What are the best places to take Russian lessons? Thinking about starting your study in Russian lessons, but you're not sure where to dive in? There are so many reasons to learn a new language. Whether you have family that speaks Russian, want to visit a new country, or just enjoy some Russian literature in its original language, it's exciting to jump into something new.
Best Option
Rosetta Stone is one of the oldest platforms for Russian lessons available in our review. The learning program was first released in 1992, and in 1996, it had its first 9 level-one language courses. Russian was among the original languages included, along with Dutch, French, English, German, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. As of this year, Rosetta Stone offers 25 different languages that take you from level 1 proficiency (beginner) to level 3. Some of the more popular languages go up to level 5 proficiency, including Russian lessons.
Jump right into speaking lessons and grammar
When you first get started with Russian lessons from Rosetta Stone, you'll see lessons that are planned out for your day. In our first suggested module for Russian beginners, we were suggested 3 core lessons, each of which took around 10 minutes to complete. Our lesson began with basics, including greetings, boys and girls, and drinking and eating. We were immediately given speaking exercises (so make sure your computer or headphones are set up to allow microphone permissions). Rosetta Stone will let you know how close you are to a native speaker based on your accent and its voice recognition software. We also started to see some grammar structures, like plural cases, in the first two lessons.
Immersive learning style
Rosetta Stone is known for its methodology, which it calls "dynamic immersion." This means that during an exercise, you pair together sound or text with images that are related to the vocabulary at hand. You'll get a mix of writing exercises (with an on-screen keyboard for languages that aren't written in the Latin alphabet, like Russian), speaking lessons, and grammar lessons, which require you to pick the right word out of several options based on the grammar you've learned so far. Some versions of the course, like the Homeschool edition of Russian lessons, will include tests, quizzes, and a workbook.
Cumulative approach with exams
Rosetta Stone's courses (including Russian lessons) are divided into levels that are offered in language packs. Back in the day, these were only offered in CD-ROM format, but now you can get them as downloads. As you work through the lessons, you'll get notifications as you complete activities on whether your matching choices were right or wrong. The only time this changes is for "milestone" lessons, which are more like tests, so you won't see how many you got correct until it's over. If you miss too many points in these, you'll need to retry the lesson. The work is cumulative, but the tests are sectioned off to cover mostly the newest material, unless you come to a chapter test, which will include all of the Russian you've previously learned.
Use Cyrillic the whole time
Rosetta Stone is one of the more immersive choices when it comes to translations. Rather than using Latin characters or English sentences, Rosetta Stone will generally give you vocabulary matched with a photo that is relevant to or depicts the vocabulary word currently taught. Your Russian lessons won't use the Latin alphabet either. All of the vocabulary is in the Cyrillic alphabet, so you won't learn any Latinized versions of the words with Rosetta Stone. However, we would like to see more direct instruction on the Cyrillic alphabet at the get-go.
Will help you from beginner to advanced
Rosetta Stone is for all types of students. We have experience with Rosetta Stone from middle school, and still find it equally relevant for new languages as an adult. You can use Rosetta Stone whether you're an absolute beginner or someone who wants to increase fluency from intermediate level to advanced. It's also particularly helpful for visual and auditory learners.
Pricing from $10.95 to $14.95 per month
Rosetta Stone has three different ways to subscribe. The free trial only counts for a few quick lessons in the first module. After that, you'll need to pick from a lifetime subscription, a 3-month subscription, or a 12-month subscription. Either way, you'll get a 30-day money-back guarantee to score a refund if you don't like the program. Here's how the costs shake out:
Digital learning experience
Rosetta Stone is a computer-based Russian lesson platform. You'll need your computer or a mobile device in order to start learning. You can choose either, with mobile being particularly helpful if you want to work on your Russian lessons on the go. Just keep in mind that speaking into a mic is part of almost every lesson (and you can't skip it unless you want a "wrong" mark on that section of the lesson), so if you're using Rosetta Stone while at the gym or at the grocery store, people might hear you practicing your Russian vocabulary.
Strong reputation for helping with fluency
Rosetta Stone stands out with a perfect "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it has some excellent feedback for its lessons on the mobile app stores. According to the Apple Store, Rosetta Stone has an outstanding score of 4.8 stars out of 5 on average. Similarly, the reviews on the Google Play store are 4.6 stars out of 5 on average. This includes hundreds of thousands of individual student reviews. Recent reviews praise the level of understanding they gained while working with Rosetta Stone. Customers who used other language courses felt they could finally speak fluently with native speakers after using Rosetta Stone. The only main complaint we found was that Rosetta Stone can be repetitive. So, if you're looking to use it for Russian lessons, you might find that some of the photos are reused a lot or that the method does require a lot of regular reuse of terms and sentences.
Top pick: best all-around methodology
Rosetta Stone has been a successful way to learn a language for over 30 years, and it remains one of the top picks out there for fluency and true immersion in your new language. With perks like targeted grammar work early on and the heavy focus on only using the Cyrillic alphabet in lessons, you'll be learning to speak Russian within the first few lessons. With a focus on audio and visual learning, Rosetta Stone is ideal for multiple types of students, including absolute beginners in Russian lessons. For these reasons, and its long history of successful language courses, Rosetta Stone stands out from the pack, earning a full 5 stars in our review.
Great
Pimsleur is an education program that develops and publishes language courses using the Pimsleur Method, which was developed by a professor of applied linguistics. This is a research-based method that puts speaking and listening skills first. Currently, you can learn more than 50 languages on Pimsleur. Russian lessons are just one of the many programs you can choose from - though it is also one of the most robust.
Detailed first lesson
Pimsleur's goals for your first Russian lessons are to get you speaking right away. The best part is that the audio and voice-based lessons help you develop your Russian speech to become fluent without an American accent. In our first trial lesson on the platform (which offers you one free lesson before you need to decide on a premium membership), we were able to access a 30-minute core lesson, an AI voice coach, plus flashcards, reading lessons, and more. Each lesson consists of listening to a real Russian conversation between two individuals. You can pause or rewind the lesson at any time to continue to review. You will have an English-speaking guide while you listen, who will explain the different parts of the audio. He will also guide you through pronunciation and repeating sections of the lesson aloud. After the listening exercise, you'll be able to move on to reading and writing based on the lesson you just finished. You will also get a direct explanation of the Cyrillic alphabet right away.
Research-based methods
Pimsleur's methodology was developed back in the 1960s, and it focuses on speaking and listening before worrying about reading and writing. It's based on research on applied linguistics and cognitive psychology. The program also uses "graduated-interval recall," which changes how long the spacing is between review of different terms across your Russian lessons. The idea is that you have a cumulative learning method where vocabulary is revisited at increasing intervals. Pimsleur is also based on the "principle of anticipation," where you are prompted to remember a phrase before hearing the correct version, which helps with active recall. However, the site notes that grammatical structures are "organically introduced" through usage, which means you may not get helpful grammar explanations in detail the way you would, say, with a college course or a live teacher.
