Top 12 Online Italian Courses for 2024

Italian is a beautifully melodic language that evokes the essence of “la dolce vita,” or the sweet life. This connection is no accident—Italy ranks among the globe’s top travel destinations, renowned for its stunning architecture, delectable cuisine, and vibrant markets, particularly in fashion, crafts, and luxury goods.

If traveling to Italy to study Italian isn’t feasible, consider enrolling in one of the numerous online Italian courses available. These courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace, fitting seamlessly into your busy schedule. Whether you’re juggling work or school, online Italian lessons provide a convenient way to enhance your language skills and boost your career prospects.

Explore our curated list of top online Italian courses designed to kickstart your language learning adventure! Here, you’ll discover all the key details to help you choose the perfect course that aligns with your unique learning style and linguistic aspirations.

LingualNeeds: Best for personalized learning

• Best use cases: Personalized 1-on-1 classes with native speakers and learning vocabulary through a mobile app
• Pricing: $5-50/hour, varying by tutor

While language study resources provide valuable support, nothing compares to the personalized attention of a private tutor focused solely on your learning needs. For those seeking 1-on-1 online Italian classes, LingualNeeds stands out as an exceptional choice. This global platform is designed to make learning Italian more accessible and effective, ensuring a tailored experience for every student.

LingualNeeds begins your language-learning journey with a personalized questionnaire that assesses your goals, proficiency level, and availability. Based on your responses, it recommends suitable tutors to streamline your search. You can further refine your options by filtering tutors according to price, availability, and their country of origin. After that, you can experience a trial lesson lasting either 25 or 50 minutes, allowing you to determine if the tutor is the right fit for you or if you’d prefer to explore other options. Once you find a tutor that resonates with you, signing up for a subscription helps ensure your commitment to mastering the language.

Collaborating with a private tutor offers a unique opportunity to enhance your listening and speaking skills while receiving immediate answers to your questions about Italian grammar, vocabulary, and more. You’ll benefit from tailored feedback on your writing and pronunciation, enabling you to address any mistakes right away and improve your overall language proficiency.

Discover a world of over 1,500 online Italian tutors ready to accommodate your busy lifestyle. Start your journey by narrowing down your choices based on your availability and budget. After connecting with a tutor, you’ll collaboratively create a personalized study plan tailored to help you achieve your goals at a pace that suits you.

Pros

• Personalized lesson plans that help busy working professionals grow their careers
• Online library of practice exercises, courses, and conversation starters
• Vocabulary study tools available in the mobile app (iOS and Android)

Cons

• No standard curriculum
• Live video lessons require a strong internet connection

Italiano per Stranieri (Italian for Foreigners): Best budget

• Best use cases: Beginners with a limited budget
• Pricing: Free

Developed by RAI, a leading Italian radio and television broadcaster, RaiScuola offers an engaging educational program in both Italian and English. One of its highlights is the online course “Italiano per Stranieri” (Italian for Foreigners), which serves as a fundamental introduction to the Italian language and its rich culture.

The course is structured into four distinct levels: A1, A2, B1, and B2, with each level featuring approximately 15 engaging units. Every unit includes short videos showcasing real-life conversations and scenarios, accompanied by a transcript for easy reference. To enhance your learning experience, you’ll find grammar exercises, detailed articles, a curated list of essential vocabulary, and visual aids to reinforce your understanding.

Pros

• Comprehensive course from beginner to intermediate
• Completely free

Cons

• Older videos with low-quality audio

FutureLearn with UniStraSi: Best for basic conversation skills

• Best use cases: Learning basic conversation skills
• Pricing:

Free access for 6 weeks
$129 for lifetime access

FutureLearn is a dynamic global platform offering a diverse array of online courses crafted by universities and industry professionals worldwide. One standout offering is the Italian course developed in partnership with the University for Foreigners of Siena (UniStraSi), renowned for its expertise in teaching Italian to non-native speakers.

If you’re a beginner eager to explore the Italian language and its rich culture, the Introduction to Italian course is perfect for you. Over six weeks, dedicating just three hours each week, you’ll dive into essential language skills. This course emphasizes listening and speaking, equipping you for engaging conversations in everyday situations. Join us and start your Italian journey!

Each unit contains video lessons, audio recordings, long-form articles, and quizzes you can complete independently. You’ll learn how to:

• Introduce yourself
• Answer simple questions
• Ask for information
• Talk about interests like food and clothes

FutureLearn features a dedicated forum for each course, allowing you to engage with both instructors and fellow students. This interactive element elevates the free course into a dynamic social learning experience.

