italki vs Lingoda: The Ultimate Comparison for Learners in 2026

Key takeaways

• italki offers maximum choice and flexibility. It gives you access to 150+ languages, 20,000+ tutors, and pay-per-lesson pricing. Teachers create personalized one-on-one lessons tailored to your goals, budget, and schedule.
• Lingoda is set up like an online language school, offering private or group classes with a preset curriculum. It focuses on five major languages: English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian.
• italki gives you more control over your teacher and lesson focus, while Lingoda has a fixed system with a structured, CEFR-aligned curriculum. 

Quick answer: italki vs Lingoda in 2026

Choose italki if you want personalized lessons, access to many languages, the ability to pick your teacher, and like paying per class.

Choose Lingoda if you prefer a structured curriculum, don’t mind assigned teachers, and like a subscription-based payment system. 

When looking for online lessons, you should definitely compare italki vs Lingoda. They both provide live lessons with high quality teachers. But they differ greatly when it comes to language and teacher choice, lesson plans, and pricing structure. 

Language learning success depends greatly on choosing the right platform. So if you’re deciding between italki and Lingoda, we’re here to help. We read the fine print of both sites to understand exactly how they compare. Read on to learn the key differences and determine which one best suits your needs.  

Prefer to get started right away? Find native-speaking Spanish tutors, Japanese tutors, French tutors, English tutors, and more, and start learning with lessons tailored to your pace and goals.

What is italki

italki is the leading online platform for language learning, connecting students with teachers for one-on-one personalized lessons. It’s trusted by over 5 million students thanks to its wide variety of quality options. It has over 20,000 teachers, offering 150+ languages across 190+ countries. 

What is Lingoda

Lingoda is also an online platform that connects students with language teachers. It offers private or group lessons in five languages: English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Classes follow a structured curriculum based around the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).  

italki vs Lingoda: Quick comparison table

Feature	italki	Lingoda
Languages offered	150+ languages	French, German, Spanish, Italian, English, and Business English
Pricing model	Pay per lesson	Subscription-based, buy monthly packages with a set number of classes
Typical pricing	$3-$20 per hour for most tutors	Varies by plan and language, ~$6-$16 for group classes, ~$12-$40 for private classes
Tutor types	Professional teachers and community tutors	Certified instructors assigned by the platform
Lesson duration	30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes	60 minutes
Scheduling	Book anytime; instant booking and rescheduling options	24/7 booking system with fixed class times you select in advance
Trial lessons	3 discounted trial classes	7-day free trial (up to 3 group classes or 1 private lesson)
Best for	Learners who want a wide variety of tutors and language choices, students wanting personalized lesson plans	Learners who want a structured, set curriculum

Curious if italki is for you? Sign up for a free account to check out teacher profiles and test out features firsthand. 

Lingoda vs italki: Key features comparison

1. Teacher selection and variety

Both italki and Lingoda’s teachers are native speakers (or have near-native fluency). You’ll find qualified teachers on both platforms, but the teacher selection process differs greatly.

italki allows you to choose your tutor, which is great if you want more control over your learning experience. You can sample different teachers and pick one that aligns with your learning style and goals. Whether you like energetic instructors, or prefer calmer, patient vibes, you’ve got options (20,000+ to be exact). 

With italki, you pick your tutor type, with a clear difference between Professional Teachers and Community Tutors. Professional Teachers are certified teachers offering more structured lessons, while Community Tutors provide conversation practice for more casual learners. 

Similar to italki’s Professional Teachers, Lingoda’s instructors are certified and have prior experience. However, on Lingoda, you don’t choose your teacher freely. Instead, you book classes based on your target language, level, and schedule. 

With Lingoda, you’ll be exposed to a wide variety of teachers. You aren’t guaranteed the same teacher every lesson. But if you like one, you can click on their profile and book more sessions (assuming your schedules align). 

2. Language variety 

When it comes to language options, it’s hard to beat italki. The platform offers 150+ languages across 190+ countries. You’ll have a wide selection of native speaking teachers offering popular languages like English, Spanish, or Japanese. But you also get access to almost any language you’d imagine, even niche ones like American Sign Language. 
Lingoda provides classes in five core languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, and English. It also has Business English courses. 

3. Language learning experience (personalized vs structured curriculum)

Both platforms offer live lessons that are scheduled in advance, but class structures differ greatly.

italki students typically stick with one tutor over time, which means you can move at your own pace. These tutors create their own curriculum, so it’s personalized for each individual student. For example, if you want to practice the most common job interview questions and answers in English, italki teachers can design your classes with this in mind. 

