10 of the best online Italian courses (2025)

Looking for the best online Italian language courses? You’re in the right place! Thanks to the internet, learning new skills from the comfort of home is easier and more affordable than ever, no matter where we might be. This flexibility is especially helpful for anyone looking to learn a new language, whether it’s for personal or professional growth… and Italian, with its beautiful musicality and rich vocabulary, is one of the most popular choices among language learners.

But with so many options out there, how do you find the right one? We’ve rounded up 10 of the best Italian lessons you can find online to help you choose the option that matches your learning style and goals. Ready? Andiamo (let’s go).

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What to look for in an online Italian course?

With all the online Italian courses out there, it’s easy to get lost among all the features and subscriptions these platforms offer. Keeping a solid list of what you’re actually looking for will help you narrow it down. How can we assess all of our options? We’ve put together some pointers that will make it easier.

Learning goals

Are you looking to learn enough Italian just to get by on your next trip? Or are you eyeing a promotion that could land you in an Italian-speaking country? Getting clear on your goals will make it easier to pick the right option.

If you’re aiming to reach fluency, you should go for an alternative that offers live classes where you can get personalized feedback and grammar instruction. If your objective, however, is to be able to have basic conversations, a platform focused on common vocabulary and phrases might just do the trick.

Course structure

Would you rather be self-paced or go for a structured course with a schedule? To figure this out, here are two things to keep in mind:

• Past experiences: Think of past experiences where you’ve learned a new skill. Were you following a pre-set schedule or were you self-paced? Were you able to stick to your goals? Looking back can give you a good idea of what suits you best.
  
• Your schedule: If your schedule is particularly busy or unpredictable, a self-paced option might be the way to go.

Teaching quality and teacher credentials 

Learning from qualified teachers is the best way to ensure you’re learning the right grammar and progressing at a sustainable, steady pace. Don’t be shy and ask about their certifications and teaching experience.

Now, if refining your pronunciation is part of your goal, it’s a good idea to go with a native speaker who can teach you the correct phonetics.

Interaction and class size

Finally, think about the class size that works best for you. Here’s a quick breakdown of your options:

• Private classes: Perfect if you want to fast-track your progress because you’ve got a deadline to beat, like an exam. You’ll get personalized feedback on the spot, the possibility to tailor your lessons and more time to practice speaking and ask questions.
  
• Group lessons: If you’re looking for a crash course, group lessons may not be ideal, since the pace tends to be slower. However, you’ll make steady progress and learn from other students’ mistakes and questions. It’s also easier to build a sense of community, which can help you stay motivated. We do advise you to go for small class sizes – having too many classmates may stunt your learning.

Our top picks: Best online Italian courses

Italian Uncovered

Italian Uncovered uses “StoryLearning,” a method created by language expert Olly Richards. The idea is to teach you Italian in a natural, immersion-focused way – just like how you learned your native language as a kid. How do they do this? Through storytelling. Instead of drilling repetition, this program uses engaging stories to grab your attention and help you learn vocabulary.

Here’s how it works: you’ll start by reading a story, then listen to the audio version. After that, you’ll dive into a recorded lesson with a qualified teacher, who will break down the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation from the story.

The bonus is that it doubles as a culture course, since a lot of the stories explore not just the Italian language, but also Italian history and culture.

• Level: Intermediate.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: No.
• Certificate of completion: No.
• Mobile access: No.

Lingoda Italian

Looking for maximum flexibility without sacrificing quality? Rest assured, no one beats Lingoda in that department. Lingoda offers live classes that are available online 24/7, so you can learn from certified teachers whenever it fits your schedule. Lessons focus on building confidence, practicing real-world language and getting you to speak from day one.

Another plus? You can choose between private lessons or small group classes (capped at fivestudents). This gives you plenty of chances to practice speaking, ask questions and get personalized feedback. Lingoda also provides great tools (like AI-powered Lingobites) to help you practice. And if you’re looking to turbo-charge your journey, you can check out the Lingoda Sprint – a 2-month challenge designed to propel you toward linguistic confidence.

