Best Online Language Classes of 2023

Rosetta Stone is arguably one of the most well-known language learning platforms in the world, and for good reason. It can help anyone learn to read, write, and speak 25 widely spoken languages. 

Rosetta Stone can teach you to read, write, and speak 25 languages via online classes, live tutoring, and app-based lessons (though you have to pay for live lessons separately). Beyond its range of available languages, what makes the service stand out to us is its short, immersive, 5- to 10-minute lessons that feature its state-of-the-art voice recognition software to help you perfect your pronunciation. The short lessons make learning seem less daunting and they can easily be reviewed a second or third time, if needed. 

The company also offers a number of activities and stories to keep the learning fun, and help you track your progress. This feature is appealing to children, keeping them engaged in the lessons. A 2021 literature review analyzed the effectiveness and user engagement of elementary and high school students using Rosetta Stone to learn English. Students felt happier and more optimistic with the program, and there was a significant increase between pre-test and post-test listening comprehension scores in those who used Rosetta stone compared to those who did not.  

To start practicing today using Rosetta Stone, you’ll need to decide if you prefer instruction online, app, self-led, in-person, or a combination. There are three plans that include online and offline lessons. The three month single-language plan costs $35.97, and the 12-month single-language plan is $95.88. For $179, you can purchase lifetime access to all materials for all languages. Options for live tutoring or on-demand videos are offered at extra cost.

Not only does Gallaudet offer free American Sign Language (ASL) learning videos, but the university also has a variety of fee-based ASL courses, including ASL levels one through six, Fingerspelling, and Visual Gestural Communication. The classes immerse the student in ASL with mentors, offer ASL live and online events called Vibe, and the option for ASL certification programs are available. Classes are structured to improve and perfect comprehension and communication.

Founded in 1864, Gallaudet University is a well-known and respected fully accredited liberal arts college specializing in the language and culture of Deaf persons. The school welcomes everyone, and it is unique as it is the only higher education institution that structures its curriculum to accommodate Deaf persons.

The federally chartered university offers several bilingual courses that delve into important general and specific topics. Courses such as an Introduction to the Study of Deaf Persons provide a general overview. A class is offered to better understand the history and experience of Black Deaf Persons, and another examines the historical and modern perspectives unique to Deaf Women.

Gallaudet’s beginner lessons are free of charge to prepare students for the more advanced (fee-based) ASL courses. Fingerspelling courses are around $330, and ASL courses on special topics are about $990.

Babbel offers a well-rounded curriculum in Spanish and 13 other languages to meet the needs of any student,. The lessons feature a variety of spoken and written exercises to learn the basics for business and travel-based conversations. 

Founded in Berlin, Germany in 2007, Babbel offers an expansive curriculum for its Spanish language classes (as well as many other languages). As such, the program is perfect for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. The selection of learning exercises includes games, podcasts, stories, and speaking with voice recognition correction. A stand-out feature of Babbel is that it demonstrates the differences between Latin American Spanish and Castilian Spanish, as well as other useful cultural call-outs. 

There is a free trial for beginners only that includes a full course along with the opportunity to book up to three free live classes. The online and app subscriptions are offered on a monthly, yearly, or lifetime basis (online: six months for $66.90, $89.40 for 12 months, and $349 for lifetime access to all languages. The app is included. The Babbel Live subscription is available for instructor-guided lessons and also include a subscription to the app, and range from one month for $99 to 12 months for $599. The prices are steep, but you are able to book an unlimited number of classes. All sessions are hosted by certified Spanish language teachers. 

Wyzant is an online tutoring platform with nearly 600 French language instructors. Each instructor sets their hourly fee, which averages $35-$65 for language lessons to $300 for specialized lessons. Instructors create in-depth profiles that include personal bios, credentials, experience, and reviews, You will have enough information to help you find a great fit for your needs and goals.

Wyzant is a platform that matches students to tutors across a broad spectrum of lessons in just about any subject you can dream of, from history to computer coding, and so much more. Lessons are taught online or through the mobile app. Wyzant distinguishes itself from all the others with the option to find local tutors for in-person instruction. 

With over 550 french tutors located across the globe, you are sure to find a perfect match for your schedule, needs, and budget. To get started, you search for a tutor based on subject, with the option to add your zip code if you would like to see local tutors. After you create your shortlist, you can read each instructor's profile as well as any reviews left by past students. 

Each tutor sets their own rates which can range from $35-$65 an hour for language instruction, and up to $300 for specialized lessons, such as career board examination preparation (Whether as ESL, or a Native English speaker with the need to prepare to take an exam in French). If your budget limits you to choosing instructors who are just starting out or lack the credentials of more expensive instructors, don't worry! You may find a hidden gem, as every tutor has to start at the bottom. If it doesn't work out, you can try multiple instructors in your price range until you find a good fit for your needs.

Lingoda provides a robust, personalized path to learning the German language at an affordable price. Lessons are taught live, and you can choose to learn one-on-one, or in a small group of five students. The curriculum is developed to align with The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) exam, an international standard for describing language ability at multiple levels. There’s also Lingoda’s Language Sprint, a rigorous program designed to get you comfortably speaking German in two months.

Lingoda offers tutoring for every level from beginner basics to courses that include the opportunity to earn the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) certificate as you advance to each level. The teaching styles include one-on-one sessions, group lessons with no more than five other students, and the intensive Language Sprint where you attend online classes as often as you like to speak German confidently in only two months. All classes are live, offering immediate immersion into learning, listening to, and speaking the language.

To begin, you’ll take a placement test to find the perfect class level for you ranging from an A1 level (Absolute Beginner) up to a C1 (Advanced). If you have a busy schedule, classes are available around the clock to ensure every time zone is covered. No matter how crazy your schedule is, you will be able to find a time that works for you. Classes are 60 minutes long.

