Have you always wanted to learn Portuguese?
Do you want to do it from the comfort of your home?
Then you’ve come to the right place!
We’ll show you the 10 best online Portuguese courses and all of their main features.
Luckily, learning Portuguese is becoming more and more popular, and there are many reliable Portuguese lessons online.
And each course is designed with a specific learner in mind, so you’ll have to figure out what works best for you.
In this article, you’ll come across different types of courses; from video lessons and podcast-style lectures to intuitive learning.
So, vamos começar!
10 Best Online Portuguese Courses and Classes
1. Rocket Portuguese
Let’s start with one of the absolute best Portuguese language classes for beginners.
With Rocket Portuguese, you’ll get a well-structured course that will take your Portuguese skills to the next level.
Rocket Portuguese Features
If you’re just starting with learning this charming language, Rocket Portuguese can help you in your learning journey.
It’s focused on Brazilian Portuguese and the development of speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
The program is largely audio-based, but you’ll learn through videos and versatile exercises as well.
And their voice recognition system will help you perfect your pronunciation.
There are two main sections: “Language and Culture” and “Interactive Audio.”
“The Survival Kit” lessons will introduce you to all the common expressions and vocabulary.
You can also use the in-built dictionary, flashcards, quizzes, My Vocab feature, and other useful Rocket Reinforcement activities.
You’ll also be earning points so there’s a gamified element in the program as well.
Moreover, you can use Rocket Portuguese on all your devices, and all the lessons are also downloadable.
Content and Benefits
The program is focused on the so-called chunking approach, so you won’t learn the language through heavy grammar.
Most lessons are based on easy dialogues. They will prepare you for common, everyday conversations and, over time, introduce you to more complex vocabulary. Tutors will break them down for you, so you’ll understand everything quite quickly.
You’ll also learn a lot about Brazilian culture and various topics such as sports, food, clothes, literature, relationships, etc.
In short, you’ll get a well-rounded online education that will help you learn Portuguese in a very easy and interactive way.
And you can learn it at your own pace, as there’s no strict schedule to follow.
On the other hand, Rocket Portuguese will allow you to have structure and a nice flow in your learning process, which is important if you want to see the results.
Who is Rocket Portuguese Best For?
Rocket Portuguese offers online Brazilian Portuguese classes ideal for beginners.
The program is well-rounded, detailed, and easy to follow. Read our full Rocket Languages review.
Start your free trial of Rocket Languages Portuguese here!
2. Babbel
Do you want to learn Brazilian Portuguese online?
You should definitely check out Babbel, a popular online language learning platform.
And why is it so popular?
Babbel Features
First of all, Babbel Portuguese offers short and effective lessons.
The course focuses on all main language skills: speaking, spelling, listening, and writing.
It combines different ways of learning a new language: podcasts, speech recognition technology, app-based exercises, and so on.
Activities mostly consist of fill-in-the-blank exercises, matching images with words, and repetitions. So, if you believe this suits your learning style, you’ll really like learning with Babbel.
Babbel also offers live sessions with the Babbel Live option. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn from experienced Portuguese teachers.
Content and Benefits
With a Babbel subscription, you’ll gain unlimited access to hundreds of quality lessons.
Before you start with Babbel lessons, you’ll do a placement test. And that’s how you’ll get a course suitable for your level.
Lessons are mostly short and effective. Bite-sized lessons are great if you don’t have a lot of free time, but they will also allow you to have frequent learning sessions; you simply won’t get overwhelmed or stressed.
Also, lessons are focused on conversational Portuguese, so you’ll learn practical vocabulary without learning detailed grammar rules.
Learning a new language through context is very effective, especially if you want to travel to a Portuguese-speaking country and use it right away.
Who is Babbel Best For?
Babbel is a great learning source for people who prefer a rather standard but reliable way of learning a new language.
It’s probably most beneficial to beginners who want to learn conversational Portuguese. Read our full Babbel review.
3. Pimsleur
Pimsleur is another popular language learning website.
It offers fantastic classes for beginners, and it includes both Brazilian and European Portuguese lessons.
