Home Language ResourcesApps & Resources 18 Free Italian Courses Online to Learn Italian from Home

18 Free Italian Courses Online to Learn Italian from Home

Learning Italian shouldn't break the bank, here are the best free Italian online courses, podcasts, apps and YouTube channels to learn Italian without spending a cent!

by Michele
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Free Italian Courses Online - How to Learn Italian from Home 2023
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Learning Italian shouldn’t break the bank, here is a comprehensive list of free Italian online courses plus podcasts, apps and YouTube channels you can use to start learning Italian without spending a cent!

Nowadays learning a foreign language is, in some ways, easier than ever: with the rise and spread of the Internet, we got lots of wonderful resources we can use in the comfort of our own home (or wherever we are) to learn practically any language. 

Italian is one of the most popular foreign languages among learners all over the world, so there are tons of wonderful resources available. You can take a free Italian course online, work one on one with a teacher via Zoom, or download a few fun Italian language apps. 

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best free Italian courses available online, as well as 19 of the best paid resources for learning Italian (PLUS my top 3 recommendations). We’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages so that you can make a well-informed choice and find the courses that best fits you and your goals in learning Italian in the best possible way.

Pro tip: Before you use any of these products, find out your learner type first then you’ll be able to choose the best way to Italian that’s right for you!

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Free Italian resources 

Nowadays, you don’t have to look too far to find a free Italian course online – there are so many free resources available. Can free resources be good? Of course, they can. Paid resources can be even better (we’ll discuss further in the article why). However, if you can’t or don’t want to fork out the money and pay for a course for whatever reason, there are still plenty of free Italian courses available. 

Note: many free resources have a paid subscription option that grants you access to more materials or different types of exercises. 

This is an interesting solution: on the one hand, it allows you to use the resource completely for free, on the other hand, you can pay (often a rather affordable sum) to get even more great language-learning content and to support the creators of the resource. 

In the list of the resources below, we will take a look at their more distinctive and most helpful features and what types of learners and Italian proficiency levels they are suitable for. 


Language Learning Apps

Free Italian Courses Online - Language Learning Apps

1. Duolingo

Duolingo is a language learning app that features a free Italian course that can take you from zero to about intermediate level. If you already know some Italian, you can start with a short test that will determine your level and allow you to skip some of the easier lessons.

Each topic on Duolingo is divided into short lessons that you can complete in 5-10 minutes, which allows you to do as much or as little Italian in one sitting as you’d like. The vocabulary and grammar you’ll learn are somewhat limited, but that’s okay if you just need to learn the basics. 

Who’s it for? A perfect choice to learn the basics of the Italian language on the go. 

2. Memrise

Memrise is a flashcard app that focuses on words and phrases of a language, with bits of grammar, listening, and pronunciation. It features a great Italian course from creators of the app as well as various courses on different topics created by other users. 

Note: the full range of courses is available in the browser version only, but as soon as you start a course it also becomes available to you in the app. Some of the features available or unlockable with a paid subscription differ from version to version (web, iOS, Android). 

Who’s it for? Indispensable if you want to expand your vocabulary. 


Online Courses

Free Italian Courses Online - Online Courses3. Italian Online Club

This comprehensive course alone could be enough to learn Italian quite well. It features materials for all levels, from A1 to C2, including vocabulary, grammar, dialogues, reading, listening practice, and more. If you are not sure what your level is, you can take a level test before you start learning. 

Who’s it for? If you are looking for one resource that has it all – no need to look any further.

4. Free Italian courses from Wellesley College

Nowadays, many colleges and universities offer courses on different topics online for free. Wellesley College offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced Italian courses, with each course featuring instructional videos, podcasts, interviews, and more. 

You can enrol at any time and go through the course at your own pace. You can even get an official certificate of completion – although this one you’ll have to pay for.

Who’s it for? It’s a great option for those looking to take a college-curated comprehensive course. 


YouTube channels

Free Italian Courses Online - Youtube Channels

5. Italianissimo

Italianissimo is a 90s BBC Italian video course. It looks a bit funny now, ‘in the future’, but the material quality is great. The videos contain a mix of English and Italian and are great for beginners. It’s a short course with twenty 15-minute videos – you can easily find time to watch it all. 