Cumulative lessons from level to level
Pimsleur's language lessons are mostly audio-based, so you'll develop your speaking and listening skills over time. Each speaking lesson is around 30 minutes long, which will be a bit different when compared to the more gamified Russian lessons in our review that have lessons that are just minutes long at a time. Pimsleur's courses are organized into levels, which include 30 speaking lessons and 20 reading lessons on average, and are cumulative.
Translation to Latin alphabet and English only when needed
Pimsleur offers translations as part of the course, but the guided lessons recommend that you don't use them. The goal is to immerse yourself in the speech and audio of the Russian language during these lessons. You can check yourself any time if you need to, but Pimsleur's Russian lessons are meant to help you really hear and learn Russian like a native speaker, which is particularly helpful with the sound-based methodology.
Impressive journey toward fluency
Pimsleur is designed for true fluency, so this is an ideal site if you really want to dig into Russian lessons and be able to speak like a native speaker. The lessons are longer and more detailed, and are designed to help you with your pronunciation and avoid an accent. If you're looking to move to Russia or plan to speak with native speakers often, this is going to be a fantastic course to consider. It is also 100% beginner-friendly with guided lessons on Cyrillic that will help even students who have never looked at Russian before.
Pricing from $13.57 to $20.99 per month
Pimsleur only lets you take one Russian lesson for free. So, you'll have to subscribe to keep the learning going. When you subscribe, you get access to a 7-day free trial before you are charged either a monthly or annual fee, depending on your choice. Here's what your options look like:
100% app-based learning
Pimsleur is an app-based learning program. At the time of our review, there was no way to access the Russian lessons on Pimsleur from your desktop. This is so that you can learn Russian from anywhere. Pimsleur states that you should be able to enjoy your practice when it's convenient for you, whether that's while cooking, commuting, exercising, or doing something else.
Great Russian lessons and even better with sales
Pimsleur currently holds a "C-" rating from the Better Business Bureau; however, since this is due to only 3 complaints that Pimsleur failed to respond to, we're not sure why the rating for this Russian lesson program is so low. If you look at third-party reviews, especially on the mobile app stores, you'll find that customers almost uniformly love their experiences with this language platform. For example, the Apple Store shows a 4.7-star average rating for Pimsleur. Customers love the level of detail in the lessons, and learners say that when compared to similar amounts of work on other language learning apps, "you will learn" with Pimsleur. Students particularly praised the value when they could get reduced costs on dates like Cyber Monday or temporary sales offered by Pimsleur.
Excellent cost vs. value for your lessons
Pimsleur is a top-notch choice for really getting fluent in your target language. So, if you're serious about Russian lessons and don't mind slightly longer sessions, you can build a strong vocabulary with Pimsleur using research-backed methodology. With competitive pricing (and options for sales), you can get a full course that can take you to fluency without breaking the bank. With the high reviews and trusted background of the Pimsleur Method, Pimsleur stands out from the pack.
Great
Babbel is a language learning platform known specifically for its focus on practical, conversational courses. Babbel is a German company that has 14 different languages to choose from. On top of Russian lessons, you can learn English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish, and more. The courses are designed as short units that you can complete whether you're at home or on your daily commute. Notably, Babbel allows you to learn Russian from multiple starting languages. So, unlike some competitors, it doesn't assume you're starting from English as your primary language. The program offers a 1-lesson free trial for you to get started with no payment.
Matching, typing, and reviewing
A lesson at Babbel (especially if you're starting from square one) will focus first on the Cyrillic alphabet. The question and answer process at Babbel consists of multiple-choice selections based on the question model (usually with visuals or photos). The lesson can be a little fast-paced, so you'll need to pay close attention to keep up with the process. The demo lesson we tried included spoken words with matching photos of the item or idea being spoken in Russian. Then, Babbel asks you to match the Russian word (spelled in the Cyrillic alphabet) to the photo with English words written beneath. Then, you'll go through the same vocabulary words by typing out the words in Russian to match the photos. This process will teach you the Cyrillic alphabet while learning new words and phrases through your Russian lessons.
Grammar included with detailed notes
Babbel was co-developed by professionals (both those who are hired on-staff by Babbel and freelance language specialists). Its core methodologies include interactive learning, a grammar guide, and practice conversations with speaking lessons. Babbel tracks your vocabulary and learns which words and phrases you need more help with. Those end up on a repeat cycle until you become fluent with them. Our experience with the grammar guide was helpful. For example, our test lesson explained the construction of possessive statements or questions ("Do you have..." or "I have a…" etc.). Babbel asked students to identify whether the object of possession (the item someone has) is a preposition form of the word or a nominative (subject) form of the word (yep, that's some pretty detailed grammar notes). The tips across the top of the screen are particularly helpful for adding context to the grammar portions of the lesson.
Build a detailed understanding over time
Babbel's main lesson tasks include filling in words, repeating phrases, and following along with dialogues. The Russian lessons focus on common daily topics, though there isn't a particularly detailed focus on grammar exercises. You can progress from beginner to advanced level in Russian lessons, and over time, your vocabulary is "stored" by the course, which has a revision manager to help you review words you struggle with. In 2025, Babbel also added AI voice training. This includes guided speaking exercises from real-life scenarios. Babbel blends its multiple-choice style lessons with type-in and speak-in exercises that ask you to interact with the material in several different ways as you progress through your daily course. The lessons build slowly, including study of the alphabet with important grammar rules like how to use personal pronouns, expressing "to be" verbs, and learning endings for different cases. Even for someone who has had previous experience with Russian, starting at the beginning with Babbel is helpful since you get a full explanation of the grammar that you might have missed in less detailed apps or Russian lessons.
Helpful for fast typing, but not immersive
One feature we really liked about the spelling exercises was that the Cyrillic alphabet was occasionally shown with the English/Latin characters, but only in the phonetic sounds they make. For example, the Cyrillic character "x" was represented by the Latin letters "kh" to represent the phonetic sound more closely. This is to help you type with your Latin keyboard and learn to be faster with typing Russian characters, but it may not be as immersive as Russian lessons that only use the Cyrillic alphabet. Similarly, you can see the direct translation to your original language below the Russian words, so there's a lot of easy spot checking on what the phrases might mean.
Beginner-friendly course
Babbel is 100% beginner friendly. When you first join the site, you'll be asked about your level of fluency, and then you'll be put into a course based on your desired level. The Russian lessons begin at the "newcomer" level at A1. Generally, each section will have around 7-10 lessons before you progress to the next level. Even those with intermediate understanding may benefit from the beginner Russian lessons just for the helpful grammar and tips and cumulative learning style offered by Babbel's methodology.
