The 8 Best Online Courses to Learn Portuguese Fluently

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If you’re learning Portuguese, figuring out where to start can be difficult. There are so many resources available, and not all of them are worth it. To save you time and stress, we’ve compiled a list of the best online courses available for learning Portuguese from the comfort of your home. Whatever your language goals, budget, and schedule, you’re sure to find something helpful on this list.

Best Overall Course

Try Portuguese Uncovered

Best for Beginners

Try Brazilian PodClass

Best for Flexibility

Try Udemy

Often the first question people ask when beginning Portuguese is which variant to learn. It’s an official language in 9 countries and is one of the most spoken languages in the world. The large majority of language learning resources teach Brazilian Portuguese but there are plenty of quality European Portuguese options out there.

The type of Portuguese you should learn should be based on your personal goals. Are you learning for travel? Do you plan to live in a Portuguese-speaking country? Will it help you advance in your career? Although there are significant differences, no matter which type of Portuguese you learn, Lusophones around the world will still be able to understand you.

What Are The Best Courses To Learn Portugues?

To find the best online Portuguese courses, I searched the internet to find a variety of choices that could be useful for different types of learners. Then, I investigated each course to see what it offered, the main features, and price. After deciding the pros and cons of each course, I narrowed the selections down to the final options.

In the table below, you’ll find the best online Portuguese language courses. Scroll down to learn more about each one.

Portuguese Uncovered is the best overall Portuguese course because it’s comprehensive and helps you improve all language skills. It provides an immersive experience without being overwhelming. Throughout the course, you follow a story called “O Homem Du Chapéu,” or “The Man in the Hat.” Each of the 10 modules focuses on a new chapter. First, you listen to part of the story. Then, you watch videos that break down the grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation from the chapter in different lessons.

Each unit has extensive lesson notes that make the course worth it because they have detailed explanations and practice questions with an answer key so you can check your progress. You can try Portuguese Uncovered for free for 7 days.

Key Features

• Learn through stories
• Video lessons and independent practice material
• Lifetime access to course

Pricing

You get lifetime access to the entire Portuguese Uncovered course for a one-time payment of $297. You can try it out with a 7-day free trial, and there’s a 365-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the course.

Brazilian PodClass has over 550 podcast-style lessons. Lessons consist of a 15-30 minute audio that includes a dialogue between Portuguese speakers. They also teach important grammar and vocabulary topics. Each lesson comes with extensive notes that include a transcript of what is said in the audio, along with additional practice exercises. 

You can access the course online or on the Brazilian PodClass app. A subscription also gives you access to bonus material like a free ebook and additional language learning tips. You can preview a few of the lessons for free to see if you like the style.

Key Features

• 550+ lessons
• Transcripts and notes for each lesson
• Bonus study material

Pricing

A monthly subscription to Brazilian PodClass costs $35.09 per month and gives you access to everything available on the site and the mobile app. You can also buy an annual plan for a discounted price.

Udemy is a massive online learning platform that has over 200 Portuguese courses. You can choose one based on your level or based on a specific area you want to work on like grammar, vocabulary, and even learning through music. The courses have video lessons as well as individual study material and homework. They are self-paced so you can take as much time as you need and learn when it’s convenient for you.

You can watch a preview video of each course and read a detailed description to know exactly what will be covered. There are also past student reviews and you can see how many people have taken the course. If you’re interested, this Udemy review tells you everything you need to know about the platform.

Key Features

• Over 200 Portuguese courses available
• Courses for all levels
• Self-paced video lessons with study materials

Pricing

Teachers set the price for their own courses so it varies, but most courses cost $20.00 – $40.00. There are no free trials available, but you can watch a video preview of each course and read what will be covered in the lessons.

Coffee Break Languages recently launched their new Portuguese course. Each episode teaches grammar and vocabulary necessary to communicate in common situations. The main teacher, Rafael, is from Brazil, but is frequently joined by Catarina from Portugal who explains differences between the different Portuguese variants. 

Episodes cover different situations that you might face when learning Portuguese. There’s also new vocabulary and grammar topics presented. The podcast audios are free, but if you really want to learn Portuguese, it’s best to sign up for the complete course which gives you access to additional study materials and bonus lessons. There is currently only one season available with 40 episodes, but it’s possible there will be more added in the future. 

