Hibiscus Teach journal · The comparison guide
Best Sites for Free English Lessons: 13 Compared
Looking for the best free English learning websites? Start with the support you need: explanations, listening, vocabulary or speaking. This 2026 guide compares 13 options, with Hibiscus Teach as our recommended starting point for independent study that connects explanations, answer feedback and speaking.
Our verdict: Hibiscus Teach, 9.0/10
Choose Hibiscus Teach for a focused free lesson you can complete alone, then apply in your own words. Other sites can be useful companions: Cake for short speaking clips, ManyThings.org for listening and repetition, or Agendaweb for extra drills. The table explains the differences.
Our top 5 free English sites by study goal
For a quick shortlist, these five offer useful ongoing free material. They are chosen for different needs; see the complete table for the ratings and access limits.
- Hibiscus Teach, a complete study session: explanations, self-checks and personal speaking prompts in the selected public lessons.
- Cake, short speaking practice: clips and expression activities, with optional Plus features.
- EnglishClass101, an audio pathway: a free account with selected lessons and vocabulary, alongside paid upgrades.
- ManyThings.org, listening and repetition: free reading and sentence audio you can return to regularly.
- Agendaweb, extra exercises: a broad directory for practising a grammar or vocabulary topic you already know.
Compare all 13 English learning websites
Published by Hibiscus Teach. These are our editorial ratings for continuing free study support, drawn from the linked reviews. They are not an independent whole-course test or measured learning results. The four criteria have equal weight; paid tutoring is excluded.
Each competitor name links to its detailed comparison. Scores are unchanged from those reviews; the overall mean is rounded to one decimal. Equal scores indicate a tie. Some providers offer limited samples or trials, which are identified below.
| Website and free offer | Overall | Free support | Explanations | Speaking | Find your level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hibiscus TeachOngoing free lessonsSelected lessons: no account neededOur recommended starting pointPublic lessons combine explanations, answer feedback and personal speaking practice.Example lesson | 9.0 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| CakeLimited free planPlus is optionalFree clips and speaking activities; Plus adds content and removes restrictions.Official information | 8.0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| EnglishClass101Free accountSelected lessons; paid upgradesA genuine free account with selected lessons; fuller access requires an upgrade.Official information | 8.0 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| ManyThings.orgOngoing free resourcesSampled public activities: no account neededFree audio, reading and sentence repetition; add your own speaking task.Official information | 7.8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| AgendawebOngoing free resourcesSampled public activities: no account neededBroad free exercise directory; learners assemble their own study route.Official information | 7.5 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
| EnglishGrammar.orgFree resources + ProSampled free drills: no account neededGrammar drills and printable practice; some exercises require Pro.Official information | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 9 |
| FluentUPublic guides + app trialInteractive video access is trial-basedInteractive video learning with a trial; its public English blog is free.Official information | 7.5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| LingoDeerFree introductory materialRemaining course requires PremiumFree introductory material; the remaining structured course requires Premium.Official information | 7.5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| MosaLinguaPublic guides + app trialApp continues by subscriptionFree public study guides; its vocabulary app offers a subscription trial.Official information | 7.5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Rosetta StoneLimited free practiceWider access requires a trial or paymentLimited free Sapphire practice and an introductory lesson; wider access is paid.Official information | 7.5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| PimsleurFree introductory sampleLibrary availability variesFree introductory audio lesson; continued course access usually requires payment.Official information | 7.3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| DropsLimited free planTime and topic restrictionsVisual vocabulary games; free sessions have time and topic limits.Official information | 7.0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| MondlyLimited free planFull library requires PremiumFree daily practice; the full library and AI conversations require Premium.Official information | 7.0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
What the ratings measure
We retained the same four parameters across the series: range of free learning support, explanations and practice, guided speaking application and finding level-appropriate material. The shorter table headings refer to these criteria.
Quality means support you can use: clear explanations, a sensible next activity, feedback and a reason to form your own answer. A large library is useful, but its size alone does not tell you how easily you can complete a productive session.
The evidence combines public access information and selected activities reviewed on 12 September 2026. Some reviews tested a particular public interaction; others relied on advertised features and access terms. Coverage therefore varies. Paid subscriptions and learning outcomes were not tested. The linked reviews explain their scope. Five indicates partial support for this goal, six restricted but useful support, seven good, eight strong and nine very strong. This publisher assessment was prepared with AI assistance.