Note: Lingoda’s courses are structured around the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Lingoda only teaches Italian A1 (beginner) at the moment.

• Level: Beginner.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: Yes.
• Certificate of completion: Yes.
• Mobile access: No.

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Pimsleur Italian

The Pimsleur Method is all about teaching Italian in an intuitive way through audio lessons, about 30 minutes long. It’s built upon research-based principles that get rid of information overload, which can discourage learners.

Here’s the gist: Dr. Paul Pimsleur, a linguist, discovered that spacing out vocabulary learning at the right intervals helps us remember better. That’s why Pimsleur’s audio lessons introduce a manageable amount of words and grammar at a time, giving us the chance to really memorize the content before moving on.

• Level: Beginner to intermediate.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: No.
• Certificate of completion: Yes.
• Mobile access: Yes.

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci online

The Leonardo da Vinci School, with over 40 years of experience, sits right in the heart of Florence, offering amazing views of the city’s iconic Cathedral. But if you don’t want to travel all the way (alas!), you can join their online group or one-on-one classes instead. They cater to all levels, from beginner to advanced, and new lessons kick off every Monday. A downside? Group class sizes, capped at 14 students, may get crowded.

The school uses an immersive teaching method and, from day one, everything in class is done in Italian. Lessons are interactive and also include insights into modern Italy and Italian culture, providing extra motivation.

• Level: Beginner to advanced.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: Yes.
• Certificate of completion: Yes.
• Mobile access: Yes.

Italiano Automatico

Italiano Automatico offers a variety of pre-recorded video lessons, covering everything from beginner Italian to pronunciation tips and common expressions. It started as a YouTube channel and evolved into lessons centered around the cultural richness of Italian heritage.

Their lessons don’t explicitly teach grammar or vocabulary. Instead, they rely on authentic Italian-speaking content that will help students learn the language in a natural, fun way. It’s a great resource for students who want extra practice.

• Level: Beginner to advanced.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: No.
• Certificate of completion: No.
• Mobile access: Yes.

FluentU

FluentU is another video-based platform that teaches Italian through real-world content. It offers a bank of music videos, movie trailers, news and more media with which students can learn common vocabulary and grammar structures. These videos are sorted by level and topic, so you can focus on what interests you most. 

You’ll also get tools like flashcards, quizzes, interactive subtitles and example sentences to support your learning.

• Level: Beginner to intermediate.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: No.
• Certificate of completion: No.
• Mobile access: Yes.

Babbel Live: Italian

Babbel Live gives you unlimited access to live classes – yes, you can take as many as you want! Their teachers are either native speakers or certified C2 level, and lessons focus on real-life scenarios. For example, you can choose classes centered on vocabulary for food, travel or navigating a city.

Lessons are available anytime (even for last-minute bookings) and are capped at six students. However, private classes are also an option.

The cherry on top: your subscription includes access to the Babbel app for bonus practice.

• Level: Beginner to advanced.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: Yes.
• Certificate of completion: Yes.
• Mobile access: Yes.

Coffee Break Italian

Coffee Break offers quick, podcast-style lessons to help you learn Italian. The episodes mix grammar, vocabulary and listening practice, all through conversations that get more difficult with each season.

You can pay for ad-free episodes and extra materials (like video lessons), but there’s also a bunch of free content to get you going.

• Level: Beginner to intermediate.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: No.
• Certificate of completion: No.
• Mobile access: No.

Mondly Italian

Mondly is an app offering free daily lessons to help you build vocabulary and practice basic grammar. Their lessons are bite-sized and focus on practical words and phrases, with weekly quizzes and monthly challenges to keep you engaged.

Need extra practice? Chat with Mondly’s Italian-speaking bot, which can give you instant feedback. Plus, their voice recognition software checks your pronunciation and helps you improve.

• Level: Beginner.
• Schedule flexibility: Yes.
• Live classes: No.
• Certificate of completion: No.
• Mobile access: Yes.

