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Are you looking for some of the best online English language courses? Awesome – circle up!

For just over 40 years, the internet has been hard at work, increasing accessibility to all kinds of resources for people from all walks of life. By tearing down geographic and time barriers, it has provided greater access to entertainment, journalism and, most importantly, education. Just think about this: out of the Earth’s 8 billion inhabitants, over 5 billion are internet users (AKA we are scrolling and clicking to our hearts’ content every. single. day.).

At this point, the internet’s potential to improve our lives is nearly limitless. Why not combine it with our desire to learn a new language? Learning a new language is fantastic for professional and personal development. The internet can help us achieve just that. So, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best English courses you can find online to get you started!

What are the best online English courses?

When it comes to e-learning, the internet has given us increasingly competitive options for those looking to learn English. With highly experienced teachers stationed across the world, we can find the perfect alternative that fits our schedule, budget and even preferred accent.

So, without further ado, we’ve selected the best online English language courses based on affordability, flexibility and offers to match different learners’ goals.

Lingoda

Lingoda is a 24/7 online language school that offers language courses in German, English, Business English, Spanish, French and Italian. It connects students with highly qualified native-level teachers across different time zones and offers structured courses for all levels. It’s perfect for those who are looking to learn the language from scratch

However, advanced learners can also enjoy the perks of choosing the classes that interest them the most, creating a bespoke experience. This, coupled with the ability to adjust your schedule and monthly subscription, has positioned Lingoda as a true leader in online learning flexibility.

Lingoda’s teaching style aims to build students’ confidence through strategies like role play, conversation and light debate exercises. The platform is fantastic if your goal is to practice speaking from the very beginning. Additionally, thanks to their multicultural teacher rotation, students are exposed to different accents and expressions, helping them expand their vocabulary and learn everyday language.

Lingoda group classes have a maximum of five students, but you can also go for one-on-one lessons for individualized learning and feedback. How’s that for flexibility?

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: Starting at $11 a class
• Certificate of completion: Yes
• Schedule flexibility: Yes
• Completion time: Varies by learner and schedule – for faster learning, consider the 2-month Lingoda Sprint challenge Live classes: Yes

Discover Lingoda – reach your goals

Coursera

Coursera is an excellent tool for advanced learners looking to polish their English or develop specific skills. Want to practice your American English pronunciation? Or improve your public speaking? You can rest assured that you’ll find what you’re looking for on Coursera.

A bonus? Coursera collaborates with a wide range of well-established institutions and allows you to receive a certificate upon course completion that might even lead to better remuneration. Moreover, you can learn at your own pace thanks to their on-demand content.

Every Coursera course features video lessons, quizzes and assignments to support students’ learning.

• Level: Best suited for Intermediate and Advanced learners
• Price: Auditing is free (or $59/month for Coursera Plus)
• Certificate of completion: Yes, for a fee
• Schedule flexibility: Self-paced
• Completion time: Varies by learner and course (1-3 months is the average)
• Live classes: No

Alison

Launched in 2007, Alison has grown into a massive e-learning platform offering some of the best self-paced free English courses online. With Alison’s help, you can learn English from the very beginning and progress all the way to C1 proficiency. Are you looking, however, for more specialized content? You can then enroll in one of their industry-specific courses, such as English for Tourism or Business Administration.

It’s important to note that Alison courses don’t provide one-on-one teaching or pre-recorded video lessons; instead, lessons are based on presentation slides. So, Alison is great when used as a supplementary tool.

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: Free
• Certificate of completion: Yes, for a fee
• Schedule flexibility: Self-paced
• Completion time: Varies by learner and course
• Live classes: No

EdX

Created by Harvard and MIT, two of the world’s most prestigious universities, edX is the ideal platform to find college-level courses. These courses are developed and taught by professors from elite universities, offering access to expert teaching without hefty college fees.

EdX is particularly suited for intermediate to advanced learners hoping to practice their English language skills. Similar to Coursera, their material is pre-recorded, allowing students to learn at their own pace.

• Level: From Intermediate to Advanced
• Price: Auditing is free (up to $200 for the certificate-track)
• Certificate of completion: Yes, for a fee
• Schedule flexibility: Self-paced
• Completion time: Varies by learner and course
• Live classes: No

British Council

The world-famous British Council offers various English learning options tailored to your particular goals. 

Would you like to start at A1 and work your way up to C1? Great! Their live group and one-on-one classes, along with their flexible schedules, would be perfect for you. Planning to take the IELTS test? The British Council offers a preparation course coached by the test’s co-creators! Prefer self-study? Then you can explore their self-study alternatives, which are supported by interactive exercises and webinars.

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: From $13/class for live classes; $10/month for self-study course; $175 for IELTS preparation
• Certificate of completion: Yes
• Schedule flexibility: Yes
• Completion time: Varies by program
• Live classes: Yes

EF (Education First)

EF is an interactive learning platform offering one-on-one live teaching, group classes and self-study exercises. But the coolest part? It combines the expertise of certified English teachers with AI technology. And how does it do this? Well, at EF, learners are immersed in simulated real-life scenarios, from everyday conversations to business environments. This way, EF provides continuous online support for faster progress.

Plus, EF has built a large global network of teachers, so students can book classes that fit their time zones and personal schedules. 

Oh, and are you preparing for the TOEFL test? EF has a preparation course for you!

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: $15/hour (average)
• Certificate of completion: Yes
• Schedule flexibility: Yes
• Completion time: Varies by learner and schedule (each level takes an estimated 18-24 hours).
• Live classes: Yes

Preply

Preply is a language-learning platform specializing in one-on-one tutoring, offering students a customized plan tailored just for them.