Pros

• Course taught by one of the most renowned Italian universities
• Powerful social learning experience where you can interact with your peers and teachers

Cons

• Certification requires a paid subscription
• No option to slow down videos

Scuola Leonardo da Vinci: Best online group classes

• Best use cases: Live online group classes with an instructor
• Pricing:

€150/week for intensive group classes
€290 for 8-week part-time courses
€190 for 5 private lessons

If you’re looking to learn Italian through a more traditional method, complete with a dedicated language teacher and interaction with fellow students, Scuola Leonardo da Vinci is the perfect choice for your online lessons.

Course options include:

• Intensive group courses for total immersion in language and culture
• Part-time courses that are more flexible for busy schedules
• Private lessons with tailored language instruction up to Level C2

Virtual classes are designed for a maximum of 14 students, allowing the instructor to give personalized attention and support to each individual. To enhance your learning experience, you will receive complimentary digital materials and gain free access to the Google Classroom platform, which includes comprehensive exercises for both in-depth study and review.

Pros

• Small group classes with Italian learners from around the world
• All teachers are native Italian speakers for complete immersion in the culture and lifestyle

Cons

• Class schedule based on Central European time zone
• Live video lessons require a strong internet connection

Italiano Automatico (Automatic Italian): Best video and audio lessons

• Best use cases: Video and audio lessons from a native Italian speaker
• Pricing: €67 to €247, depending on the course

Founded by Alberto Arrighini, a native of Brescia in northern Italy, Italiano Automatico (Automatic Italian) provides a comprehensive range of online courses tailored for learners at every stage, from complete beginners to advanced speakers. With a curriculum structured for just 45 to 60 minutes of daily study, these courses seamlessly integrate into even the busiest of schedules.

Online courses offer a dynamic learning experience with audio and video lessons, featuring both fast and slow playback options to enhance your listening skills. Additionally, many of these courses are available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Portuguese, making them accessible to a wider audience.

Alberto runs a captivating YouTube channel, Impara l’Italiano con Italiano Automatico, where he employs “il metodo naturale” (the natural method) to enhance your listening skills. His entertaining videos not only showcase his life in Italy but also feature delightful appearances by his cherished grandmother, Elide, adding a personal touch to his engaging content.

Pros

• Fun and informal teaching style
• Lifetime access to courses
• Can download materials for offline learning

Cons

• No formal grammar lessons
• No personalized learning options

One World Online School: Best for certification exam preparation

• Best use cases: Preparing for an official language certification exam
• Pricing:
  €19.99/month for all video lessons
  Between €49.99 and €248/month for private lessons
  Between €20 and €360/course for online group courses

Discover the world of Italian language learning with One World Online School! Led by Veronica Altana, an experienced Italian teacher based in beautiful Sardinia, our online courses cater to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced learners. Explore our diverse curriculum to find the perfect course that suits your needs and start your Italian journey today!

Unlock the beauty of the Italian language with their self-paced online course, featuring over 200 engaging video lessons that cover vocabulary, grammar, and insights into Italian culture and lifestyle. To keep your learning journey dynamic, you’ll receive three fresh videos each week. Plus, upon completing the course, you’ll earn a certificate aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), showcasing your achievements in mastering Italian.

Live course options include:

• Private lessons
• Intermediate and advanced conversation practice
• Online group courses (Levels A1 and C1 only)
• CILS (Certificate of the Italian Language) exam preparation for groups and individuals

One standout course they offer is “A Year with Veronica,” tailored for elementary, intermediate, and advanced students. Each month, the class explores a different theme, ranging from sports and holidays to the enchanting experience of traveling through Italy.

Pros

• Official exam center for CILS B1 Citizenship Exam
• Broad price range that suits any budget

Cons

• Class schedule based on Central European time zone
• Only one instructor available

ItalianPod101: Best for listening

• Best use cases: Students who learn best by listening
• Pricing:
  Free to access some lessons
  $4/month to access all lessons
  $10/month for additional resources
  $23/month for personalized tutoring and assessments

ItalianPod101 is an excellent resource for anyone looking to master the Italian language. It features captivating audio and video lessons that draw from real Italian conversations, making the learning experience both enjoyable and practical. In addition to these interactive lessons, the platform also offers a wide range of supplementary materials to enhance your studies, including:

• Interactive vocabulary exercises
• Comprehensive audio and video transcripts
• An Italian dictionary

Dive into their YouTube channel, where you’ll find a rich library of free videos that delve into the Italian language and culture. The content is thoughtfully organized by proficiency levels and key learning areas, including reading, listening, vocabulary, and conversation, making it easy for you to enhance your skills.

Discover a wealth of resources designed to enhance your Italian learning experience! You’ll find valuable tips for effective study, themed vocabulary lessons, and pronunciation guides to help you sound your best. Plus, take advantage of their 24/7 live streams that immerse you in the richness of everyday Italian language, boosting your listening skills along the way.