The website has a wealth of free resources to help you get started in your pursuit of learning German. If you want to explore the program in more depth, there is a seven-day free trial that allows you to take three group classes or one private class. In order to opt into the trial, you will need to gauge your expected commitment (you can choose to take four classes a month, up to 40 classes a month), then enter your payment details.  If you aren't completely satisfied with the program, make sure you cancel before the trial is over or you will be charged the full amount for the package you committed to (between $79.99 for four classes per month or up to $342.99 for 40 classes per month, for group classes).

Verbling connects carefully vetted, experienced, Mandarin language tutors with students of all ages and language levels. These tutors are located all over the world and most have taught hundreds of lessons. They can accommodate your schedule, provide a personalized approach to meeting your needs and goals, all at a price that will fit any budget. 

Verbling is an integrated platform that offers tutors in over 70 languages, that connects qualified tutors with students. There are about 45 Mandarin tutors to choose from to help you reach your goals. Each tutor has a detailed bio, a list of their areas of expertise and teaching experience, credentials, what they include in their courses, student rating, their rates, schedule, CV, and a short video so you can get an idea of who they are and their style of teaching. One of the benefits of this platform is that your first lesson is free, so you can try your top-pick tutor without risk. 

Verbling’s search feature allows you to filter tutors based on availability, background, experience, and hourly rates. Most teachers create their own curriculum and lesson plans, aimed to meet requirements to pass the TOCFL test in Taiwan and HSK in China, but you can request a customized program driven by your needs and goals. 

The cost for the service ranges from $15 per hour to $50 an hour, but the tutors often provide discounts so you may find even lower rates. If you find that your tutor isn't the best fit, you can select a new tutor for your next lesson. You can even use a new tutor for every lesson. 

Preply has about 200 Cantonese-speaking tutors you can choose from based on rate, schedule, teaching style, and more. Each teacher undergoes an extensive background check to verify teaching certificates and teaching history.

At Preply, there are over 2,300 Chinese language tutors, and over 200 of those are specifically vetted to teach Cantonese. These tutors are located all over the world and collectively offer scheduling around the clock with rates starting as low as $10 an hour. To find the perfect tutor, you can search based on location, background, hourly rate, availability, and specialties. You can also opt to only look at the profiles of native speakers who can offer insight into the culture. In addition to undergoing a background check and vetting process, many of the tutors have taught hundreds of lessons with prior student ratings to give you further insight into the one you're considering. 

Your first lesson is free, so you have the opportunity to get a feel for the tutor and teaching structure before making a financial commitment. All language classes are conducted in the Preply Classroom, which includes video calling, text messaging, and downloadable study materials. If you don’t feel your tutor is the right fit, you can keep trying new ones until you find one you like. Since the tutor’s schedule is not always consistent, you may find that you’ll have to work with multiple tutors to accommodate your schedule. 

While the tutors can charge up to $40 an hour, the majority of the Cantonese tutors charge around $15 per hour. Some teachers make package discounts available for savings.

The platform italki is an exceptional option for those wanting to learn Japanese. Choose from over 1,000 Japanese professional teachers and native community tutors offering a range of price points. Most teachers have taught hundreds of lessons with a wealth of excellent user reviews. The simple-to-use platform makes it easy to find a live one-on-one tutor that can accommodate your budget and schedule. Want to practice your skills in groups? iTalki regularly schedules instructor-guided group discussions for different levels.

Want to learn Japanese? italki specializes in connecting those who want to learn a language with a wide variety of options, and you can choose someone with a more formal or casual teaching style. There are two types of language instructors listed on the platform: Professional teachers and Community tutors. Professional teachers are experienced instructors certified to teach their language. They usually have their areas of expertise and overviews of their lesson plans on their profiles. A community tutor is a native or advanced speaker who knows both English and Japanese well, who helps students through informal tutoring or speaking practice. 

Each teacher and tutor has a short text and video introduction to help find the right one for your needs, as well as an availability calendar and reviews left by previous students. You can book a free trial lesson with any teacher, and change instructors if you don't feel it's the right fit. The rates start as low as $4, a steal for the language and cultural experience you will get. Just think: If you are planning a trip to Japan, you can choose to have a one-on-one conversation with a native speaker that resides in the area you plan to visit. They can teach you all about the culture, local hot spots, cafes, restaurants, and hidden gems. There are also free quizzes and podcasts to help you continue practicing on your own. If you would like to practice your new speaking skills with other learners, the platform offers groups classes for different levels, where students discuss a topic with the guidance of an instructor.

90 Day Korean tops the charts for online Korean classes, thanks to well-structured educational modules, interactive games, and affordable pricing. In the VIP package, you will have access to live speaking classes and personal coaching. Both packages give you access to an active online community to ask questions and chat.

90 Day Korean is a 12-month program, divided into four modules that are designed to take three months each to complete. However, since this is an entirely self-paced program, you can stick to the schedule or work on a timeframe that is best for you. At the end of the first module, or 90-days, you should be able to hold a three-minute conversation with a native Korean speaker. The program focuses on conversational basics, which are perfect for a trip abroad for business or pleasure, chatting with Korean friends, or business communications. A certificate is issued upon completion, but the material is not comprehensive enough to prepare for the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) exam.

Each of the lessons included in the modules include text messages, audio clips, homework exercises, stories, and interactive games to keep things fun so you look forward to practicing on a daily basis. All members have access to the community forum to ask questions or just chat with other students, as well as the Korean Gym, where you can receive a quick blast of learning. If you opt for VIP access you can work with a private instructor who provides live speaking lessons, pronunciation feedback, graded homework, and support.

The basic membership, called Standard, is $35 per month or $279 per year, while the premium VIP membership that includes a coach is $49 per month or $399 per year.