Best Online English Courses in Brazil (2026): 7 Platforms Compared

Seven years of English at school, an unfinished language course, and a résumé that says "intermediate." Even so, the call with the supplier in Chicago starts with sorry, my English is not so good, and the reply to an email from an overseas manager sits in drafts for an hour. People looking for the best online English courses in Brazil rarely start from scratch, and almost always hit the same wall: they understand far more than they can say. The EF English Proficiency Index 2025 puts numbers to this. Brazil ranked 75th out of 123 countries and territories, with 482 points, just below the global average of 488. In reading, Brazil's average reaches 516. In speaking, it drops to 464.

This is a longstanding problem. In 2014, the study English Learning Needs in Brazil, conducted by the Data Popular research institute for the British Council, found that only 5.1% of Brazilians aged 16 or older reported having some knowledge of English (among young people aged 18 to 24, the figure was 10.3%). The most frequently cited obstacles were lack of time and lack of money, and the leading language schools cost between 20% and 52% of the average salary at the time. Online classes have largely solved the scheduling problem, since you can take a lesson before work or after the children go to sleep. Affordability remains an issue, which is why prices in Brazilian reais and payment options were included in our evaluation.

We compared seven options available in Brazil. They include one-on-one lessons with a regular teacher, two schools offering live group classes around the clock, an app for talking to native speakers, two teacher marketplaces, and the online version of Wizard, a chain with more than a thousand schools in the country. All prices are in Brazilian reais.

Our evaluation criteria

We assessed every platform against the same seven questions, based on what they publish on their pricing pages, in their help centers, and in their subscription terms. The seventh question, highlighted in orange, is there for budget reasons: a course can be excellent and still not fit your monthly budget if it requires a full year's payment upfront or bills you in dollars.

Quick comparison of the best online English courses in Brazil

The last column shows the lowest price each platform publishes on its own website, usually for the longest subscription or a group plan. When the website does not list a price, the table says so. The second-to-last column summarizes the Brazil-specific criterion: which currency you pay in and whether installments are available.

Prices last checked: November 2026. 

Why Brazilians study English but freeze when it's time to speak

Since Law No. 13,415/2017, English has been compulsory in schools from sixth grade onward. In practice, many people leave high school able to read a text and take a multiple-choice test, but with few hours of real conversation under their belts. The EF EPI figures reflect this experience: 52 points separate reading (516) from speaking (464). Writing lags even further behind at 442, which matters for anyone who needs to send emails in English every day.

The mistakes that persist through years of study tend to be the same, precisely because they hardly ever prevent communication:

• an extra vowel at the end of words: big becomes "bigui," Facebook becomes "Facebooki," hot dog becomes "hot dogui"
• an initial R pronounced like an H: red sounds like head, rat like hat
• th replaced with T, D, or F: think becomes "tink" or "fink"
• the past-tense -ed turned into an extra syllable: worked pronounced as "uórqued"
• structures copied from Portuguese: I have 30 years, explain me, depend of, make a question
• false friends: pretend (mistaken for "intend"), push (mistaken for "pull"), library (mistaken for "bookstore"), parents (mistaken for "relatives"), actually (mistaken for "currently")

Nobody stops understanding you because of a "bigui". That is why these mistakes rarely get corrected in an ordinary conversation, and that is why they stick. For each platform, we checked whether anyone corrects these patterns systematically and whether any record is kept of what was corrected. If you want to understand what changes from one level to the next, our guide to English levels from A1 to C2 explains it with examples, and the article English accent test: how much does your accent affect the way you speak? shows how to read the result of a pronunciation test.

#1 - Flalingo: the same teacher, conversation at every level, and pricing in Brazilian reais

Flalingo offers live one-to-one English lessons of 25 or 50 minutes, from one to seven times a week, and every lesson takes place in English. According to the platform, only one in every 73 teachers who apply is accepted, after interviews, a demo lesson and a teaching assessment. Each teacher is tagged by specialism: conversation, business English, exam preparation.

Its top ranking comes down to continuity. The Smart Matching system cross-references 18 details (your goal, level, availability, preferred accent, and even the teaching personality you're looking for) and presents 22 to 30 profiles. Flalingo estimates that you have more than a 90% chance of keeping the same teacher throughout your plan. For anyone who freezes when it's time to speak, that makes a difference. After a few weeks, your teacher already knows your "bigui" and your I have 30 years, and making mistakes in front of someone who has seen you make them before becomes much less embarrassing. If the match doesn't work out, teacher changes are free and unlimited.

