To be 100% fluent is the ultimate goal when learning a new foreign language. All native language speakers can immediately tell when they meet a new language speaker – the French are famous for this. Unfortunately, not being 100% fluent can result in locals treating you differently.
So which app, FluentU vs Rosetta Stone, will make you fluent faster?
Having the perfect accent and knowing the latest slang or idioms can make all the difference on your travels or a big move to a new country.
Language learners must start the learning process well before they get on a plane, bus, or train to their destination. With so many popular language learning apps, it can be time-consuming and potentially expensive to find the right one for you.
We’re going to dive into FluentU vs Rosetta Stone and find out which language learning apps will make you fluent!
What Is FluentU?
FluentU is a video-based language learning app that’s been around since 2011. FluentU differentiates itself from the other language learning apps by focusing on one thing and doing it extremely well. That one thing is video immersion.
That’s right. FluentU teaches you through video lessons, but not the typical (and often boring) kind. No, with FluentU, you get to watch and listen to:
- music videos
- language podcasts
- native speaker audio
- movie trailers
- news
- discussions
- guided tours
- real-world videos (created by real people in real-life contexts)
And more!
Why videos? Well, it’s been proven that listening to a new language helps you learn faster! You’ll be able to pick up on pronunciation and all-important intonation of words and phrases. It will greatly help with your accent and fluency.
All the videos offered in FluentU also have English translation through interactive subtitles (which you can turn off). It means you can connect your native tongue and the new language you’re learning. You’ll also be able to learn slang much more easily this way.
Another great feature of the video is that you can rewind and rewatch sections as many times as possible. You are in complete control, whereas other language programs keep moving you along, and you can’t return to review what you’ve already learned.
Is FluentU Easy To Use?
Yes! It’s very easy to use on your computer, Smart TV, or phone. You’ll just near a good pair of earphones to immerse yourself in the experience if you decide to learn outside of our home.
With FluentU, you can bookmark your favorite video lessons. You can watch the same video as many times as you want. It will be more fun than studying flashcards or completing grammar
Which Languages Does FluentU Offer?
Currently, FluentU’s language offerings are limited to only 10 languages. The languages offered in FluentU are:
- Chinese
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Mandarin
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
FluentU Review: What FluentU Doesn’t Teach You
While you’ll become a very good listener if you sing along to the music videos, you’ll become a good singer. There are many aspects of earning a language you won’t be getting with FluentU.
You won’t be getting any speaking practice unless you talk along with the videos. FluentU doesn’t offer speech recognition technology, so you won’t know if your pronunciation is correct.
In terms of grammar, there is no direct focus on grammar lessons. Instead, you learn grammar through the osmosis of listening to the new languages.
How Much Does FluentU Cost?
Is FluentU a free language learning app? They offer a free 14-day trial to try the full FluentU language lesson library. The paid version is available at $19.99/month if you pay for the whole year upfront, or you can pay month by month for $29.99.
Pricing includes:
- Website, iPhone app, iPad app, Android app
- Video Dictionary
- Word Lookup on every word
- Courses, videos, audios, flashcard sets
- Access all languages in one account
- Personalized Quizzes
What Is Rosetta Stone?
Rosetta Stone is known as the most comprehensive language-learning program in the world. It has everything the other apps offer all rolled into one package and has been around for over 25 years.
You don’t have to start learning a language from scratch since you can take a placement test. Rosetta Stone allows you to start at a beginner, intermediate, or advanced language level.
You learn through games, quizzes, and unit lessons while tracking your progress through the program. The program also allows you to practice speaking. Their AI system will give you immediate feedback on your pronunciation and fluency. The program won’t let you move on until you get it right!
Languages Offered By Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone offers 28 languages which is more than double what FluentU offers. However, there are apps out there that offer even more foreign languages! Head over to Ling, a language app that offers over 60 languages.
Here is a list of languages offered in Rosetta Stone:
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Italian
- English
- Japanese
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Dutch
- English
- American
- Filipino
- Greek
- Hebrew
- Hindi
- Irish
- Korean
- Persian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Brazil
- Russian
- Spanish
- Latin
- America
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Vietnamese
Is Rosetta Stone Easy To Use?
It’s SO easy to use. The user interface on both the computer and the app is outstanding. There aren’t a billion buttons or choices like on Quizlet. On the contrary, with Rosetta Stone, everything is straight to the point. No distractions here! You can focus easily, and everything operates efficiently and is very effective.
The only thing to be aware of is that it could be difficult to practice in public as you have to speak into your phone or computer microphone during some lessons.
How Much Does Rosetta Stone Cost
Like FluentU, Rosetta Stone offers a free trial, but it’s only 3 days. After that, payment options are offered at 3 months or 1 year. What’s cool about Rosetta Stone is that they offer lifetime access. There’s a restriction, though. You can only pay to learn one language at a time. So if you want to learn more than one language, you need to pay each time.
FluentU Vs Rosetta Stone: Which Language Learning Tool Is Best For Fluency
Let’s look at the pros of both language learning apps to help you make an informed decision.
FluentU Pros
- Listen to native speakers in real-life contexts
- Good for complete beginners
- You learn listening comprehension skills
- You learn grammar points through osmosis
- Watch authentic videos
- Has the most popular languages
- You get to sing along to music videos
- Can learn multiple languages at once
Rosetta Stone Pros
- Have private tutoring lessons with a native speaker
- Watch videos and listen to native speakers in different contexts
- Good for complete beginners, intermediate learners, and more advanced learners
- Learn target language and grammar points
- Choose from 28 languages
- Learn language skills such as reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing skills, and speaking skills
So which program did you decide FluentU vs Rosetta Stone is the better tool to teach fluency?
A Great Alternative To FluentU And Rosetta Stone
Maybe you’ve found that neither FluentU nor Rosetta Stone sounds like a good match. That’s okay because there’s Ling App.
Ling offers over 60 languages for you to choose from! With our learning tools, you’ll learn specific conversation, writing, reading, and listening comprehension skills.
Ling is also really affordable, and you can try it out for free first! For one month, it costs $8.99. If you pay for a year, it’s only $4.58 per month, and we also offer lifetime access for $149,99. Have a look!
