Learning Spanish Online with italki and Others - The Big Platform Comparison

Online lessons have established themselves as a genuine alternative to traditional language schools on Mallorca. You sit at home (or in a cafe on Mallorca), open your laptop, and 50 minutes later your Spanish is better. In this guide we compare the four major platforms.

italki - The biggest selection

italki is the world's largest platform for online language lessons with over 10,000 Spanish teachers.

Strengths:

• Enormous selection of teachers (and filter options to match)
• Cheaper than the competition (10-25 EUR per hour)
• Trial lessons for 1 EUR (perfect for trying someone out)
• Large community (forum, language dictionary, language partner matching)
• Flexible booking (ad hoc possible too)
• Teachers from Spain, Latin America and everywhere else with Spanish expertise

Weaknesses:

• Too many options can feel overwhelming
• Quality varies widely (from novice to professional teachers)
• No structured courses - lessons are individual, not linear
• Less of a "school" feel, more of a marketplace

Costs:

• Individual lessons: 10-25 EUR depending on teacher
• Package rates: 20-50 EUR per hour in packages of 20+ hours
• Trial lesson: 1 EUR (first lesson with a new teacher)
• No subscription required, completely flexible

Best for: Beginners to advanced learners who want flexibility and a wide choice.

Preply - More structured and professional

Preply is the "premium" option among online platforms - fewer teachers than italki, but more thoroughly vetted.

Strengths:

• All teachers are screened and qualified (no novice teaching)
• Structured courses and learning paths (not just individual lessons)
• Interactive learning platform with materials and homework
• A better "school experience" - feels less like a private tutor, more like an online course
• Good value for money for beginners

Weaknesses:

• More expensive than italki
• Smaller teacher database
• Less flexibility - courses are more structured

Costs:

• Individual lessons: 12-30 EUR depending on teacher and package size
• Beginner courses: approx. 200 EUR per month (regular 2-3 hours per week)
• No trial lessons, but 100% money-back guarantee for the first 2 hours

Best for: Beginners who prefer structured courses and verified quality.

Typical Preply course: 1. You choose a course (e.g. "Spanish Beginner - 16 Lessons") 2. The teacher creates a study plan 3. Before each lesson you receive materials 4. After each lesson you get feedback and homework 5. After 16 lessons: certificate and move up to the next level

Baselang - Daily lessons

Baselang has a unique model: unlimited daily classes.

The concept:

• You pay a monthly subscription
• You can take unlimited daily lessons
• Ideal for intensive language immersion

Strengths:

• Best option for intensive learners
• "Unlimited Classes" - theoretically 7 hours of lessons per week possible
• Lively and modern, with a strong community feel
• Good value for money at high weekly hours

Weaknesses:

• Only worthwhile if you genuinely have time every day
• Less flexibility when choosing a teacher
• Expensive if you have little time available

Costs:

• Premium (unlimited classes): 169 EUR per month
• At 5 hours per week: 8 EUR per hour
• At 2 hours per week: 20 EUR per hour

Best for: Intensive learners who want to progress quickly and have time every day.

Verbling - New and innovative

Verbling is a smaller but growing platform focused on HD-quality video lessons.

Strengths:

• Very good video and audio quality
• Modern interface
• Lessons can be recorded (for reviewing later)
• Teachers verified by certificates
• Cheaper than Preply

Weaknesses:

• Considerably smaller teacher database than italki
• Less established (newer than the competition)
• Fewer community features

Costs:

• Individual lessons: 10-30 EUR depending on teacher
• Package rates: better prices in packages of 10+ hours
• Flexible payment options

Best for: Quality-conscious learners who value technology.

Comparison table

Criterion	italki	Preply	Baselang	Verbling
Price per hour	10-25 EUR	12-30 EUR	8-20 EUR*	10-30 EUR
Teacher selection	10,000+	1,000+	200+	500+
Trial / test	Yes, 1 EUR	100% money back	No	No
Flexibility	Very high	Medium	Low (daily)	High
Structure	Individual	Course-based	Intensive	Individual
Best for	Beginners	Beginners	Intensive learners	Quality focus
German support	Yes	Yes	Limited	Yes

*Baselang price only at daily use; higher at fewer hours.

How to choose the right platform

italki, if you:

• Want to be flexible (vary days and times)
• Need a wide choice of teachers (price, style, origin)
• Want to keep costs down
• Like to switch between different teachers

Preply, if you:

• Need structure and a course experience
• Value verified quality
• Prefer staying with one teacher over a longer period
• Want good value for money

Baselang, if you:

• Want to progress intensively and quickly
• Have 1-2 hours free every day
• Are looking for immersion (daily contact with the language)
• Are comfortable with less choice of teacher

Verbling, if you:

• Are tech-savvy
• Value high picture and sound quality
• Want to record your lessons
• Prefer a smaller, modern platform

How to get started:

1. Write your profile clearly:

   • Your current level (A0 = beginner, C2 = fluent)
   • Your goal (everyday life, work, DELE exam, official Spanish)
   • Your preferred learning style

2. Book a trial lesson (italki) or test (Preply)

3. Tell your teacher:

   • What works for you? (conversation, grammar, pronunciation)
   • What learning materials do you like? (videos, textbooks, conversation)

4. Evaluate after 4 lessons:

   • Is your progress making sense?
   • Do you like the teacher?
   • If not: switch teacher, try another platform

5. Scale up to 2-3 lessons per week

The reality is: no platform is "the best". The best one is the one you actually use and where you find a good teacher. If you also want to explore the island's second language, our guide to Catalan on Mallorca has more information. Start with a trial lesson and trust your gut feeling.