You can start from scratch or arrive with a good level. The Smart Personalized Books cover both ends: the Everyday English series runs from Beginner to Advanced Plus, and the English at Work series from Starter to Advanced, with meetings, emails and presentations. Every unit includes role-plays and speaking tasks designed for one-to-one lessons, because the idea is to speak from day one. Outside lessons, Flai, the AI conversation coach, sets up voice conversations in everyday, work and travel scenarios (a meeting, an interview, a hotel check-in) and gives you back a report on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency.

If your goal is a certificate, the exam preparation section has teachers who specialise in IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge (FCE, CAE and CPE), PTE Academic and OET. On FlalingoExams, mock exams follow the real test format, and writing and speaking are marked by AI in seconds. After 30 hours of lessons, you also receive an accredited digital certificate in your name. It records your progress, but it does not replace an international exam. If IELTS is your focus, we compare the options in the best online IELTS preparation courses.

Between lessons, Flalingo Daily News publishes news graded by CEFR level, from Beginner to Proficient, with vocabulary exercises, audio narration, discussion questions, and a business section. Reading one news story a day and bringing the topic to your next lesson is a simple way to have something to talk about. And before you book your first lesson, the placement test and accent test show you your starting point.

Learn how the tool works in What is FLAI?.

Key features

• Live one-on-one lessons lasting 25 or 50 minutes, 1 to 7 times a week
• Smart Matching using 18 criteria and a selection of 22 to 30 teachers
• Smart Personalized Books: Everyday English from Beginner to Advanced Plus and English at Work from Starter to Advanced
• Role-plays and speaking tasks in every unit
• FLAI report after every lesson: accuracy, fluency, and vocabulary based on the CEFR
• Flomework exercises created from your own mistakes
• Industry-specific business English curricula
• Preparation for IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge, PTE Academic, and OET
• AI-assessed practice tests on FlalingoExams
• Flalingo Daily News, with graded news up to Proficient level
• Accredited digital certificate after 30 hours of lessons
• Personal learning advisor and 24-hour live support
• Free placement test and accent test

Price

For anyone browsing from Brazil, prices appear in reais, and Flalingo accepts Brazilian cards. The price depends on lesson length, the number of lessons a week and the length of the plan, with discounts for longer plans already applied.

• 25 minutes: from R$ 137 a month (12-month plan, 1 lesson a week) to R$ 2,290 (1-month plan, 7 lessons a week)
• 50 minutes: from R$ 273 to R$ 4,579 a month
• 25-minute lesson: R$ 34.20 on the annual plan and R$ 85.24 on the monthly plan (4 lessons a month)
• 50-minute lesson: R$ 68.14 on the annual plan and R$ 167.01 on the monthly plan
• Discounts: 30% on the 3-month plan, 40% on the 6-month plan and 60% on the 12-month plan
• Trial lesson: 25 minutes for R$ 10.69, refunded if it isn't right for you
• Pauses: 1 pause of up to 2 weeks (3 months), 2 pauses of 1 month (6 months), 3 pauses of 2 months (12 months)

You can pay in instalments by credit card, and Flalingo runs promotions with extra discounts throughout the year. It is worth checking the plans page before you decide. If you are unsure which package to choose, our guide to choosing a Flalingo plan compares the options by goal.

Prices last checked: November 2026.

Who is it for?

• Adults at any level, from those who have never had a conversation in English to those already at B2 who want to sound more natural
• People who freeze up when speaking and feel more comfortable with the same teacher every week
• Professionals with specific goals: meetings, presentations, interviews, IELTS, or TOEFL
• Those with tight schedules: lessons before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Those with a budget starting at R$ 137 per month on the annual plan, with installment payment options

User reviews

On Google, Flalingo has a rating of 4.9 out of 5, based on 710 reviews. The two reviews below come from there.

#2 - Open English: group lessons every 30 minutes, all day long

Open English is an online English school with a presence in several Latin American countries and its own website and customer service in Brazil. Its method centres on live group lessons: they start every 30 minutes, every day, last 25 minutes and bring together a small number of students. On the course plan, you can attend as many as you like. According to the school, all its teachers are native speakers with TEFL, TESOL or equivalent certification.

There are plenty of materials to supplement the lessons. The app includes interactive exercises, videos, and pronunciation practice with speech recognition, while an AI tutor called Jenny helps you practice between lessons. Upon completing each level, you receive a CEFR-based certificate, and the school offers Cambridge's CEST exam, which assesses reading, listening, writing, and speaking. TOEFL, IELTS, and TOEIC preparation is available, along with private lessons focused on business, technology, and marketing, charged separately.

