In recent years, learning a new language has become more accessible than ever with the rise of online language schools. These schools offer convenience and flexibility, with the added bonus of giving you access to native-speaking teachers around the world.
But with so many schools offering different courses, how do you choose the right one? In this article, we’ll explore the best online language schools in 2025, highlighting the curriculums and teaching methods, whether certificates are available, and how well they might fit into your lifestyle.
There are several key factors to consider when deciding if an online language school is right for you. First, there’s the curriculum. Does the school offer structured, level-based courses that are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) or more targeted courses focusing on a particular topic area?
You also need to consider how you’ll be taught, from live online classes to self-paced courses. There are benefits to both. Live classes facilitate real-time interaction with other learners and your teacher, and you can get immediate clarification if you have doubts. You are also in a more structured learning environment, which may help keep you on track. Meanwhile, self-paced courses offer greater flexibility and may be more cost-effective. You may want to know if you receive a certificate at the end of a course to prove your language level to an employer, for example.
Finally, think about whether you want to take classes only in your target language. Some courses offer full immersion (the teacher speaks and/or the materials are in the target language). This tends to facilitate faster and more natural language acquisition. Other schools offer translations, which may suit learners who are intimidated by full immersion programs.
Top-rated online language schools in 2025
Choosing the best online language course depends on various factors, including teaching style, pricing, certification options, and user reviews. Below, we compare some of the top-rated programs based on these key criteria.
Best comprehensive language programs
Lingoda
Lingoda is an online language school with a focus on teaching real-life language in small classes led by native-level teachers. All skills are covered, and helping learners become more confident speakers is a priority.
Level: A1–C1 in English and German; A1–B2 in Business English, French, and Spanish; A1 in Italian.
Certificate of completion: Available for each CEFR level completed.
Schedule flexibility: Live classes are offered 24/7.
Pros:
Structured courses aligned with the CEFR.
Live classes allow for real-time speaking practice and instant answers to any questions.
All classes are taught by native-level teachers.
Cons:
The cost of live classes may be higher when compared to self-paced courses, and a time commitment is required.
With 30 years of experience in language teaching, Rosetta Stone focuses on complete immersion using native-speaker audio and speech recognition technology.
Level: B1–C1 in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Additional courses in 25 languages.
Certificate of completion: Available for each level or course completed.
Schedule flexibility: No live lessons for individual learners.
Pros:
Uses a Dynamic Immersion method, with audio from native speakers in lessons and exercises.
TruAccent speech recognition technology promises to help improve pronunciation.
Cons:
No live tutoring offered as part of the individual package, making the courses less interactive.
FluentU
FluentU teaches languages via authentic, interactive videos. It offers an immersive experience and prioritizes vocabulary learning.
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced in 10 languages, from English and German to Mandarin Chinese and Korean.
Certificate of completion: No.
Schedule flexibility: No live lessons.
Pros:
Modern video-based learning with interactive subtitles to learn vocabulary.
Immersive experience.
Cons:
Speaking practice is limited, as there are no live classes or speech recognition technology.
Best for live group lessons
Lingoda
Lingoda offers small group classes with experienced teachers. Over 60 classes start every hour, meaning you can tailor your schedule to suit your lifestyle.
Level: A1–C1 in English and German; A1–B2 in Business English, French, and Spanish; A1 in Italian.
Certificate of completion: Available for each CEFR level completed.
Schedule flexibility: Live classes are offered 24/7.
Pros:
Native-level teachers from all over the world.
Learners can schedule classes at a time that suits them.
Class sizes are small (2–5 students), allowing plenty of chances to speak and interact with fellow learners.
Private classes available
Cons:
Live lessons require a time commitment.
Berlitz
Berlitz has been around for 140 years and is a long-established school with a global presence. Its courses are mapped to the CEFR levels, and it offers group classes both online and in-person.
Level: A1—C2 in a range of languages.
Certificate of completion: Available for each level completed.
Schedule flexibility: Classes are at fixed times.
Pros:
Courses follow a proven immersive method.
Berlitz has a strong global reputation.
Native-level teachers.
Cons:
Group courses are relatively expensive.
Live lessons require a fixed schedule commitment.
Goethe-Institut (for German)
The Goethe-Institut is one of the most respected names in German language teaching, with over 70 years of experience in the industry. It is the largest provider of German language courses in the world.
Level: A1–C2 in German only.
Certificate of completion: Available for each level completed.
The Babbel language learning app has been a popular choice for self-study for many years. It offers courses in 14 languages.
Level: Varies. Self-study courses are available up to B2 in French, German and Italian and C1 in Spanish.