Pimsleur Features
Just like previous suggestions on our list, Pimsleur is a great learning source for aural and verbal learners.
It will help you build communication skills through very simple, fluid lessons.
Essentially, The Pimsleur Method is based on heavy repetition and the graduated interval recall. So, you won’t be forced to memorize words right away, and you’ll be learning them through real-life conversations.
The course actually limits the amount you learn at any one time, so you can internalize each new word or concept before moving on.
Content and Benefits
Pimsleur Portuguese promises to help you understand what you hear, respond easily and pronounce words with near-native accents.
You’ll learn all the greetings, common expressions, phrases, and practical vocabulary.
The course also contains cultural notes, and you’ll be introduced to a variety of topics. All of this is very useful if you’re planning to visit Portugal or Brazil.
Furthermore, the program is well-structured, and lessons build upon each other very nicely.
You’ll also get a lot of reading practice too.
And last but not least: you can use Pimsleur anytime, anywhere. Their audio-based lessons are convenient for situations like driving, commuting, jogging, or hiking. When and where you’re going to take your daily lessons is entirely up to you.
Who is Pimsleur Best For?
Pimsleur is the best way to learn Portuguese for people who want to learn hands-free.
It’s a very convenient, effective, and simple course. You won’t get into too much grammar, and you’ll develop conversational skills very quickly. Read our full Pimsleur review.
4. Instituto Camões
Instituto Camões offers high-quality Portuguese lessons for all kinds of learners.
It offers online classes for businesses as well as self-learning Portuguese courses.
Instituto Camões Features
Instituto Camões is a prestigious institution in Portugal dedicated to sharing knowledge about the European Portuguese language and culture.
And teaching Portuguese is one of the institution’s main services and most important goals.
Their self-learning courses are focused on the development of oral and written comprehension skills. They use self-correction tools and there’s no personal tutoring involved.
On the other hand, Basic and Premium courses also involve one-on-one lessons via Skype.
Instituto Camões also offers advanced courses; in fact, they are specialization courses created in partnership with Portuguese and international universities. They are primarily designed for students living in Portugal or abroad.
All courses last for 12 weeks.
Content and Benefits
If you opt for self-learning courses, you’ll be able to learn at your own pace and have access to all the exercises and features. You’ll be focused on writing as well as speaking.
It’s a very detailed and well-structured course, so it’s ideal for more serious learners.
And if you want to get help from an online tutor, you can choose Basic courses that include six 30-minute personal tutoring Skype sessions. Tutors will also assess your written pieces, and you’ll be able to get valuable feedback and suggestions.
And Premium courses will ensure you a more intensive learning experience. Personal tutoring is also included.
You can also receive a certificate of completion which can be extremely useful.
All things considered, Instituto Camões is a fantastic course for people looking for a more serious approach to learning languages.
Who is Instituto Camões Best For?
Instituto Camões program is the best Portuguese online course for more serious learners and students searching for one-on-one online Portuguese classes.
It’s suitable for all skill levels and ages.
5. Lingodeer
Lingodeer is a language learning platform that offers reliable, step-by-step online Portuguese learning.
It uses different formats to deliver content.
Lingodeer Features
Lingodeer works as a platform and an app. It has a great lesson variety, which means you won’t get bored so easily.
It’s well-designed and very easy to use. It has a colorful interface, so you’ll feel like you’re playing a game.
It’s also customizable, so you can change background color, the narrator’s voice, etc.
Moreover, Lingodeer allows you to track your progress and have daily goals.
It will even remind you when is your time for the next lesson!
You can also use a flashcard feature and downloadable Knowledge cards. And in Target Trainings, you can pick a focus (vocabulary and grammar) and work on your weaknesses.
Lingodeer also uses high-quality audio tracks, so you’ll be able to work on your listening and speaking skills.
And there are various quizzes, tests, and challenges to make things interesting.
Content and Benefits
There are many ways through which Lingodeer delivers content; from standard language learning exercises to game-like study tools.
And their Story section will give you cultural insights and teach you new words and expressions.
