Pimsleur Review: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

What I Like About Pimsleur

1. Speaking-Focused Approach

Let’s start with my favorite part about Pimsleur — it really focuses on speaking. From the very first lesson, you’re listening, repeating, and actually responding like you would in a real conversation. For me, that’s huge. Personally, speaking has always been the hardest part when learning a new language, and I like that I get to practice what I struggle with the most. I mean, isn’t that the whole point? We’re learning a language so we can speak it. And the only way to get better is to actually do it. Pimsleur gives you that space to practice — no fill-in-the-blanks or multiple choice stuff that never happens in real life. Just real speaking practice, every single day.

2. Hands-Free Practice

My second favorite part? You can use Pimsleur completely hands-free. I can do mindless tasks — chores, commuting, walking on the treadmill — while still practicing. It saves me so much time. I feel incredibly productive, like I’m hitting two birds with one stone. Instead of scrolling or zoning out, I get to squeeze in a full language lesson while getting other things done.

3. Minimalistic User Interface

Pimsleur UI is clean, easy to navigate, and intentionally minimal. There are no flashy animations, no clutter, and no gamified distractions trying to compete for your attention. It’s not trying to be a game — it’s just trying to teach you how to speak. That simplicity actually helps you stay focused. You open the app, press play, and you’re in the lesson. No extra steps, no wasted time. Just learning that feels clear and intentional.

4. Lesson Length

Lessons are short — at least for me. It’s just 30 minutes a day, which makes it a lot easier to build a habit and actually stick with it. It fits into a busy schedule without feeling like a huge commitment. And if you can’t finish all 30 minutes in one go, no problem. You can pause and pick it up whenever you’re ready. That flexibility makes it way more doable, even on hectic days.

5. Lesson Topics

The lessons focus on topics that cover from beginner (A1) up to intermediate (B1) levels. That means you get a solid foundation with practical, everyday language — things like introducing yourself, talking about your family, ordering food, or handling travel situations. It’s all stuff you actually need, not just random vocabulary.

6. Think Like a Native

Languages aren’t just about translating word-for-word — each one has its own way of expressing ideas. For example, in English, you might say, “I’m cold,” but in Spanish, you say, “Tengo frío” — which literally means “I have cold.” It’s not a direct translation, and if you tried to translate it word-for-word, it wouldn’t make sense.

Pimsleur helps you get this by teaching you the natural way phrases are said, not just the literal words. They break down sentences and guide you to think in the language, so you learn how native speakers actually speak — not just how to translate. That’s what makes your speaking sound more natural and less like a textbook.

7. Offers Offline Mode

Sometimes, I just don’t want to be bothered, so I turn off my mobile data or Wi-Fi to disconnect. That’s where Pimsleur’s offline mode really works for me. It lets me dive into my lessons without interruptions, so I can focus completely on practicing. Just me, the audio, and no distractions pulling me away. It makes those study sessions way more effective.

What I Don´t Like About Pimsleur

1. Pricy

Pimsleur isn’t free, and while the 7-day free trial is a nice touch, it’s barely enough to see if it really works for you. What stands out more is that it’s pretty expensive compared to other language apps out there. If you’re on a tight budget, this could be a big hurdle. So, it’s something to think about before diving in—it’s an investment, not just a casual try.

2. Split Speaking and Pronunciation Practice

Since Pimsleur focuses on speaking practice, I personally believe it should tell you if you’re saying things right during the lessons. For me, that’s a big deal. But the voice recognition only works in a separate pronunciation practice—not during the regular lessons. I’m not totally sure why they split it up like that. Maybe the idea is that during the regular lessons, you focus on thinking and responding in the language, while the pronunciation lessons let you zero in on just getting the sounds right. Still, I’d prefer if feedback was part of the whole experience, not just one section.

3. Not Aligned with CEFR

Pimsleur doesn’t clearly line up its lessons with the CEFR levels, and for me, that makes it harder to know exactly where I’m at or what I’m working towards. The CEFR is a handy way to see what skills you should have at each stage—from beginner to advanced—and without that, it feels like you’re guessing a bit. If you’re someone who likes clear goals or wants to take official exams, this can be frustrating. Pimsleur does help you build your skills step by step, but it’s not obvious how that matches with the CEFR, which can leave you wondering if you’re really on track.

If you’re just starting out with Spanish, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). It will guide you on what to focus on at each stage of your learning journey. Check out this article to get a clearer idea of what you should learn as a beginner and what’s expected of you along the way.

4. No Grammar Explanations

One thing I find lacking in Pimsleur is grammar explanation. I know some people say grammar isn’t necessary when learning a language — and maybe that’s true for kids who can just absorb a language naturally. But for adults like me, it helps to understand the why behind what we’re saying. From my own experience, grammar gives me a clearer picture of how the language works. Pimsleur shows you the right way to say something, but it doesn’t really explain why it’s correct. And without that, it’s harder to connect the dots — I end up second-guessing myself when I’m about to say something in Spanish. Sometimes, I even have to look things up elsewhere just to understand why a phrase was structured that way in the lesson.

Recommended Read: Unlike children, adults don’t absorb language just by exposure—we need active practice to make it stick. This blog explains—backed by science—why passive learning just isn’t enough for adults.

5. No Real Progress Tracking

Yeah, you can see what lessons you’ve finished, but it doesn’t actually tell you how much you’ve improved. There are no tests or assessments to show if you’re getting better at speaking, or understanding what you’ve learned. You kind of have to figure that out on your own. Personally, I would’ve appreciated some way to measure my growth. It’s hard to know if I´m truly making progress or just going through the motions.

6. No SRS, Only GIR

There’s no SRS (Spaced Repetition System) in Pimsleur — at least not the kind that actively tracks what you’re forgetting and brings it back just in time. What it uses instead is something called Graduated Interval Recall (GIR). This means certain words and phrases are repeated across lessons at spaced intervals. But honestly, I’m not sure it’s working for me. I kid you not, I take this app seriously — I pay full attention and even review what I’ve learned right after the lesson. Still, I find myself forgetting some of the phrases. Maybe it’s just how my brain works, but I feel like I need an actual SRS on the side to help things stick better.

7. Lessons are Limited

There are only 5 levels, and each one has 30 lessons. Sure, they cover a lot of useful, everyday phrases and vocabulary, but at the end of the day, you’re still confined to what’s inside the program. You’ll get a solid foundation, but you’re limited to those words and phrases. If you’re planning to go beyond the basics or reach higher fluency, you’ll need to supplement it with something else.