The 500 most recent Rosetta Stone reviews on the US App Store split into two camps: learners who like its immersion method, and a large minority (141 one- and two-star reviews) frustrated mainly by speech recognition, price and slow progress; for French learners, the reviews point to a decent beginner app that is expensive for what it teaches.
Checked October 2026 · Rosetta Stone price: €19.99/mo, or €13.25/mo billed €159/yr; lifetime plan priced on the buy page (checked 2026-10-09 (rosettastone.com buy page, shown from Germany))
How we read them
We collected the 500 newest App Store reviews in the US feed on 9 October 2026 and grouped the one- and two-star reviews by theme. Reviews are about the app as a whole, not French alone, and we could not check individual claims, so treat the counts as a guide to what bothers people, not as proof.
What people complain about
Speaking and listening, 30 reviews: mostly the speech recognition marking correct pronunciation wrong and blocking progress until the score is green. We cover this in does Rosetta Stone work.
Price, subscriptions and cancelling, 25 reviews: renewals people did not expect, and difficulty cancelling.
Too easy or repetitive, 15 reviews: slow progress through basics, especially from learners who already knew some of the language.
Support, 7 reviews: trouble reaching anyone about billing or lost access.
What people like
The positive reviews praise the same thing the negative ones criticise: immersion. Learners who enjoy working a language out from pictures, without English, say it makes the basics stick and feels less like school. Short lessons and a clean design come up often.
What it means for French
Rosetta Stone's French takes you to about A1–B1, slowly and without grammar explanations. At €19.99 a month or €159 a year on the buy page we checked from Germany, it costs more than Babbel (€107.88 a year on its 12-month plan) and much more than Duolingo, which is free. The reviews do not suggest it gets you further than either.
What none of the three does is train your ear on real-speed French. If the reviews you care about are the ones saying they still cannot understand anyone, add one of our French listening apps, or compare the options on Rosetta Stone vs Babbel vs Duolingo.
Who it's for
Beginners who like immersion and will use the free trial to check that the speech recognition works with their voice before paying.
Who it's not for
Learners who want grammar explained, fast progress or real conversation, and anyone wary of subscriptions: the reviews show billing is a common source of grief, so note your renewal date.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.
Questions
What do people dislike about Rosetta Stone?
In the 500 recent App Store reviews we read, the top complaints were speech recognition (30), price and cancelling (25), and slow or repetitive lessons (15).
Is Rosetta Stone good for French?
For a patient beginner who likes immersion, it is a reasonable start to about A1–B1. It is expensive for that and does not explain grammar.
Is Rosetta Stone worth the money?
At €159 a year when we checked, only if the immersion method suits you. Babbel costs less and explains more; Duolingo is free.
More on Rosetta Stone
The full listing: Rosetta Stone: price, levels and who it suits.