Best 16 Busuu Alternatives For All Languages (2024 Research)

By Ibrahim Litinine

Proofread and fact-checked by Ernest Bio Bogore

Last updated

Busuu is an online language learning platform that helps learners build a solid foundation in the main aspects of the language, like speaking, reading, listening, or writing skills. 

Their programs cater to learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced. Courses consist of various short video lessons and exercises. 

Learners also get supplementary lessons with a range of learning materials like recorded audio, images, and various other resources that make learning easier. 

Busuu is arguably a good platform to learn languages. But if you’re reading this, we believe there is a valid reason why you’re here. Our hypothesis is:

  • You’ve used the service and you’re dissatisfied with it

  • You’re comparing options based on overall service or pricing

  • You find their service too expensive

  • Their learning approach isn’t showing in your language skills

  • You need a service that guarantees your linguistic performance 

If any of this applies to your situation, you’re in luck. In this article, we’ll be discussing the best alternative learning companies to Busuu, including our own company, Get French Classes. 

Our services are designed to ensure that you fully understand and can communicate in French. We tailor our services, including our teaching approach, to meet your specific needs. 

That said, we’ll start this article by comparing Get French Classes to Busuu. We’ll demonstrate why we’re the best French learning service for your needs. 

We’ll then discuss the other language learning platforms and how they differ from Busuu.

🇫🇷 Learn From Meghan's Mistakes!

Meghan spent months trying out techniques like vocabulary memorization, spaced repetition, and gamification apps like Duolingo. None of it worked, instead it ended up being total waste of time and money. She had a breakthrough only after discovering Get French Classes where she went through our active immersion, that helped her:

  1. build the daily habits of speaking French,

  2. practice under real-life scenarios through private French classes,

  3. improve fluency through group classes with other French learners.

Join one of our French courses and start speaking French today.

Why Get French Classes is the Best Alternative to Busuu for French

When you search the web for “online French classes,” most of the companies you’ll see fit into 3 categories:

  • Online private French classes through 1-on-1 tutoring

  • Group Coaching 

  • French learning apps with gamified learning methods

The problem?

  • Private French classes are crazy expensive, and some companies charge as much as $90+ per online language course. 

  • Group coaching, although sometimes cost-effective, doesn’t suit most people’s learning styles and does not help you practice as much as needed.

  • And language learning apps only include basics like grammar, don’t yield results as fast as you want, and don’t prepare you for real-life scenarios.

Imagine a French learning course that combines the best of each of these categories. Well, that’s what Get French Classes is.

Get French Classes uses one-on-one coaching, and great course materials in multiple formats, assignments, and exams to create an intensive French learning experience.

Here are some of the benefits of Get French Classes:

Learn French with real-life scenarios and context-bound phrases

Our primary focus with Get French Classes is to prepare our learners for real-life situations. 

We spent months speaking to French lovers and the number one complaint we get is that apps like Duolingo don’t train French learners for real-life scenarios. And that’s pretty much the complaint we’ve been getting for most French learning apps.

So, we made that our top priority. 

We don’t want our learners to go, “What?” when they’re speaking to French native speakers. Instead, we want native speakers to ask them, “Êtes vous Français ?” (Are you French?).

And that’s why all of our lessons are about real-life expressions, phrases French people use on a daily basis. 

get french classes, the best busuu french alternative

Even when the lesson is about a very complex subject, for instance, things like grammar, and conjugation, we do make sure to include examples of how French people use that grammar rule in a formal or informal setting.

Best of all, we put this into the video format, and when needed, we also turn it into PDFs or Google Docs. At the end of each lesson, you’ll have practice assignments to further consolidate what you’ve just learned. We provide our learners with both written and spoken assignments. 

Here is what the written assignments look like:

get french classes, the best busuu french alternative

Here is what the spoken assignment looks like: 

get french classes, the best busuu french alternative

Keep in mind that you have to complete these assignments before you move on to having private classes with your tutors. 