Pricing from $8.95 to $17.95 per month
When you sign up, Babbel will offer you a subscription plan. The lifetime plan is a 1-time payment for full access to the platform. You can have Russian lessons or any other language on the platform for $299.99. If you'd prefer a limited plan, you can subscribe for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. Here's how the costs break down:
Babbel offers a 20-day money-back guarantee for its Russian lessons, so you can feel secure trying the program beyond its 1-lesson free trial with no fear of losing out on your money.
Learn on your PC or mobile device
Babbel offers flexibility for where you can learn. The company has a mobile app on iOS and Android, and you can take your Russian lessons for the day from the comfort of your home office, or go through a few lessons on your phone during your daily commute. While Babbel used to offer live tutoring through B Life, that feature closed down in July of 2025. While Babbel still suggests using live tutors for continued learning, it doesn't offer that feature at this time.
A structured course for Russian beginners
Babbel has a bit of a mixed reputation depending on where you look. According to its profile on the Better Business Bureau, Babbel has an "F" rating for failing to respond to 22 recent complaints and more complaints in general filed against the business. On the other hand, at third-party review sites like Trustpilot, Babbel has an impressive score overall. Currently, our research shows that Babbel holds a 4.4-star average rating out of 5. Most learners had a great experience with Babbel, noting that it was easy to use and that they loved the "well-structured" lessons and detailed learning modules. Notably, Babbel is known for its Russian program being high-quality and with "excellent cohesion" as you move through the course. While some customers wished they learned more idioms and common slang in their Russian lessons, most who used the platform for Russian enjoy the experience, especially those who are absolute beginners.
Top pick for beginners and reviewers
Babbel is a great choice if you're just starting (or if you have some experience with Russian lessons, but want a solid brush-up on grammar basics). The lessons are detailed and build a cohesive course that makes sense as you move forward. While there isn't as much immersion as some of the other Russian lesson sites in our review, Babbel teaches you to type with phonetic sounds and helps you learn through visual, written, and spoken methods. The only real drawback is that the site doesn't offer tutoring anymore. However, if you're looking for a site that blends grammar and a simple user interface to learn Russian, this is a good starting point with impressive reviews. With the ability to buy a permanent license to use the site, too, this is one of the least costly and easiest ways to learn Russian in our review.
Very Good
italki is a fully online language learning platform that helps you get Russian lessons by accessing real teachers through video chat. The platform hires freelance tutors for a variety of languages, providing 1-on-1 lessons through virtual video calls. The company is based in Hong Kong, China, but teachers are from all over the world, so you can work with a native Russian speaker if you prefer. Teachers on italki work for themselves and set their own prices.
Choose your teacher from the listings
italki lets you book a trial lesson with a chosen teacher to get started. Trial lessons are generally at a discounted price when compared to the full lessons. You can pick from the italki teacher's availability, and lessons are generally offered in 1-2 hour blocks. The length of the lesson may depend on your teacher's particular listing and preferences. You can also choose from teachers who make their own materials, like quizzes or practice tests, as well as those who have experience with particular tutoring methods (we saw one Russian lesson provider who used the Dogme method). On italki, the experience is in your hands.
Methods will depend on who is teaching
The learning methods you find for Russian lessons on italki will change depending on the teacher you choose. During our research, we found 665 Russian tutors available for both instant lessons or within 72 hours. You can choose to work with a native speaker, professional language teachers, or a combination of the two. During our research, we found teachers who used specific materials like PDF files, text documents, audio files, video files, articles and news, templates and tests, and homework assignments to guide students through Russian lessons during the video call and after. Everyone is a little different, so you'll want to read through the different teachers' bios to be sure your learning style and their teaching styles are a good fit.
Grow with your preferred teacher
italki lets you plan your own schedule. While some teachers will offer full courses (so you can get discounted prices vs. paying lesson-by-lesson), others just let you pick one session at a time. You can choose to stick with one teacher all the way from beginner to advanced level, or switch it up and find different methods and explore what works best for you. Continuing lessons for italki depends on how you want to improve and who you click with best. However, there is an element of self-guided work here that you might not find at other sites for Russian lessons. You may need to go through guided workbooks or other study tools outside of your live lessons.
Good for all types of students
italki is perfect for all kinds of students. If you're already studying and need some extra help from a native speaker, italki is a great choice. If you're looking to start as a beginner and like the feel of a more traditional classroom without the stress, italki video lessons with 1-on-1 coaching can be great for you too. It's a solid choice whether you're a beginner or intermediate learner. However, if you're not a fan of timed meetings or online video calls, keep that in mind, because italki's entire process is built on meeting with your teacher online.
Prices from $5 to $120 per lesson
italki's prices will depend on who you work with. Some of the Russian lessons we saw during our research started as low as $5 for a trial lesson, but went up to almost $40 per lesson on average. The highest rate we saw was $120 for Russian lessons. You can pick and choose based on your budget, just make sure you're getting a good value for your money. Don't be afraid to shop around.
Learning is through video calls
italki is a platform that specializes in 1-on-1 Russian lessons through video chat platforms. So, you'll need to consider the timeframe of synchronous learning since you'll need to meet up with your chosen teacher at a specific time. You can run the meetings on a mobile app too, so you don't have to use a PC. Also, keep in mind that you'll also need access to a good wifi signal. On top of 1-on-1 lessons, italki also offers group classes for some languages, but not all. You'll find group study generally for English, Spanish, French, and Japanese.
Impressive reviews for all subjects, even Russian
italki did not have a page on the Better Business Bureau at the time of our review. Instead, we had to rely on reviews on third-party review sites like Trustpilot. Our research showed that italki had 4.1 stars on average out of 5. Recent reviews showed that customers loved that the teachers on italki are generally high-quality and offer affordable tutoring hours. Most customers love their experience with the tutors and teachers. While a few found the app interface to be a little frustrating at times, they still recommend it over similar tutoring-style sites due to the high-quality experience of the teachers on the platform. We even found a range of 5-star reviews specifically for Russian lessons on italki, and customers noted that they felt it was one of the best ways to connect with talented Russian teachers.
Great source for 1-on-1 lessons
italki stands out from some of the other Russian lesson platforms in our review by offering you access to professional teachers rather than just guiding you through a lesson online. There aren't any gamified bells and whistles at italki. The focus is 100% on your learning and progress in Russian lessons with a professional teacher. You can select which teacher you prefer, how much experience you want your teacher to have, and try out as many teachers as you like to find the right fit for your language learning process. It's a great way to connect with a real tutor quickly, earning high praise from students in all programs, but especially Russian.
Very Good
Rocket Languages is one of the older sites for Russian lessons on our review. It got started back in 2005, and it was initially a course specifically for Spanish. Since then, it has updated its roster to offer courses in 15 different languages. Rocket Languages is known for its interactive learning style with a mix of audio lessons, voice recognition, and an emphasis on cultural background for the language of choice. Rocket Languages wants to help you understand the "why" of Russian, not just teach you vocabulary.