ItalianPod101 enhances the learning experience for premium subscribers with advanced study tools like customizable flashcards and a voice recorder for speaking practice. The voice recorder allows you to capture your pronunciation of words, phrases, or sentences, enabling you to compare your speech with that of native speakers for effective improvement.

Pros

• Many lessons and resources are free
• Mobile app available for learning on the go

Cons

• Not an immersive learning experience
• Some videos are older and of poor quality

Rocket Italian: Best lifetime access

• Best use cases: Online courses with lifetime access
• Pricing:
  $149.95 for Level 1
  $299.90 for Levels 1 and 2
  $449.85 for Levels 1, 2, and 3
  $149.95 for Travelogue Series

Rocket Italian is a vibrant part of the well-known Rocket Languages platform, designed to enhance your language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. With a range of courses available, you can progress from beginner to advanced conversational levels, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience that suits your needs.

Join the vibrant Rocket Italian forum to share your experiences and connect with fellow learners. If you’re hesitant to invest in a full course just yet, take advantage of their complimentary basic Italian lessons. These engaging lessons feature interactive exercises and explore a variety of essential topics, such as:

• Numbers
• Colors
• Weather
• Hobbies
• Ordering food
• Asking questions
• Basic grammar
• Common Italian words

Whether you choose the free or paid plan, you’ll gain access to Rocket Record, an innovative voice recognition tool designed to enhance your Italian pronunciation. You’ll start by listening to a native speaker’s audio recording, then record your own voice. The platform will analyze your pronunciation and provide you with a score out of 100, helping you track your progress and refine your skills.

Pros

• Lifetime access to courses
• 60-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Not an immersive experience
• Audio recording feature can be buggy

edX with Wellesley College: Best for college-level learning

• Best use cases: College-level courses
• Pricing:
  Free access for 12 weeks
  $59 for lifetime access

Harvard and MIT established edX, a prominent platform for massive open online courses (MOOCs) that offers a wide range of college-level classes across various disciplines. If you’re eager to learn Italian, Wellesley College’s online courses are an excellent choice. They focus on building your foundational skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking, making it easy to start your language journey.

The program features three self-paced courses tailored for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners, along with an additional course focused on Italian culture. Each course is structured into four units, consisting of six to seven lessons each. Designed to be completed over 12 weeks, participants are encouraged to dedicate two to five hours per week, but the flexible format allows you to progress at your own pace.

Our courses feature engaging video lessons delivered by native and near-native Italian speakers, ensuring an authentic learning experience. You’ll gain access to comprehensive vocabulary lists and grammar resources, complete with clear explanations, examples, and audio files for mastering verb conjugation. As you progress, you’ll participate in interactive exercises that provide instant feedback to reinforce your learning. Plus, you’ll explore creative writing prompts and insightful interviews with native speakers to deepen your understanding of the language and culture.

Opting for the Verified Track grants you lifetime access to all graded tests, allowing you to revisit and review them at your convenience. Additionally, upon successfully passing the final test, you’ll earn a Verified Certificate of Completion, showcasing your achievement.

Pros

• Follows a traditional language-learning curriculum
• Wide variety of learning materials

Cons

• Only offers self-study options without live interactions with instructors or other students

ALMA.tv: Best for culture

• Best use cases: Discovering rich and original content that covers Italian culture in depth
• Pricing:
  Free access to some video content
  €11.99/course

ALMA.tv is the pioneering online broadcast channel that celebrates Italian language and culture. Designed for international students learning Italian, educators teaching the language, and enthusiasts eager to explore Italy’s rich heritage, ALMA.tv offers a vibrant platform for all things Italian.

The website offers a wealth of resources, ranging from essential Italian vocabulary and phrases to more advanced topics like discussing opera in Italian. You can access these valuable learning materials for free in two convenient formats:

• Video live streaming, which has an uninterrupted flow of programs broadcast 24 hours a day
• Video on demand, which includes an archive of videos divided into categories that you can watch whenever you want

Immerse yourself in the Italian language by watching captivating documentaries and insightful interviews that enhance your grammar and vocabulary. For those seeking additional resources, ALMA.tv provides an affordable premium subscription that includes interactive exercises and video transcripts to further enrich your learning experience.

Pros

• Many free resources available
• Based on modern Italian culture and language

Cons

• Confusing site organization can be difficult to navigate
• Can only access a course for up to 12 months

Glossika Italian: Best for Romance language speakers

• Best use cases: Students who already speak a language similar to Italian, like Spanish, Portuguese, or French
• Pricing: $16.99/month

Glossika Italian focuses on training your listening and speaking skills to help you learn Italian.

