British Council LearnEnglish
Offers free CEFR-graded English learning materials plus paid live classes and IELTS preparation.
Edition 2026
The best online English courses
Almost every course can show a happy beginner. Very few can show what happens at B2, where progress slows, the free tier runs out and most learners quietly stop.
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Cambridge English
Provides English exams, qualifications and learning materials recognised by institutions worldwide.
Lingoda
Offers live online classes with certified teachers across CEFR levels in several languages including English.
Preply
Marketplace connecting students with tutors for online lessons, widely used to learn English.
italki
Connects language learners with tutors worldwide for one-on-one and group lessons, including English.
How we judged this
Fixed before anything was ranked
What we look at
- Level mapped to the CEFR, with the placement test explained
- Speaking practice with a human or a rated substitute for one
- Published completion rates, not enrolment numbers
- Certificate that someone outside the school recognises
- Cancel and refund terms that do not require a phone call
Helps if you have it: Published completion rates by level and the accreditation behind the certificate.
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