Pimsleur has been helping people learn languages for more than 60 years through a unique audio-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 more than 50 languages through an award-winning mobile app and web-based platform. In addition to the proven audio 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.
Pimsleur Language Programs (pimsleur.com) has 205 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5.
Also known as
pimsleur.com
Website
pimsleur.com
Category
Education Services
Location
New York, New York
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
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The company replied to 79% of reviews.
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Most recent review: October 2026.
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2ND REVIEW - LEVEL 2 - LESSON 7
Earlier in the course they taught the DAO = UNTIL
Now in the pronunciation practice they are saying that "UNTIL TEN O'CLOCK" = "dai dao shi dian zhong" which actually means "STAY UNTIL TEN O'CLOCK"
This means I have to say "UNTIL TEN O'CLOCK" incorrectly in order to get 3 stars.
I HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY FRUSTRATED WITH THESE TYPE OF THINGS, BUT THIS ONE REALLY GOT TO ME.
I AM GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IF IT KILLS ME, BUT MY GOD PIMSLEUR------GET YOUR TAMADENA ACT TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BL
Benjamin L.
I love the courses but the customer service just makes me not want to use it anymore
The courses are not bad the issue is just the customer help desk. I tried to get a refund day of when I bought the wrong subscription but even after sending in the form they asked for I never got a response back. They later said they never received said document even though it was saved on my computer and sent.Eventually I communicated with them 16 days later and even then they did not cooperate. In fact they hung up numerous times and ignored me whenever I got through. This process repeated through 6 phone calls and when they finally started talking to me there was laughter in the background as the desk person proceeded to play dumb despite having the same conversation numerous times. Its not the program its just the people running it that are no help. The employee who I kept talking to but who kept hanging up on me was named Jean P collas.
Response from Pimsleur Language ProgramsOct 3, 2026
Hi Benjamin,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
We’re glad to hear that you love the Pimsleur courses, but we’re very sorry that your customer service experience was so frustrating. Buying the wrong subscription and trying to correct it the same day should not have felt this difficult, and you should have received clearer communication and follow-up throughout the refund process.
We have reviewed this with our customer service team. While there appear to have been technical issues that affected the handling of your case, we understand that the result was a poor experience for you. That is not the level of support we want Pimsleur customers to receive when they contact us about a billing or subscription issue.
We understand that your refund had already been processed before this response, but we also recognize that the process leading up to that resolution was frustrating and did not meet the standard we expect. We have shared your feedback with the support team so we can improve follow-up, communication, and ownership when customers contact us about billing or refund issues.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. We’re sorry this took away from your experience with Pimsleur, and we appreciate the opportunity to address it.
Best,
The Pimsleur Team
ME
Mannas E.
With Pimsleur 🌍🚀 you can listen to the…
With Pimsleur 🌍🚀 you can listen to the audio, follow along, repeat after the instructor, rewind and review - all while washing, cooking, gardening or doing other stuff. It's hands-free! All you need is a headset, earpiece, or just play it aloud on your speaker. You'd love it 💕 It's unique and unlike any other learning experience. I got to learn French this way. It's highly recommended.
Response from Pimsleur Language ProgramsSep 29, 2026
Hi Mannas,
Thank you for such a wonderful review.
We’re delighted to hear that Pimsleur helped you learn French and that the audio format made it easy to practice while washing, cooking, gardening, or doing other things throughout your day. So many learners appreciate being able to build language practice into everyday routines.
The hands-free format is convenient, but it is also central to the Pimsleur Method™. Speaking and listening skills are built by hearing the language, repeating it, recalling it, and responding out loud. That is what helps learners train their ear, their memory, and their voice in a way that feels different from many other language-learning experiences.
Thank you for recommending Pimsleur. We wish you continued success with French and any language you take on next!
Best,
The Pimsleur Team
DI
Diane
Pismsleur was disappointing.
I use Duolingo to learn Polish. I've worked on Polish with your program for over a week. (Duolingo helped a LOT.) The longer sentences are spoken WAY too fast. I use Google Translate to figure them out. The various endings are especially difficult to hear. I think the words should accompany the voice. It also seems that the program assumes I'm male - also makes things tricky.
Additionally, I think you have an error in Level 7 - mixing up eat and drink.
Overall, I'm pretty disappointed.
Response from Pimsleur Language ProgramsSep 23, 2026
Hi Diane,
Thank you for taking the time to share this feedback.
We’re sorry to hear that Pimsleur Polish has been disappointing so far. Polish can be challenging, especially when it comes to hearing endings clearly and getting used to the rhythm and cadence of longer sentences. We understand how frustrating that can feel when you are putting in the effort and still missing details.
Pimsleur is intentionally audio-first because the core lessons are designed to train listening, pronunciation, recall, and spoken response. Rhythm, cadence, and ending sounds are part of the skill being developed, and that kind of ear training takes practice. Polish has 13 unique sounds that do not exist in English, so reading the words during the core lesson can sometimes work against the goal by causing learners to apply English sound rules to Polish spelling. The course uses techniques such as repetition, carefully timed recall, and back-chaining to break down difficult sounds and help learners hear and produce words more accurately, including the sounds at the ends of words.
We understand why seeing the words during the lesson can feel helpful, especially in a language like Polish. However, the core audio lessons are designed to keep attention on hearing and producing the language as it sounds, rather than shifting into reading or visual decoding during the speaking practice. Written support is still important, which is why the app includes review tools after the audio lesson, including flash cards, quizzes, vocabulary activities, and separate reading lessons that help learners develop Polish reading skills phonetically.