Your language journey begins with a placement test that assesses your proficiency level, ranging from A1 to C1. Once your level is established, you’ll immerse yourself in learning by listening to sentences spoken by a native Italian speaker, complete with phonetic transcriptions to refine your accent. Each lesson features “sentence pairs,” where you’ll hear the sentences first in your native language and then in Italian. Afterward, you’ll record yourself echoing what you heard, aiming for accuracy in your pronunciation.

The Glossika algorithm employs spaced repetition to assess your learning progress and identify areas for improvement. Based on this analysis, it crafts a tailored learning experience just for you. If you find a specific sentence challenging, it will appear more frequently in your reviews. Conversely, once you’ve mastered a sentence, it will be shown less often. As you advance, the complexity of the sentences will gradually increase, ensuring a continuous challenge that matches your growing skills.

Pros

• Highly effective for improving pronunciation
• Mobile app available (iOS and Android) for learning on the go

Cons

• No formal grammar instruction
• Not suitable for beginners

The Mimic Method: Best for pronunciation

• Best use cases: Learning to pronounce and listen to Italian
• Pricing: Free

The Mimic Method’s Italian Master Class focuses on a crucial skill for effective communication in Italian: precise pronunciation. If you excel in writing and reading but struggle to comprehend native speakers or feel hesitant to speak, this free resource is a valuable addition to your language-learning journey.

The Mimic Method is designed to enhance your awareness and control of your mouth while speaking Italian. This course teaches you how to understand the mechanics of your mouth, enabling you to listen to and pronounce Italian words with greater ease and accuracy.

Dive into our self-paced online Italian course, featuring more than six hours of engaging video lessons, interactive audio exercises, and downloadable PDF resources. To enhance your learning experience, you’ll also receive a personalized flashcard deck designed to master the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for accurate Italian pronunciation.

Pros

• Original teaching methodology that differs from traditional language courses
• Now available for free

Cons

• Does not cover reading or writing skills

Comparison of the best online Italian courses

Name	Pricing	Free trial	Best use cases
LingualNeeds	$5-50/hour, varying by tutor	No	Personalized 1-on-1 classes with native speakers and learning vocabulary through a mobile app
Italiano per Stranieri (Italian for Foreigners)	Free	Free access	Beginners with a limited budget
Future Learn with UniStraSi	Free access for 6 weeks $129 for lifetime access	Free access	Learning basic conversation skills
Scuola Leonardo da Vinci	€150/week for intensive group classes €290 for 8-week part-time course €190 for 5 private lessons	No	Live online group classes with an instructor
Italiano Automatico (Automatic Italian)	€67 to €247, depending on the course	No	Audio and video lessons from a native Italian speaker
One World Online School	€19.99/month for all video lessons Between €49.99 and €248/month for private lessons Between €20 and €360 for online group courses	No	Preparing for an official language certification exam
ItalianPod101	Free to access some lessons $4/month to access all lessons $10/month for additional resources $23/month for personalized tutoring and assessments	Free access	Students who learn best by listening
Rocket Italian	$149.95 for Level 1 $99.90 for Levels 1 and 2 $449.85 for Levels 1, 2, and 3 $149.95 for Travelogue Series	Yes; free introductory lessons	Online courses with lifetime access
edX with Wellesley College	Free access for 12 weeks $59 for lifetime access	Free access	College-level courses
ALMA.tv	Free access to some video content €11.99/course	Free access	Discovering rich and original content that covers Italian culture in depth
Glossika Italian	$16.99/month	Yes; 7-day free trial	Students who already speak a language similar to Italian, like Spanish, Portuguese, or French
The Mimic Method	Free	Free access	Learning to pronounce and listen to Italian

Find the best online Italian course for your goals

Learning Italian is a unique journey for everyone, as each individual has their own preferences and styles when it comes to mastering a foreign language. While some thrive in traditional classroom settings, others find success through self-study with tools like language apps. Embrace your personal learning method to make the process enjoyable and effective!

With countless online Italian language courses available, navigating your options can be overwhelming. Take the time to explore and identify the course that suits you best, and get ready to embark on your journey to discover “la bella lingua”!

To choose the course that will suit you best, consider:

• Your goals: Why you want to learn Italian and what level of fluency you hope to achieve
• Your schedule: When you need to reach your goals and how much time you have for study
• Learning Preferences: Discover your preferred learning style—whether independent study, group collaboration, or utilizing apps, audio, or video resources.
• Your budget: How much money you want to invest in online Italian classes

Enhance your conversational skills by learning with a native Italian speaker! Explore the online Italian tutors offered by LingualNeeds for an engaging and effective learning experience.

With over a thousand skilled tutors available around the clock, fitting in conversation practice into your hectic schedule has never been easier. Collaborating with a private tutor ensures you receive a tailored learning experience that aligns perfectly with your individual goals.