The Best Way to Learn Spanish
Online courses are a great start for learning vocabulary and grammar. But for most people, a beginner‘s Spanish course won‘t provide enough listening and speaking practice to prepare you for real-life conversations.
Conversational practice is essential for building confidence using the language, and it‘s the only way to become fluent.
So, we are going to share some excellent Spanish courses in this article, but keep in mind, nothing beats immersion or one-on-one Spanish lessons for efficiency. An experienced tutor can tailor your lessons to you and get you speaking from day one -- gaining conversational skills and fluency much faster.
If you want to speak Spanish like a native, learn from a native speaker. Native speakers will help you adapt an ear for a particular dialect, including the accent, pronunciation, and vocabulary.
The 10 Best Online Spanish Courses
So you‘ve decided to learn Spanish? Whether you‘re a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your Spanish skills, you can find a host of online Spanish courses to choose from.
But which will help you meet your Spanish-speaking goals? We‘ve carefully reviewed the best online Spanish courses, to find which ones stand out in terms of pricing, course options, and efficacy.
Here‘s our collection of the best online Spanish courses.
1. Live Lingua
Live Lingua stands out as the best Spanish learning program, thanks to our expert tutors, customized programs, and immersive online learning.
Your instructor will guide you through the most important vocabulary and grammar. Meanwhile, you‘ll jump right into the conversational practice that makes immersion programs so effective.
One-on-one tutoring sessions with a native Spanish speaker means you‘ll get the practice needed to speak at a functional level quickly. Once you‘re matched with a tutor, they will tailor a program to meet your specific needs and learning style.
Whether you‘re learning Spanish to prepare for a trip, an advanced certification, or a professional goal, your tutor will create an individual plan and guide you through it.
Take our free 5-minute quiz to help you understand how you learn best, and get connected with the resources to make the most of your language learning style.
Live Lingua Pros
- Certified, native-speaking Spanish tutors
- Free starter class
- 1:1 remote lessons
- Fits your schedule and pace
- Tutor-matching based on learning style, Spanish level, and goals
- Customized program
- Great for beginner and advanced
Live Lingua Cons
- Pace depends on your commitment
- Requires 30 minutes to 2 hours per session
2. Duolingo
Compatible for iOS and Android devices, the popular Duolingo app offers free learning courses in over 34 languages for English speakers, including Spanish.
This app best suits those who want to brush up on a language or as supplemental learning because it‘s unlikely to take you to fluency.
Users love Duolingo for its straightforward, gamified structure. As you complete lessons, you earn trophies to unlock the next set of modules. Each module covers a topic, such as grammatical (Reflexives, Imperfect Tense) or thematic (Arts, Food).
You‘ll practice vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, and writing as you progress. You can upgrade to the subscription for a monthly membership fee, which opens access to premium features like offline lessons.
Duolingo Pros
- Free to use
- Convenient to use anywhere
- Podcast in Spanish
- Fun lesson structure
Duolingo Cons
- Teaches beginner languages skills
- No 1-on-1 lessons
- No human interaction
- Ads on the free version
3. edX
edX is an online open-source provider with programs from the likes of MIT and Harvard. Their website offers a handful of free Spanish classes, ideal as an intro to Spanish.
Their beginner‘s Spanish language course offered by La Universidad PolitГ©cnica de Valencia starts with a self-paced course. It takes about seven weeks to learn everyday conversational Spanish and verb conjugation.
The second 4-week course advances to Spanish vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and sentence structure.
In addition, you can sign up for The Travel by Spanish America Course, ideal for Spanish for travelers, like how to order food, ask for directions, what to say in an emergency, and so forth.
edX Pros
- Study at your own pace
- Free online Spanish classes
- Course for travelers
- Great for beginners
edX Cons
- Not suited for advanced speakers
- Limited course selection
4. Rocket Spanish
Rocket Spanish offers premium online language courses for those who want to improve conversational skills in Latin American Spanish. The main draw here: Rocket Spanish hones in on the most critical vocabulary and grammar first.
You‘ll start with an interactive audio course, to develop an ear for the language and practice pronunciation. Their online Spanish classes also include culture studies, to get a peek into the art, music, and history of the Spanish-speaking world.
Every lesson ends with a Rocket Reinforcement test, to strengthen learning as you progress. Earn points and badges along the way to help stay motivated as you learn virtual Spanish.
RocketSpanish Pros
- Free trial available
- Interactive learning
- Good value for money
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- 6-month payment plan
RocketSpanish Cons
- No free plan
- Best suited for beginners
- No 1-on-1 online Spanish courses
5. Coursera Spanish
Coursera provides open-source college courses from leading universities and top experts. Through Coursera, you get access to hundreds of free Spanish college courses online for every skill level.
Coursera‘s offerings include free Spanish courses along with paid certificate programs. Their programs even include Spanish language courses for professionals, like their Spanish for Successful Communication in Healthcare Settings from Rice University.