Listen and translate from the beginning
During our test lesson with Rocket Languages, our first few modules included an introduction to the Russian language, the Cyrillic alphabet, and helpful tips on Russian culture. We also learned about introductions and meeting for coffee. So, the initial lessons were a blend of necessary starting material and helpful day-to-day topics of conversation. Most lessons range from around 15 minutes to 30 minutes. The primary part of the lesson is through a video/audio lesson where you listen to the course details first in Russian with an English guide, where you go through common conversations in both languages. Rocket Languages provides the necessary dialogues first in Russian, and then you'll hear the translation in English. You can follow along just with the audio, or you can read the dialogues alongside, depending on how immersed you want to feel.
Build on your luggage with a deeper understanding
Rocket Languages' teaching methods include pronunciation perfection using voice recognition software. You can listen to thousands of Russian words throughout your lessons, and study phrases recorded by real native speakers. You'll also be encouraged to speak back to the app. Rocket Languages asks you to practice both sides of natural Russian conversations that you might have with a native speaker. This way, you can go through the process in a stress-free environment before you go out and talk to your Russian friends or family. Rocket Languages' process is step-by-step, so you can understand the how and why of Russian, and build sentences on your own rather than just memorizing set phrases and concepts.
Includes detailed grammar directly in the module
Rocket Languages' modules will give you plenty of different ways to stay engaged as you progress through the course. Modules include listening exercises with photos, language and culture lessons, writing practice, and something that Rocket Languages calls "survival kit" Russian lessons. These are most helpful if you're planning on visiting a Russian-speaking country. With cumulative courses that range from introducing yourself to buying plane tickets to discussing your personal health, every topic is covered in Rocket Languages. The approach to grammar here is detailed and contextual. For example, in the model where you learn about prepositional cases in grammar rules, you'll also develop your skills with them by talking about occupations.
You can choose how immersive you want it to be
Rocket Languages offers direct translations (Russian to English) in the transcriptions for the lesson audios. You can choose to listen to the audio completely without the translation, if you want to try your hand at using your Russian knowledge to help you translate. However, if you do use the transcripts, you'll notice the Russian text in the Russian lessons is all in Latin characters (rather than the Cyrillic alphabet), which isn't as immersive. It does make it easier to read the sounds if you're getting stumped by a word, though.
Best for conversational learners
Rocket Languages is a great choice if you want to jump into real-world conversations in Russian. The listening and suggestions by Rocket Languages to role-play different sides of a conversation during your lessons make it easy to start using conversational Russian right from the first few modules. It's a solid choice for beginners, though you will get plenty of grammar assistance out of this program if you're an intermediate or advanced student as well.
Pricing from $47 to $75 per month, depending on sales
Rocket Languages is offered in two options: you can either pay one time for the entire course of Russian lessons, which includes levels 1, 2, and 3 (and should take you from beginner to advanced level), or you can pay for a 6-month plan. At the time of our review, there was a sale offered with a coupon code, so the normally $449.85 price for the one-time payment was just $259.90. This may not always be the case, so keep an eye out for sales at Rocket Languages. The 6-month plan, likewise, had a sale available. Normally, the program is $450 over 6 months, which is $75 per month. However, at the time of our review, it was offered for $47 per month for 6 months.
Learn at home or away with the app
Rocket Languages is designed to be 100% app-based or online. You can access your Russian lessons anywhere you are, so you can learn during your commute, while you're cooking, or even just relaxing at the end of the day. The audio lessons make it easy to learn wherever you are. However, Rocket Languages does not offer any live assistance or tutoring to go with your Russian lessons, so you'll be self-guided during this program.
Some frustrating technical difficulties
Rocket Languages does not currently have a page with the Better Business Bureau, and the news on third-party review sites like Trustpilot is around middle-tier. Rocket Languages currently holds a 2.9-star average rating out of 5. Recent reviews suggest that while the online language classes themselves are helpful and offer a competitive teaching aid, Rocket Languages has some trouble when it comes to getting a hold of customer service for your Russian lessons. Recent reviews showed that customers couldn't contact someone through their phone numbers, and the automatic responses from AI aren't particularly helpful. Now, Rocket Languages does a little better on the Apple Store in terms of reviews, with a 3.8-star average. However, some customers had trouble with the voice recognition on their phones working properly, making it difficult to progress with lessons.
Great grammar, immersion, and price
Rocket Languages remains impressive despite its technical difficulties due to three important factors. First, you can get solid immersion with Rocket Languages when you use the Russian lessons without looking at transcripts. You can also expect impressive grammar instructions included throughout the Rocket Languages program. You won't have to go searching for it or hope it's "intuitive." Third, you can buy the entire course once and avoid unnecessary subscriptions long-term. This is even better if you can score your Rocket Languages plan when they're offering a deal. Overall, even with some tech foibles, this site for Russian lessons remains a solid option.
Good
Memrise is a learning platform that's based in London, UK, and offers courses in 35 languages to choose from. It has a gamified approach to Russian lessons and is noted to be similar to its primary competitor, Duolingo (which we've reviewed separately). Memrise's courses include both "official" materials as well as a GPT-3-powered "AI language partner" that allows learners to practice more natural conversations. One of our favorite features is the community at Memrise, where community members are able to share user-created courses. While the forum was paused for a while, Memrise has been slowly bringing it back since November 2025.
Learn from scratch with audio and video
When you get started at Memrise for Russian lessons, the site will ask you what your reason is for learning Russian. This is important only because it can affect which wordlists are used (based on your learning level and goals). For example, we started our research as a "beginner" student looking to travel to Russia and connect with friends and family. We were suggested official wordlists for Characters & Alphabets, Everyday Expressions, Travelling & Living Abroad, and Relationships. We were also suggested some of the community word lists made by other users, such as the 4th-year Russian vocabulary. Your actual first lesson will consist of immediately beginning to learn the Cyrillic alphabet. Memrise uses a mix of the written characters, audio sounds, and a video to help you.
Review of your terms is spaced out
Memrise is known for using a "spaced repetition" method, which makes your Russian lessons more like a game. This is a research-based learning technique that includes larger intervals of time between when you learned something and the next time you review it. While there is research to support that this method helps you memorize faster, it doesn't necessarily promise fluency, and in a game-based course where mistakes can cost you, the spaces between reviews might make the "game" side of Memrise more frustrating. As an added benefit, Memrise offers "listen in context" exercises where new phrases are used in the context of a normal conversation. This includes a video as well as acting to demonstrate how the new vocabulary would be used naturally.
Keep track of your vocab lists
Russian lessons on Memrise are cumulative on top of using the spaced repetition method. You'll build your vocabulary with the Cyrillic alphabet, as well as start off with simple words and phrases you can memorize. The lessons include videos of native speakers saying the new vocabulary or pronouncing the letters for you, to get used to the sound of the language. Notably, if you want to gain more fluency, you'll want to check out the "pro word lists," which require a premium membership. As you progress, Memrise will track the number of words you've heard, learned, and used during exercises. However, we haven't seen much in the way of grammar rules during our research, which could mean you're left to intuitively figure out the grammar rules of Russian on your own.