Who’s it for? Perfect for Italian learners with some 90s nostalgia. 

6. Speak Italian with your mouth full 

Italian food is one of the most popular and beloved all over the world. This YouTube series allows you to kill two birds with one stone and learn some Italian while also learning to cook. Each lesson is divided into several parts: first, you get introduced to new vocabulary, and then you can watch a cooking lesson while listening to people using the vocabulary you’ve just learned. Most videos are 10-20 minutes long, and you can tackle each lesson in parts at your own pace. 

Who’s it for? A perfect option for all the foodies out there. 

7. Intrepid Italian with Michele

Whether you want to learn Italian for travel or connect with your Italian heritage or partner, this channel will help you do both! Plus you’ll get lots of inspiration that will help you plan your next Italian adventure. Featuring short, but detailed Italian lessons using a unique 80/20 method plus in-depth Italy travel videos that will show all the wonders of Italy, Intrepid Italian with Michele is a fun and informative resource run by yours truly.

Who’s it for? For anyone who loves traveling around Italy and wants to learn either dabble in the language or reach fluency. Check out my self-paced online Italian courses here.

8. Learn Italian with Lucrezia 

This YouTube channel is run by Lucrezia, a charming Roman girl who presents a variety of materials for beginners as well as for intermediate learners. Lucrezia explains different peculiarities of Italian grammar and provides exercises, gives practical learning tips, and talks about different aspects of Italian culture. 

One of the best features of the channel are Lucrezia’s vlogs where you can see some daily Italian life and hear colloquial Italian in real-life situations. 

Who’s it for? Perfect for those who want to learn both the language and the culture in a fun and relaxed way. 

Websites

Free Italian Courses Online - Websites

9. The Italian Experiment

The Italian Experiment is for beginner students of Italian all the way to intermediate learners. You’ll find plenty of tools for learning Italian online including free vocabulary and grammar lessons. There are also several children’s stories translated into Italian and with audio. These are fantastic if you’re looking for comprehensible input which can be hard to come by.

Who’s it for? If you love short but clear explanations, you’ll love The Italian Experiment.

10. Fluent in 3 months

Fluent in 3 months is a website created by Benny, an Irish polyglot. Benny and other authors he invites to the site write about multiple languages, not just Italian and it is a treasure trove for any learner.  Here you will find language learning hacks and tips, success stories from other learners, collections of great language learning materials, useful phrases, and many more. Just use the search bar to find the articles focused on Italian in particular – and you are good to go. Benny also created, Why Italian is Easyan approach to learning Italian that teaches you the simple shortcuts you can use to be confident at speaking Italian, even if you don’t have a complete vocabulary and perfect grammar. When you’re ready to take the plunge, you can even join the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge where you’ll be able to achieve your first 15-minutes conversation in just 90 days.

Who’s it for? Great for those looking for general language learning tips and collections of useful phrases.

11. Forvo

Forvo is a great website to practice your Italian pronunciation and learn some useful words and phrases. All the pronunciation on Forvo is recorded by native speakers from different parts of Italy. Some words like ‘gnocchi’ have over a dozen recordings you can listen to.

You can use Forvo to search for various Italian words, or you can take a look at some of the useful words and phrases grouped by topic, like ‘Drinks’ or ‘Shopping’.

Who’s it for? If you are looking to improve your Italian pronunciation, Forvo is the way to go. 


Podcasts

Free Italian Courses Online - Podcasts

12. ItalianPod101

ItalianPod101 is an Italian learning podcast focusing on audio lessons, but it is also much more than that. It features a comprehensive Italian course from beginner to advanced, with audio lessons, grammar and vocabulary practice. You can sign up for free and get a 7-day free trial of the full course. However, a lot of audio lessons are available for free – you can also find them on YouTube here.

Who’s it for? It’s a wonderful option if you want to focus on listening and conversational Italian. 