Lingoda classes follow a set curriculum that follows the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) guidelines. This means you can jump into any private or group classes at your level at any given time. However, you are assigned teachers, so you won’t be with the same instructor or receive the same level of customization. 

4. Pricing structure

italki uses a pay-as-you-go model. You only pay for the lessons you book, with each teacher setting their own rates. Prices vary depending on the language and the tutor’s experience and classification. Community Tutors charge around $3-$15 per hour, while Professional Teachers charge around $5-$40+. On average, students report finding quality teachers in the $10-$20 range. 

Lingoda uses a subscription system. You purchase a monthly plan with a set number of classes. The more classes you buy, the cheaper they cost per hour. Group classes are roughly $6-$16, while private classes are around $12-$40+. 

5. Lesson flexibility and scheduling

italki is very flexible and tutor-driven, which is great if you’re schedule changes frequently. You can sample different tutors to find the right match, then book one-on-one lessons directly with that teacher. Class times depend on tutor availability, so make sure to find a teacher whose schedule fits yours.

Classes are 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes long. So even if you’re super busy, you can still squeeze in a class. Booking recurring lessons is your best bet for staying consistent and making real progress. Many teachers offer same-day or next-day classes, but if you want to start right away, use Instant Lessons to have a lesson now.

On italki, you can easily cancel or reschedule classes without losing money. This is done on the platform, and requires 24-hour advance notice. Rescheduled dates must be agreed upon by both parties.

Lingoda works more like an online language school. You use monthly credits to book preset, 60-minute group or private classes. Teachers are located all around the world, so classes are offered 24/7. However, classes are booked on a first-come, first-served basis and popular times fill up quickly. You may need to book up to a week in advance to get your desired schedule. 

On Lingoda, you must cancel 72 hours in advance to get your credits refunded. There’s no rescheduling policy. You simply cancel then book another class. 

Related comparisons
If you’re exploring other options, you might also want to check out:

• italki vs Preply: See how italki stacks up against Preply for tutors, pricing, and lesson flexibility.
• italki vs Cambly: Explore how italki compares to Cambly for conversational English practice.
• italki vs Verbling: Learn the differences in teacher variety and learning approach between italki and Verbling.

Why many learners prefer italki 

Many learners prefer italki because it has more languages and learning paths. Lingoda only offers lessons in 5 common European languages, while italki connects you to over 150+ languages.  

italki also gives you more control over your learning experience. You can pick your ideal teacher rather than being assigned one. You choose among 20,000+ qualified teachers, opting between Professional Teachers and Community Tutors depending on your goals. With such a wide variety of tutors, you can find ones specializing in exam prep, business, travel-related skills, and more.  

Finally, italki offers more personalized learning. Lingoda uses a set curriculum across the entire platform. At italki, lesson plans are designed with your needs in mind. If you excel at reading and writing, but need more conversation practice, community teachers can help. And if you need extra lessons dedicated to grammar, go for italki’s Professional Teachers. 

Personalized, one-on-on lessons are one of the fastest ways to gain real fluency. This is why more than 5 million students trust italki to learn a new language. Sign up to start learning today.  

FAQ

Which is better for online language learning, Lingoda or italki? 

Overall, italki is better for online language learning because it offers far more language options and teacher variety. italki also gives you much more control throughout your language learning journey. You choose your instructor and have a say in how they design lesson plans.

What are the benefits of italki over Lingoda?

italki offers the same five European languages as Lingoda, plus many, many more. A whopping 150+ languages to be precise. You can learn everything from Spanish to Arabic (two of the best languages to learn in 2026). 

italki also has 10 times the number of teachers as Lingoda with a wide variety of teaching styles. The platform lets you choose between Professional Teachers and Community Tutors. And instead of being assigned a tutor, you can pick one that fits your budget and learning style. 

Rather than following a preset curriculum, italki teachers create personalized lesson plans. They can tailor classes to suit your needs.

Can italki make you fluent?

Absolutely. When learning a new language, the fastest path to fluency is consistent practice. italki makes this easy because it connects you to native speaking tutors for personalized learning. We recommend finding a tutor you love and setting up recurring classes. This helps with accountability so you’ll stick with it.

italki tutors know exactly how to learn a new language and are trained to support your language proficiency. You’ll learn foundational skills like grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. And with all that one-on-one practice, you’ll gain conversational fluency faster than solo learning.