Direct translation can make it too easy
Memrise offers direct translation to English on every exercise. This means that while you'll see the Cyrillic alphabet for letters and vocabulary, you'll also see the English right below it. This keeps the program from being as immersive. Not only will you see the English version of the word, but you'll also see the words spelled in Latin characters (for a word like HET, you'll see both the English word "no" and the romanized version of HET as "nyet"). This kind of gives you a cheat code, which doesn't require you to make connections between the sounds and concepts on your own. While this can be easier and helpful for absolute beginners, it can hinder fluency later on. However, as you get more advanced, some of the lessons (like context videos) will ask you if you want to see the transcript or just listen to the Russian lesson as is, which does offer some better immersion.
Good for students who need pronunciation
Memrise is great for students who are looking to get started from scratch or to review concepts as they get more advanced with Russian lessons. The context videos are particularly helpful for those looking for pronunciation assistance and to understand how Russian might be used in a more natural conversation (outside of a course or program).
Pricing from $5.17 to $24.99 per month
If you want to subscribe to get access to additional word lists, an ad-free experience, all native speaker videos, unlimited pronunciation practice, and unlimited sentence building, Memrise offers a few pro plans. If you just want to study Russian lessons at the base level, Memrise is completely free, so you don't have to subscribe if you don't want to. As for the pro plans, here are your options:
App or PC learning
Memrise is a website and app-based Russian lesson platform. So, you can study on your PC or through your mobile device if you prefer. At the time of our research, Memrise did not offer any live, human-led lessons. The entire process is self-guided, so if you're looking for tutoring or additional help, you might need to locate extra Russian lessons outside of Memrise.
Mixed feedback, but content videos are a plus
Memrise did not have a page with the Better Business Bureau at the time of our review. Instead, we had to rely on third-party review sites to get a picture of how much students enjoyed Russian lessons with this platform. Memrise, regrettably, holds a 1.9-star average rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. Recent reviewers claimed the site has some errors and clunkiness where courses get stuck, and students are unable to progress. Some customers tried to subscribe to a lifetime membership, but after paying, they appeared to have the annual membership, and they had trouble cancelling. Trustpilot did not show any specific reviews for the Russian lessons through Memrise. We were able to find a few more reviews on Memrise's mobile app page. For example, on the Apple Store, Memrise had a 4.8-star average out of 5, showing a much better picture than on Trustpilot. Customers love the "humanlike" learning with videos and voices that help them understand the words and phrases through context.
A competitive choice for context-based learning
Memrise offers Russian lessons that are similar to other gamified learning platforms. However, it stands out with its detailed videos and context-based learning for conversational Russian. While we'd like to see more verified third-party reviews on trusted sites like Trustpilot or the BBB, it's clear that customers using the Memrise app are extremely happy with their experiences. With the option to buy a lifetime membership or use the program for free, there are different ways you can plan your Russian lessons cost-wise, though some reviews suggest caution about the annual subscription as it can be difficult to cancel.
Average
Busuu is an online platform for Russian lessons that's run by the Chegg company. For those unfamiliar, Chegg is a textbook site that's known for college-level assistance like textbook rentals, tutoring, and more. The Busuu platform was founded in 2008 and is currently headquartered in London, UK. The company was acquired by Chegg in 2022. Busuu has access to 14 languages, including Russian, and according to research studies completed by the City University of New York and University of South Carolina, the results showed that 22 hours of language learning with Busuu equaled sitting one college semester of that same language. This research was updated and confirmed in 2025 and is published by the University of Maryland. In general, Busuu offers a 7-day free trial of Busuu Premium to start your Russian lessons.
Listen, match, and review
Russian lessons at Busuu prioritize learning with real speakers. The sound clips and videos you see will be from native speakers, showing examples of natural pronunciation. You'll generally get a range of different speakers to help you learn new vocabulary words. This way, you can get comfortable with different possible inflections or voices as you move forward. The practice lessons we tried out included photos and sound files alongside Russian characters. Most of the questions in our first lesson were multiple-choice or "yes/no" answers. We were also asked to put together sentences to build on the new vocabulary we were introduced to.
Quick lessons, but no immediate work on the alphabet
Busuu's lessons are a mix of matching words and listening skills. We were a little disappointed that the learning methodology didn't start out right away with the Cyrillic alphabet. The course at the A1 level jumped us right into learning greetings and basic introductions. Generally, each lesson takes between 1 and 5 minutes, which makes it particularly easy if you just want to jump in with some quick Russian lessons to review during the day.
Build your knowledge on Premium
Generally, the study material for Busuu lessons is divided into themes that are based on common conversational scenarios. You can find lessons with vocab, grammar practice, pronunciation exercises, interactive quizzes, and practice with natural conversation with native speakers who are members of the Busuu community. You can chat with them on Busuu forums or type out sentences to be checked by native speakers. However, many of the most helpful features are dependent on subscribing to a Premium membership. If you try to use Busuu for free, you'll be missing out on a lot of helpful learning materials, like grammar.
English translations for most exercises
Busuu's initial lessons (at the A1 level) all had direct translation to English during the course. All of the examples we were shown during our trial showed Russian words in the Cyrillic alphabet, and then directly below it (or beside it) were the English/Latin characters. If you're looking for true immersion, Busuu isn't as helpful. One thing we liked as the lessons leveled up was that sometimes, the "direct translation" was more of an English overview. For example, in a lesson for greetings, the English notes said "The woman says hi and tells you her name," but didn't directly translate, "Hi, I am Lena," from the spoken Russian phrase.
Best for travel vocab if you use the free version
Busuu offers language courses that are designed to match the CEFR language levels. You can take your Russian lessons from the A1 level to the C1 level. If you're looking for a free way to review the Russian lessons that you're taking elsewhere (like school or through a different online course), Busuu is a helpful review tool. It also has a fairly gamified approach with short lessons that keep you engaged. So, if you're worried about lengthy study books or long-winded videos, Busuu won't put you through that. If you use the free version, this is ideal for students who want to master conversational basics for travel purposes.
Pricing from $12.49 to $14.90 per month
Busuu has a completely free version that you can use as long as you want. The free membership allows you to access lessons from one language on your account, but the approach is much more basic. It is missing full grammar lessons, offline mode features, and education certificates. If you want all the features, you'll have to pick between one of Busuu's two Premium membership plans which each offer a 7-day free trial (after you put in your payment information). Here's what you can expect:
Unique community grading and corrections
Busuu offers an online or app version of its Russian lessons, but there's no live tutoring for general students, sadly. It does have a program for businesses to offer live lessons, but the form to fill out requires that you are an employer to get started. On the bright side, Busuu does have an online community. You work with other students within Busuu to correct one another's work and help with natural writing and pronunciation. For example, during our first hour on the site, we were notified that two students would like corrections for exercises. Since our account was set to English as the starting language, we were asked to correct sentences written by those who are learning English. You will get the same help from students who are native Russian speakers during your Russian lessons.
