# Michel Thomas Language Library vs Assimil

The clearest difference is update cadence: Assimil at every 4 days against Michel Thomas Language Library's every 4 months. Michel Thomas Language Library's advantage is ratings volume (156 vs 21) and review sentiment (41% vs 31%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Michel Thomas Language Library sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Assimil sells 45 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Michel Thomas Language Library against 4.3 for Assimil. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Michel Thomas Language Library has 156 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Michel Thomas Language Library's written reviews are positive against 31% of Assimil's.

Michel Thomas Language Library ships an update every 4 months, Assimil every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Michel Thomas Language Library | Assimil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/michel-thomas-language-library/id1429578528/reviews) | **[4.3 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/assimil-learn-languages/id1438616898/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **156** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | **40.8% of reviews** | 31.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 97 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hachette UK (Holdings)Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/361205465) | [HOLIWAVE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788477154) |

## What reviewers say

### Michel Thomas Language Library

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/michel-thomas-language-library/id1429578528)

Learn languages naturally through an audio-based method without books or memorization. This app guides you from beginner to confident speaker by actively participating in simulated live lessons, building a solid foundation and speaking in full sentences from the start.

**Highlights:** Audio-based lessons, No books or memorization required, Learn from simulated live lessons, Active participation, Speak in full sentences from the start, Learn at your own pace

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack of 11 Credits | $10.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 12 Credits | $11.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 90 Credits | $89.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 100 Credits | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Excellent language learning methodology
- 🎯 Effective speaking-focused approach
- 📱 Convenient offline access to lessons
- ⏱️ Flexible short lesson format
- 🚗 Great for learning while driving

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- ⏸️ Play/pause button unreliable
- 💰 High pricing compared to competitors
- 🔐 Account access and login issues
- 📉 Poor customer support responsiveness

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on login
- App crashes when opening audio files
- Pause/play button unresponsive when phone locked
- Pause button skips back 30 seconds
- Progress bar out of sync with audio

**Requested features**

- Bookmark/progress saving functionality
- Lesson completion tracking
- Better pause/play button responsiveness
- Improved UI design with larger control buttons
- MP3 file access for external players


### Assimil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/assimil-learn-languages/id1438616898)

Master a new language in 100 days with an immersive, interactive method. Gain confidence for everyday and professional communication, reaching B2 or C1 proficiency. Includes native speaker audio, dialogues, and grammar explanations.

**Highlights:** 100-day language mastery, Interactive lessons, Native speaker audio, Immersive dialogues, Grammar explanations, Review lessons

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (45)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anglais d'Amérique | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Perf. Italien | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Néerlandais | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Brésilien | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Turc | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Perf. Allemand | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Perf. Russe | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Latin | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil French | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Allemand | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Italien | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Hindi | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Roumain | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Corse | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Anglais | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Polonais | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Chinois | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Hongrois | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Coréen | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Malgache | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Swahili | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Espagnol | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Perf. Espagnol | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Russe | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Vietnamien | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Catalan | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Norvegien | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Inglés | $41.99 | one-time |
| ASSIMIL FRANCÉS | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Perf. Anglais | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Grec moderne | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Croate | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Grec Ancien | $41.99 | one-time |
| Assimil German | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Italian | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Brazilian Portuguese | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Chinese | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Japanese | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Russian | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Spanish | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Portugais | $44.99 | one-time |
| Korean | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil Portugais 2026 | $44.99 | one-time |
| German 2025 | $44.99 | one-time |
| Assimil L’inglese americano | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Michel Thomas Language Library free?

Michel Thomas Language Library is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Assimil free?

Assimil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Michel Thomas Language Library or Assimil?

Assimil is rated higher. Michel Thomas Language Library averages 4.2 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while Assimil averages 4.3 from 21 ratings.

### Do Michel Thomas Language Library or Assimil have ads?

Neither Michel Thomas Language Library nor Assimil shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Michel Thomas Language Library or Assimil?

Michel Thomas Language Library ships an update every 4 months, and Assimil every 4 days. Most recently, Michel Thomas Language Library was updated on September 23, 2026 and Assimil on September 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*