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I’m probably not alone in wanting to visit Seoul again to test and practice my Korean. Or to go to Paris to see how far I can go before succumbing to ‘parlez vous Anglais?’.
After all, speaking early on in your language learning journey is one of the best ways to quickly learn a language. And what better way is there than to travel and speak to locals? How nice would it be if it were that easy?
Fortunately, there are easier and more accessible ways to get speaking practice with native speakers: online language tutors and classes.
One of the most popular sites for online language classes — both for private and group classes — is Lingoda. It’s particularly known for its interactive, classroom-like setting. The caveat? It provides courses in only four languages.
If you’re looking for the best online language tutors and classes and want something similar to what Lingoda offers, you’ll find this list of Lingoda alternatives handy.
What is Lingoda?
A CEFR-aligned online language school, Lingoda boasts almost 2,000 certified and native or native-level tutors. The platform offers over 560,000 classes annually — over 60 classes start every hour 24/7. Its flexibility is indeed one of its best features.
Lingoda lets you join 60-minute online group sessions with up to five students or a 1-on-1 class. You can take German, English, Business English, French, and Spanish classes that cover A1 to C1 levels. Sessions are held via Zoom. Lingoda is also available on iOS and Android.
While the lessons include vocabulary and grammar, the main goal is to get you to speak confidently. The tutor will mainly speak in the target language so you can get used to the language fast. You will also get personalized feedback from the teacher after the sessions.
The cost of the lessons varies per language and on whether you’re taking private or group classes. It ranges from $10 to $20 per hour for group classes and $20-$40 for private sessions. Monthly subscriptions come in packages of 4, 12, 20, or 40 classes per month. You may also sign up for a 7-day free trial.
Why look for Lingoda alternatives?
Despite its positively-reviewed features and high-quality courses, learners are looking for Lingoda alternatives for a few reasons.
First, Lingoda only offers lessons in four languages — English, German, French, and Spanish. If you’re not studying any of these languages, the platform won’t be of any use to you and you’re better off trying out the sites and apps below.
Secondly, while its prices are comparable to other online language schools, they can still cost more than other tutoring sites like italki and Preply. That said, Lingoda only hires experienced and certified language tutors so you’ll be getting your money’s worth. But if you’re on a budget, looking for Lingoda alternatives is not a bad idea.
Finally, even if you are enjoying Lingoda’s courses, it’s still worth checking out options if only to see other helpful features and maybe to try out other methods of instruction. No harm in trying, yes?
And so, without further ado, here are the best Lingoda alternatives for you to consider. This list includes sites that offer 1-on-1 tutoring, small group classes, or both.
The best Lingoda alternatives for language learners
1. italki
You must have seen this coming; it’s hard to talk about online language tutors without mentioning italki.
With over 20,000 language tutors providing private lessons in 150+ languages, it’s understandable that many learners turn to italki to gain language proficiency and particularly improve conversational skills.
If you like flexibility in scheduling classes but prefer learning one-on-one, italki is one of the best Lingoda alternatives. Like Lingoda, classes are available pretty much anytime (though you do have to schedule in advance) and you can easily find certified, native-speaking teachers.
One of the great things about italki is that you only need to pay per lesson. If, for some reason, you want to switch to another tutor or you need to put studying on hold, you don’t have to worry about unused classes in your subscription or package because there’s none of that on italki.
Want to learn more? Check out this in-depth italki review.
What I love about italki:
- Wide availability of languages and online tutors
- Flexible rates and schedules
- Option to work with certified tutors or get casual conversation practice with community tutors
Pricing: Varies per language and tutor but you can find tutors for as low as $5 per hour. Avail of the discounted trial lesson here.
2. Preply
Another site known for its large pool of online language tutors (as well as tutors on other subjects) is Preply. This site is perhaps best known for its competitive rates and the ease with which you can choose your tutors.
Tutor profiles on Preply provide just about anything you might want to know about your potential teacher: his/her nationality, location, languages he/she can speak, availability, rates, and specialties. You can also see reviews and ratings from previous students.