You’ll learn all about verbs, food and drink, objects, numbers, and so on.
And you’ll mostly be learning it through context.
However, Lingodeer also provides thorough grammar explanations. So, don’t get fooled by the gamified appearance; you’ll be learning a lot of grammar.
Being able to learn with Lingodeer offline is also an important benefit. That makes this program very convenient and flexible.
Who is Lingodeer Best For?
Lingodeer offers a versatile and engaging Portuguese course for anyone who wants to learn how to speak Portuguese in a relaxed atmosphere.
It’s also convenient for learners who don’t want to skip grammar lessons.
6. Mango Languages
Mango Languages offers a well-designed and effective online Brazilian Portuguese course.
So, what makes it different than other courses?
Mango Languages Features
Mango Languages uses colors and semantic color mapping to help you connect Portuguese with English and memorize words.
If you’re a visual learner, that feature will surely help you a lot.
Also, the program teaches Portuguese through high-quality audio tracks and “visual” exercises.
From the very start, you’ll be learning through context and conversations.
You can record your voice to check your pronunciation.
Moreover, the program focuses on adaptive learning, so it will recognize your unique learning behaviors and adapt accordingly.
The program also uses an all-in-one interface and streamlined navigation. Besides looking amazing, it’s very user-friendly.
Content and Benefits
Besides its standard lessons, Mango Languages combines critical thinking exercises, memory-building exercises, and guidance by native-speaking instructors.
In a nutshell, you’ll learn phrases, practical vocabulary, idioms, figures of speech, and much more.
Every lesson explains the relevant grammatical structure as well.
And you’ll get useful cultural notes.
So, you’ll actively work on your vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and culture.
All in all, it’s a well-rounded program that will teach you everything you need to know for a real-life conversation and successfully getting around Brazil.
It’s no wonder it’s so popular!
Who is Mango Languages Best For?
Mango Languages platform provides online Brazilian Portuguese courses ideal for beginners.
It’s suitable for anyone wishing for a well-rounded, beautifully designed online learning program.
7. PortuguesePod101
And maybe you prefer listening to podcasts?
If that’s the case, you should check out PortuguesePod101.
PortuguesePod101 Features
With PortuguesePod101, learning Portuguese has never been easier.
Besides podcast-style audio lessons, this popular language-learning platform also provides a bunch of video lessons.
You’ll quickly pick up new words, and useful features will make that much easier.
For example, Line-by-line Audio and Vocabulary features will allow you to repeat specific parts of the dialogue.
The program also has flashcards, word lists, and slideshows.
And voice-recording tools will help you have a near-native pronunciation.
If you subscribe to Premium Plus, you’ll also have a personal guidance option. You can talk to a real teacher and get corrections and answers to your questions via private messenger.
You can also download all the PDFs and MP3 lessons and use them whenever you want.
Content and Benefits
With PortuguesePod101 you’ll be learning Portuguese through a wide range of topics.
And cultural insights are always a great way to learn the language.
With slowed-down audio and line-by-line breakdowns, you won’t have any problems with comprehension skills.
You’ll get a lot of grammar explanations as well as cultural context and practical vocabulary.
As you progress, you’ll be hearing less English.
However, you probably won’t work on speaking skills that much. So if you want a well-rounded curriculum, you can combine PortuguesePod101 with another learning source.
But otherwise, this program will undoubtedly give you a lot of knowledge of the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture.
A variety of topics and a large number of lessons will prepare you for all potential real-life scenarios.
And Learning Paths feature is another benefit; it will allow you to add more structure to your learning.
Who is PortuguesePod101 Best For?
PortuguesePod101 is a good learning resource for aural learners.
It’s best for beginners and intermediate learners.
8. Portuguese Lab
If you want to learn European Portuguese, you should definitely take a look at Portuguese Lab.
Let us tell you why many believe it’s the best website to learn Portuguese!
Portuguese Lab Features
Portuguese Lab Academy is an online subscription platform that offers versatile and comprehensive Portuguese classes.
It’s a very modern, well-designed platform. It offers multimedia lessons with video, audio, and interactive exercises.
