Rosetta Stone reviews: what 500 learners say

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; together they 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))

Quick answers

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 cover every language on the app, 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 before you pay

Rosetta Stone takes you to about A1 to B1, slowly and without grammar explanations. At €19.99 a month, or €13.25 a month billed €159 a year, on the buy page we checked from Germany on 9 October 2026, it costs more than Babbel (€107.88 a year on its 12-month plan, checked the same day) and much more than Duolingo, which is free. The reviews do not suggest it gets you further than either; see Rosetta Stone vs Babbel vs Duolingo.

Which should you choose?

If you enjoy working things out from pictures and want no English, try the free trial and check that the speech recognition accepts your voice before paying.

If you want grammar explained, Babbel costs less and explains more.

If price matters most, Duolingo teaches a similar range for free.

If you want to see one course in detail before paying, read Rosetta Stone for French.

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.

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 beginners?

For a patient beginner who likes immersion, it is a reasonable start to about A1 to B1. It is expensive for that and does not explain grammar.

Is Rosetta Stone worth the money?

At €159 a year when we checked on 9 October 2026, only if the immersion method suits you. Babbel costs less and explains more; Duolingo is free.