13. Coffee Break Italian

Can only find a short break in your day to learn Italian – say, about enough time to drink a coffee and have a snack? The Coffee Break podcast has you covered, as it features concise 20-minute Italian lessons. At the moment there are two seasons of the podcast: for beginners and for intermediate learners. They also offer courses on the Coffee Break Academy where you can access video materials, lesson notes and bonus audio content. This is perfect for the most visual learners out there like me.

Who’s it for? Perfect if you want to do some listening on a short break.

14. Podcast Italiano

Run by Davide from Turin, on Podcast Italiano you can find podcasts for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners of the Italian language. Davide regularly tackles serious and engaging topics, so you’ll never get bored and will always learn something new. New episodes come out regularly, and there is even a YouTube channel so you won’t ever feel a shortage new of learning material.

Who’s it for? Go to Podcast Italiano to combine your learning Italian with fun and meaningful topics. 

15. Impara l’Italiano con Italiano Automatico

Alberto, or as his students call him, Albi, is a charismatic Italian teacher from Brescia. Albi teaches Italian through his “Metodo Naturale” where the main focus is listening to interesting and understandable material. In 2016, Albi founded the Learn Italian Show, a free project where over 300 days he created a series of videos that form a free online course for anyone wanting to learn Italian. The videos cover a variety of topics include history, culture, and news. You’ll even get to meet his adorable grandma Elide! 

Who’s it for? For Italian lessons with an enthusiastic and cheerful teacher, Albi is your man.


Audio lessons

Free Italian Courses Online - Audio Lessons16. One World Italiano 


Veronica from Sardinia runs One World Italian where you can find several Italian audio courses, including a 37-unit beginner course and a 24-unit intermediate course. The courses feature grammar, vocabulary, exercises, dialogues, and cultural information.  There is also a free 12-unit video course and paid courses as well – we’ll discuss them further in the article. 

Who’s it for? A great way to improve your listening with short lessons. 

17. Foreign Service Institute Italian 

On this website, you can find audio courses developed by the FSI for its own employees before they are stationed overseas. There are 30 lessons, each consisting of several parts 1 to 10 minutes long. The course is very detailed and thorough. To download the textbook and instructions for the audio course, click on ‘Student Text’. 

Who’s it for? If you are looking for a free thorough Italian audio course, you’re in the right place.

18. Language Transfer

Language Transfer is a non-profit language learning platform run by Mihalis who offers several free online language courses including a free Italian course online. It is based on the idea that you don’t need any other tools to learn but your mind. Just listen to the speaker, engage, pause, think and answer out loud – and your Italian will improve practically effortlessly. 

Who’s it for? It’s a great option if you are an auditory learner and/or prefer to learn on the go. 


Paid Italian Courses: 4 reasons why they are better than free courses

Paid Italian Courses - 4 reasons why they are better than free coursesResources that you pay for can actually be better at helping you learn Italian than the free ones. Why? Is it because the quality of paid courses is better than free Italian courses? It’s possible, but not necessarily the main reason. 

Here are 4 top reasons that can make paid language learning resources more effective: 

  1. Some of the paid resources are better quality. The fact is, creators of paid resources often can afford to spend more on their development, and as a result, the material is more structured and more comprehensive, taking into account the latest research in language learning. A free Italian course online can be great, but a paid one can be even better and more effective at helping you achieve your language goals. 
  2. There is more variety. As I mentioned earlier, many free resources often have a paid option that unlocks additional materials and extra exercises. This is great for improving your level of proficiency in Italian. Variety is very important for language learning. Varied materials and exercises expose you to your target language in a variety of contexts and provide consistent practice and repetition that doesn’t get boring. 
  3. You get more support when using paid resources. Most language learning resources come with some form of support. Either there is some sort of support forum and user community that can be very helpful. However, when opting for a paid course, you can often get more regular support from the creator or teacher who can check how well you are doing, provide feedback and guidance, and even offer individual sessions. This is a great way to avoid making common mistakes, learn more effectively, and take your Italian to a new level.
  4. It can motivate you to learn. We often value things more if we pay for them, and language learning is no exception. If you get something for free – even if it is something great – it can be hard to see or truly appreciate its value. When you pay for a language course you often see it as an investment. Learners who use paid courses want ‘to get their money’s worth’ and are on average more motivated AND more successful than those who learn with only free resources.