It’s focused on reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
Portuguese Lab included a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap created to take you from beginner to the upper-intermediate level.
The platform allows you to learn at your own pace, and you can choose different modules based on your previous experience with the language.
As you progress, you’ll also be learning with stories, articles, and dialogues.
On top of that, you can ask questions in the community forum, share recordings and video clips, and submit text for correction.
Content and Benefits
After you become a member of the Portuguese Lab Academy, you’ll get immediate access to beginner and intermediate courses.
Pre-recorded video lessons are taught by Susana Morais, a friendly and experienced Portuguese teacher from Lisbon.
The beginner modules include grammar, pronunciation, grammar, everyday life dialogues, interactive exercises, and a mystery story.
Everyday life dialogues will prepare you for traveling to Portugal or having a conversation with your Portuguese friends.
And Intermediate modules (levels B1-B2) will improve your listening skills and introduce you to new topics and more complex grammar rules. In this module, you’ll also learn common colloquial expressions.
One of the program’s advantages is the option to search lessons by topics (grammar, vocabulary, etc.) which gives you the freedom to focus on your specific goals.
Who is Portuguese Lab Best For?
This is the best European Portuguese course for learners seeking innovative, reliable online Portuguese classes.
It’s ideal for beginners who want to reach intermediate levels through a clear, linear learning path.
9. Glossika
Glossika offers both European and Brazilian Portuguese classes.
It’s not focused on grammar but rather on the enhancement of listening and speaking skills.
Glossika Features
In short, Glossika is focused on spaced repetition, patterns, and adaptive learning.
You’ll be listening to native speakers and keep repeating after them.
After all, Glossika course aims to improve your listening and speaking at native speed. So, you should expect a lot of listening and repeating.
There will be two modes at your disposal: Full Practice and Listening Only. You can easily switch them anytime.
You’ll get a review list every day for you to strengthen your vocabulary.
Glossika website also features free downloadable materials, useful guides, blog posts, and so on.
Content and Benefits
Glossika will provide you with a personalized learning plan.
What does that mean? Well, it means you’ll be learning from customized material suitable for your level.
And you’ll learn a lot with the method of spaced repetition. You’ll not only pick up new words but also integrate them into your long-term memory.
Glossika uses full-sentence practice in context. This means you’ll learn grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in a more natural way.
And you’ll learn everything that’s necessary to have a complete, rich conversation with a Portuguese or Brazilian native.
One of Glossika’s benefits is its Listening Only mode; it means you can learn Portuguese hands-free! That’s really convenient if you want to learn while you’re traveling, exercising, or hiking.
However, we recommend you to use the Full Practice mode whenever you can. This way you’ll grasp the basics much quicker.
Who is Glossika Best For?
Glossika is a fantastic Portuguese course for beginners and intermediate learners.
It’s also great for people who are looking for portable (hands-free) Portuguese lessons.
10. Rosetta Stone Portuguese
When it comes to learning languages online, Rosetta Stone is one of the most popular names.
But does it offer what you’re looking for?
Rosetta Stone Portuguese Features
Rosetta Stone’s Portuguese course is focused on repetition and intuition.
In other words, you’ll be learning Portuguese (Brazilian) without clear explanations and immediate translations. It’s a rather unusual but effective and immersive method.
So, it’s not for everyone, but if you prefer creative learning methods, you’ll probably like Rosetta Stone.
You’ll learn new vocabulary through real-life dialogues, interactive exercises, and audio clips from native speakers.
And the TruAccent speech recognition technology will give you instant feedback on your pronunciation.
The program also features games, challenges, and various study tools to enrich your learning experience.
Content and Benefits
Rosetta Stone Portuguese will immerse you in the language right away.
You’ll pick up new words, phrases, and grammar rules through dialogues and exercises.
So, you won’t have to delve deeply into grammar in a standard way, but you’ll still get a well-rounded online education.
On the other hand, you’ll be focused on everything: pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, reading, and writing. You can also choose a specific skill you want to work on.
