to acknowledge that the trial will automatically convert to a paid subscription unless canceled before the trial period ends. Customers can cancel their subscriptions at any time through their account using our self-service subscription management tools, and cancellations are processed immediately.

We also take requests relating to customer data and account records seriously and are committed to complying with applicable privacy and data access requirements.

If there are any remaining concerns regarding your account, please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review. We would be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for additional review.

If the refund resolved your concern, we would appreciate it if you would consider updating your review to reflect the outcome.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I signed up for a year on a discount

I signed up for a year on a discount. Used it for 3 months then stopped but had paid for the year so no problem. But when I checked my credit card, they renewed it for another year. I checked the terms of the agreement and they have to give you a reminder email that it renews. I checked and did NOT receive one. Now they will not refund me even though they violated the agreement. Scam company. Do not use them.

June 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Pimsleur’s selling practices are manipulative

Pimsleur’s selling practices are manipulative and deceptive. I received multiple promotional offers that I was genuinely interested in, only to be told they didn’t apply to me because I was a former subscriber. When I asked why I was receiving these misleading emails, I got no response. Later, I signed up for what I believed was a $10 first-month offer, but I was charged for an entire year upfront. I take responsibility for not double-checking the final payment, but I also expected a reputable company like Pimsleur to be transparent. I trusted their process and assumed they wouldn't resort to misleading tactics. It’s disappointing, especially because their product is excellent. It’s unfortunate that such a high-quality service is undermined by shady business practices aimed at confusing customers.

May 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Robert,

We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience, and we apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

We appreciate your positive comments about the Pimsleur program itself, and we're sorry that your experience with our promotional offers and checkout process left you with a different impression of our company.

Based on your review, it appears there may have been confusion regarding the promotional offer and the subscription option selected during checkout. Promotional offers for a discounted first month apply to monthly subscriptions and do not apply when an annual subscription is selected. We understand how this could be frustrating if the distinction was not clear during the purchase process.

We also strive to be transparent about subscription terms and pricing. The subscription type, billing frequency, and total charge are displayed during checkout before a purchase is completed. That said, we appreciate your feedback and will continue evaluating ways to make our offers and subscription options as clear as possible.

Thank you again for your feedback and for your kind words about the Pimsleur product.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Boils down to theft - took money and zero service/product.

Refused to transfer credit of unused gift card that I purchased to my account. Gift recipient did not want. I have been a long time user. Boils down to theft - took money and zero service/product.

May 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Pimsleur Language Programs logo

Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Hugh,

We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience, and we apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

We appreciate your many years as a Pimsleur customer and are sorry that this situation left you feeling frustrated.

Based on your review, it appears the issue involved a gift card that was purchased but ultimately not redeemed by the intended recipient. We understand why you would be disappointed if you were unable to use the value of that gift card in the way you expected.

Gift cards are generally intended for use by the recipient to whom they are provided and are subject to specific terms and conditions. However, we would welcome the opportunity to review the circumstances surrounding your purchase and determine whether there may be a way to assist.

Please contact our Customer Support team and reference this review. We will be happy to escalate your case to a supervisor for additional review.

Thank you again for your feedback and for your longtime support of Pimsleur.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing tool for learning a foreign language

This is an amazing tool assisting learning languages. Aquision of a new language is a very hard journey. I have been a faithful subscriber of Pimsleur for several years now. I nitially purchased CD sets. Now I study two languages in a Roman group. I love driving and talking to my app, listening to conversations and responding to questions. They literally force you to speak from the beginning. It is fascinating! FBI, MArine Corp and other government agencies are using it for a reason. I am now a Lifetime Subscriber.

March 28, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi Lola,

Thank you for your wonderful review and for being such a loyal member of the Pimsleur community over the years.

We're delighted to hear that you've found success with the Pimsleur Method™, from your early days using our CD courses to your current studies in multiple languages through the app. Your description of listening, responding, and actively speaking while driving perfectly captures the audio-first, conversation-focused approach that has helped millions of learners build real-world language skills.

You're absolutely right that language acquisition is a journey, and we're honored to be a part of yours. One of the core principles of the Pimsleur Method is encouraging learners to begin speaking and understanding the language from the very first lesson. Rather than relying primarily on memorization, learners actively participate in conversations, building listening comprehension, pronunciation, recall, and speaking confidence over time.

For more than 60 years, Pimsleur has helped independent learners, travelers, business professionals, military personnel, and government employees develop practical communication skills in new languages. We're thrilled to hear that the method continues to work so well for you.

We're especially grateful for your support as a Lifetime Subscriber. Thank you for sharing your experience and for allowing us to accompany you on your language-learning journey.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very poor quality.

I bought the audio CD version of the Italian course second hand (used) from eBay, and I'm really glad I never paid the full price for it new. At approximately (on average) 30 minutes each, the lessons become long and tedious. I cut them roughly in half on audio-editing software and had far better results at memorizing in the car and bed. However, the worst thing about Pimsleur's Italian course is the many instances of terrible pronunciation and diction. It's not bad for the first four lessons, but after that many of the phrases are spoken far too quickly by the voice actors, with appalling slurring that makes much of it completely unintelligible. Many a time, while using the product in the car, I have ended up shouting and cursing Pimsleur for their disgracefully low standards. They clearly don't care about making a good product as long as the money rolls in. On top of that, the audio quality is not good. As someone else stated on another comment, it's like listening to speech through a thick blanket or two. I have also had to load the files into an audio editor to improve the quality and replace unintelligible spoken phrases with supplanted new ones created using the MSN Bing translator and the naturalreaaders text-to-speech website, all of which takes plenty of hours of wasted life, because I shouldn't have to be doing it!

I emailed Pimsleur about my observations but they didn't even have the courtesy of responding.

March 7, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Pimsleur Language Programs

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the Italian course did not meet your expectations, and we apologize for the delay in responding to your review. Until recently, we did not have the ability to respond on this platform and had to work with the platform provider to obtain the necessary permissions.

We'd like to note that the product you referenced was purchased second-hand, and therefore we cannot verify the condition, age, authenticity, or handling of the CDs you received. Audio quality issues can sometimes result from the condition of physical media, copying, storage, playback equipment, or file conversions performed after purchase.

It's also important to note that we have not sold CD-based courses for many years. The CDs in circulation today are older editions of our language programs and may not fully reflect how the language has evolved or is commonly used today. New content updates, course revisions, and product enhancements are available exclusively through the Pimsleur app. Many of our digital courses have been updated over the years to incorporate more contemporary language usage, revised content, and additional learning features.

Pimsleur courses are intentionally designed around approximately 30-minute lessons. This lesson length is a core component of the Pimsleur Method™ and is based on Dr. Paul Pimsleur's research into memory retention, recall, and language acquisition. For more than 60 years, millions of learners have successfully used this format to develop practical speaking and listening skills.

We also take quality seriously and regularly review customer feedback regarding course content, audio quality, and pronunciation. While some learners prefer a different pacing or presentation style, our courses are developed, reviewed, and recorded by native writers, reviewers, and speakers to help ensure an authentic and practical listening and speaking experience.

We're sorry to hear that you did not receive the response you expected to your email. We appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns and will forward your feedback to the appropriate teams.

Best,
The Pimsleur Team

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