Practice as much as you want with your private French tutor

On top of the video French courses, our French language coaches meet with learners twice a week to discuss progress, revise un-understood lessons, and consolidate what has already been learned.

get french classes, the best busuu french alternative

These live sessions are a safe place for learners because you can make mistakes without being judged, ask questions without being called stupid, and practice as much as you want.

During these live sessions, you get to learn new things, especially nuances and much more complex things about previous lessons that we didn’t include in the pre-recorded video lessons. And best of all, you don’t have to pay per hour or lesson. Your course package comes with the learning materials and the private French lessons. You’ll also have group classes twice per week, with your tutor and up to 5 other learners on the same level as you. 

get french classes, the best busuu french alternative

You’ll get to practice with your peers while your tutor moderates. But best of all, you’ll have opinion debates and engage in all sorts of social activities. The idea is to create a stress-free environment where each learner feels safe and motivated to speak, make mistakes, and improve. 

Hit your French learning goals with your accountability buddy

Solo learning and a lack of accountability are the reasons course completion rates are very low. Private classes are great, but their effectiveness gets hindered by a lack of accountability.

That’s why we pair every single one of our learners with other French learners so they can be accountable for their progress to each other.

We make buddies debate against each other on a weekly basis and once every month, buddies form a pod and debate against another pod. 

This cultivates a spirit of challenge where each learner pushes the other. 

Keep up your momentum with take-home assignments, milestones, and badges

From our experience, the best way after an immersion trip to France is through intensive learning. Now, how do you recreate an intensive language immersion program online?

Well, our curriculum team figured that learners do learn fast when lessons are interactive, especially when take-home assignments are both written and spoken. So, we made sure our courses are full of interactive bits that keep your motivation and drive up as well as make you learn fast.

Each of our French lessons comes with in-lessons and takes home written and spoken assignments. The in-lesson assignments serve as spaced repetition, while take-home assignments help learners connect the dots between previous lessons and the most recent French lessons.

Our tutors are all native speakers, so you’re getting authentic pronunciation modeling along with their insights into the nuances and slang of the French language.

And the only way for you to go from one lesson to another is to showcase that you’ve not only mastered the most recent lesson but also that you can connect the dots between previous lessons. Until you’ve proven that mastery, you’re going to be stuck at the latest lesson and work with your tutor until you master that one lesson.

Our modules are also designed to help you achieve milestones after you complete them. For instance, one of our modules can focus on taking you from zero to mastering conversational French, and another can be on how to tell stories. So, you’re certain to keep your eyes on the prize and be motivated to keep going, lesson after lesson.

Become an expert with specialty French lessons

On top of the curriculum everyone goes through, at Get French Classes, we try to adapt the curriculum to our learners' goals, be it personal or professional. And that’s why our learners love our program.

Part of our workflow is that before you start taking our online French courses, the first thing we ask you is to have a 20-minute call with our learner advisor, who asks you questions about your goals, timeline for learning French, and other important information. 

We use that to create a custom learning plan for you that’ll help you not only achieve French conversation mastery but also build your vocabulary for professional use. 

Here are some of our tutors:

Showcase your mastery with certificates

We do not believe in certificates being issued for the sake of completing a course. So, if you’re looking for a certificate of completion, the Get French Classes courses aren’t for you.

Our certificates are delivered after you’ve passed the exams and taken all of your assessments. 

get french classes, the best live lingua alternative with certificate

These assessments are in the form of written tasks, gamified vocabulary games, videos, and audios of you speaking and practicing. And your submissions are assessed by our native French tutors and learner advisors. 

So, if you get a language certificate from us, you know for sure that you’ve earned it.

Achieve French language proficiency in a cost-effective way

Now, you might be wondering, how much does all of that cost? It must be very expensive.

Well, not really. We designed our program in a way that suits the most serious learners. 

  • No per-hour rates

  • No per-lesson rates

Yet, we packed most of the most valuable French language lessons into our modules and materials.

Our French courses are made for different levels of learners, and use cases and pricing vary depending on your level. 

Here’s a breakdown.

get french classes, the best busuu french alternative

🇫🇷 Learn From Meghan's Mistakes!