Generally praised, but not ideal for Russian
Busuu itself doesn't have a page on the Better Business Bureau, but its parent company, Chegg, does. Currently, Chegg holds an impressive "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB. As for Busuu itself, we checked out its ratings on third-party review sites like Trustpilot. Our research shows that Busuu holds 4.3 stars out of 5 on average. In general, recent reviews for Busuu compliment the program's work to build students from absolutely no knowledge in a particular language to receiving a B1 certificate. Busuu is praised for offering quick progress (on the paid tiers), and students love the community tab, where you can offer and receive help in your new language. However, for customers who specifically wanted to take Russian lessons, Busuu has some recent complaints. For example, one customer subscribed to the advanced features promised and said that grammar and AI conversations weren't available for Russian. The only benefit at the time was that the paid plan on Busuu did not have ads. Other reviewers said the Russian A1 program was solid, but the A2 moves too quickly and feels "aggressive" without helping students out.
Best as a study assist
Busuu is generally a fun and helpful site for earning a B1 language certificate. It has academic praise and a research-backed method, but when we look into students who tried the Russian lessons, specifically, it doesn't quite hit the mark. While you might enjoy the free version as a study aid (especially if you're taking a more robust Russian course elsewhere), at this time it isn't the best choice for a fully fleshed-out Russian program. Until Busuu's Russian lessons get all of the features that the premium membership promises, it may not be worth your time to subscribe.
Average
Mondly is a language learning company that was originally founded by a pair of Romanian entrepreneurs to help students learn languages. There are four learning products associated with Mondly: Mondly Languages (the app our review focuses on for Russian lessons), Mondly Kids (a similar language learning app for children), MondlyVR which is an app in VR that's available on the gaming platform Steam, and MondlyAR which is an augmented reality version with an avatar teacher and virtual objects to help with language learning. For most folks, though, Mondly Language is the app you'll be headed for. As of the date of our review, Mondly had 41 courses for different languages to choose from.
Jumps right into vocab
Mondly has a clean user interface that uses drag-and-drop style animations to help you learn vocabulary words, as well as swiping up and down. It's definitely a Russian lesson platform that uses all of the modern technology at its disposal to make the experience more intuitive. However, your first few lessons won't include building blocks for the Cyrillic alphabet. You'll dive right into family terminology like "sister," "brother," "mother," and more.
Good reputation, but not much grammar
Mondly's methods include a mix of vocabulary practice, phrase learning, and speech recognition software to help you practice your conversational Russian no matter what your level. Between clicking words to create sentences, matching new Russian vocabulary words to colorful photos, and swiping between similar terms, you can build your Russian vocabulary fairly quickly. However, we found that the grammar work wasn't as helpful with Mondly. For certain words (like verbs, for example), you can click on the word during the lesson and see the Russian conjugations in past, present, and future forms. On the other hand, this is just written in a list and not used or discussed in the context of the actual Russian lesson.
Progress tracking for easy metrics
The Russian lessons at Mondly are cumulative and use regular repetition of the words out loud as well as click-through sentence building to help you retain your Russian vocabulary over time. The site or app (whichever you prefer to use) will track your progress with metrics on how many words you've used, how many minutes you've spent on the platform, how many phrases you've gained recently, and a line graph for your weekly practice. You can also track your progress against other students if you like to be competitive.
Toggle Latin spelling on and off
Mondly allows you to toggle on and off the English/Latin alphabet when you're working. You will have some translations from the Cyrillic words into English, but if you prefer, all of the Russian vocabulary will be spelled in the Cyrillic alphabet only. You can switch the Russian words to Latin spellings if you need some extra assistance, but the view will be one or the other, so you can decide how immersed you want to be in the Russian lessons. But, we would like to see some dedicated lessons on the Cyrillic alphabet to make this more effective.
Good for all levels
Mondly is a beginner-friendly site for Russian lessons that takes you from the first steps of your new language all the way up to advanced knowledge. Also, this is a platform that's particularly ideal for multilingual students, because you can start your Mondly Russian lessons from multiple source languages. So, this site does not assume you are an English speaker at the beginning. Mondly, however, is noted for having less cultural learning than other Russian lessons out there. So, if you're looking for real culture and history, you might be a bit disappointed with Mondly.
Pricing from $5.16 to $12.90 per month
Mondly offers three different tiers for its premium subscription. The program is totally free if you prefer, but the premium membership includes more language features, including 40 practical topics. 50+ real and simulated conversations, more helpful grammar features, and access to all of the languages on Mondly's platform. If you would like to subscribe, the options include:
At the time of our review, Mondly had a deal for the full access pass to be the same cost as the normal 12-month program. The site didn't say how much the all-access version costs normally, so if you see a higher price, you might want to check back periodically for deals.
Fully online experience
Mondly is a 100% digital learning platform. Your Russian lessons will be provided through the mobile app or desktop site. You can access them any time you want with no worries about timing or scheduling. Learn as much as you can when you can, for a low-pressure learning environment.
Troubles with subscriptions
Mondly, like a few other Russian lesson sites in our review, doesn't have a page with the Better Business Bureau. Instead, we had to rely on third-party review sites like Trustpilot to see how students felt about their experiences with Mondly. According to our research, this platform comes in about average. It currently holds a 2.8-star average rating on Trustpilot out of 5. Recent reviews note that while customers like the app in general, they didn't like the conversational AI section of the language lessons. However, for those who subscribed, there were significant complaints that noted difficulty with being charged too early during the premium membership free trial or being unable to cancel their memberships.
Good for study, but not as robust as it could be
Mondly is a decent choice if you're a beginner and want to work through your Russian vocabulary without getting distracted by Latin spelling. However, it seems to be a safer choice if you use the free app. With regular complaints on Trustpilot about the difficulty of cancelling a membership once you have it, we were a little concerned about Mondly's trustworthiness for its premium options. For these reasons, Mondly earns a slightly below-average score in our review. That, plus its lack of direct grammar instruction, keeps it from being as competitive as it could be. It's a good choice for review, but it isn't the most robust site for Russian lessons out there.
Fair
Russian Pod 101 is a language-learning program specifically designed for Russian lessons. Known for its audio and video courses that cover all levels of fluency, Russian Pod 101 is an impressive, interactive option for picking up your next language and is one of many courses offered by the Innovative Language Learning Network, though each program has its own webpage. If you want to work on languages other than Russian, Innovative Language has your back.
Jump into conversational Russian
When you first get started with Russian Pod 101, you'll be asked what level of proficiency you currently have with Russian lessons (from levels 1-5). When you join, the site will tell you you're getting a "free lifetime account", but this is just their free trial. You get 3 lessons in every pathway free, and a 100-word Russian word list. The first step at Russian Pod 101 (even if you're a complete beginner) is to take a Russian 1 diagnostic test. From there, you'll be able to listen to the first audio lesson, which begins in English and will move on to Russian language basics. However, the back-and-forth conversation can be tedious to listen to if you want to jump right into learning. The audios are generally around 10-12 minutes long.