Certificate of completion: Available for each level completed.
Schedule flexibility: No live lessons; complete flexibility.
Pros:
Short, practical lessons focused on real-world conversations.
Interactive and engaging lessons.
Cons:
No live classes are offered under the self-study program.
Learners receive limited speaking practice.
Pimsleur
The Pimsleur method was developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur. Students are discouraged from writing anything down during lessons and are encouraged to respond out loud at all times.
Level: Beginner to intermediate in a range of languages.
Certificate of completion: Available for each level completed.
Schedule flexibility: No live lessons; complete flexibility.
Pros:
Audio-based learning — effective for improving pronunciation.
Learn naturally via conversations.
Cons:
No writing practice.
Lack of live interaction with teachers.
Busuu
Busuu combines AI-powered input with the chance to get feedback from a community of native speakers of the language you’re learning. 14 languages are available.
Level: A1–B2; English up to C1
Certificate of completion: Available for each level completed.
Schedule flexibility: No live lessons; complete flexibility.
Pros:
Short, focused lessons with AI-powered exercises.
Chance to get feedback from native speakers.
Cons:
Access to content is limited with the free version.
Limited pronunciation and speaking exercises.
Best for one-on-one tutoring
italki
With italki, students can connect with teachers and take one-on-one lessons in over 150 languages.
Level: Depends on tutor.
Certificate of completion: No.
Schedule flexibility: Lessons can be scheduled at any time.
Pros:
Flexible scheduling.
Wide range of tutors with a variety of accents and dialects.
Cons:
Quality of lessons varies by tutor.
No structured curriculum or materials aligned to the CEFR.
Preply
Preply has over 50,000 tutors teaching over 120 languages to students in one-on-one lessons. You can learn more about Preply vs. Lingoda in our article.
Level: Depends on tutor.
Certificate of completion: Available after a certain number of hours spent learning.
Schedule flexibility: Lessons can be scheduled at any time.
Pros:
Can be affordable, depending on the tutor you choose.
Personalized lessons from a range of tutors.
Cons:
No standardized curriculum.
The quality of lessons depends on the tutor.
Verbling
With over 2,000 tutors teaching over 70 languages, Verbling is a popular choice for finding one-on-one lessons.
Level: Depends on tutor.
Certificate of completion: Available.
Schedule flexibility: Lessons can be scheduled at any time.
Pros:
High-quality tutors,
Structured courses
Cons:
More expensive than competitors,
Fewer tutors in rare languages
Best supplemental language learning tools
Many people choose to learn a language online via several methods. Apps and online materials don’t offer the same experience as learning with a language school, but they can be excellent tools for additional practice.
Duolingo – Best for gamified vocabulary and grammar practice
Duolingo is perhaps the best-known language-learning app. Offering a range of languages, its gamified approach can help keep learners motivated.
Pros:
Fun, bite-sized lessons in an attractive and easy-to-use app.
Can be free to use, though non-paid versions come with adverts.
Cons:
No live instruction.
Lacks depth, making it more difficult to reach fluency.
Language Transfer – Best for free, audio-based learning
Offering completely free courses, Language Transfer offers audio-based lessons in several major languages, including French, German, and Arabic.
Pros:
Audio-based lessons for listening comprehension.
Recordings are made with a real student of the language.
Cons:
Only available for a few languages.
Not immersive as things are explained in and translated into English.
How to choose the right online language school for you
Your first consideration might be whether you’re willing to pay for lessons or not. If not, a free app is the way to go. But if you’re serious about advancing your language skills, free apps aren’t enough. As the next step, you need to think about whether you want to follow a self-study course or learn with a teacher. Self-study can work well for highly motivated students, but the lack of scheduled classes means it’s easy to lose focus, and there’s usually no interactive speaking practice.
Finally, consider whether you want one-to-one lessons with the personal attention of a teacher or if you’d prefer to participate in a group course, which often follows a CEFR-based curriculum and allows plenty of chances to act with your fellow learners and a qualified teacher. Lingoda offers both options with flexible, immersive online classes led by professional teachers. No one method will suit everyone, but now you’re armed with enough information to make the right choice for you.
Laura is a freelance writer and was an ESL teacher for eight years. She was born in the UK and has lived in Australia and Poland, where she writes blogs for Lingoda about everything from grammar to dating English speakers. She’s definitely better at the first one. She loves travelling and that’s the other major topic that she writes on. Laura likes pilates and cycling, but when she’s feeling lazy she can be found curled up watching Netflix. She’s currently learning Polish, and her battle with that mystifying language has given her huge empathy for anyone struggling to learn English. Find out more about her work in her portfolio.