Meghan spent months trying out techniques like vocabulary memorization, spaced repetition, and gamification apps like Duolingo. None of it worked, instead it ended up being total waste of time and money. She had a breakthrough only after discovering Get French Classes where she went through our active immersion, that helped her:

  1. build the daily habits of speaking French,

  2. practice under real-life scenarios through private French classes,

  3. improve fluency through group classes with other French learners.

Join one of our French courses and start speaking French today.

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning French

Pimsleur

  • Ratings: 2.8 stars out of 5 for 28 TrustPilot reviews

  • How they teach: Pimsleur French App, Online private tutoring. 

  • Learning resources: Varies by tutors

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: Learners can’t speak the language fluently. They can only get to an intermediate level at best. The main service is the app, where you only get fixed courses and learning materials. So, the courses can’t be tailored to your specific domain, for example, if need be. Also, there isn’t much tutoring unless you’re willing to pay extra. 

Pimsleur, the best busuu french alternative

Pimsleur is a great alternative online French learning platform to Busuu. The company uses different learning approaches to make the learning session enjoyable. 

Its core 30-minute lesson enables you to learn the rudiments of the language. Besides, you can engage in reading sessions to learn how to read in French effectively. 

Contrary to Busuu, the program uses teaching resources such as digital flashcards, lightbulb moments, and speed round games to build language skills. There is also voice recognition software that provides feedback about your pronunciation skills. 

Pimsleur offers its courses for different levels at $150 each. But you can get the combined package for $575.

Pimsleur, the best busuu french alternative

Lingoda

  • Ratings: 4.4 stars out of 5 for 4790 TrustPilot reviews

  • How they teach: one-on-one sessions or group classes with native tutors.  

  • Learning resources: PDFs, course recaps, a blog filled with types of resources, and more. 

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced. 

  • Time to fluency: 18 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: It’s good that the classes are actually taught to learners instead of just randomly throwing materials at them through an app. Still, there are no systems or tools to ensure learners practice outside of classes so that they can master the language. 

Lingoda, the best busuu french alternative

Unlike Busuu, Lingoda offers a different teaching approach where it engages learners in an intensive class.

The company connects you with native teachers with whom you get to have one-on-one sessions or group classes. As a learner, you will practice conversations and receive personalized feedback from your teachers. You also get to train your ears and listen to real-life interactions. 

Most lessons take place on Zoom and last for 60 minutes. The program is available for all levels, from A1 to C1. After each class session, you get a recap of the classes, homework for each lesson, and annotated PDFs. You can also use the site’s blog, filled with additional resources, to reinforce your learning. 

Lingoda, the best busuu french alternative

Lingoda offers its pricing details in two groups: group classes and 1-on-1 classes. The group pricing plan includes:

  • 5 classes for $16 per class or $79.99 for a one-time payment

  • 12 classes for $13.5 per class or $163.99

  • 20 classes for $12 per class or $239.99

  • 40 classes for $11 per class or $499.99

Lingoda, the best busuu french alternative

Meanwhile, the 1-on-1 pricing plan includes:

  • 5 classes for $39 per class or $193.99 for a one-time payment

  • 12 classes for $30 per class or $359.99

  • 20 classes for $25 per class or $499.99

  • 40 classes for $22.5 per class or $899.99

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning English

Voice of America Learning English

  • Ratings: N/A

  • How they teach: Learners self-study using the materials on the blog.   

  • Learning resources: Blog filled with video and audio materials. There’s also a podcast and a few PDFs about grammar, vocabulary, and more. 

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: There is limited writing and conversation practice. The lessons are not comprehensive enough to help you practice and speak. You’ll only get information about the basics of the English language. 

VOA, the best busuu english alternative

VOA Learning English offers English lessons covering aspects such as grammar, vocabulary, and culture. There are also exercises to help learners practice and improve their speaking skills, and audio programs to improve their listening skills. 

Plus, you will get access to resources such as videos, online texts, podcasts, and more. The lessons are available for all language levels, from beginner to advanced, and are free for all users.