If you’re learning English and crave some human interaction in your lessons, here’s good news: Preply also offers live online group lessons! Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced in your studies, there’s a group lesson for you to take with up to five other students.
What I love about Preply:
- Plenty of tutors to choose from with detailed profiles
- Very affordable language lessons
- Lessons can be customized depending on your goals and needs
Pricing: Varies per teacher and language but it can cost as low as $4 per session. Try it now.
3. LanguaTalk
Launched in February 2021, LanguaTalk is the youngest online language tutoring site on this list. But its positive reviews prove that you shouldn’t dismiss it just yet.
LanguaTalk specializes in 1-on-1 lessons tailored to your learning goals, fluency level, and learning preferences. The site currently offers online tutoring for 10 languages, including Chinese, Swedish, and Romanian — ones that aren’t found on Lingoda.
Like other platforms, LanguaTalk allows you to choose tutors based on their profiles, reviews, and availability. No need to commit long-term, you can book a free or discounted trial session first. If you like your tutor, you can buy a lesson or packages of 5, 10, or 20 lessons.
Why I love LanguaTalk:
- Detailed tutor profiles
- Highly-rated expert tutors
- Flexible schedule and pricing
Pricing: You can find lessons for as low as $10/hour. Try it for FREE today!
4. AmazingTalker
With 7,500+ teachers specializing in 103 languages, you’re bound to find a good fit on AmazingTalker.
As in italki and Preply, AmazingTalker lets you choose a private language tutor based on your preferred schedule, budget, other languages he/she can speak, nationality, and specialties. Courses can be tailored according to your needs and goals, too.
What sets AmazingTalker apart is its Student Requests feature. If you can’t choose a tutor, you can put in a special request containing your age, target language, the course you’re interested in, preferred schedule, and budget. The system will then match you with the top 3 suitable tutors.
What I love about AmazingTalker:
- Strict tutor vetting process and comprehensive training
- AI-based tutor ranking system to get the best tutor recommendations
- Immersive and customized lessons
Pricing: Sessions cost $10-30/hour on average. Avail of discounted trial lessons here.
5. Live Lingua
Like Lingoda, Live Lingua offers lessons in English, Spanish, German, and French. But on top of that, it also offers Italian and Japanese courses.
Live Lingua differs from Lingoda in a few ways. For one, Live Lingua specializes in immersive private one-on-one classes. The platform prides itself in structuring lessons based on how the student learns best. Live Lingua assesses your current level and looks at your goals to see what learning plan suits you.
What’s more, instead of you choosing a tutor, Live Lingua matches and introduces you to the ideal tutor based on the learning style quiz that you’ll take upon signing up. This saves you from wasting time sifting through countless independent tutors.
What I love about Live Lingua:
- Immersive lessons tailored to your learning style and needs
- University-educated and certified teachers
- Flexible schedules and personalized feedback
Pricing: Starts from $20/hour. Avail a free trial now.
6. Wyzant
With over 65,000 tutors, Wyzant is one of the top Lingoda alternatives for language learners. And lucky you if you reside in the U.S., you can even find in-person tutors from this site.
This site is a great choice if you’re seeking specialized courses and lessons that fit your schedule. Need help with Japanese grammar? How about improving your Korean conversational skills through context clues and games? With Wyzant, you can.
Wyzant also takes pride in the quality of instruction it provides; it even offers the Good Fit Guarantee. This means your first hour with a new tutor is protected. If you’re not satisfied with your lesson, you don’t have to pay!
What I love about Wyzant:
- Wide variety of subjects and tutors to choose from
- Availability of 1-on-1 online classes and face-to-face sessions
- No subscriptions, packages, or upfront payments
Pricing: On average, lessons cost $35-55/hour. Find a tutor now.
7. Busuu Live
Busuu is a Chegg service so it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that it offers excellent language tutoring services. And yes, that includes live 1-on-1 lessons and group classes.
