# Drops vs Pimsleur | Language Learning

The clearest difference is chart position: Pimsleur | Language Learning at #6 against Drops's #160. Pimsleur | Language Learning also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). Drops's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Drops sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Pimsleur | Language Learning sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Drops against 4.7 for Pimsleur | Language Learning. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 72K and 30K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Drops's written reviews are positive against 83% of Pimsleur | Language Learning's.

Drops ships an update weekly, Pimsleur | Language Learning every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Drops | Pimsleur | Language Learning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (72K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drops-language-learning-games/id939540371/reviews) | [4.7 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pimsleur-language-learning/id1405735469/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **72K** | 30K |
| Positive reviews | 74.6% of reviews | **82.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #160 | **#6** |
| Size | 191 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PLANB LABS OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/527215806) | [Simon & Schuster](https://appshunter.io/developer/305077328) |

## What reviewers say

### Drops

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drops-language-learning-games/id939540371)

**Currently charting:** #160 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

Learn new languages through engaging games and visual aids. Practice vocabulary and common phrases in over 55 languages, from beginner to expert levels. Track progress, unlock achievements, and enjoy professionally curated lessons with native speaker pronunciations.

**Highlights:** Gamified vocabulary learning, Visual learning aids, 55+ language options, Progress tracking and rewards, Native speaker pronunciations, Customizable learning goals

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Genius for a month | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium | $11.99 | per month |
| Premium | $14.99 | per month |
| Curious for a month | $22.99 | per month |
| Holiday premium! | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium | $62.99 | per year |
| Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| All Language Learning Plans | $69.99 | per year |
| Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $89.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Unlimited time for all Languages! | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Vocabulary learning
- 👍 Unique and engaging learning activities
- 👍 Wide range of languages
- 👍 Customizable learning experience
- 👍 Effective for building vocabulary

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate translations or pronunciations
- 🔒 Subscription model issues
- 👎 Limited to vocabulary, lacks grammar/sentence structure
- 👎 Repetitive and not enough variety in exercises

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and lost progress
- Crashes and performance problems

**Requested features**

- Add more grammar and sentence-level learning
- Improve accuracy of translations and pronunciations
- Provide more flexibility in time limits and review sessions
- Integrate more conversational practice
- Improve user interface and navigation


### Pimsleur | Language Learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pimsleur-language-learning/id1405735469)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Grossing · Education, #57 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Master over 50 languages with daily 30-minute audio lessons. Achieve native-like fluency through a scientifically proven method focused on speaking and pronunciation, even offline. Perfect for busy adults seeking flexible, effective language learning.

**Highlights:** Learn 50+ languages, 30-minute daily lessons, Offline mode, Hands-free learning, Pronunciation practice, AI language tutor, Sync across devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spanish Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Italian Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Japanese Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| All Access Subscription | $20.99 | per month |
| All Access Subscription | $20.99 | per month |
| All Access Subscription | $20.99 | per month |
| All Access Annual Subscription | $131.99 | per year |
| All Access Subscription Annual | $164.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for speaking and listening practice
- 👍 Effective for learning pronunciation and conversational skills
- 💡 Convenient to use while doing other activities
- 👍 Structured lessons build language skills progressively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Limited content for some languages
- 📚 Lacks written materials and grammar explanations

**Reported bugs**

- Lesson downloads frequently get interrupted
- Inconsistent performance on older devices
- Sync issues between app and online account

**Requested features**

- More levels and content for less popular languages
- Ability to adjust playback speed of lessons
- Tighter integration with other language learning resources
- Improved voice recognition and feedback


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Drops free?

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

### Is Pimsleur | Language Learning free?

Pimsleur | Language Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Drops or Pimsleur | Language Learning?

Drops and Pimsleur | Language Learning are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 72K and 30K ratings respectively.

### Do Drops or Pimsleur | Language Learning have ads?

Both Drops and Pimsleur | Language Learning show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Drops or Pimsleur | Language Learning?

Drops ships an update weekly, and Pimsleur | Language Learning every 2 weeks. Most recently, Drops was updated on September 24, 2026 and Pimsleur | Language Learning on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Drops or Pimsleur | Language Learning?

Drops currently peaks at #160 in the App Store charts, and Pimsleur | Language Learning at #6. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*