Education First

  • Ratings: 4.1 stars out of 5 for 8092 reviews on TrustPilot. 

  • How they teach: private, group, and self-study options.    

  • Learning resources: state-of-the-art video conferencing tools, games, and more. 

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: The best feature of the company is that it offers a comprehensive curriculum that lets learners get everything they need to learn the language in a single place. Plus, they use a conversation-based and interactive virtual learning environment to put you in real-life scenarios that will help you stay focused and learn faster. The main complaint we see about the company is that it’s very expensive. 

EF, the best busuu english alternative

Education First offers both general and business English. Lessons are available for all proficiency levels, from A1 to C1. 

Similar to the British Council, EF also offers its lessons in three ways: private lessons, group classes, and self-study options. The private and group classes feature an English teaching expert who implements the Efekta method to effectively reinforce learning. 

They cover the linguistic aspects and engage learners in discussions to help them speak. 

On the other hand, the self-study option includes tons of exercises to test your knowledge of the language. It doesn’t include a teacher. 

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning Spanish

Live Lingua

  • Ratings: 4.9 stars out of 5 for 157 reviews on TrustPilot. 

  • How they teach: 1-on-1 and group classes with your tutor.     

  • Learning resources: You get tutor-based lessons.

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced. 

  • Time to fluency: 18 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: Everything you do here is designed and provided to you by the tutor. Although they train you to become fluent and get conversational skills, the platform operates like a freelance platform where you hire people who teach Spanish. This is bad because LiveLingua will have to operate like a business rather than an online Spanish school. Also, tutors operate hourly, your prices rapidly increase, and getting fluent means you’ll have to pay a lot of money.

Live Lingua, the best busuu spanish alternative

Live Lingua hosts live Spanish lessons for learners of all proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced. The program pairs you with a native-speaking tutor, who conducts a private lesson with you. 

The goal is to help you become conversational in the language. The tutor engages you in conversations, guides you throughout the lesson, and provides feedback about your performance. A standard hour lesson with this program is $22. You can book as many classes as you want. 

Babbel Spanish

  • Ratings: 3.9 stars out of 5 for 20706 reviews on TrustPilot. 

  • How they teach: learning materials and live tutoring.      

  • Learning resources: apps, voice recognition software, tutor-based lessons, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced, near-native. 

  • Time to fluency: 24 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: Especially when it comes to Spanish, Babbel is an excellent platform when you buy into all their offerings and tools. So, the price can rapidly go up if you want a comprehensive experience. Also, the level of dedication it requires might not be suitable for business professionals seeking to learn the language rapidly.  

Babbel, the best busuu spanish alternative

Babbel offers Spanish lessons through its app and live tutoring. The app’s lessons last for about 10 to 15 minutes but require consistency to have a solid understanding of the language. 

It covers different aspects such as grammar, pronunciation, culture, and reading comprehension. Plus, you will practice speaking through its voice recognition software and become exposed to cultural practices. 

On the other hand, the Babbel Live option features you, a native-speaking tutor, and a maximum of five other learners. Each lesson goes beyond grammar and vocabulary as it develops your communicative skills. 

The pricing details for the app and tutor-based option vary. While the app costs $13.95 monthly, Babbel Live costs $99. 

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning Italian 

News in Slow Italian

  • Ratings: N/A. 

  • How they teach: You get a combination of blog resources and lessons.      

  • Learning resources: audio-based lessons, voice recognition software, flashcards, podcasts, PDF materials, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: This basically amounts to trying to learn Italian from a news radio. You get a lot of lessons from the podcast and the blog, which is great, but the courses only seek to improve your listening skills. You can’t write or practice speaking in the courses. 

News in Slow Italian, the best busuu italian alternative

News in Slow Italian offers various audio-based lessons for all language levels, from beginner to advanced. The lessons cover grammar, vocabulary, and dialogue. Each lesson is clear, well-structured, and comes with comprehensive explanations. 