Does this mean you absolutely have to pay for Italian learning resources? Not at all! The choice is, of course, yours to make and will depend on your own needs and goals and what will work best for you. If you find a great free Italian course online that matches all your current language learning needs – good for you! But if putting your money down to invest in a course is the difference between reaching your goals and reaching them sooner, then I strongly recommend paying for an Italian course. 

When it comes to paid Italian courses online, the resources I’ve listed below are the best out there and definitely worth considering investing in.

Paid subscription options for free Italian resources 

Some of the free resources already mentioned above have paid subscription options that allow you to turn off ads, access more exercises or other features or materials. Here is a quick run-down of the options:

  • Duolingo Plus is $9.99 a month. It allows you to turn off the ads. You are also not limited by the number of ‘hearts’ you have when you are taking a lesson. Hearts are used as a way of ensuring you get a balance between practice and new material. Each day you get 5 Hearts which you can lose by answering a question incorrectly too many times.
  • Memrise Premium is $8.99 a month ($3.75, if you pay for a whole year) or $139.99 for a permanent premium subscription. It gives you access to more exercises such as practising more challenging words separately, listening, pronunciation, learning with the locals, and more. 
  • When taking a course from Wellesley College, you can pay $49 for an official completion certificate.
  • When you first sign up for ItalianPod101, you can pay just $1 for a few extra options, including 60 exclusive lessons, 30 days of premium access, and a 7-day fluency fast course. The Premium subscription which grants you access to all the materials is $10 a month, and for $23 a month, you get a professional assessment, a personalized learning program, and 1-on-1 instruction.

You can easily use these resources for free. However, if you enjoy one of them but also want something more, you can give the paid subscription a try – it may turn out to be just what you need.

By the way, many paid apps and courses offer special seasonal discounts such as Black Friday. You can also save a lot if you pay for a longer period: 3, 6, or 12 months. Many paid apps also offer free trials or money-back guarantees – you won’t have to pay for something that you don’t enjoy using. To stay in the loop on the latest offers and discounts, sign up to join my newsletter.

Now, let us take a look at some of the best-paid resources for learning Italian, from the least expensive to the premium, top-of-the-range courses.

19 Best paid resources for learning Italian (PLUS my top 3 recommendations)

Best paid resources for learning Italian1. uTalk

Price: 1 month (£ 2.99 / month),  6 months (Save 35%, £ 2.00 / month), 12 months (Save 45%, £ 1.67 / month)

uTalk is awesome for learning key words and phrases in another language, especially if you want to use it for travel purposes. It’s perfect for beginners getting started in a language and invaluable for intermediates looking to fill in gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation. What I love is that you can jump around their library of topics and learn what you want, at your own pace. 

If you struggle to remember new vocabulary, uTalk is fantastic because it does a great job at helping you overcome this with lots of reinforcement and games, so you subconsciously learn faster. Get an exclusive 30% OFF with my reader discount on ALL languages when you join here. This isn’t available anywhere else.

Who’s it for? Great for learning topical vocabulary in short lessons and get lots of pronunciation practice with the chat feature.

2. Busuu

Price: €5.41 – €10.99 ($6.41 – $13.03)

Busuu is a language learning app that is somewhat similar to Duolingo described above and Babbel that we’ll discuss later. Busuu provides a language learning course that you can take to grow your Italian level from absolute beginner to intermediate. 

The app has an easy-to-use and fun interface. One of its unique features is the ability to send your writing and recordings to native speakers for feedback. Some of the grammar explanations are not quite sufficient, but on the whole, learning with Busuu is a fun and effective process. 

Who’s it for? If you appreciate native speaker feedback as you learn, Busuu is the way to go.  

3. Babbel

Price: $6.95 – $13.95 a month

Babbel is an language learning app that is somewhat similar to Duolingo. Babbel also offers you a comprehensive language course that can take you from absolute beginner to about intermediate level. It seems to be a bit more ‘serious’ with fewer game-like elements like ‘hearts’ and more focus on the language itself.