Students can find the perfect tutor by considering their expertise, reading reviews, and checking schedules. Plus, they can switch tutors for free until they find a great fit.

Not into one-on-one tutoring? No worries! Join one of their online group classes, where the general focus is all about practicing speaking.

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: $1-$80+/lesson (depends on the preferred tutor)
• Certificate of completion: Yes, after completing 10 hours of learning
• Schedule flexibility: Yes
• Completion time: Varies by learner and schedule
• Live classes: Yes

FutureLearn

There’s just something about a British accent, right? FutureLearn, a British education platform, offers online courses on hundreds of topics, from Data Analytics to Gender Studies – and, of course, English.

Their English courses, run by the British Council and other top-notch institutions, are designed to take you from basic English to advanced levels. However, what really sets FutureLearn apart are their specialized courses. For example, they offer lessons on academic writing, IELTS speaking score improvement and even English for STEM.

Just like with Coursera and edX, you can take FutureLearn’s courses at any time and go at your own pace. Their learning materials include weekly videos, quizzes and assignments.

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: free-€34.99/month (depending on subscription)
• Certificate of completion: Yes
• Schedule flexibility: Self-paced
• Completion time: Varies by course (two to six weeks is the average)
• Live classes: No

Perfectly Spoken

Perfectly Spoken offers courses that combine self-study and live practice with native teachers. Each course has a set number of lessons and is divided by level, so you can work your way up from beginner to advanced proficiency. 

Looking to practice a particular skill? Perfect. Their curriculum also includes focused courses, such as English for Hospitality and English for Job Applications and Interviews.

Perfectly Spoken is also a great option if you are studying for the IELTS or Cambridge English exams, as their teachers specialize in both and offer one-on-one lessons.

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: $8.25-$25/month (depending on subscription)
• Certificate of completion: Yes
• Schedule flexibility: Limited for live group classes
• Completion time: Varies by course (range from 5 to 60 lessons –30 min. each)
• Live classes: Yes

Udemy

Udemy is one of the largest digital learning platforms. It offers thousands upon thousands of affordable courses on a variety of topics, including English grammar, speaking and writing.

Their course materials consist of on-demand video and audio, assignments and downloadable resources. Students get full-time access to their lessons and can learn at their own pace.

Udemy is ideal for advanced independent students or those looking to support their learning with extra tools.

• Level: From Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Price: Free or paid courses starting at $14.99
• Certificate of completion: Yes
• Schedule flexibility: Self-paced
• Completion time: Varies by learner and course
• Live classes: No

Can you learn English online? 

Alright, we’ve got a great lineup of the best online English language courses.… But can you really learn English online? Absolutely! 

Thanks to the internet, we can connect with highly experienced English teachers from all corners of the globe using our computers, tablets and even phones. This means that we can learn anytime, anywhere, even on the go! In other words: spatial and (many) time constraints are a thing of the past –let’s ride that wave!

Not convinced yet? Here are some of the advantages of online learning:

• Anywhere, anytime. Where there’s a network, there’s a way. Online learning allows you to make progress in your studies no matter where you are. Just connect using your favorite tech device.
• Flexibility. Whether you are juggling work, studies or family life, you can find an effective online course that adapts to your schedule.
• Learning from native speakers. Online platforms like Lingoda have a pool of extremely experienced native English teachers available 24/7. This opportunity helps students improve their vocabulary, pronunciation and everyday speaking skills, which is especially great for those looking to learn a certain accent!
  Added bonus: you’ll gain firsthand insight into the cultural context of the language.
• Motivation. Flexible schedules and readily available resources can help us stay motivated and consistent.

How do we rank the best online English courses? 

So, how did we select these 10 online learning options? We wanted to give you a solid list where you could find an alternative that suits your schedule, goals and budget. To do this, we focused on:

• Schedule flexibility (live classes vs. self-paced). Whether you prefer self-paced courses or live lessons, the options we presented offer different levels of flexibility. Platforms like Udemy are fully self-paced, while others like Lingoda feature live classes designed to accommodate different schedules.
  Note: Live classes are often the most effective due to the availability of direct feedback.
• Affordability. This list highlights options with a wide range of price points. Some are free, while others require a paid subscription or a nominal fee (per month, class, hour, etc.).
• Level. Some of these alternatives were created to guide you from beginner to advanced level, especially those offering live classes and continuous feedback.
• Certification. All options provide the opportunity to earn a certificate, which is valuable if you’re learning English for work.

Best online English courses for you 

Yes, we know the internet can be a double-edged sword. How many weekends have we lost to the depths of online gaming or a Netflix American TV series? However, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t use it to our advantage! Learning a new language through platforms like Lingoda is a fantastic way to do just that. 

So, whether you’re starting from scratch or practicing during your free time, we hope our list of 10 of the best online English courses proved itself (at least a bit) useful. Mission accomplished? Time to sign up, then!

Discover Lingoda. Reach your goals.

Alison Maciejewski Cortez

Alison Maciejewski Cortez is Chilean-American, born and raised in California. She studied abroad in Spain, has lived in multiple countries, and now calls Mexico home. She believes that learning how to order a beer in a new language reveals a lot about local culture. Alison speaks English, Spanish, and Thai fluently and studies Czech and Turkish. Her tech copywriting business takes her around the world and she is excited to share language tips as part of the Lingoda team. Follow her culinary and cultural experiences on X.

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