Audio-focused learning style
Russian Pod 101 uses primarily audio methods to teach you Russian lessons. You'll get word lists, slideshows of new vocabulary, and flash cards that regularly review the material you've already covered. Audios can be slowed down, so you can review and take time; however, there is one major element that's missing on Russian Pod 101's courses. You're mostly self-guided to the point that the program doesn't give you right/wrong indicators. You can listen to dialogues and speak along (or even record yourself practicing your Russian), but there isn't any visual progress tracking. You have to be able to hold yourself accountable to progress with Russian Pod 101.
More self-guided than other Russian lessons
Depending on your learning style, the day-to-day lessons from Russian Pod 101 may be more frustrating than helpful. If you need progress tracking or want a clear "yes" or "no" on pronunciation tests, this isn't going to be ideal for you. Also, the conversational nature of the recordings sometimes rambles, making it harder to stay engaged, especially if you're not an auditory learner. In the test lessons we completed during our research, there were no visual aids for Russian Pod 101's Russian lessons. While premium memberships offer more guidance, the free version expects that you'll manage your own learning.
Toggle how much direct translation you want
Russian Pod 101's second lesson begins teaching you the Cyrillic alphabet, which is helpful and proactive. Most of the work on Russian Pod 101 is fully written in Cyrillic with occasional translations to English. You can toggle dialogue transcripts to show only Cyrillic, Latinized Russian, or English words (for direct translation), depending on what you prefer. While the toggle is nice, allowing you to have the level of immersion that you want, you're still relying mostly on yourself for the teaching process.
Best for self-starters
Russian Pod 101 (at least the free version) is ideal for self-starters or those who are comfortable essentially teaching themselves. While the lessons include helpful dialogues, the alphabet, and grammar, the self-guided nature of the course may not be ideal for those with busy lifestyles or who need a more guided approach to learning. You have to bring a high level of personal motivation for Russian Pod 101 to be successful in your Russian lessons.
Pricing from $4 to $23 per month
Russian Pod 101 offers 3 different tiers for its paid plans. You'll get different access to features depending on which level you go for. Here's what you can expect for your Russian lessons at Russian Pod 101:
Learn with a teacher on higher subscriptions
Russian Pod 101 is an online learning site with options to learn from your computer, or you can download the mobile app and complete your Russian lessons on the go. While the program is mostly self-guided, Russian Pod 101 offers extra resources like blogs, grammar supplemental materials, and cultural extras that go along with the audio lessons that are the primary part of the course. Russian Pod 101 also gives you 1-on-1 time with a Russian teacher if you'd like the extra help. You will get personal feedback from your teacher (alongside a personalized program plan for Russian Pod 101). This is a premium feature, but one not offered by many other Russian lesson sites we've researched so far.
Competitive score for mobile app
Russian Pod 101 does not have a page with the Better Business Bureau, but we were able to find its parent company, Innovative Language Learning Network, who holds a perfect "A+" rating from the BBB. As for student reviews, we struggled to find any feedback for Russian Pod 101 on our normal trusted review sites like Trustpilot. Similarly, Russian Pod 101 does not have an app under its name. However, when we used the link on the Russian Pod 101 website to take us to its mobile app, we were directed to Innovative Language Learning. So, while this is connected to Russian Pod 101 and its parent company, it isn't the same as the desktop experience. On the bright side, the mobile app for Russian Pod 101 has a 4.7-star average rating in general, showing that students enjoy the audio, though the music introductions for lessons tend to frustrate students who just want to jump into the Russian lessons and learn.
The value for your money may depend on learning styles
Russian Pod 101 is a fun option, but it's best suited to those who are comfortable with a mostly self-guided option. If you don't want to pay for the highest premium membership at Russian Pod 101, you won't have access to many of the features that you need to help you through Russian lessons. On the free (and even Basic) tiers, you're mostly left to your own honor system to finish lessons and get the vocabulary right. While this may be effective for some, many students might prefer the more guided work of other courses. Although the 1-on-1 teaching option is a great benefit (and it costs less than a private tutor), you might need to spend some time weighing the pros and cons at Russian Pod 101. For this reason, Russian Pod 101 earns a lower rating compared to more competitive free options or more well-rounded premium memberships that we've seen during our review.
Subpar
Duolingo is a language learning site that most of us know about. Whether you've just seen the online memes for the Duo owl or you've used the platform for some Russian lessons in the past, this gamified site is well-known for its large range of languages (even some unique fantasy and sci-fi options like Klingon). Duo's lineup includes 42 languages, including Russian. Duolingo is well-known for its gamified learning methods that are meant to help motivate you with points, rewards, and short lessons that help you maintain a consistent practice schedule. The platform is completely free to use for the most part, though you can subscribe if you want some of the premium features.
Jump into Russian, but no Cyrillic study
A first lesson with Duolingo dives right into new words and phrases. Surprisingly, if you want to learn the Cyrillic alphabet, you have to seek it out yourself as a separate part of the course. If you just jump right into your first-ever lesson (even as an absolute beginner), you won't be shown Cyrillic characters. This can be particularly difficult if you don't know what sounds the letters translate to. Duolingo also uses a newer energy system to replace its old "hearts" (so, if you're returning to Duolingo, you'll be a little surprised). Now, you'll expend energy on any question you answer (right or wrong), but you can regain energy by answering multiple questions correctly. So, there's less worry about wrong answers, and more reward for getting it right. Generally, lessons will use a mix of sound and written words to teach you to read Russian quickly. There isn't as much emphasis on speaking early on in the program.
Some languages are based on CEFR requirements
Duolingo's lessons are based on the CEFR language courses for specific languages (including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and German). Other courses are not necessarily based on the CEFR requirements, though they are also included. Notably, at the time of our review, Russian lessons were not included in the CEFR options. Duolingo also uses generative AI for how it builds some of its courses. Most of those courses were aimed at non-English speakers (Russian for Spanish speakers); however, some language researchers stated that the AI-generated work may not provide the same level of research-based teaching methodology as Duolingo used previously when working with human linguists to develop courses, when contracted workers were replaced with AI in 2025. The general methodologies used by Duolingo lessons include listening, speaking, and piecing together sentences with existing word "tiles".
Late-stage learning is harder without direct grammar lessons
Duolingo is a cumulative learning platform, so as you move forward, the materials that you learned before will remain relevant. Lessons, though, are grouped in themes like "greetings" or "mealtimes." Plus, you need to be proactive about learning the Cyrillic alphabet, because the Duolingo Russian lessons won't add those courses unless you go looking for them on the app. However, we didn't see any particular focus on grammar for Russian lessons during our research (though Duolingo has been adding more grammar to some other languages). Some other languages on Duolingo offer "explain my answer" options which can give a little grammar detail (an update that used to be a premium feature). The Russian lessons offered practice for speaking, listening, reviewing your mistakes, and your wordbank, but direct grammar notes might be for more advanced Russian lessons.
