5 best online Spanish classes of 2026

Want to achieve a confident level of Spanish? Despite a deluge of apps promising to get you fluent in days, there’s still no substitute for taking a class. Even if you’ve mastered some basics with self-study, or have some lingering knowledge from school, many learners only start seeing real progress when they start live lessons.

For most of us, online Spanish classes are the most accessible and affordable way to access quality tuition. There’s nothing as motivating as a good teacher. And the cut-and-thrust of a classroom environment allows you to try out new speaking skills with training wheels on, being corrected on any errors. Good classes also offer checkpoints to help you measure your progress. 

If you’re looking to take an online Spanish class, here’s a detailed rundown of the top options available. 

1. Best for lasting progress: the Berges Institute 

2. Best for freeform lessons: Preply

3. Best for short-term bursts: Lingoda 

4. Best for a traditional classroom experience: Olé

5. Best for passive learning: Language Transfer

1. Berges Institute: best for lasting progress 

Online classes at Berges Institute follow a language learning technique that’s in dual parts maverick (for current trends) and supported by centuries of evidence. 

Since the early 20th century, ‘total immersion’ language methods have steadily gained popularity. That is, the idea that you can learn a second language in the same way children learn their first: thorough repeated exposure to ‘comprehensible input’. Watching Netflix shows, listening to podcasts, using vocabulary apps and the like. 

The trouble with that? Adults learn differently from children. Before the 20th century, it was customary to learn new languages grammar-first. It was widely known that studying the complex patterns up front made every other language skill easier to retain thereafter. Research shows  that this approach is simply more effective for adults. 

Berges Institute offers methodical, grammar-intensive online group classes. They’re not for everyone: it’s a method for serious students, who value an intellectually rewarding challenge. Those who complete the course achieve far deeper knowledge of Spanish, and - in many cases - attain lasting fluency. Hundreds of five star reviews speak for themselves. 

Price: Berges Institutes’ pricing is more transparent than that of many online language schools. $249 for a structured 10-class package, with 1 class per week, or $99/month for unlimited classes (if you plan to take more than 5 classes per month, this works out at a saving!).

2. Best for freeform lessons: Preply

If you’ve had a passing thought about taking an online Spanish class, chances are you’ve seen adverts from Preply. This large corporation offers an extensive and searchable database of language tutors from all over the world, which you can filter and browse, Amazon-style. 

There are Spanish tutors from as low as $5 for a 50-minute lesson, though those with teaching experience often charge around $20 to $40. Classes are one to one, meaning you’ll get undivided attention, and lesson timings are generally flexible. 

The drawback of using Preply is that the platform doesn’t provide guidelines for lesson structure. There are also no formal requirements to becoming a Preply tutor. Needless to say, the quality of classes varies widely. Unless you get very lucky with your tutor, don’t expect a well-conceived methodology, with regular progress checkpoints. 

You are at liberty to change your tutor if you don’t feel they’re a fit for your learning style - but bear in mind, tutors are not paid for their first lesson with each student, so changing feels a little cruel. It’s fair to note that tutors pay hefty commissions on lesson fees in general. 

If you select your tutor wisely - and if you’re interested in a more freeform, conversation-based approach - Preply might be a good fit. However, if you are progress-minded, the lack of structure may make you feel like you’re going round in circles. 

Price: $5 - $50 for a 50-minute lesson. However, the payment model is complicated. You must select a ‘plan’ (how many lessons you wish to take with a particular tutor per week) and pay for the first month up front. You are then ‘subscribed’ to your tutor, and the payment will renew every 28 days unless you cancel it.

3. Best for short-term study bursts: Lingoda 

If you’re a bit of a risk taker who likes a bargain, check out the headline product from language class provider, Lingoda: Lingoda Sprints. This is a language learning challenge where you sign up to attend 15 classes per month for 2 months, in exchange for a set fee (at the moment it’s $480). If you attend all 30 of your classes, there’s a big reward: you’ll get 50% of your money back. 

Lingoda offers online classes in groups of 2 - 5 students, 24 hours per day. You can book them around your schedule (as long as you use up all of your class credits within the window). All teachers are certified, native speakers, and they follow a set curriculum. Learners also have access to an online platform with material to prepare before classes, and review afterwards. 

Students generally make good progress on a Lingoda Sprint – but it’s not for the faint of heart. The required 3+ classes per week can be difficult to stick to. What’s more, there are a lot of terms and conditions in place to successfully complete the sprint and win your money back, from not taking more than one class in a day, to always cancelling with 7+ days’ notice. 

Lingoda Sprints are a good bet for those with flexible schedules who need to make serious Spanish progress as quickly as possible, but the rushed pace of study won’t suit everyone. 

Price: a Lingoda Sprint costs $480 for 30 classes, to be taken over 2 months. After that, your monthly subscription of 12 classes per month will keep rolling, unless you cancel it. 

4. Best for a traditional language class experience: Olé

If you’re looking for online language classes that have the same structure and academic rigor as in-person classes, check out Olé Languages. Unlike online-first platforms like Preply and Lingoda, Olé is primarily a brick-and-mortar language school (based in Barcelona, Spain) which recently started offering online courses. 

They offer levels from A1 to C1 all year round, at set times. This is great if you’ve got a fixed schedule and can commit to regular slots, or if you value a more traditional classroom experience - like meeting the same classmates every time! Choose from Intensive study that’s practically a part-time job (20 lessons/week, taken as 4 lessons per day from Monday to Friday) Semi-intensive (10 lessons/week) or Extensive (4 lessons/week). 

Unlike web-first platforms, there’s little flexibility with Olé’s classes. They only run on weekdays, and if you miss your class, there’s no way to recoup the class credit. However, the teachers are generally good and lessons look to be well structured. 

Price: starts from 170€ per week. 

5. Best for cheap conversation practice: iTalki 

If you’ve done a lot of self-study and mainly want to take Spanish classes for speaking practice, it’s worth considering iTalki. They’re the main competitor to Preply, and the principle is the same: it’s a catalog of language tutors for learners to filter and book lessons with. 

Much like Preply, Spanish classes can cost anywhere from $5 - $50, and are usually one-on-one. However, iTalki distinguishes between Community Tutors (who may not have teaching qualifications) and Professional Tutors (who are verified teachers), which is useful when you’re choosing who to work with. 

It’s very easy to find lessons to fit your schedule. The length of classes is flexible (you can usually pay for 30min, 45min, 60min, or 90min) and there are tutors available 24/7. There’s also the option to take one-off group classes on common themes, which is useful if you’re, say, struggling with mixing up your past tenses, or want to practice business Spanish with peers. 

iTalki’s classes have some of the same drawbacks as those on any tutoring platform: they can lack structure, and the quality depends a lot on how lucky you are with your tutor. However, it can be a good budget option if you are structured enough with your self-study. 

Pricing:  €5 - €50 for a one-on-one class, though you must buy a package of classes (you usually have 6 months to use them up). 

The “best” online class depends on your needs 

Learning a language is a deeply personal journey; the best online class for you will depend on your priorities. Are you looking for the most economical option possible? To make progress quickly? Or to develop a deep and lasting understanding of the key building blocks of Spanish, that’ll set you up for fluency? 

If you’re shooting for the latter, Berges Institute is the stand-out option. With methodical, grammar-first lessons in small groups, you’ll get to know the rules of Spanish well enough to explain them to someone. With this out of the way, lighter self-study like watching Mexican Netflix and listening to podcasts will be a breeze, and you’ll soon be speaking Spanish beautifully.