Coursera Pros
- Online free Spanish courses
- Paid certification programs
- Specialized programs for professionals
- Flexible, self-paced study
- Courses for all levels
Coursera Cons
- 1-on-1 instruction not always available
- Some courses require subscription
6. Rosetta Stone Spanish
Rosetta Stone Spanish takes a creative approach to language learning. Their Spanish language courses go beyond the typical classroom structure and include real-world scenarios, interactive activities, and audio. Customers can choose from different Spanish dialect programs for either Latin America or Spain.
Pay for a subscription plan, starting as low as $11.99, or purchase the software for $149 lifetime access. You can also purchase live online Spanish tutoring classes; A 25-minute group session costs $14 or $19 for two lessons, and private sessions cost $19 or $29 for two lessons.
Rosetta Stone Pros
- Spanish language courses for Latin America & Spain
- Interactive activities
- Optional coaching
Rosetta Stone Cons
- No free option
- Repetitive learning structure
- Online tutoring costs extra
7. SpanishVIP
If you‘re looking for a custom approach to learn conversational Spanish online, SpanishVIP offers a top-rated online program. Because they host immersion-style programs in virtual class settings, it might be an engaging option for people who enjoy group learning.
Individual and group lessons are conducted over Zoom or Skype. Individual classes start at $129 per month, and group class subscriptions start at $79 per month for unlimited classes.
The pricing structure means that you pay the same regardless of how many classes you take. Unless you‘re taking multiple lessons or classes per week, you might find better value in another program.
SpanishVIP Pros
- Group & individual courses
- Great for conversational Spanish
- High customer satisfaction
- First class free
SpanishVIP Cons
- No free courses available
- Requires more commitment
- Subscription-based pricing
8. News in Slow Spanish
News in Slow Spanish aims to improve your listening skills through radio programing at a pace that matches your comprehension level. Users can hone their listening skills by tuning into news programming spoken at paces for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Full access requires a paid subscription. The first 7 days are free, and a membership costs $22.90 for each month thereafter.
In addition, the online Spanish resource offers free lessons exploring grammar to reinforce learning. Explore hundreds of free Spanish courses online, with dialogues, written lessons, and quizzes. Both news and lessons are available for language from Spain or Latin America.
News in Slow Spanish Pros
- Excellent for listening comprehension
- No tutoring
- Requires some level of Spanish
- Hundreds of free lessons
- Affordable subscription
News in Slow Spanish Cons
- Limited course selection
- Focused on listening comprehension
9. LingoDeer
LingoDeer powers a well-designed app that teaches Spanish vocabulary and grammar. Starting out, the app focused on Asian languages but has since expanded its offerings to include Spanish.
Much like Duolingo, LingoDeer offers a fun approach to learning a language, with activities and quizzes you can complete right from your phone.
The drawbacks: LingoDeer charges a subscription fee, and you can access similar content on Duolingo for free. Sure, you‘ll improve vocabulary and grammar to some degree, but LingoDeer doesn‘t make sense for those really trying to advance Spanish speaking to fluency.
LingoDeer Pros
- Beautifully designed interface
- Inexpensive
- Variety of learning exercises
LingoDeer Cons
- Paid plan only
- Limited speaking and listening practice
- No 1-on-1 tutoring
10. Fluencia
With Fluencia, you get tailored Spanish online courses adapted to your goals. At the start, Fluencia will assess your goals. Then, you can create a learning program targeting your needs, such as Spanish for work or Spanish for travel.
Beyond this point, you‘ll get a fairly standard learning program, which includes a range of exercises to learn grammar and vocabulary. All-in-all, Fluencia offers a decent Spanish online course, although a rather uninspiring software that might not keep you interested.
Fluencia Pros
- Spanish courses for different goals
- Good value for money
- Study on desktop or mobile
- Useful grammar lessons
Fluencia Cons
- Lackluster design
- Paid courses only
- No 1-on-1 instruction
- Average speak recognition software
Live Lingua‘s Top 10 Free Spanish Courses
No "best Spanish courses" list can be complete without offering some free options. We realize that not everybody has the time or budget to take an online Spanish lesson with a native Spanish tutor.
Below you‘ll find free online Spanish courses that are available directly from the Live Lingua website. They are designed to make language learning accessible to everybody.
1. Spanish Programmatic Course - Volume 1
The FSI Spanish Programmatic Course Volume 1 (out of 2) includes a textbook and accompanying audio recordings, as well as an instructor's Manual. These introductory learning materials are designed for use by English-speakers who want to acquire a style of Spanish that is neither very formal nor overly casual.
The term programmatic means that the course combines elements of both self-instruction and classroom-type programmed instruction with a teacher.
Regardless, the guiding principle in each section is simplicity and clarity of presentation, allowing anybody to jump in and start learning Spanish.
This course contains 3 eBooks and 46 audio lectures
2. Spanish Basic Course - Volume 1
The FSI Spanish Basic Course - Volume 1 (out of 4) is developed to teach Spanish as a spoken language. Understanding and speaking Spanish are the main focus points of this free course.