Plus, you get access to learning materials such as flashcards, PDFs, voice recognition software to record what you pronounce, and quizzes to test your knowledge. 

The program also dedicates a section to grammar and expressions. Here, they cover all aspects of Italian grammar and teach you common phrases for real-life conversations. 

You will also find a “news stories” section to engage you with both fictional and non-fictional stories. Each lesson in this section comes with a transcript, an audio file, and contextual translations. 

Although this program is effective for improving your listening skills, it still has some shortcomings. It offers little-to-no conversation exercises that can help you in real-life situations. 

In other words, you can use the lessons to train your ears and become familiar with Italian words if you can’t become fluent. You will need to explore other options that target your communication skills. The lessons are free for all users. 

Teacher Stefano

  • Ratings: 4.8 stars out of 5 for 47 reviews on TrustPilot.  

  • How they teach: You get lessons from your tutors.      

  • Learning resources: recorded video lessons, exercises, quizzes, PDFs, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: This is a great option for learning Italian, as the program covers the core aspects of the language like grammar, vocabulary, culture, and more. The biggest limit here is that it stops there. There are little to no materials and systems to help you practice and speak the language. 

Teacher Stefano, the best busuu italian alternative

Teacher Stefano is another reputable website for learning Italian. The host, Stefano, offers four courses from which you can choose. First is the “Italian in 30 Days” series, where you learn about Italian idiomatic expressions.

The next two courses are for A2, B1, and B2 learners. The courses cover all the intricacies of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and culture. The last one is for beginners who are seeking to have a solid foundation in the language. 

All courses include recorded video lessons, tons of exercises, quizzes, and PDFs to boost your knowledge. Each video comes with a subtitle to help you understand the content better. Plus, you can join the program’s online community to help you during your learning journey. 

The pricing details of the courses vary. While the 30-day challenge costs $59, the others cost $159 each. 

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning Korean

Genki Korean

  • Ratings: N/A.  

  • How they teach: You get video-based lessons on the website.      

  • Learning resources: recorded video lessons, games, exercises, quizzes, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: Admittedly, the website has fun methods that quicken learning Korean—a process that’s otherwise known to take a lot of time. But still, there are limitations across the board,especially in the ways they cover grammar, culture, writing, reading, and conversation practices. 

Genki Korean, the best busuu korean alternative

Genki Korean is a perfect choice for anyone seeking to learn Korean vocabulary via games. The program covers a variety of topics, such as the Korean alphabet, drinks, food, directions, numbers, and more. It asks you a question, presents you with multiple answers, and encourages you to choose the correct one. 

Although you will make lots of mistakes, that’s the essence of the game. You will learn by making tons of mistakes. The downside to this program is that it’s not suitable for intermediate and advanced learners. 

Plus, it doesn’t cover other aspects such as grammar, pronunciation, culture, and more. The program costs $479. 

Loecsen Korean

  • Ratings: 4.7 stars out of 5 for 192 TrustPilot reviews.  

  • How they teach: You get video-based lessons covering the basics on the website.      

  • Learning resources: Video lessons, voice recognition software to help you practice, games, exercises, quizzes, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: This program is free, which is great. Also, learners assimilate everyday vocabulary and gain new words fast. But there isn’t as much emphasis on grammar, conversation, and culture lessons. 

Loecsen, the best busuu korean alternative

Loecsen Korean covers various topics such as greetings, numbers, bars, feelings, and so on. Each lesson teaches you common expressions relating to a particular topic. 

For instance, if the topic is greetings, you will learn basic expressions like “Hello,” “Good evening,” “Thank you," and “Congratulations” in Korean. 

The program also includes voice recognition software that allows you to practice these expressions. You record yourself speaking, and the system determines whether you pronounced it correctly or not. 

Although the program is effective for learning vocabulary, there needs to be more focus on grammar, conversation practice, and culture. The program is free for users. 

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning Japanese 

Wasabi 

  • Ratings: N/A.  

  • How they teach: You get 1-on-1 or group lessons from your teachers, no cookie-cutter materials.      