Babbel focuses on conversational Italian that you are likely to come across in daily life. The grammar is explained really well, and all the phrases are recorded by native speakers. On Babbel Live, you can also get access to video lessons taught by top language teachers. 

Who’s it for? It’s a perfect app for lovers of the mobile format serious about learning Italian. 

4. Mondly Italian 

Mondly Review Language App - Fun bite-size lessons and a beautiful interfacePrice:$9,99 a month or $47.99 a year for one language; $89.99 for a lifetime subscription which includes all languages available on Mondly now, plus languages added in the future.

Mondly takes you through a fun immersive course divided into short interactive lessons. It will take you just a couple of minutes to practice some Italian – sometimes that is all you can manage with a busy lifestyle. 

Mondly tracks your progress and encourages you to learn daily because daily practice is key to successful language learning. 

It’s no secret that I’ve been a fan of Mondly for years. You can read my full Mondly review here. Its ease of use, friendly interface, and variety of interactive lessons are super important to me. Click here to get 95% OFF Mondly’s Lifetime subscription using my special reader discount.

Who’s it for? Try out Mondly for a great combination of affordable pricing and immersive learning.    

5. italki 

Price: $4 – $80 (most classes cost between $10 – $20)

italki doesn’t offer any single Italian language course, instead, it’s a platform that helps language teachers and students from all over the world to connect with each other. There are over 450 Italian teachers on italki, and you can easily find one who’s best for you by watching a short intro video.

An experienced Italian teacher can create a learning program tailored to your level, goals, and tastes, and provide you with relevant guidance and feedback on your way to mastery. Some teachers even offer a free trial!

I feel like italki is the secret weapon of the polyglot world. Literally, every serious or serial language learner I’ve spoken to uses italki to connect with native speakers online to help them learn languages. To supplement my own language learning I personally use italki multiple times every week. This is where I get 1-to-1 support and speaking practice with a qualified teacher or community tutor. You can read my full italki review here and book your first italki lesson here.

Who’s it for? Choose italki is perfect for those you enjoy one-on-one lessons and want to practice conversation or have a custom or tailor-made learning experience.

6. News in Slow Italian


Price: $19.90 per month for all the courses

On the website, three courses are available: an Italian course for beginners, a grammar course, and a vocabulary course. Each unit features multiple dialogues that you can listen to and read at the same time, grammar and pronunciation lessons, as well as quizzes. A part of each course is available for free that you can check out.

The structure of the beginner course resembles a play – with different acts and different characters. You get carried away by the story and don’t really notice how much you are learning Italian along the way. 

There are also news podcasts available for intermediate and advanced learners. They are not structured as a course but are great for listening practice. 

Who’s it for? This course is great value for money with lots of high-quality listening materials. 

7. Glossika

Price: $24.99 – $30 per month for all the languages available

Italian is just one of the over 60 languages available on Glossika. Each language course on the site focuses on AI-based repetition training through listening and speaking. Through being exposed to complete Italian sentences you acquire vocabulary and grammar without having to cram the rules. Glossika tracks your progress and helps you review what you’ve learned at just the right time. You don’t have to always look at the screen either – so you can easily learn on-the-go, which I love!

Who’s it for? With all the languages available for one price, it’s an amazing option for polyglots or if you’re a busy language learner. 

8. Rosetta Stone

Price: $35.97 per 3 months, $95.88 per year, $179 for a permanent one-time subscription 

Rosetta Stone’s unique feature is its full immersion: no English is used anywhere in the course, you will see and hear only Italian, as if you are in a foreign country or if you were a child learning their first language. 

Although not everything can be easily inferred from pictures and repetition, Rosetta Stone is a great way to learn the basics of your target language without any interference from your native one.

