Best Online Grammar Classes

For variety and quality, it’s hard to beat Coursera, which specializes in making college courses from top universities available worldwide. Coursera has more than 70 courses under its “English grammar” category, mostly for the English language, and covers topics from the basics of grammar to more advanced courses on composition, writing and communicating for specific purposes (such as academic writing or business communications), and even grammar for TESOL certification.

Students can enroll in each individual course separately—although there are a handful of specializations or tracks that collect several courses together—and each class is handled differently in terms of time commitment and price. Courses typically include video lessons and lectures, practice assignments, readings, and evaluation opportunities to test your skills.

Although Coursera does run on a cycle system, once a student is enrolled for a particular session, courses are largely self-paced. While courses can run up to $80 and dozens of hours, many of Coursera’s grammar classes are currently available for free.

EdX is the perfect blend between top-tier courses and easy access. The platform includes several classes focused on learning grammar skills, as well as full-fledged programs (small groups of courses with a common goal, like a miniature version of a college major).

For the most part, edX’s grammar courses are part of its language offerings. The majority are for English language learners (or students looking to brush up on specific skills like essay writing or writing/speaking in business contexts), but there are also classes focusing on grammar in other languages.

Great news if you’re considering edX: Most of their courses are free—to take, at least. If you’re taking a grammar course to brush up on skills on your own, you’re good to go, but if you’re taking them for more formal reasons, the “verified certificate” of completion costs anywhere from $50 to $300 per course.

Like Coursera, classes do start on an enrollment cycle. But once the session begins students can opt for an instructor-paced course, which has a fixed schedule, or self-paced courses where students can take things as slow or as fast as suits their schedule.

Many of Udemy’s grammar courses are relatively short, though the site hosts many courses of all different levels and lengths.

The site has a great deal of leeway when it comes to the courses offered—instructors can create and upload their own classes, which means that students can choose lessons that are more general or highly specific to a single concept, like verb tenses or sentence structure. The sheer variety means that there’s almost certainly a class to address every student’s needs at any point in time, and there are plenty of options for short lessons to address smaller questions.

Because Udemy is more of a portal for instructors than a standardized platform, courses often include a wide range of styles and elements. Students are likely to come across lectures, helpful readings, practice activities, tests, and more. For those who aren’t quite sure if a specific class is for them, Udemy has the option to preview classes and also offers a 30-day refund if students feel a course definitely did not meet their expectations or needs.

Since each class is an independent product, they're priced independently, so lifetime access to a single course can range from very cheap (roughly $20 to $25) to pricey ($120+ ). Most of the straightforward grammar courses run on the lower end of the range, but there are some longer classes or recommended groups of courses that may cost more.

The appeal of Skillshare is its small-scale and specific focus, often with a more creative approach to straightforward subjects like grammar.

With classes broken down into relatively short, bite-sized bits of video, audio, and activities, Skillshare’s grammar courses are easy to tackle and fun to get through. There are courses for pretty much every style, whether you prefer a no-frills video series teaching different parts of speech and usage concepts, or colorful, quick guides to different word groups in a variety of languages. The site encourages creative approaches to learning, so it’s perfect for students who are looking to engage a little differently.

Instead of paying per course or per hour, Skillshare has a subscription model that allows unlimited classes. Subscriptions cost $15 per month, or $180 for a year. Several of the grammar courses offered on the site also have free samples—for example, a first lesson or segment is available without signing up.

For ESL learners looking to tackle grammar in practical contexts, Cambly has a refreshingly casual approach.

The service eschews the formality of a classroom in favor of direct language practice, where students who have learned some English and need help perfecting grammar and vocabulary can practice with native English speakers through live chats. It’s not necessarily a from-scratch class, but more of a setting for students to put their skills into practice and get in-the-moment tips. Conversing with normal English speakers, rather than fully structured classes, is the name of the game.

That being said, Cambly actually does offer "regular" courses that are geared toward specific needs or topics. Courses include English for business purposes, vocabulary for topics like technology, hobbies, and food, and other conversational, practical topics that combine vocabulary lessons with grammar review. It’s very much a real-world-focused type of class.

Pricing depends on how frequently students plan to use the service: Choose from two, three, or five days per week and 15, 30, or 60 minutes per session.

Learning grammar is one of the most important parts of learning a new language, and Duolingo’s approach integrates grammar lessons seamlessly into the larger process of language learning.

Rather than teaching an exclusive “grammar” course, Duolingo incorporates its grammar lessons alongside courses in vocabulary and other practice skills. For adult learners tackling a second (or even a third) language, which is the site’s main demographic, it’s an effective way to keep learners attentive.

Duolingo’s format is based on a "tree" of skills, with new ones unlocked as previous ones are mastered through practice challenges. It also allows (and actively encourages) students to revisit past concepts to stay sharp, and it permits students to spend as much or as little time on lessons as they wish.

At the time of publication, the site offers roughly 37 languages and counting, including Indigenous languages, all completely free of charge.

The app-based ABCMouse is one of the most popular options for young kids who are just learning the basics of reading. The interactive system features thousands of activities that teach kids the basics of phonics, vocabulary, and grammar. There is a section for older kids getting into more complex topics, but the main focus is on kids aged 2 to 8 getting the basics down for a strong foundation.

Through 10 levels on the "Step-by-Step Learning Path," lessons use fun activities and games to teach in a way that’s perfectly designed for the attention span of young children. While it’s not specifically targeting grammar, it’s a series of "classes" that give kids the foundation they need, so that they can understand basic rules of English before getting into the nitty-gritty.

The program starts with a 30-day free trial, and from then on it costs around $13 per month—but customers who purchase a year-long subscription can get a discount of almost 50%. The classes featured on the app are actually pretty wide-ranging: Not only do students encounter language lessons, but also math, science, and the arts at age-appropriate levels.

ABCMouse is a great choice for giving young learners a fun and educational start on grammar.

Kids who are starting to learn grammar as its own subject may find that the playful but thoughtful Grammaropolis strikes just the right balance between games and learning.

Mini-courses are available focusing on every major word group, starting with simple word types like nouns and verbs, and working up to concepts like how to use prepositional phrases. Classes are packed with quirky songs and videos that teach grammar concepts in ways that are sure to stick in kids’ memories, plus plenty of practice and quiz opportunities to test students’ knowledge. There are even standalone “specialty” quizzes to keep growing and learning beyond the basics.

New students can sample the site’s classes for free: The "nouns" course—called a "neighborhood"—can be accessed in full free of charge. After that, the site offers membership for $29 per year. Subscriptions also allow for multiple users, so a family with multiple kids can use one access for everyone, and the classes will keep track of individual progress.