Key Features

• Audio lessons
• Practice listening and speaking
• Lesson notes and bonus lessons

Pricing

Coffee break Portuguese costs $145.00 for the entire course. You can also sign up for a free trial and recieve the first 3 lessons for free.

Semantica Portuguese is a unique and interesting way to learn Brazilian Portuguese through stories. Instead of lessons, you watch chapters of novelas to learn conversational Portuguese and learn about Brazilian culture. The videos are made by actors who speak in a neutral accent and a slower speed that learners will understand.

In addition to the stories, there are other video lessons that teach grammar and pronunciation training. There are also quizzes, useful learning tips, and other additional tools like voice recognition techoloogy to help you practice speaking Portuguese. You can also watch the videos in any order you want.

Key Features

• Learn through stories
• Watch videos in any order you want
• Voice recognition technology

Pricing

Semantica offers three different pricing options. A monthly subscription costs $19.00 per month, a yearly subscription costs $199.00, and lifetime access for $399.00. You can try Semantica for free for 14 days to see if you enjoy using it.

Portuguese Lab Academy teaches European Portuguese to beginners through upper-intermediate learners. It’s a comprehensive course that puts everything together in one place. There are audio and video lessons as well as interactive exercises that will help you develop all language skills. 

They also give you a roadmap that guides you through the course and shows exactly what to study. Their step-by-step system helps you keep track of your progress and stay motivated to continue learning. It’s a completely flexible course and you can study when and what you want.

Key Features

• Teaches European Portuguese
• Video lessons
• Interactive activities

Pricing

Portuguese Lab academy costs $35.00 per month and you can cancel at any time. There isn’t a free trial available, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are unhappy with the course.

Speaking Brazilian is an online school that teaches Brazilian Portuguese. There are options for different courses based on your level, as well as the option to take 1-on-1 classes. The group classes have 6-10 students, and you take lessons once a week on Skype, or you can take a self-paced option with no live classes.

In addition to  the level classes, there are also specialty options like a Get Ready to Travel to Brazil class and a Verb Conjugation Crash Course. Classes are taught by Virginia and her team of native Portuguese teachers. Take the free placement test on the Speaking Brazilian website to see what your level is and what courses you can join.

Key Features

• Self-paced or with live classes
• Begineer to advanced levels
• Specialy courses

Pricing

The price of each Speaking Brazilian course depends on what course it is and if you choose the Basic or Premium option. There’s no trial, but you can see what is taught in the course, and if you sign up for the newsletter, you can access a few free lessons.

LingoHut is a self-paced course that teaches Portuguese vocabulary. In the 125 lessons, you learn topics like months of the year, family members, office supplies, and much more. The lessons can be done in any order and you can study whatever topics interest you.

In each lesson, you learn basic vocabulary words with flashcards that also have audio of the correct pronunciation. Then, there are a series of interactive games you can play to reinforce what you learned and help commit the words to memory. You’ll need other resources if you want to become fluent, but it’s worth checking out this free resource.

Key Features

• 125 lessons
• Learn new vocabulary covering many different topics
• Completely free!

Pricing

You can access the entire LingoHut Portuguese course for free.

Why You Should Take an Online Portuguese Course

An online structured courses is one of the best ways to learn Portuguese because they are comprehensive and can help you develop all language skills. They are a flexible way to learn because you take lessons on your own schedule. There are many different options available, from group to individual lessons, and pre-recorded lessons to live classes, you’re sure to find something that fits your learning goals and study habits.

How To Use Online Courses To Learn the Portuguese language

The best way to learn Portuguese with an online course, or any other study method, is to be consistent. Dedicating time every day, or at least a few time per week, will help you remember what you already learned and then build upon it. An online course is also best used alongside other learning methods such as Portuguese language apps or self-study books. Using multiple resources is more effective for improving all language skills since each one helps you practice different skills.

Best Online Courses To Learn the Portuguese language: Final Thoughts

An online course is one of the best ways to learn the Portuguese language, especially if you prefer structured learning. Finding one that you enjoy using because it fits with your study habits and budget will help motivate you to study in the long run. Learning a language is all about practice, practice, practice. But with the right course and consistent routine, you’ll soon be speaking Portuguese like a pro!

Best Online Courses To Learn Portuguese: FAQ