Pimsleur is not free, but you can try the first French lesson without paying, and many public libraries lend Pimsleur audio; after that, the course costs from $19.99 a month on the US App Store or $150 a level on pimsleur.com.
Checked October 2026 · Pimsleur price: Premium $19.99/mo; All Access $20.99/mo or $164.99/yr; one-off levels $150 each, 5 levels $575; free first lesson (checked 2026-10-09 (pimsleur.com/learn-french; subscriptions from the US App Store, 2026-10-06))
What is free
The first lesson, in the app or on the website. It is a full 30-minute lesson, enough to tell whether you like answering out loud and the pace of the method.
Library copies. Many public libraries lend Pimsleur courses, either as audio discs or through their digital audiobook apps. Editions vary and some are older versions of the course, but the method is the same. Ask your library or search its catalogue for Pimsleur French.
Is one free lesson enough to judge it?
Mostly, yes. The whole course works the same way, so if the first 30 minutes of answering out loud feel useful, the next 29 lessons will too, and if they feel slow, they will stay slow. Do the free lesson on a walk or a drive, as the course is meant to be used, and repeat it the next day. If you remember most of it without effort, the method suits you.
What it costs after that
Premium: $19.99 a month on the US App Store. All Access, every language: $20.99 a month or $164.99 a year. To own the lessons: $150 a level, or $575 for all five French levels, on pimsleur.com. All checked October 2026; prices vary by country and offer.
If you subscribe, note the renewal date. In the 500 most recent App Store reviews we read, 18 of 54 one- and two-star reviews were about billing and cancelling. See how to cancel Pimsleur.
Free alternatives for French
For speaking out loud for free, Language Transfer's Introduction to French is a free audio course built on a similar idea: you think your way to a sentence and say it before you hear it. For a free daily course, Duolingo. For free listening, a podcast at your level from our podcasts page.
None of them, and not Pimsleur either, gives you real-speed French between native speakers. Our free French learning apps page lists what each free option keeps behind a paywall.
Who it's for
Beginners who want to test the Pimsleur method before paying: take the free lesson, then check your library before subscribing.
Who it's not for
Anyone hunting for a free copy of the whole course online. Unofficial downloads are not legal, and the free lesson plus a library loan gives you a fair test.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Duolingo | Free; Super from $9.99/mo or $79.99/yrchecked 2026-10-06 (US App Store) | A1–B1 | No | The easiest free habit for week one; plan what comes after it. |
| Rosetta Stone | €19.99/mo, or €13.25/mo billed €159/yr; lifetime plan priced on the buy pagechecked 2026-10-09 (rosettastone.com buy page, shown from Germany) | A1–B1 | No | Immersion-style basics; slow, and light on explanation. |
| Babbel | From €8.99/mo on the 12-month plan (€107.88 a year; €215.88 at the monthly rate); lifetime €299.99; first lesson freechecked 2026-10-09 (babbel.com/prices, shown from Germany) | A1–C1 | No | The most course-like app; a good spine for A1 to B1, light on real listening. |
| 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.
Questions
Is any of Pimsleur free?
Yes, the first lesson. Many libraries also lend Pimsleur courses.
What is the cheapest way to get Pimsleur French?
A library loan. Paid: Premium at $19.99 a month on the US App Store, if you finish within a few months.
Is there a free app like Pimsleur?
Language Transfer is a free audio course built on speaking out loud. Duolingo is free but screen-based.
More on Pimsleur
The full listing: Pimsleur: price, levels and who it suits.