The course utilizes an alternative teaching method called Guiles Imitation that focuses on a small body of material and lots of repetition to drill down the knowledge into the student. Later, they can recall the information without much conscious effort.
The Guiles Imitation method also emphasizes on correct manipulation of the sounds and pronunciation to copy as much as possible a native speaker in a natural conversation.
The Spanish Basic Course can be used as self-guided learning material, but the best results will be produced when it is combined with live instruction from a qualified teacher.
This course contains 1 eBooks and 30 audio lectures
3. Spanish Headstart Course for Spain
The Spanish Headstart Course for Spain is designed specifically to prepare you for your visit to Spain. The course emphasizes the unique cultural traits of Spain and how they reflect on the language spoken on the Iberian Peninsula.
The course contains four modules, each consisting of two to five units which are complete individual lessons. Each unit includes the following learning activities:
- Conversation
- Notes on the Conversation
- Exercises
- Self-evaluation Quiz
This course contains 3 eBooks and 13 audio lectures
4. Spanish Headstart Course for Latin America
Latin American Spanish is a unique blend of European and native influences. As such the culture and local language can differ from Spain. The Spanish Headstart for Latin America Course is specifically designed to reflect on these unique language traits and better prepare you for your stay in South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
The course contains four modules, each consisting of two to five units which are complete individual lessons. Each unit includes the following learning activities:
- Conversation
- Notes on the Conversation
- Exercises
- Self-evaluation Quiz
This course contains 1 eBooks and 27 audio lectures
5. Spanish Headstart Course for Puerto Rico
Nowadays an American territory, Puerto Rico spent four centuries under Spanish rule. This Caribbean archipelago combines traits from Spanish, Native, African, and North American culture. This Spanish Headstart Course will offer you vital insight into the cultural and language differences between Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking countries.
The course contains four modules, each consisting of two to five units which are complete individual lessons. Each unit includes the following learning activities:
- Conversation
- Notes on the Conversation
- Exercises
- Self-evaluation Quiz
This course contains 2 eBooks and 29 audio lectures
6. Peace Corps Spanish Language Lessons - Paraguay
Originally designed for language training of Peace Corps workers in Paraguay, this Spanish Language Course can get you conversational and operational faster than many others.
Here is a broad list of topics you‘re going to learn during the course:
- Greetings and personal identification
- Exchange of personal information
- Discussion of family
- Food and meals
- Discussing weather
- Giving and getting directions, and transportation
- Describing people and activities
- Housing
- Clothing
- Telephone usage and invitations
This course contains 1 eBook
7. Spanish Language Course - Modular Basic Course
This material has been adapted from the Foreign Service Institute Spanish Programmatic Course. However, contrary to other courses, this Modular Spanish Language Course is designed particularly for a self-learning environment.
Students can perform a variety of tasks and exercises such as ​​Listening Comprehension, Narrative Vocabulary Practice, Reading Comprehension, Translation, and others. Then, they can self-evaluate their progress using the Key contained in the included materials.
This course contains 27 eBooks and 133 audio lectures
8. Spanish Language Course - SOLT Course: Textbook
SOLT stands for Special Operative Language Training. This course, designed for the Special Forces recognizes the language and culture are inseparable. Culture serves as a home for the language and also as a vehicle to transmit, preserve and create language.
Going through this course, you will be exposed to the Latin-American world and its cultural patterns, which will become the vehicle for your in-depth understanding of the language and its fine nuances.
This course will cover the basics of Latin-American Spanish and help you improve your conversational Spanish. The course is designed for training under a certified Spanish teacher.
This course contains 6 eBooks and 76 audio lectures
9. Spanish Familiarization and Short Term Training
The Spanish Familiarization and Short Term Training is an intensive course designed to get you familiar with the Spanish language and get you conversational within just a couple of weeks.
Throughout the course, you will learn essential phrases and conversational elements you need when staying in a Spanish-speaking country.
- How to introduce yourself and get acquainted
- How to ask for directions
- How to shop for particular items and order at restaurants
- How to deal with banks and institutions
- How to request professional services
- And many more
This course contains 1 eBook
10. Spanish Language Course - Basic Course
The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center's Spanish Basic Course is designed for adult learners who are looking for an intensive learning program.
The course combines communicative, thematic, and task-based activities, also reflecting on a variety of learning styles and strategies.
Some of the materials are taken directly from Spanish-speaking newspapers, magazines, news broadcasts, etc. During the course, you will listen to, read, talk, and write about a variety of articles and stories, and be asked to perform different tasks such as getting the main idea or looking for specific information.
This course contains 6 eBooks and 39 audio lectures
When it comes down to it, learning Spanish is a personal journey, and it won‘t look the same for everyone. Some of the apps, like Duolingo or LingoDeer, provide effective learning tools for improving language skills in a fun, interactive way.
But if you really want to learn Spanish effectively, we suggest immersive 1-on-1 courses with actual native speakers, like ours.
Take your first step to finally feeling comfortable speaking Spanish.