Why Hibiscus Teach is our first choice
Its advantage in this comparison is the connection between understanding and using English. In a selected public lesson, you can read an explanation, check a language choice, answer a personal speaking prompt and compare your response with model support. You can pause and revisit the material at your own pace.
The Grammar hub, organised by level, provides a starting route. Choose a specific problem and complete one lesson before adding another resource. These free resources are separate from Hibiscus Teach’s paid tutoring and membership services.
The 9.0 score describes the study support reviewed. It does not mean that every Hibiscus Teach resource is better than every alternative, or that a free page can assess every sentence you produce.
Try the approach in one minute
This short illustration uses the contrast taught in Present Perfect vs Past Simple. It shows the explanation, practice and model support behind our recommendation.
Choose: Which sentence fits a finished time?
A. I have finished the report yesterday.
B. I finished the report yesterday.
Check the answer and explanation
B is correct. “Yesterday” places the event in a finished past time, so use the past simple. “I have finished the report” can report the result now, without a finished-time expression.
Speak for 20 seconds: name something you have done this week, then say when you did it. Alone, compare your answer with the model. With a tutor, add why it mattered.
See a possible spoken answer
“I’ve finished a report. I sent it yesterday.” The first sentence reports a result; the second gives a finished past time. Your own example can be different.
Choose a useful companion for your goal
More grammar practice
EnglishGrammar.org and Agendaweb are useful when you know the topic and want extra questions or worksheets. Use a Hibiscus Teach lesson to understand the point and practise a spoken answer, then add a short drill if that helps.
Listening, clips and pronunciation
ManyThings.org supplies listening and sentence repetition. Cake offers lively clips and speaking activities. Pimsleur’s introductory lesson lets you try an audio-led approach, including English pathways with first-language instructions. Continued access and library availability need checking.
Vocabulary habits and structured courses
Drops and MosaLingua may suit learners who enjoy vocabulary review. LingoDeer offers a sequential course in supported starting languages; Mondly provides daily practice. Rosetta Stone’s limited free practice introduces its wider approach, while FluentU offers a trial of interactive video learning. EnglishClass101 has a genuine free account alongside subscription tiers. A lower score here is about the stated free-study goal, not proof that a paid course lacks quality.
Choose quality free lessons for your level
- Present Perfect vs Past Simple: A2–B1 grammar, distinguish an experience from a finished event, then tell a short story.
- The Schwa Sound: A2–B2 British pronunciation, listen for the weak vowel and practise more natural rhythm.
- Common English Collocations: B1–B2 vocabulary, use words that belong together in sentences about your own life.
Earlier beginner? Choose an easier topic through the Grammar hub’s level groups. The selected lessons above were checked for explanations, speaking guidance and model or answer support. They make the recommendation concrete; they are not evidence about every page on either website.
Study alone or with a top-rated tutor
You can use the selected lessons independently. For personal feedback, book a paid lesson with Denis M., a top-rated British English tutor. Check his current tutor profile and bring a question, a recording or a real conversation you want to practise.
Questions about free English learning websites
Are all 13 websites completely free?
No. The table distinguishes public resources, free plans, introductory samples and trials. Paid products are separate. Check each provider’s current terms before signing up.
Which websites let me learn English without a paid subscription?
Hibiscus Teach’s selected public lessons, Agendaweb and ManyThings.org provide ongoing free resources. Cake and EnglishClass101 also have genuine free offers with limits, while EnglishGrammar.org provides free drills alongside Pro exercises. Choose a specific free activity and check what remains available after any trial ends.
Which free English learning website should a beginner choose?
Begin with material you can understand and a clear route through it. Use Hibiscus Teach’s free English level tests to find a starting point, then select an appropriate lesson from the Grammar hub. If English-only explanations are difficult, check a provider’s support for your first language before choosing a course.
Which sites help me practise English speaking?
Hibiscus Teach’s selected lessons include personal speaking prompts and model support. Cake offers short speaking activities; ManyThings.org is useful for listening and repetition before you create your own sentences. Human feedback is a separate benefit when you need someone to respond to what you actually said.
Can I learn English using free resources alone?
Free lessons can support substantial independent practice. Progress also depends on regular use, suitable material and feedback. A model answer helps you review a task; a tutor can respond to your particular mistakes and goals. Neither a website rating nor a subscription guarantees fluency.