Who’s it for? Hate grammar? Click here and get $150 OFF Rosetta Stone and experience what full immersion feels like

9. Bite-Size Italian by Actual Fluency

Improve your listening comprehension and pronunciation with Kris Broholm, founder of Actual Fluency Podcast. His Bite-Size audio courses are available in ItalianFrenchSpanishGerman and Russian and are full of comprehensible listening practice for beginners (this can be so hard to find!). Each of his language courses include:

  • 100 lessons of authentic dialogue, recorded by two native speakers, mobile app for hands-free learning, immersion listening, simplified grammar explanations, transcripts, vocabulary, and translation sections for in-depth study.
  • Plus a 14-day guarantee (if you don’t like it simply ask for a refund, and Kris will process it no questions asked.

Pick up Bite-size Italian here

Who’s it for? If you want to practice your listening skills with comprehensive input.

10. Coffee Break Academy 

Price: £10 – £160 ($14 – $222) per course

The Coffee Break Italian is one of the leading and best free podcasts – and you can expand a lot on what you learn there by taking one of the Italian courses created by the same team. Starting at just £10 (around $14), the courses feature a fun and relaxed atmosphere. You feel like you are actually chatting with friends or one-on-one with a cool teacher where the learning doesn’t feel like a chore. 

On some of the courses, one of the speakers is actually a learner, taking all the learning steps together with you. It allows you to identify with them and see some of the material from another learner’s point of view.

Who’s it for? If you are looking for a more casual and friendly atmosphere, Coffee Break Academy is a wonderful option. 

11. One World Italiano 

Price: €19.99 – €218.00 per month ($23.68 – $258.25)

One World Italiano offers several great free courses, but its paid courses are worth a separate mention: they are quite comprehensive, featuring a variety of audio, video, and text materials, exercises, progress tests, and a final exam. 

There are two ways you can pay. You can buy a course for €99 ($117,26) and get permanent access to it. You can also opt for a monthly subscription that will give you access to all the courses as well as live lessons with the course teacher. See all One World Italiano courses here.

Who’s it for? Check out this resource to combine a recorded course with live lessons. 

12. Rocket Italian 

Price: (with an automatically applied coupon when you first sign up) $59.98 for Level 1, $119.96 for Levels 1 and 2, $179.94 for Levels 1, 2, and 3

Rocket Italian offers quite a few free resources for learning Italian, but its gem is the premium course. It is very well structured – a bit too structured for some people’s taste, with easy-to-follow, podcast-style audio lessons and dialogues that imitate common situations. 

The course covers all language aspects, such as grammar and vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. There even is a great in-built voice-recognition system to help you practice your pronunciation too. Try Rocket Italian for FREE here.

Who’s it for? Rocket Italian is great for those who love structure. 

13. Intrepid Italian for Travel 

Price: $97 for the full course with lifetime access and updates.

Travelling to Italy? Reach conversational Italian with my unique method. Using Pareto’s 80/20 rule, you’ll learn the most powerful 20% of the language needed to communicate in 80% of the situations you’ll find yourself in whilst travelling.
Don’t let yourself be treated like a tourist. By learning the local language you can great lifelong memories and have authentic experiences. Who knows you, you may even be invited over for afternoon tea by a lovely Sicilian family like I was!

Intrepid Italian features plenty of practical and travel-related vocabulary with just the right amount of grammar that won’t overwhelm you. My Intrepid Italian course provides an excellent general introduction to the Italian language that is fun and can be completed in just 2 weeks. Click here for instant access

Here’s what my students are saying: 

Testimonial - How to Learn Italian for Travel FAST! - Roma Small

I really enjoyed the Master Italian for Travel FAST course, it certainly exceeded my expectations. The learning methodology is great, and easy to follow and found that I progressed much faster in the last 4 weeks than I ever did on my own or using other language apps. Grazie mille Michele, I can’t wait until I can put my new skills into action! – Roma Small

 

Testimonial - How to Learn Italian for Travel FAST! - Basil P

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I’ve been trying to learn languages using various language learning apps for years now and although I know random words I feel no more confident in actually speaking the language than I was when I started.” – Basil Pereira

 

Who’s it for? Perfect if you’ve got a trip coming up and want to be conversational in the language in a short amount of time, Intrepid Italian is an excellent choice.