Combining its well-structured language courses and live lessons led by expert teachers, Busuu Live is one of the better Lingoda alternatives out there. If you’ve already tried learning from the Busuu app, you probably already know how exhaustive yet fun its courses are.
With Busuu live lessons, however, you get more speaking practice. You also get access to self-paced courses, a personalized study plan, smart review tools, feedback from native speakers, and official Busuu certification. I don’t know about you but that sounds like a good deal.
What I love about Busuu Live:
- Qualified teachers to help improve your speaking skills
- Option to learn solo or with up to four other students
- Book by lesson topic or choose a teacher
- Access to self-paced courses, review materials, and certification
Pricing: Starts from $26/month. Check out the latest promo here.
8. Fluent City
Similar to Lingoda, Fluent City provides live online classes with an expert language tutor in either a 1-on-1 or group format. Offering flexible tutoring plans in 11 languages, this is one of the best Lingoda alternatives for conversation-based lessons.
With Fluent City, you have the option to take private lessons for a more customized experience. The plan is so flexible that you can even switch your lesson or teacher at any time.
The online group lessons, on the other hand, focused on learning through fun, engaging conversations. This means you won’t be sucked into perfecting grammar. Instead, you’ll develop your speaking skills by speaking with peers and getting feedback from your tutor.
What I love about Fluent City:
- Availability of both private and group lessons
- Lessons customized to your goals and interests
- Option to work with the same teacher or select a new one if you want
Pricing: Choose from monthly plans or prepaid packages starting at $32/hour.
9. Verbling
Another Chegg product, Verbling is another strong candidate when it comes to 1-on-1 online language tutoring sites.
Launched in 2011, the site boasts lessons in over 70 languages including Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin. And with 10,000+ expert tutors with prior teaching experience, you’ll find a top-notch tutor in no time.
Booking lessons on Verbling takes just a few clicks. Even better, everything — from registration to the actual class — happens within Verbling. No need to download or install extra apps and software!
What I love about Verbling:
- Experienced and/or certified) tutors
- An array of languages to choose from
- All-in-one integrated platform
Pricing: On average, lessons cost $15-30 per hour. You may book the 30-minute free trial first.
10. Verbalplanet
For tailor-made private lessons in over 30 languages, one of your best options is Verbalplanet. This site guarantees that it can meet your fluency goals with the help of its 2,000+ native-speaking language teachers from around the world.
While Verbalplanet’s courses are geared toward improving your conversational skills, attention is also given to all core skills according to CEFR standards.
Your listening skills can be ranked beginner, for instance, while your reading skills are on an intermediate level. You’ll get instant feedback from your tutor so you can keep track of your progress. This will keep you motivated, too!
What I love about Verbalplanet:
- Lessons that match your individual goals
- Instant feedback and fluency evaluation
- Easy online booking and rescheduling, if needed
Pricing: Lessons cost between $15-30/hour on average. Discount percentages are based on cumulative bookings.
11. Rype
With its bite-sized and personalized online language lessons and flexible pricing, Rype is one of the best Lingoda alternatives in the market.
Offering utmost flexibility, Rype gives you access to 30-minute private lessons with highly-vetted teachers. These tutors can provide lessons that fit your goals, learning style, and proficiency level. You will also be asked how much time you have. Rype will then determine the best plan for you.
What’s more, with its well-designed app, you can learn anytime, anywhere!
What I love about Rype:
- Customized lesson plans
- Native-speaking teachers with professional teaching experience
- Real-time feedback
Pricing: Starts at $14 per hour.
Wrap up
There comes a time in our language learning journey when all the apps, textbooks, podcasts, and foreign Netflix shows just don’t cut it anymore. We begin to crave more opportunities to speak the language we’re learning. And not just speak but actually converse in the language.
Thankfully, you don’t have to travel abroad. With Lingoda and its awesome alternatives, you can get dedicated coaching and lots of speaking practice at the same time.
Whether you decide to stick to Lingoda or try out other online language tutoring sites, remember to set your eyes on the prize. Stay motivated, fellow learner, and have fun learning!