This format comes with a trade-off that isn't always clear in the advertising. In a 25-minute lesson with several classmates, each student gets only a few minutes of speaking time, and the teacher changes from one lesson to the next. Frequent attendance helps a lot when it comes to overcoming the fear of speaking. But to correct a mistake that has become a habit, you need someone who follows your progress closely, and that only comes with private lessons, whose prices aren't published on the website.

Key features

• Live group classes every day, starting every 30 minutes
• Unlimited 25-minute classes in small groups included in the plan
• Native-speaking teachers with TEFL, TESOL or equivalent certification
• Beginner-to-advanced course, with a certificate for each CEFR level
• Cambridge's CEST exam and preparation for TOEFL, IELTS and TOEIC
• AI tutor (Jenny) and pronunciation practice with speech recognition
• iOS and Android app
• Private lessons at an additional cost

Pricing

Open English publishes only its entry price. Other prices depend on a quote.

• Annual plans: from R$ 220 a month, with unlimited group lessons
• Private lessons and other plans: price not published on the website
• Payment upfront or in instalments, by debit or credit card

Prices last checked: November 2026.

Who is it for?

• Beginners and intermediate learners who want daily exposure to English
• People with unpredictable schedules who do not want to rely on booking ahead
• People who feel more comfortable speaking in a group than one-on-one with a teacher
• A budget starting at R$ 220 per month on the annual plan

User reviews

Open English has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with 8,494 reviews. We selected two recent comments.

#3 - Cambly: talk to native speakers without booking ahead

Cambly is an American platform that works only with tutors whose first language is English. You open the app on your phone or computer, choose someone who is available and, seconds later, you are talking, day or night. If you prefer a fixed time, you can also book ahead.

There are three plans. In Small Groups, a tutor talks with a small group of students. Private+ pairs a tutor with one or two students and unlocks unlimited pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary activities. Pro adds private lessons with exclusive tutors, lessons structured around your goals, targeted feedback and study recommendations. On the higher-tier plans, every lesson is recorded and transcribed. Minutes are allocated weekly, and any unused minutes do not roll over to the following week.

For Brazilians who freeze up when speaking, Cambly has a very practical use: you can rehearse your opening line five minutes before the actual call. It also helps you get used to American, British or Australian accents. What it lacks is structure. There is no program to take you from one level to the next, and getting corrections largely depends on asking for them. We compare the two approaches in Flalingo vs Cambly.

Key features

• Exclusively native-speaking tutors
• On-demand lessons, 24 hours a day, or scheduled lessons
• Small Groups, Private+ and Pro plans
• Recordings, transcripts and automated feedback on higher-tier plans
• Courses in conversation, business English, grammar, vocabulary and exam preparation
• Unlimited pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary activities on Private+ and above
• Mobile app

Pricing

On its website, Cambly shows prices in dollars, marked "from". According to its help centre, the price appears in local currency where supported, instalments depend on the country and cards enabled for international purchases are accepted. We have converted the prices into reais.

• Small Groups: from US$ 24 a month (≈ R$ 128)
• Private+: from US$ 56 a month (≈ R$ 298)
• Pro: from US$ 80 a month (≈ R$ 426)
• At the time of our review, there was a Black Friday promotion with up to 50% off (Small Groups at US$ 12, ≈ R$ 64)
• Full refund within the first 7 days of your first plan, even if you have already taken lessons

Prices last checked: November 2026.

Who is it for?

• Intermediate and more advanced students who want to build confidence in conversation
• People who practice at unpredictable times
• People who want to listen to native speakers and do not need a curriculum
• Budgets starting at around R$ 128 per month for small groups, or less during promotions

User reviews

Cambly has a rating of 2 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with 264 reviews. That is a small number for a platform of this size, so it is worth reading the reviews individually before drawing conclusions. The two comments below come from there. The second is from a tutor on the platform.

#4 - Preply: tens of thousands of teachers, each setting their own price

Preply is an international marketplace for private online lessons: each tutor sets their own price, hours and method. A search for English tutors brings up more than 46,000 profiles. According to Preply itself, a lesson with a native-speaker tutor costs an average of US$ 28 an hour (≈ R$ 149), and with a non-native tutor, US$ 22 (≈ R$ 117). The price filter runs from US$ 3 to over US$ 40 per lesson, so the real spread is huge. The website has a currency selector, with the Brazilian real among the options.

It works through a subscription with one teacher. You choose how many lessons you want, with a minimum of four per 28-day cycle, and billing renews automatically. Lessons not scheduled before renewal expire, and you must cancel at least one day before the next charge. If the first teacher is not a good fit, Preply lets you try another for free.

