We earn a commission from brands listed on this site. This influences the order and manner in which these listings are presented.
Advertising Disclosure

Rosetta Stone Review 2024

Catherine Miller

In a Nutshell

Rosetta Stone is a longstanding language learning brand offering an immersive learning method that gradually scales your understanding from simple phrases to more complex conversations and stories. Its speech recognition engine also helps you with pronunciation, and its personalized learning plan keeps your study relevant. With a three-day free trial, Rosetta Stone is worth a look for learners who want a one-stop shop.

pros

  • Helps you improve your accent
  • Experience real-world conversations
  • Personalized learning plan

cons

  • Pricier than some other language tools
  • Doesn’t assess your progress

Rosetta Stone at a Glance

10.0
Editorial Score

Language Variety

25 languages
10.0

Ease of Use

Intuitive with almost no written instructions, you can work through the lessons in order or jump ahead if they're too easy
10.0

Interactivity

Rosetta Stone's Dynamic Immersion® method creates interactive and contextual lessons blend with Extended Learning features
10.0

Pricing

Free plan available, costs range from $35.97 (1 language) to $109.99 or $299.99 for lifetime plus account
10.0

Learning Flexibility

The app is flexible, allows you to work at your own pace
10.0

Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone Visit Site

Rosetta Stone Plans

Rosetta Stone’s pricing varies according to how long you want to subscribe and how many languages you want to study. If you’re studying a single language, you can purchase a specific, one-subject subscription for either 3 or 12 months. If you’re learning more than one language, you’ll need the unlimited languages option, which is also a lifetime purchase. While that’s the most expensive option, if you’re a keen language learner, it could provide the best value over time.

Plan
3 months
12 months
Unlimited
Best for
Trying out a new language
Making progress in one language
Learning multiple languages over time
Cost
$11.99/mo
$7.99/mo
$179 one-off
One language only



24 languages



Rosetta Stone software with award-winning learning method



Mobile and desktop software



Personalized learning plan



Speech recognition engine



How much does Rosetta Stone cost?

How much Rosetta Stone costs you will depend on how many languages you want to include and how long you want to use the product for. Running a monthly subscription for several years may work out to be quite expensive, so it may be more cost effective to purchase a lifetime package. 

In addition to your Rosetta Stone subscription, you can choose to connect with a tutor once you’ve completed several lessons on the software. Your first session with a tutor is free, and after that will cost $14-19 per session in addition to your subscription plan or one-off lifetime license fee. 

Rosetta Stone currently has a free trial that gives you 3 days of full access to its software for 1 language of your choice. 

How does Rosetta Stone work?

Rosetta Stone has been providing language learning solutions since the early 1990s and has since moved into offering cloud-based software. Its method gradually scales from words and phrases to more complex conversations. These come with audio and visual cues to cement what you’re learning, and you can refer to the included phrasebook as you go. 

Grammar and vocabulary are embedded into example conversations, so you won’t need to learn tables or complete drills. The idea is to train you to see the patterns in the language over time. Idioms are also woven into the lessons so you will sound more like a native speaker. 

Something that makes Rosetta Stone stand out is the inclusion of pronunciation and accent practice. The speech recognition engine will compare your speaking to native examples to show where you can make improvements. You can also work on your listening on the go with audio lessons you can download and take with you. 

You also have the option of connecting with a tutor (for an extra cost) for live one-to-one lessons that can help you make further progress in speaking and listening.

Is Rosetta Stone reliable and safe?

Rosetta Stone has mixed reviews on Trustpilot, with 39% giving a rating of “Excellent,” 25% “Great,” 11% “Average,” 8% “Poor,” and 17% “Bad.” Users note that the language tools are fun and easy, and for some learners the Rosetta Stone method really works. On the other hand, some people mention issues with payments and accessing the software. 

Rosetta Stone has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), although it is not accredited. There are 74 customer complaints logged by the BBB. Some customers have felt unhappy that the unlimited lifetime package was only made available recently.  

What’s special about Rosetta Stone?

Rosetta Stone’s method breaks down language learning into bite-size chunks that make it easier to digest. It’s designed to mimic a more natural form of language learning by helping you engage with real conversations and stories that become more complex as your studies go on. 

Rather than presenting a one size fits all approach, Rosetta Stone will ask why you’re studying (e.g. work or travel) and will produce a personalized study plan that curates the learning content to make sure it’s relevant for you. 

Usefully, Rosetta Stone is available on multiple devices, and you can shift your study from your computer to your mobile or tablet without losing your progress. 

Help and Support

If you need support from Rosetta Stone, there is a dedicated support site with a knowledge base covering a range of useful topics. You can also seek support by email. Details of chat and phone support are more difficult to find on the site, but they are available. Phone and chat support can be reached Monday-Friday, 9am-10pm ET, or weekends 11am-8pm ET.  

Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone Visit Site

Bottom Line

Rosetta Stone offers a fairly comprehensive language learning tool that builds your skills in a new language in a gradual, naturalistic way. Rather than presenting you with tables and lists, you will learn vocabulary and grammar through immersion into conversations. Audio-visual cues will support the formation of long-term memory. For many people, this will be an easier and more motivating way to learn than using a traditional textbook. 

Additionally, Rosetta Stone offers two innovative ways to improve speaking and listening skills as well as reading and writing. Connecting with a tutor one on one is a great feature that can get your speaking skills sparkling in no time. You can also polish your pronunciation with the voice recognition feature. 

Although it is one of the pricier options out there, if the learning style suits you, Rosetta Stone could be worth the investment to make quick progress in your target language.  

FAQs

Can you become fluent with Rosetta Stone?

Rosetta Stone provides a great deal of language learning content (around 40-50 hours per level). However, it’s not guaranteed to bring you to fluency. Instead, it should give you a good foundation on which to build your language skills. 

Is Rosetta Stone worth it?

If you’re looking for a solid all-in-one solution, Rosetta Stone could be worth the investment. Its software includes tools for improving reading, writing, speaking, and listening, and you can also connect with a tutor. However, if you’re on a budget you may be able to replicate lots of the features with a range of lower-priced or even free tools. 

How long does it take to become fluent with Rosetta Stone?

Although it’s not guaranteed to reach fluency with Rosetta Stone, there’s enough in the software to keep you going for a long time. Each language option has multiple levels to work through, so you can make rapid progress in your target language.  

Catherine Miller is a lead member of personal finance and pension innovator Maji, where’s she’s responsible for content creation and running Maji’s personal finance masterclass. Miller also holds degrees in English and education, and worked as a teacher before moving into writing about finance for Top10.com. Today, she combines aspects of education and personal finance to help readers make better decisions in finance and beyond.
Rosetta Stone

Copyright © 2009 - 2024 Natural Intelligence Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Mailing address:

4023 Kennett Pike #50055

Wilmington, DE 19807

Top10.com is designed to help users make confident decisions online, this website contains information about a wide range of products and services. Certain details, including but not limited to prices and special offers, are provided to us directly from our partners and are dynamic and subject to change at any time without prior notice. Though based on meticulous research, the information we share does not constitute legal or professional advice or forecast, and should not be treated as such.

Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.