Panjabi Go and Pimsleur both teach Eastern Punjabi, but in different ways. Pimsleur is audio first: 30 lessons of 30 minutes that you can do hands-free, even in the car. Panjabi Go teaches you to read Gurmukhi and speak, in 235 short lessons with AI feedback on each sound. Pick Pimsleur for long listening sessions. Pick Panjabi Go to read, practise every day and talk.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. Prices are from each company's US website unless I say otherwise.
I built Panjabi Go, so keep that in mind as you read. I took every fact about Pimsleur from Pimsleur's own pages, its App Store listing and its reviews, and I link them at the end. Where Pimsleur is the better choice, I say so.
How do Panjabi Go and Pimsleur compare?
| Panjabi Go | Pimsleur | |
|---|---|---|
| Languages | Panjabi | 51 |
| Dialect | Standard Panjabi (Eastern, based on Majhi) | Eastern Punjabi as spoken in India |
| Lesson style | 235 short lessons in 30 units, with spaced repetition | Level 1: 30 audio lessons of 30 minutes |
| Dictionary | More than 35,000 words | Not found on Pimsleur's Punjabi page |
| Stories and audiobooks | A growing library: 8 audiobook summaries and 10 short stories so far, with Gurmukhi text that follows the audio | Not found on Pimsleur's Punjabi page |
| Reading Gurmukhi | From the 35 akhar, then laga matra and Muharni | Reading lessons that introduce you to reading |
| Speaking practice | An AI Pronunciation Coach that checks each sound, and AI Voice Chat | Voice Coach and 30 Speak Easy conversations |
| AI features | AI Voice Chat, an AI Tutor, Ladoo (an AI study buddy), the AI Pronunciation Coach and a Translator that works with text, speech and photos | Voice Coach gives AI pronunciation feedback. AI Conversation Coach (beta) is for Spanish and French |
| 3D mouth videos | Yes | Not found on Pimsleur's pages |
| Games | Letter Lightning, Sentence Shuffle, Who's Who, Word Catch | 300 flash cards and Quick Match |
| Free option | 7-day free trial, no card | 7-day free trial |
| Monthly price | From $9.99 | From $19.95 |
| Yearly price | From $99.90 | All Access: $131.96 for the first year, then $164.95 |
| Platforms | iOS and Android, launching soon | iOS, Android, the web, CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Offline | No | Yes |
What does Panjabi Go do differently?
Panjabi Go teaches Panjabi alone, and it starts with the script. I grew up in the UK speaking Panjabi quite well, but English became my default at school. I learned Gurmukhi at Sunday school, and the reading got rusty. When I had kids, I worried that they would lose the language, so I built the app that I wanted for my own family.
- Gurmukhi from scratch. You learn the 35 akhar, the vowel signs and Muharni, with native-quality audio on each one. I show the order in how to read Gurmukhi, step by step.
- Feedback on each sound. The AI Pronunciation Coach checks each sound in a word or a sentence. Lessons also teach tones, which Panjabi uses to tell some words apart. I explain them in Punjabi tones explained.
- 3D mouth videos show where your tongue and lips go for each sound.
- AI that talks with you. AI Voice Chat is a spoken conversation in Panjabi with a character called Jaspal Singh, at three levels, and you can tap a line to translate it. The AI Tutor answers your questions and suggests lessons. Ladoo, an AI study buddy, plans what you study next.
- Short lessons. A daily lesson takes minutes, with spaced repetition, streaks and four games. I describe a routine that works in a daily Punjabi practice routine.
- Audiobooks that you can read along with. A growing library has 8 audiobook summaries of popular books, such as Atomic Habits and Outlive, and 10 short stories set in Punjabi villages. The Gurmukhi text follows the audio word by word, and you tap a word to see its meaning. More are on the way.
- 235 lessons and more than 35,000 words. The lessons sit in 30 units, from the letters to guided dialogues and culture, and the dictionary has more than 35,000 words.
- Listening and reading practice. Muharni comes with 468 recordings, Listening Practice trains your ear, and the media player shows subtitles as you watch or listen.
When is Pimsleur the better choice?