For Brazilians, the most tangible advantage is the language filter. You can find teachers who also speak Portuguese and can explain a difficult rule in your own language, which is particularly helpful at the beginning. There are also specialists in job interviews, IELTS, and English for specific fields. The trade-off is that quality depends entirely on your choice: there is no shared curriculum or teacher screening based on teaching skills comparable to that of a school. We compare the two models in Flalingo vs Preply.

Key features

• More than 46,000 profiles in the English teacher search, with filters for price, country, languages spoken, and specialty
• Teachers who also speak Portuguese
• 50-minute lessons, or 25-minute lessons with a subscription
• Subscription in 28-day cycles, with a minimum of 4 lessons
• Lesson Insights, an AI-generated lesson summary (optional, English only)
• Free teacher switch if the first one is not a good fit
• Currency selector with a Brazilian real option

Pricing

Preply publishes average prices in dollars and lets you display prices in reais.

• Average hourly price: US$ 28 with native speakers (≈ R$ 149) and US$ 22 with non-native tutors (≈ R$ 117)
• Price filter per lesson: from US$ 3 to over US$ 40 (≈ R$ 16 to R$ 213)
• Subscription: at least 4 lessons per 28-day cycle, billed automatically
• Free tutor change if the first lesson isn't right for you

Prices last checked: November 2026.

Who is it for?

• People who already know what kind of teacher they want and are willing to take two or three trial lessons
• Very specific goals: an interview, an industry, an exam
• Beginners who prefer to hear explanations in Portuguese from time to time
• All budgets, from a few dozen Brazilian reais to more than R$ 213 per lesson

User reviews

Preply has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with 25,637 reviews. Below are two comments posted there.

#5 - EF English Live: a complete course from A1 to C2, with group classes available 24/7

EF English Live is the online school of EF Education First, the same company that publishes the EF EPI index quoted at the start of this article. The Brazilian version combines self-study units, group conversation lessons available 24 hours a day and, depending on the plan, private lessons. The school says it has more than 3,000 native and bilingual teachers and courses for every level, from A1 to C2, with a test at the end of each level and a certificate to add to your CV or LinkedIn.

Among its features, EF highlights Efekta Hyperclass, which uses virtual reality to simulate real-life situations. There is also a guarantee: if you are not satisfied after the first 12 weeks, EF will refund your money, provided you have completed the weekly minimum of one teacher-led class and one self-study unit.

The weak point is transparency. The Brazilian website does not publish prices or payment terms. According to EF, the price depends on the course, the number of private and group lessons, and each student's budget, and is only provided by a consultant. Before signing up, ask for the contract duration, payment method, and cancellation rules in writing. We compare this model with one-on-one lessons in Flalingo vs EF English Live.

Key features

• Self-study units with videos and exercises
• Group conversation classes available 24 hours a day
• Private lessons, depending on the plan
• Courses from A1 to C2, with a test and certificate at each level
• Efekta Hyperclass, with virtual reality scenarios
• More than 3,000 native and bilingual teachers
• EF English Live app

Price

EF English Live does not publish prices on its Brazilian website. The price depends on the course, the number of private and group lessons, and each student's budget.

• Price not disclosed on the website
• Payment methods and installment options: not disclosed on the website
• Money-back guarantee after 12 weeks, if you meet the weekly minimum

Information last verified: November 2026.

Who is it for?

• Anyone who wants a structured course from start to finish without choosing a teacher
• Disciplined students who can meet the weekly minimum
• Anyone who wants to reach C2 within a single program
• Anyone who values having a certificate for each level completed

User reviews

EF English Live has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with 15,071 reviews. The comments below were posted there in late October.

#6 - italki: pay per lesson, no subscription

italki works much like Preply, with one important difference: there is no subscription. You pay per lesson, with no contract, and book whenever you like. The Portuguese version of the website lists more than 4,200 English teachers, split into two categories. Professional teachers have proven training or experience in teaching. Community tutors focus on conversation and tend to be cheaper.

Prices are set in dollars. Among the English teachers featured on the homepage, lessons started at US$ 5 to US$ 16 (≈ R$ 27 to R$ 85) at the time of our review, and most offer a trial lesson at a reduced price. Because you are charged in a foreign currency, your card statement may include IOF and exchange rate differences.

In terms of teaching approach, italki has the same strength and weakness as Preply. You can find specialists in exams, accents, or business English, but quality depends on your choice, and there is no standardized report to track your lessons. In return, you have complete freedom: if you are traveling for a month, simply do not book anything. We compare this model with structured lessons in Flalingo vs italki.