On the pacing, many learners find that repeating or replaying a lesson helps longer sentences begin to sound more natural over time. The goal is not to rush through the course, but to gradually build the ability to hear, recall, and respond with more confidence.
We also appreciate your note about gendered language. Polish uses gendered forms, and the course is designed to expose learners to both masculine and feminine forms throughout the course, not just one perspective.
Thank you again for trying Pimsleur Polish and for explaining what felt difficult. We’re sorry this was not the experience you hoped for, and we appreciate the chance to better understand where the course felt frustrating.
Best,
The Pimsleur Team
HW
Harold W.
I think pimsleur really helps get you…
I think pimsleur really helps get you in the habit of actually conversing
Response from Pimsleur Language ProgramsSep 16, 2026
Hi Harold,
Thank you for sharing your experience with Pimsleur.
We’re so glad to hear that Pimsleur is helping you build the habit of actually conversing. That is exactly what the Pimsleur Method™ is designed to support: listening, recalling, and responding out loud so learners get regular practice using the language, not just recognizing it.
The more you practice that back-and-forth rhythm, the more natural it can feel to participate in real conversations.
Thank you for learning with Pimsleur. We wish you continued success on your language-learning journey!
Best,
The Pimsleur Team
CH
Chelsea
I’ve done multiple Pimsleur language…
I’ve done multiple Pimsleur language programs. They are fun, memorable, and easy to fit into my daily commute. Truly the most efficient language program I’ve ever tried and I recommend it to people all the time. I’m a true believer!
Response from Pimsleur Language ProgramsSep 16, 2026
Hi Chelsea,
Thank you for such a wonderful review.
We’re delighted to hear that you’ve used multiple Pimsleur language programs and that the lessons have been fun, memorable, and easy to fit into your daily commute. That daily consistency is so important, and we love hearing that Pimsleur fits naturally into your routine.
The audio-first format is not just about convenience or personal preference. It is central to the Pimsleur Method™ because speaking and listening skills are built through hearing the language, recalling it, and responding out loud. The format is designed to train the ear and the voice, while also making it easy to practice during a commute, walk, or other part of the day.
Thank you for being such a true believer and for recommending Pimsleur to others. We’re so glad to be part of your language-learning journey!
Best,
The Pimsleur Team
DU
Darrius U.
I’ll forever sing the praises of…
I’ll forever sing the praises of Pimsleur. If there’s ever been anything remotely similar: I can’t fathom to imagine it. Thankful/grateful.
Response from Pimsleur Language ProgramsSep 16, 2026
Hi Darrius,
Thank you for such a wonderful review.
We’re honored to hear that you’ll forever sing the praises of Pimsleur. That kind of enthusiasm means a great deal to us.
The Pimsleur Method™ has been helping learners build speaking and listening skills for more than 60 years, and we’re so glad it has stood out as such a unique and meaningful language-learning experience for you.
Thank you for learning with Pimsleur and for sharing such generous words. We’re grateful to be part of your language-learning journey!
Best,
The Pimsleur Team
RW
Ryan W.
The content is great, but customer service is horrible.
The content is great, but customer service is horrible. Content I would give a 5 stars, but customer service would be a 1. Here is the situation. I forgot to cancel my subscription prior to the renewal date. Life happens. I am aware the terms say no refunds, but I wanted to try and find a win-win situation outside of their stated policy. I sent a chat message stating I already cancelled and was asking for a prorated cancellation refund. They were still going to make money on the cancellation. I offered to pay for the two months at the monthly rate and asked for a refund of the remaining amount. I got canned answers that didn't address what I was saying. I got responses that said things like, "I can help you cancel." as a response to saying I already cancelled and was asking for an exception to policy. I had to ask if I was speaking to a human. It felt like it was either an AI bot or someone was just copy and pasting prewritten answers into the chat. After a few rounds of asking a question and getting a response that wasn't a conversation, I asked for the link to their Google review page. The representative acted like he didn't know what Google reviews was. I asked him for their Trustpilot review page and again pretended not to know what Trustpilot was. Everytime I asked for an external review site, he would answer something completely unrelated and pointed me to an internal Pimsleur page to leave feedback. My response was, "I don't need to tell you your policy sucks. You already know that. I want to tell people considering buying your product your policies suck." A fair review is Pimsleur is worth the money to learn the languages, but absolutely don't forget to cancel. It is probably smarter to do the month to month plan if you are only thinking about a language or two. The annual plan probably only makes sense if you plan on learning four or more languages. I don't know if their customer service is reason enough not to invest in the app, but don't be surprised if you ever need anything from them it is like pulling teeth to try and have a real conversation.
Response from Pimsleur Language ProgramsSep 10, 2026
Hi Ryan,
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback.
We’re glad to hear that you think the Pimsleur content is great and that the lessons have real value for learning languages. At the same time, we’re very sorry that your customer service experience was so frustrating and did not feel like a real conversation.
Even when a request falls outside our standard refund policy, our support team should still read the message carefully, respond to the actual question being asked, and clearly explain what options are available. From what you described, it sounds like we fell short of that standard. We also understand how frustrating it would be to ask about an exception or a prorated refund and receive responses that seemed canned or unrelated.
We’d like to review the interaction internally and understand what happened. We’ve requested additional information through Trustpilot so we can identify your account and look into the chat transcript.
We also appreciate your balanced comments about the plans. Monthly subscriptions can be a good fit for learners trying one language for a shorter period, while annual plans can offer better value for learners who expect to use Pimsleur over a longer period or across multiple languages.
Thank you again for recognizing the quality of the Pimsleur lessons and for bringing the support experience to our attention. We’re sorry this left such a negative impression, and we’d appreciate the opportunity to review it.
Best,
The Pimsleur Team