More focus on Cyrillic-only writing
Duolingo, unlike several apps and Russian lessons from other providers, doesn't immediately show you Russian phrases and vocabulary in English/Latin characters. Duolingo shows you new phrases or words in the Cyrillic alphabet, using sound and visuals to teach you the new words. Duolingo will let you click on the Russian words to see the English equivalent if you're stumped, but you're more immersed in the language at the get-go than you'll see on other platforms. There are Cyrillic lessons on Duolingo, but it's in a different tab than the normal course (the far right tab with the dots). This page will mark how well you know certain letters and which ones you need to work on, but separating them out means you won't progress in your normal lesson path while you study them (but it does count for maintaining your streak).
Ideal if you like gamified learning
Duolingo is ideal for students who like a gamified or competitive approach to their language learning. Duolingo offers leagues where you can compete with groupings of up to 30 users, and your rankings are determined by how many Russian lessons you complete in a week. As for difficulty, the different languages range from A1 to C2 fluency, and a 2017 study on Duolingo's methods noted that there was a similar amount of fluency between Duolingo's lessons and learning in an elementary-level classroom.
Pricing from $7.99 to $9.99 per month
Duolingo is free to use at the baseline, but you can subscribe to Duolingo's premium membership if you'd like features like unlimited energy for continuous learning, skills practice, mistakes review, free challenge entry for competitive tiers, and no ads. Super Family includes all the features of Super, but allows up to 6 users on the account, and none of those family members needs to be in the same location. So you can share your account with anyone. If you're putting together a study group, this might be a great option. Super Duolingo has a 1-week free trial, but keep an eye out, because when we used the free trial, we were subscribed immediately after, and the trial period turned into a yearly billing cycle (not listed on the pricing page). Here's what you can expect for Duolingo's membership options:
In most cases that we've seen, the monthly pricing is just a way to break down the cost for you, but you'll actually be paying the annual fee.
Most popular on the mobile app
Duolingo allows you to learn on the computer or on its well-rated mobile app. Generally, most customers choose the quick and easy method of the mobile app, especially if you're looking to jump into a review before or after an in-person class. At the time of our review, Duolingo did not offer its own live lessons. So, if you'd like tutoring or assistance with your Duolingo Russian lessons, you would need to go to another platform.
Extremely negative feedback for Russian
Duolingo currently holds an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. This is due to 127 complaints currently filed that the company has not responded to. On top of that, Duolingo's reputation has fallen in recent years. It currently holds a 1.5-star average rating on third-party review sites like Trustpilot. Duolingo's reviews as of a few hours of the time of our review were all uniformly 1 star. Customers complain about the repetitive nature of the courses. Customers who didn't want to pay for the platform found there to be too many ads, and some customers say that recent updates to the platform have made it a "completely different program" even in languages customers have used in previous years. Duolingo's Russian lessons specifically receive criticism for being inaccurate and not teaching correct terminology for colloquial conversations.
Free, but otherwise not as reliable as other courses
Duolingo is a fun gamified option, but according to researchers, students who have left reviews, and our own experience with the app, it's much better for those who want to do some repetitive review for other Russian lessons they are taking. It's particularly helpful if you want to practice vocab before an exam, or to keep up with your learning throughout the month if you don't have Russian lessons every day. But, using Duolingo as your only source of Russian lessons will likely be a disservice to your language skills. It's noted to be at the same level as elementary-level learning, and the Russian course isn't based on CEFR standard requirements. With these things in mind, Duolingo earns a below-average rating. It is free to use, but other free options offer slightly more reliable learning.
Continued from above...
Thinking about starting your study in Russian lessons, but you're not sure where to dive in? There are so many reasons to learn a new language. Whether you have family that speaks Russian, want to visit a new country, or just enjoy some Russian literature in its original language, it's exciting to jump into something new.
But it can be hard to figure out where you want to start (or continue) your studies. There is a seemingly endless stream of apps, videos, or online "bootcamps" promising the best Russian lessons on the market. However, picking the right language course and site is essential as it can affect your final level of fluency or conversational understanding of Russian.
The first thing to keep in mind as you start your Russian lessons is the Cyrillic alphabet. Unlike many languages you might be familiar with that use the Latin alphabet (you, know, your ABCs that you're used to), Russian lessons require learning a new set of alphabet characters to get started. Some platforms spend lots of time helping you master this new skill (both writing and sounding out your letters). On the other hand, other Russian lessons might ask you to jump into "transliteration," which is where you start by writing Russian words in English or Latin letters. This will help if you want to speak phrases quickly, but may not be great to rely on if you want to be able to read or get around in a country where the Cyrillic alphabet is standard.
The grammar of Russian can also offer some fun challenges as you get started. For example, the endings of words will change their meanings from case to gender to noun or verb usage. So, the order of words doesn't matter as much as it does in English, whereas knowing the word endings is going to be essential to understanding conversational Russian. Many more casual Russian lesson sites will gloss over some of these grammar structure rules to keep your learning fun, but over time, you can feel frustrated trying to understand grammar rules intuitively without direct instruction on the matter. More robust Russian courses will offer you explanations for the grammatical structures to help you build your own sentences with understanding.
Now, your goal for starting Russian lessons should help you make decisions on what time of app or course you want to go with (you may even choose a blend of a few options). Self-guided apps are ideal if you want to be a short-term "tourist" in a Russian-speaking country. This means you should be able to get around a train station, order a bowl of borscht, or exchange greetings and ask basic questions to native speakers. However, if you're looking for a more intermediate or advanced understanding of Russian, you might want to look for a more structured course. Russian lessons that are more detailed can help you enjoy Russian literature, work professionally in a Russian-speaking country, or gain complete fluency.
At the end of the day, it's your Russian lessons, your way. If you're ready and motivated to learn a new language, we're excited for you. Whether you're looking for gamified quizzes and short clips to review during a commute or a live instructor who can give you tips on pronunciation and colloquialisms you might not get on an app, there's something out there for everyone. If you're not sure where to start, here are some factors that can help you narrow the field:
So, whether you're hoping to visit Russia in the next few months or you want to start parsing through Dostoyevsky works in their original form, there are Russian lessons out there to get you to your language goals. To make sure you get the best education you can, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top sites and programs for Russian lessons available today. This way, you can start impressing your Russian friends with your new skills. Удачи (good luck)!
Compare Any 2 Products
Top Products.
Top Reviews.
Top Consumer Reviews.
Reviews
Browse through thousands of reviews.
Social Media
Like us? Follow us! We'd love to have you join our community.
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest reviews. We'll keep you informed, and we'll never sell your information to anyone.