- You learn best by listening. Pimsleur's 30-minute audio lessons work while you drive, walk or cook, and they play through CarPlay and Android Auto.
- You need to learn offline. Pimsleur works without a connection. Panjabi Go needs the internet.
- You want to learn on a computer. Pimsleur has a web version. Panjabi Go is a phone app.
- You want more than one language. Pimsleur teaches 51 languages.
- You want an app with a long record. Pimsleur has 4.7 stars from about 30,000 ratings on the US App Store. Panjabi Go is new.
- You want a cheaper year on the full plan. Pimsleur All Access costs $131.96 for the first year and $164.95 after that. Panjabi Go Fluent costs $199.90 a year.
When is Panjabi Go the better choice?
- You want to read Gurmukhi. Panjabi Go teaches every letter and vowel sign, so you can read signs, cards and the words at the gurdwara.
- You want short daily lessons, not 30-minute sessions. They fit into a busy day.
- You want to read along as you listen. The audiobooks and stories show the Gurmukhi text word by word.
- You want an AI conversation partner in Panjabi. Pimsleur's AI Conversation Coach covers Spanish and French.
- You want to see how a sound is made. The 3D mouth videos show it, and the AI Pronunciation Coach checks each sound that you say.
- You want a plan for the whole family. The Family Pack gives four people a Fluent seat each.
How long will it take to speak Punjabi?
Pimsleur's Level 1 is about 15 hours of audio. With Panjabi Go, most adults can read Gurmukhi in 4-6 weeks, and a basic conversation takes six to twelve months of regular practice. I explain those numbers in how long it takes to learn Punjabi.
How much do Panjabi Go and Pimsleur cost?
Panjabi Go has three plans: Read, Speak and Fluent. They cost $9.99, $14.99 and $19.99 a month in the US, or £6.99, £9.99 and £14.99 in the UK. A year costs the same as 10 months, so annual plans start at $99.90. There is also a Lifetime plan at $800 (£600), and a Family Pack with four Fluent seats at $59.97 (£44.97) a month. You can see what each plan includes on the pricing page.
Pimsleur Premium costs $19.95 a month. All Access costs $20.95 a month, or $131.96 for the first year and $164.95 a year after that. In the UK, Pimsleur lists £18.99 a month or £149.99 a year, and it has offered All Access for life at £450 as a promotion.
What can't Panjabi Go do?
- It has no web app. You learn on an iPhone or an Android phone.
- It has no offline mode, so you need an internet connection.
- One device can be signed in to an account at a time.
- It is for ages 13 and up.
- It teaches standard Panjabi in Gurmukhi. It does not teach the Shahmukhi script.
Most language apps don't teach Panjabi. We do, and so does Pimsleur. If you want to read and speak in short daily steps, start the free trial and see if the lessons suit you.
Sources
Questions people ask
Is Pimsleur good for learning Punjabi?
Pimsleur teaches Eastern Punjabi as spoken in India. Level 1 has 30 audio lessons of 30 minutes each, so you can learn hands-free while you drive or walk. It also has Voice Coach, flash cards, Quick Match and Speak Easy conversations.
Does Pimsleur teach Gurmukhi?
Pimsleur lists reading lessons that introduce you to reading, but its Punjabi page does not say how much Gurmukhi they cover. Panjabi Go teaches Gurmukhi from scratch: the 35 akhar, then laga matra and Muharni.
Is Pimsleur cheaper than Panjabi Go?
It depends on the plan. Pimsleur Premium costs $19.95 a month, about the same as Panjabi Go Fluent at $19.99. For a year, Pimsleur All Access costs $131.96 in the first year, and $164.95 after that. Panjabi Go Fluent costs $199.90 a year, so it costs more. Panjabi Go Read costs $99.90 a year.
Can I use Pimsleur and Panjabi Go together?
Yes. Pimsleur's audio lessons work well in the car, and Panjabi Go's short daily lessons teach you to read Gurmukhi and check your pronunciation.
Does Panjabi Go have longer audio to listen to?
Yes. A growing library has audiobook summaries of popular books and short stories, read in Panjabi. The Gurmukhi text follows the audio word by word, and you can tap a word to see what it means. There are 8 summaries and 10 stories so far.
