Lingoda Honest Review
After my summer language adventure in Spain, I was set on continuing to learn Spanish, but I didn’t have time to attend in-person classes due to my new job. So I decided to start online classes with my Colombian friend, who is a Spanish teacher. However, after a few months, she got pregnant and wasn’t able to continue teaching me for the time being. That’s when I remembered Lingoda, a language-learning platform that had been on my radar for a while. So I finally decided it was time to check it out.
A huge pro of Lingoda is that it offers a 7-day trial, during which you can take either 3 group classes or 1 private class to see whether you’d like to continue learning a language on the platform. I tried it myself, was genuinely impressed by the platform, and decided to continue taking classes there.
The platform regularly offers a Lingoda Sprint, a two-month intensive online language-learning program designed to build rapid fluency and study habits.
Participants who attend all scheduled classes (15 for the Regular and 30 for the Super Sprint) without missing or canceling are rewarded with up to 50% cashback or free bonus classes.
Classes are live, conducted in small groups with native-speaking teachers. The program follows CEFR levels (A1–C2) and covers English (including Business English), Spanish, French, German, and Italian.
From March to May this year, I did the Regular Sprint and took 30 Spanish classes over two months. Here are some more pros and cons of the Lingoda Sprint and the platform in general:
+ PROS:
- a well-designed, user-friendly platform that is easy to navigate
- native-speaking, experienced teachers from all over the world (I had teachers from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile, etc.) that can tailor classes to your needs
- small class sizes (if you’re taking group classes). At my B2 level, I rarely had more than 2 other students in class — most sessions were basically private
- a lot of useful vocabulary and grammar materials, including flashcards and quizzes, that help you prepare for class and review what you’ve learned
- great lesson content that covers all skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing
- a flexible schedule where you can book classes at a convenient time, no matter your time zone
- feedback options that both students and teachers can share after each class
- relatively low prices for classes, especially during the Lingoda Sprint. I paid $360 total for 30 classes over 2 months (about $12 per hour), not including a possible 50% refund if all rules are followed
– CONS:
- some languages have a limited number of levels. Initially, my intention was to take Spanish C1 (advanced), but the highest level offered was B2 (upper-intermediate) (though I still learned a lot).
- scheduling classes can be difficult sometimes, as you need to do it a week or more in advance if you want a convenient time slot. The slots fill up quickly.
- you can reschedule or cancel a class no later than 7 days before the start date/time of a class or within the 30-minute immediate-cancel window if you’re doing the Sprint. For regular classes, at least 72 hours’ notice is required.
- you can only take one class per day and are required to spread your classes evenly over the two months (in the case of the Regular Lingoda Sprint, it’s 15 classes in the first month and 15 in the second).
- you don’t always get to choose the teacher. Most of the time, you choose a time slot, and the teacher is assigned to you.
- you can’t be late for class — if you’re more than 7 minutes late, your class is counted as missed, and there’s no way to notify your teacher about it in advance through the platform.
- The Lingoda Sprint rules are quite strict, and if you make a mistake when scheduling—like I did (see my personal case below)—you may no longer qualify for the reward.
My personal mishap story:
While scheduling my classes on Lingoda, I made a mistake that cost me the Lingoda Sprint reward. I accidentally chose the wrong class time and missed it, thinking I had booked it for a different time. Although I complied with all the other rules and took 29 classes on time (I was so committed that I even had to take classes in the car and at a ski resort a few times), and emailed Student Support several times to explain my situation, I still wasn’t able to get my refund or extra classes. Luckily, I did get credit for the missed class and was able to take it after the Sprint had already ended though.
Overall, I can recommend Lingoda with some reservations. It’s a wonderful platform with amazing teachers and high-quality class materials.
You can use my referral link to sign up for trial classes.