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Free vs. paid Italian courses: Which one’s right for you?

If you’re planning to learn a language online, chances are you’ve come across some free tools to help with your studies. But are they as effective as paid courses? Let’s check it out.

Pros and cons of free Italian courses

Pros

• Great for extra practice.
• No commitment – if you don’t like them, there’s nothing to lose.
• Help expand your vocabulary.
• Usually app-based, so they’re flexible.

Cons

• Limited feedback.
• Often ad-supported.
• Light on grammar instruction.
• Not much speaking, reading or writing practice.
• Won’t take you to fluency on their own.
• No way to ask questions.
• Can feel unstructured and like there’s no progress.

Why consider paid courses? 

Paid lessons are paid for a reason… They promise to deliver and help you reach your goals. They offer structured programs to help you build skills step by step, with interactive classes and personalized feedback.

The biggest perks? You can ask questions, practice speaking and listening regularly and get tailored guidance to help you reach your goals – all with the help of a native-speaking teacher and from the comfort of your home.

How does Lingoda’s Italian course stand out?

Okay, so we’ve checked out 10 of the best Italian lessons online – all of them with something special to offer. How does Lingoda stand out? 

• Qualified native teachers: Learn from experienced teachers who are native speakers. They’ll help you nail your pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary.
  
• Personalization: Pick between small group classes or one-on-one lessons.
  
• Real-world focus: Lessons are grounded in everyday language and cultural context, so you’ll be speaking confidently in no time.
  
• Structured lessons: Lingoda’s courses follow the CEFR framework, so you can be sure you’ll learn what you need to make steady progress.
  
• Certificate of completion: Finish the course and get a certificate you can use in your CV.
  
• Total flexibility: With Lingoda Flex, you can access 24/7 lessons that fit your schedule.
  
• Fast-track options: Want to speed things up? Lingoda Sprint is for you.
  
• Test-drive it: Lingoda offers a 7-day trial to check if it’s a good match.

Comparison table: Best Italian courses at a glance

Platform	Level	Certificate	Mobile app	Live classes	24/7 classes	Private lessons
Italian Uncovered	Intermediate
Lingoda	Beginner	✅		✅	✅	✅
Pimsleur	Beginner- intermediate	✅	✅
Scuola Leonardo da Vinci	Beginner- advanced	✅	✅	✅		✅
Italiano Automatico	Beginner- advanced		✅
FluentU	Beginner- intermediate		✅
Babbel Live	Beginner- advanced	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Coffee Break	Beginner- intermediate
Mondly	Beginner		✅

Get the most out of your learning experience

Want to level up your Italian faster? Here are some tips to maximize your journey:

• Mix it up: Combine resources to cover all bases. Read the news, watch movies, listen to podcasts in Italian and find a language exchange buddy to practice with.
  
• Be consistent: It’s important that you go for a schedule you know you can stick to.
  
• Set realistic goals: Build up your skills gradually and track your progress.
  
• Ask for feedback: Trial and error is the key to improvement!
  
• Keep a question journal: Write down any questions you have as you learn and bring them up in class.

FAQs

• How long does it take to learn Italian online?
  How long it takes to learn a language online depends on a few factors: how consistent you are, how motivated you stay, your goals and how similar Italian is to your native language.
  
• Can you become fluent with an online Italian course?
  Absolutely! Choosing a platform with structured lessons taught by experienced, native-speaking tutors can get you to fluency. Just remember, staying committed and consistent is also key.
  
• What are the benefits of learning Italian with native speakers?
  Native speakers can teach you practical vocabulary, fine-tune your pronunciation and make sure you’re using grammar correctly.

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What is the best online Italian course for you?

When choosing the best online Italian language course, think about your goals, learning style and what will keep you consistent. That way, you’ll pick the right option and stay on track to reach your objectives. So, make the best of the (super flexible) tools we have today and learn this beautiful language with the help of qualified, native speakers who are just one click away. Buona fortuna (good luck)!

Learn Italian with Lingoda

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