And all of this might sound a bit challenging, but it’s actually a quite natural way to learn a new language.
And you’ll get to speak Portuguese in no time.
Rosetta Stone also offers live tutoring, which is a great benefit. Live Lessons are short daily live stream sessions led by a Rosetta Stone tutor. They cover a variety of topics and give you an opportunity to ask questions.
Who is Rosetta Stone Portuguese Best For?
Rosetta Stone is a great learning resource for people who like intuitive and immersive learning. Read our full Rosetta Stone review.
How to Choose the Best Online Portuguese Courses?
As you can see, there are many great online platforms that offer trustworthy Portuguese lessons.
So, how do you know what’s the best way to learn Portuguese for you?
First of all, you need to know whether you want to learn Brazilian or European Portuguese. Is there a difference?
Yes, there certainly is.
First of all, they sound different. Brazilian Portuguese is often considered to be phonetically pleasing to the ear (it has a lot of open vowels.) So, the biggest difference is actually pronunciation.
There are also variations in grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.
While there are some minor differences in spelling of certain words (for example “receção” and “recepção”), vocabulary is in some cases totally different. For example, brown is in Brazilian Portuguese “marrom“ and in the European Portuguese “castanho.“
On the other hand, it’s still the same language, and you’ll be able to understand and talk to Brazilians if you learn European Portuguese. And that’s really cool.
Whether you want to learn Brazilian or European Portuguese depends on your goals and preferences. And if you’re not sure, try to listen to native speakers online, or ask yourself which culture you’re more interested in.
And when it comes to other criteria, you should always do a little research of the courses first (like you’re doing right now.) Some programs simply won’t deliver what they promise, and then you’ll blame yourself for not seeing any results.
On the other hand, your success largely depends on your study routine and willingness to learn.
And to make your learning process easier, choose an online Portuguese course that suits your needs and learning style. If you’re a visual learner, opt for video lessons. And if you can memorize things better by listening, you should consider audio-based courses.
Also, some of these programs are great for beginners and they often lack in-depth advanced content. Therefore, if you already have some skills, you need to search for programs created with more serious learners in mind.
Once you know exactly what you’re looking for, the list of the best online Portuguese courses will suddenly become much shorter.
What Are the Benefits of Online Portuguese Classes?
Generally, Portuguese is one of the popular foreign languages to learn. However, it’s not equally popular in all parts of the world.
So, if you’re living in an area that doesn’t have a lot of Portuguese learning options, e-learning might be the only solution. Especially if you’re searching for either Brazilian or European Portuguese.
Also, a lot of these courses are more affordable than classes in traditional language schools.
And they can allow you to learn in any way you want; through video classes, online tutoring, or gamified exercises. And all of that without having to leave your home.
So, you’ll save a lot of time and probably a lot of money.
Moreover, you’ll have an opportunity to practice speaking right away. You don’t have to study detailed grammar rules if you don’t want to. So, if you’re traveling to Portugal or Brazil anytime soon, you can simply opt for a simplified course focused on conversational skills.
Also, with most of the classes, you won’t only be learning how to speak Portuguese; you’ll also be improving your cognitive skills.
Learning a new language from scratch can be a great way to improve your memory as well as problem-solving skills. Especially if you’re taking a course that’s based on intuitive learning.
In the end, learning a language such as Portuguese is extremely gratifying. It might be a bit challenging at the beginning, but then you’ll really see how magical it is.
Speaking Portuguese can also bring you new job or education opportunities.
And it will make your traveling much easier since it’s widely spoken all over the world.
So, one thing is for sure: learning Portuguese can only bring you good things!
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, Portuguese is one of the most charming languages in the world. And taking an online Portuguese class can only make you fall in love with it even more.
All of the courses we mentioned today are popular, reliable, and effective. You’ll only have to determine what kind of program is best for your goals and your current skill level.
But regardless of what you pick, we can reassure you that you won’t regret it.
You can only realize how immersive, fun, and fulfilling learning a new language can really be.
And if you came here today because you decided to learn Portuguese but you don’t know where to start, you’ve already made the first step!
