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Online language courses
The online language courses worth paying for are Lingoda for live group classes on a timetable, italki or Preply for one-to-one tutors, and Babbel, Busuu or Pimsleur if you want to work at your own pace.
Live teaching costs more but makes you speak; self-paced courses are cheap but let you skip the hard parts. Most learners need one of each. Courses made for one language only are in that language's section.
Checked October 2026 · 15 listed
Ranked, our picks first
LingodaReal classes on a timetable; costly per minute of speaking.
Paidspeakingtutorsgrammar
italkiThe cheapest way to speak the language every week, if you choose the tutor well.
Paidspeakingtutors
PreplyA huge choice of tutors at every price; pick carefully.
Paidspeakingtutors
BabbelThe most course-like app; a good spine for A1 to B1, light on real listening.
Paidgrammarvocabularyspeaking
BusuuA solid A1 to B2 path with a usable free tier.
Free tiergrammarvocabularyspeaking
PimsleurBest for speaking from day one on a commute; thin on vocabulary.
Paidlisteningspeaking
Rosetta StoneImmersion-style basics; slow, and light on explanation.
Paidvocabularyspeaking
GymglishA witty 10-minute daily lesson that adapts to your mistakes, in five languages; paid.
Paidgrammarvocabulary
Michel ThomasAudio-only, no homework, in 19 languages; a quick way to start building sentences.
Paidspeakinggrammar
Rocket LanguagesOne-time-purchase audio courses in 14 languages; try the free lessons first.
Free tierspeakinglisteninggrammar
Pod101A huge library of short lessons in 40+ languages; a free account lets you sample it.
Free tierlisteningvocabulary
AssimilA classic daily dialogue method for patient self-learners; cheap to own.
Paidlisteninggrammarvocabulary
Language TransferFree, donation-funded audio courses that teach you to build sentences by thinking, not memorising.
Free tierspeakinggrammar
Mango LanguagesCheck your library first: free there, and a solid beginner course.
Free tiergrammarvocabularyspeaking
VerblingOne-to-one tutors in a built-in video classroom; choose the teacher carefully.
Paidspeakingtutors
How we rank
We rank apps by who they genuinely suit, what they cost, and how much they help with the skill learners neglect most: understanding the real spoken language. Every price and fact was checked on the product's own site or app store listing on the date shown; where a price is not published we say so and what is free. Nobody pays to be listed or ranked, and there are no affiliate links. More about this site.
Questions
What is a good online language course?
For speaking, Lingoda's live group classes or a tutor on italki or Preply. For a cheap self-paced structure, Babbel or Busuu; for audio you can do while walking, Pimsleur.
How much does an online language course cost?
On the pages we checked: Lingoda from €184.99 per four weeks for 5 group classes, Preply tutors from $3 a lesson (average $21), Babbel from €8.99 a month on a 12-month plan and Busuu Premium €57.99 a year, shown from Germany.
Are online language classes worth it?
Yes, if you show up every week and prepare. A class you attend but do not prepare for is mostly listening to other students.