Main features

• More than 4,200 English teachers, including professional teachers and community tutors
• Individual lessons or packages, with no subscription
• 30- or 60-minute lessons, depending on the teacher
• Discounted trial lesson
• Satisfaction guarantee on trial lessons (refunds issued as credit)
• Video classroom built into the website and app

Price

italki shows prices in dollars. We have converted them into reais.

• Lessons from featured English teachers: US$ 5 to US$ 16 (≈ R$ 27 to R$ 85)
• Trial lesson at a reduced price with most teachers
• Package discounts, at each teacher's discretion
• No subscription: you pay per lesson or per package, with no contract

Prices last checked: November 2026.

Who is it for?

• People who travel or whose schedules change from month to month
• Specific goals: an interview, an accent, an exam
• People who already know what kind of teacher they want
• Flexible budgets, starting at around R$ 27 per lesson

User reviews

italki has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with 15,045 reviews. Here are two comments posted there.

#7 - Wizard On: the Wizard by Pearson method in live online lessons

Wizard On is the online English course from Wizard by Pearson, a network that opened its first school in 1987, has been part of the British group Pearson since 2014 and has more than a thousand schools in Brazil. The online version takes the network's method to the screen without changing the logic of a traditional school: a class, a set timetable, a coursebook and clearly defined levels.

All lessons are live, with the same teacher and classmates, and you can choose between group and private lessons. According to the course page, the schedule includes lessons twice a week, from beginner to advanced, with a focus on conversation from the very first lesson. Students receive a physical textbook at home, have access to digital content, and use the Wiz.me app, which offers interactive exercises, real-time pronunciation assessment, and immediate corrections. There is also an online Conversation Club once a month, depending on the branch.

Enrollment is handled through a Wizard branch, which provides a free placement test and support throughout the course. This has an upside, since there is a real school behind it, and a less convenient side: prices, terms, and even some benefits vary by branch, and the website does not publish prices. Pearson's own Pearson English International Certificate is free from level W8 onward.

Main features

• Live online lessons, in groups or one-on-one
• The same teacher and classmates throughout
• Two lessons per week, from beginner to advanced
• Wizard by Pearson method with a focus on conversation
• Physical textbook delivered to your home and digital content
• Wiz.me app with real-time pronunciation assessment
• Monthly online Conversation Club, depending on the branch
• Free Pearson English International Certificate from level W8 onward
• Free placement test

Price

Wizard On does not publish prices on its website. Pricing, payment options, and terms are provided by the Wizard branch where you enroll.

• Prices not published on the website
• Free placement test
• Pearson English International Certificate at no cost from level W8 onward

Information last verified: November 2026.

Who is it for?

• Those who prefer the structure of a traditional school, with a fixed class and schedule
• Beginners and intermediate learners who want a clearly defined path through the levels
• Those who like studying with a physical textbook
• Those who want a nearby Wizard branch where they can get their questions answered

User reviews

Each Wizard school has its own Google page, so ratings vary from branch to branch. The two comments below come from Wizard branch pages on Google and discuss the school's customer service, which also handles enrollment in Wizard On.

Which combination of features makes sense for you?

The useful question is not which platform is best, but which combination of features solves your problem. Some common scenarios:

• If you freeze up when it's time to speak, what helps most is one-on-one lessons with the same teacher and a record of what was corrected. That's what Flalingo offers.
• If you need English for work, combine a teacher with experience in your field with business materials. Flalingo, Preply, and italki have teachers like this. On Preply and italki, choosing one is up to you.
• If your schedule is unpredictable, Open English and EF English Live offer group classes starting around the clock, and Cambly connects you with a native speaker for an immediate conversation.
• If you still need explanations in Portuguese, filter for Portuguese-speaking teachers on Preply or italki.
• If you do better with a fixed commitment and like having a textbook in hand, Wizard On recreates the routine of a traditional school.
• If budget is your main concern, calculate the price per lesson as well as the monthly fee, and check whether installment payments fit comfortably into your monthly budget.

If you've been studying on your own with an app for months and feel like you're getting nowhere, it's worth reading Flalingo vs Duolingo: can an app replace a real English teacher?.

Whatever you choose, measure before and after. Take the placement test and the accent test now, repeat them in three months, and judge the platform by that difference—including ours.

In our assessment, what matters most for Brazilians who freeze up is the combination of two things: a teacher who already knows their mistakes and a concrete record of what was corrected in each lesson. Combined with pricing in Brazilian reais and the option to pay in installments, these put Flalingo in first place.

Looking for lessons for your children too? See our comparison of the best online English courses for children in Brazil.