14. Conversation Countdown by Benny Lewis

Price: $97 

Conversation Countdown is a course from Benny Lewis, a polyglot and the founder of the Fluent in 3 months blog. It is a bit unusual compared to the other courses on the list as it doesn’t focus on a particular language such as Italian, but on developing speaking and communication skills.

This course will help you overcome the awkward feeling you have when you start speaking a foreign language, build a more positive and goal-oriented attitude to language learning, and teaches you how to immerse yourself into your target language.

This course alone won’t teach you Italian but combined with other materials it can help you start speaking from day one of learning the language.

Who’s it for? It’s a perfect choice if you are shy and need speaking practice.

15. Pimsleur Audio Courses

Price: $150 per course or $575 for all 5 courses

A hugely popular audio course (especially with these Polyglots) is Pimsleur. I know tonnes of language learners and polyglots who swear by Pimsleur to learn multiple languages. 

Each Pimsleur course includes 30 lessons and 16 hours of audio – and it is one of the best ways to practice spoken Italian. The courses are built on dialogues and real-life situations, and you start by repeating the basic words and phrases and move on to taking part in the conversations yourself. 

This audio course barely features any grammar or writing, but it is great for improving your communication skills. In fact, with Pimsleur, people often start speaking Italian faster than with any other course. 

Pimsleur is great for helping you improve your listening skills as all recordings are by native speakers so you get an authentic learning experience. 

There is also an app with flashcards and vocabulary exercises to complement the audio course. 

Who’s it for? If you are an auditory learner who also wants to start speaking fast, there is no better choice than Pimsleur audio courses.

Get your FREE 7-day trial with Pimsleur here and see for yourself!

16. Grammar Hero by Olly Richards

Price: $197 for the full course.

The creator of this course is polyglot Olly Richards who developed his own language learning method: story-based learning. Grammar Hero focuses on stories in Italian to help you immerse yourself in its grammar so that you can learn it not through cramming rules, but in context.

There are also grammar briefings that explain grammar in a concise way as well as activation exercises that will help you consolidate what you have learned. This course is most suitable for intermediate-level learners.

Who’s it for? Check out this course to focus on improving your Italian grammar. 

17. Italian Conversations by Olly Richards

Price: $197

Olly Richards is at it again with Italian Conversations. Listening to the right material, at the right level, with the right learning support material, not only improves your listening skills quickly, but it makes you happier and more confident, far more likely to reach your language goals. In Conversations, you find yourself transported to Italy, in the middle of an intriguing story, told in 20 parts.

Italian Conversations includes groundbreaking new material that helps you understand fast, spoken language, so you can transform your listening skills, take a fuller part in conversations yourself, and reach your true language learning potential.

Who’s it for? Conversations is aimed at pre-intermediate and intermediate level learners, which corresponds to A2-B1 on the CEFR.

18. Intrepid Italian by The Intrepid Guide

Price: $347Intrepid Italian - Learn with my 80/20 methodAre you a beginner or an intermediate Italian learner? Got a trip coming up or want to communicate with your Italian partner or relatives in Italian? Learn Italian with my unique 80/20 method.

Registrations are now open to join Intrepid Italian, my new series of online video courses that use my unique 80/20 method. You’ll go from a shy, confused beginner to a proficient and confident intermediate speaker, with me as your trusty guide. 

You’ll finally be able to connect with your Italian partner, speak to your relatives and enjoy authentic travel experiences in Italy like you’ve always dreamed of, and so much more.

As a native English speaker who learned Italian as an adult, I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and lack the confidence to speak. I know what it’s like to start from scratch and to even go back to absolute basics and learn what a verb is! 

Intrepid Italian was created with YOU in mind. I use my working knowledge of the English language to help you get into the ‘Italian mindset’ so you can avoid the common pitfalls and errors English speakers make – because I made them once too! I break everything down in such a way that it ‘clicks’ and just makes sense.

No matter what your level is, there is an Intrepid Italian course for you, including:

  • 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Beginners (A1)
  • 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Advanced Beginners (A2)
  • 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Intermediates (B1) 

You can join 1, 2, or all 3 of courses, it’s entirely up to you. The best part is that you have lifetime access so you learn anytime, anywhere and on any device.

