Mondly vs Pimsleur at a glance
| Mondly | Pimsleur | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Some free lessons; Premium $15.90/mo or $74.90/yr; 1-week free trialchecked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases) | Premium $19.99/mo; All Access $20.99/mo or $164.99/yr; one-off levels $150 each, 5 levels $575; free first lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (pimsleur.com/learn-french; subscriptions from the US App Store, 2026-10-06) |
| Levels | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) | A1–B1 (beginner and intermediate) |
| Free to use | Yes, at least in part | No (trial or sample only) |
| Real-speed French | No | No |
| Transcripts or subtitles | Not a feature | Not a feature |
| Taught in | English | English, French |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | A pleasant beginner phrase app with speech practice; thin past A2. | Best for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary. |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Which is better for beginners?
Both suit beginners. Mondly, from Pearson, gives you short daily lessons built around useful phrases and mini conversations, with speech recognition and a chatbot. Pimsleur is audio-first: 30-minute lessons where you listen, repeat and answer out loud, with a hands-free mode and offline listening. Pick by when you study: short gaps on the phone suit Mondly, a commute suits Pimsleur.
Which is cheaper?
Mondly. The US App Store lists Mondly Premium at $15.90 a month or $74.90 a year, with some free lessons. Pimsleur lets you try one lesson free; then Premium is $19.99 a month, All Access $20.99 a month or $164.99 a year, or $150 per one-off level.
Which gets you speaking sooner?
Pimsleur. Every lesson makes you answer out loud before you see any text, and you build up whole sentences. Mondly's chatbot gets you answering too, but in shorter exchanges.
Which takes you further?
Neither goes far. Both realistically cover A1 to B1; Mondly is thin past A2, and Pimsleur covers far less vocabulary than most courses.
Which teaches real spoken French?
Neither. Mondly's audio is recorded slowly for learners, and Pimsleur's is slow, studio-clean and scripted. Both leave real-speed listening to you.
Can you use both?
You can, and they do fit different moments of the day, but both are beginner courses covering the same ground. Most people should pick one and add real listening instead.
What neither does
Neither app explains grammar in depth, plays French at normal speed, or gives you a person to talk to. Both stop around B1. Add a course with explanations if you want the grammar, real listening for your ear, and a weekly conversation once you have the basics.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mondly | Some free lessons; Premium $15.90/mo or $74.90/yr; 1-week free trialchecked 2026-10-09 (US App Store in-app purchases) | A1–B1 | No | A pleasant beginner phrase app with speech practice; thin past A2. |
| Pimsleur | Premium $19.99/mo; All Access $20.99/mo or $164.99/yr; one-off levels $150 each, 5 levels $575; free first lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (pimsleur.com/learn-french; subscriptions from the US App Store, 2026-10-06) | A1–B1 | No | Best for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary. |
| French with Amélie | Free weekly lesson; Premium $24/mo or $240/yr | B1–C1 | Yes, with a slow version and a transcript | Real-speed dialogues by email and a private podcast. Not an app. Visit |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Read more
The full listings: Mondly (app) and Pimsleur (course). More like these: Apps like Duolingo for French.