Review Insights · Google Play
Pimsleur | Language Learning
Simon & Schuster · 16,060 ratings · ★ 4.1
4.1
★★★★★
16,060 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 27 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"audio"
6 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
2
"lessons"
6 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
3
"language"
6 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst language teaching app I have ever tried to use. might as well try to learn from just a podcast for all the help this was." - Cat Hickey
4
"learning"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
5
"doesn"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
6
"pimsleur"
5 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Pimsleur method works, but the app is mid. Problems you will have: 1) Kicks you out of lessons, loses your place (fun while driving) 2) Will not pick up on certain sounds, you cannot finish the voice coaching 3) don't forget your login info…" - Jacob Maxey (CatatonicAlarm5)
7
"learn"
4 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
8
"been"
3 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
9
"help"
3 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
10
"play"
3 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the au…" - M. Rae
11
"stuck"
3 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Pimsleur method works, but the app is mid. Problems you will have: 1) Kicks you out of lessons, loses your place (fun while driving) 2) Will not pick up on certain sounds, you cannot finish the voice coaching 3) don't forget your login info…" - Jacob Maxey (CatatonicAlarm5)
12
"needs"
3 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I can't go into another I just get stuck in 1 this app sucks I tried to learn Tagalog but I think it needs me to pay this app is not helpful" - Joan banzon
📋 All 27 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Worst language teaching app I have ever tried to use. might as well try to learn from just a podcast for all the help this was.
ive tried various language learning apps, so far this is one of the worst
Misleading and was offered a premium subscription but was not offered / activated. When I called to get rectified, Andrew the representative continuously cut me me and was extremely condescending. When asked to escalate was hung up on.
I can't go into another I just get stuck in 1 this app sucks I tried to learn Tagalog but I think it needs me to pay this app is not helpful
Me personally I was using it for korean and they completely butcher the romanization, this is the one time I'm happy there's a paywall to help me away from that, for me even duolingo for korean has better romanization than this app, and it doesn't teach you the korean alphabet so you have to stick with their butchered romanization, I wanted to give this app a try but I was disappointed by the lack of alphabet lessons for the korean alphabet and the lack of korean on screen, do better.
Uses AI for speech practice. Legit the worst language speech practice I've ever used as it constantly crashes and doesn't even understand or record what I'm saying.
Poor
I couldn't control audio speed.
Great hands-free app but unfair billing trap. Audio method is excellent while driving, but the business model is highly misleading. I prepaid $140 for "All Access" to learn Indonesian, only to find out it has just 1 level vs. 5 for major languages. I ran out of content in weeks. Now Pimsleur has auto-charged me $170 for a second year on a dormant account. A company shouldn't trap consumer funds for exhausted content. Still fighting for a full refund of this trap.
The AI Voice Coach performs poorly for the LIMITED Romanian language that I am studying... The voice recognition performs poorly and has caused MUCH frustration. This app only has one Level of lessons for the Romanian language--which are the exact same lessons purchased 15 years ago on CD. However, it does have more practice options. It's definitely NOT worth purchasing a lifetime membership unless you are planning to study many languages or those that have more levels.
I'm leaving a one star review because I've only been using the app for less than two days and it's already pestering me for a review. If I still like the app 30 days from now I'll come back and update the review, if I remember to.
great app but some audio just doesn't register properly in the app. I am stuck on "atsuku arimasen" and it refuses to acknowledge the first syllable. I have even played back the recording from the app to the app and it gave it an 86. The listening algorithm needs serious fixing. edit: multiple lessons in Japanese 2 are having this issue. such a shame because this app used to be great.
didn't like it
Pimsleur chooses subjects which I consider to be irrelevant. Their conversation model is for traveling businessmen looking for hookups.
pay to use
I don't want to create an account.
You don't need my email to show me a free lesson. I only want to learn 1 language and only from English? Hrm. Pass.
Pimsleur Thai has not been updated recently. The current Level 1 course, consisting of 30 lessons (approximately 16 hours of audio), was released in August 2010 and has not seen significant content updates in over a decade.
i really want to like this app but the bugs keep making it close every 2-5minutes. it wont stay open and the "car" feature is useless. i love the learning and progression and audio but its poitness if the app wont play the whole 30min session without me opening it 10x. im deleting again. i used to pay for this app 3yrs ago and it had the same problem. i was hoping they had fixed it by now. :(
Improve a lot
I began learning Spanish as a second language in 5th grade and every year till college. Never in all that time was I taught in such a nonsensical, confusing, and strange way. Every time I see this app being promoted, it just annoys me. I recommend you don't waste your time here and just avoid it like the plague.
if its not free then JUST say so.
The core issue is that Pimsleur teaches "对不起 (duìbuqǐ)" for 1 very specific scenario (attracting attention), but fails 2 explain that this is an exception, not the rule. This leads 2 confusion, as the vast majority of the time, Chinese speakers would use a lighter phrase like "不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi)"which means "Excuse me" or "Sorry" 4 minor inconveniences (like bumping into someone on the subway). classic example of learning materials creating a "textbook" scenario that doesn't fully align with nat
What a shame. I've been subscribed to this app for months and loved the main audio lessons. But then I started learning Mandarin and began using the other features to help with pronunciation, and that's when it all fell apart because the audio doesn't play consistently no matter what I do. I wish I discovered this before I bought the lifetime access (I was trying to SAVE money). To add insult to injury, I just found a 50% 4th of July discount on it... It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth now.
Pimsleur method works, but the app is mid. Problems you will have: 1) Kicks you out of lessons, loses your place (fun while driving) 2) Will not pick up on certain sounds, you cannot finish the voice coaching 3) don't forget your login information, it frequently boots you out! 4) Sometimes will get stuck in a loop of "finishing a lesson" that you want to retry - too bad, try again later, I guess! 5) Random stops during lesson requiring restart edit: knocking off star for my 4th manual restart
I loved the app the first month o had it but after the first month it wouldn't unlock the levels even though I had the paid subscription. it's really frustrating because no one has answers for me for why it's not working
there really needs to be a way to report an app for lying and false advertisement! because I think if enough of us report the bad apps then they should remove them for fraud! especially since they are letting them go through with their approval even though they are a total obvious scam app! Google Play really should be doing better!
Sentiment summary
76%
Positive (4-5★)
7%
Neutral (3★)
17%
Negative (1-2★)