As your guide, I walk you through each lesson, step-by-step, using my unique 80/20 method. My approach is different from traditional methods because I teach you the most important 20% of the language right from the beginning so you can start to speak straight away.

Each course includes video lessons, audio exercises, downloadable worksheets, bonus guides, a private support community, and lifetime access all designed to streamline your learning while having fun.

It even comes with my famous “Celebrate with a Spritz Guarantee”. After 30 days of using Intrepid Italian, if you don’t want to celebrate your new-found Italian skills with an Aperol Spritz, you don’t have to pay a penny! Cheers! 🥂
Join Intrepid Italian here and start learning today! 
Ci vediamo lì! (See you there!)

19. Italy Made Easy Academy

Price: $247-$347 per course; $29-$97 for a couple of shorter courses.

Created by a dedicated Italian teacher with over 20 years of experience, these courses will help you grow efficiently ‘from zero to Italian’. Each course is 12-14 units, each unit featuring multiple learning videos, assignments, and quizzes. Each course comes with a certificate of completion. There is also a community of dedicated Italian learners that you can share your progress with. 

These courses may be on the expensive side, but they are very well structured and provide a great learning experience. For a separate fee, you can also have interactive video calls with Italian native speakers to help you practice. 

Who’s it for? If you’re serious about learning Italian and want to be part of a supportive community.

19. Italian Uncovered by Olly Richards 

Price: $297 for the full course

Here is another fantastic course from Olly Richards – creator of the unique StoryLearning method. By learning Italian through stories, you learn more naturally and retain more of what you learn. Uncovered Italian course also features more ‘traditional’ grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation exercises, but at the heart of it are stories in Italian that you’ll work on to master the language.  This course will take even complete beginners to a solid intermediate level.

The course is based around a 20-chapter story in simple Italian, and includes everything learners need to go from the complete beginner level (A0) to the intermediate level (B1) in Italian.

Italian Uncovered includes dozens of video lessons and exercises to help learners improve every aspect of their Italian, including: vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Italian Uncovered is for complete beginners (A0) and false beginners (A1 or A2) who have already learned some Italian but haven’t yet reached conversational fluency. The course covers levels A0 to A2 in the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Click here and try Uncovered Italian for FREE.

Who’s it for? If you love a good story, this is an Italian course for you.

My top 3 recommendations

Top Italian Courses Online

We’ve covered a lot of ground here, so to make thing easier I’ve chosen my top 3 Italian online courses to help you get started. My top picks are:

  1. Coffee Break Italian (Free) – For a hands-free approach to language learning that you can do anywhere, Coffee Break Italian is my top free resource. This is the most popular language podcast around and there is a good reason for that. The quality is top-notch, lessons are short, fun, informative, and you feel like you’ve been transported to Italy thanks to interviews with the locals and the sounds of the location in the background. If you want more, you can always. purchase a course from Coffee Break Italian Academy where you’ll get access to transcripts and other materials.
  2. Intrepid Italian for Travel ($97) – Planning a trip? Want to learn the local language but only have a short amount of time? With the help of my 80/20 method, my course focuses on teaching you the most powerful 20% of the language you’ll need to survive in 80& of the situations, you’ll find yourself in. From ordering food to buying tickets, asking for directions to introducing yourself, Intrepid Italian for Travel will help you reach travel fluency in as little as 2 weeks.
  3. Intrepid Italian A1, A2, and B1 ($297) – This is the most comprehensive AND affordable Italian course on the market for learning Italian. If you’re serious about learning Italian, then I strongly recommend joining Intrepid Italian. Created by yours truly, what you get is a unique approach to language learning with my 80/20 method. Click here and join Intrepid Italian.

Learning Italian? Check out these Italian language guides


Traveling to Italy? Don’t miss these my Italy travel guides


Like it? Pin it for later!

Free Italian Courses Online - How to Learn Italian from Home


Over to you!

Which resources are you currently using to learn Italian? What else would you add to this list? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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