  • Learning resources: grammar reference sheets, pronunciation practices, fairy tales, radio podcasts, manga, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced. 

  • Time to fluency: 18 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: Wasabi provides great lessons to help you train to become conversational in Japanese. But there is an “almost-unanimous” complaint that their courses are priced above industry average. 

Wasabi, the best busuu japanese alternative

Wasabi pairs you with a tutor who teaches you the rudiments of the Japanese language. It’s available for all proficiency levels, whether beginner, intermediate, or advanced. 

One-to-one lessons take place via Skype for 50 minutes per session. The focus is on avoiding mistakes, acquiring new words, speaking, and listening. 

The program also provides vital learning materials to facilitate learning. You will have access to grammar reference sheets, pronunciation practices, fairy tales, radio podcasts, manga, and more. The pricing details depend on the number of lessons you intend to take. The minimum plan, which is the Wasabi Light Plan, costs ¥3,950 monthly. Other plans, the Basic and Intensive Plans, cost ¥7,800 and ¥15,200, respectively. 

Easy Japanese by NHK

  • Ratings: N/A.  

  • How they teach: You mainly self-study and learn through videos and audio-based lessons.   

  • Learning resources: multimedia materials, pronunciation practices, games, quizzes, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced. 

  • Time to fluency: 12 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: The program is particularly great if you’re interested in learning Japanese vocabulary and common expressions. However, there are limited writing and speaking practices. 

NHK World, the best busuu japanese alternative

Easy Japanese uses animated videos to illustrate its lessons and impart learning.

Although most lessons are in the form of stories, it is a perfect choice for anyone seeking to learn Japanese vocabulary through context. Plus, you will also pick up some common phrases and expressions with ease. 

Each lesson comes with an audio and video file to improve your language skills. The video comes with both English and Japanese subtitles. The company also dedicates a section of the site to learning the Japanese alphabet — Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. You will also find a resource section specifically designed for Japanese grammar. Unfortunately, the program isn’t ideal for anyone seeking to become fluent or develop their writing skills. 

Nonetheless, the program is effective in developing a solid understanding of the language. It’s free for all users. 

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning German

Goethe-Institut 

  • Ratings: N/A.  

  • How they teach: private, group, and self-study lessons. 

  • Learning resources: video and audio materials, pronunciation practices, pictures, reading texts, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced. 

  • Time to fluency: 18 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: The courses are comprehensive and cover all the foundational language skills. The main drawback here is that the courses can be expensive. 

Goethe Institute, the best busuu german alternative

Goethe-Institut offers its lessons in three ways: private lessons, group classes, and self-study options. 

Private lessons are one-to-one live sessions where you get personalized mentoring and support. The course’s goal is to improve your communication and speaking skills. So, you will participate in discussions that encourage you to think in German and express your thoughts. 

The group session includes you, a native-speaking tutor, and a maximum of 16 learners. While the live session focuses on your communicative skills, the course’s exercises focus on your reading and writing skills. 

Finally, the self-study option specifically targets your listening and reading skills. All you do here is practice tons of exercises to boost your understanding of the language. 

All lessons are fun and engaging. Plus, you will have access to materials such as videos, audio clips, pictures, reading texts, and more. 

The pricing details for the course vary. While the private lessons cost €695, the group option costs €439, and the self-study option costs €259.

Deutsche Akademie

  • Ratings: N/A.  

  • How they teach: private, group, and self-study options. 

  • Learning resources: video and audio materials, pronunciation practices, pictures, reading texts, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Advanced. 

  • Time to fluency: 18 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: They design a comprehensive curriculum for learners. And their courses cover all the foundational language skills. Just like Goethe-Institut, the main drawback here is that the courses can be expensive. 

Deutch academy, the best busuu german alternative

Deutsche Akademie offers learners both online courses and live coaching sessions to improve their knowledge of the German language. 

You can study the free online courses all by yourself. The program provides hundreds of textbooks, grammar resources, and exercises to enhance your skills. 

Meanwhile, the live coaching session includes you, a native-speaking tutor, and a maximum of 11 other learners. There is a wide variety of courses to choose from. 

They include pronunciation and conversation courses, grammar courses, and writing courses. You’ll also have to choose between intensive and semi-intensive courses. 

Top 2 Busuu alternatives for learning Portuguese 

Portuguese 101

  • Ratings: N/A.  

  • How they teach: self-study with assistance. 

  • Learning resources: video and audio materials, flashcards, slide shows, wordlists, and more.  

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 6 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: The program offers affordable lessons to boost your knowledge of the language. However, not only is there limited speaking practice, but there are no options for live classes with tutors, which makes it more challenging for first-time learners. 

PortuguesePod101, the best busuu portuguese alternative

Portuguese 101 is a credible platform where you can learn Portuguese. The platform offers an extensive library of audio and video lessons that help you have Portuguese conversations. Lessons cover aspects such as grammar, pronunciation, and reading. 

Learners also have access to learning materials like flashcards, slide shows, and wordlists. Learners can request the guidance of a tutor. Teachers curate personalized learning plans, answer questions, and provide feedback through a private messenger. 

In other words, this is not a video class where you can have a one-to-one interactive session with the tutor. Instead, you will send your questions through the private app and receive responses, leaving no room for speaking practices. 

FluentU

  • Ratings: 4.3 stars out of 5 for 81 TrustPilot reviews.  

  • How they teach: self-study, live courses, one-on-one sessions. 

  • Learning resources: video and audio materials, Portuguese movies, actions, thrillers, comedy, drama, and more.

  • How fluent can you get with them: Intermediate. 

  • Time to fluency: 6 months minimum. 

  • Our verdict: Most of the platform’s offerings come in the form of videos or other types of visual materials. So, they check the boxes for entertaining courses that improve your listening skills. But that also means limited focus on grammar and speaking practice.  

FluentU, the best busuu portuguese alternative

FluentU is a great alternative for those who don’t want to learn via formal lessons. The program uses real-world videos to teach Portuguese. You will find different genres of videos, such as music videos, movie trailers, and Netflix shows. 

Its extensive library of videos makes the learning process fun and engaging. You can watch movies, whether action, thriller, comedy, or drama, in Portuguese. Each video comes with subtitles to help you follow along. You can click on the words in these subtitles to get instant definitions or see sentence examples. 

At the end of the lesson, you can take a personalized quiz to develop your vocabulary. However, the program doesn’t cover aspects like grammar or conversation practice. Nonetheless, it is a great way to learn Portuguese through immersion. 

Let Get French Classes Help You Speak French with Ease

While Busuu helps learners get a solid foundation in several language skills, it does not offer the immersive, personalized experience that many learners need to achieve true fluency.

Our comprehensive program combines the best elements of private tutoring, group coaching, and interactive learning materials to create a truly immersive and effective French learning experience.

Here’s what sets Get French Classes apart:

  1. Real-life scenarios and context-bound phrases to prepare you for authentic conversations

  2. Unlimited practice with your private French tutor to reinforce learning and clarify complex concepts

  3. Accountability buddies and group debates to keep you motivated and engaged

  4. Take-home assignments, milestones, and badges to maintain momentum and track progress

  5. Specialty French lessons tailored to your personal or professional goals

  6. Certificates that showcase your true mastery of the French language

  7. A cost-effective, all-inclusive package without per-hour or per-lesson rates

Our program is designed for serious learners who are committed to achieving fluency and want a supportive, immersive environment that adapts to their needs and goals. If you’re ready to kickstart your French learning journey, you can sign up with us here. 

🇫🇷 Learn From Meghan's Mistakes!

Meghan spent months trying out techniques like vocabulary memorization, spaced repetition, and gamification apps like Duolingo. None of it worked, instead it ended up being total waste of time and money. She had a breakthrough only after discovering Get French Classes where she went through our active immersion, that helped her:

  1. build the daily habits of speaking French,

  2. practice under real-life scenarios through private French classes,

  3. improve fluency through group classes with other French learners.

Join one of our French courses and start speaking French today.