The Thai language can be a challenging yet rewarding language to learn. Whether you’re just beginning your Thai studies or are an advanced student looking to brush up on your skills, there’s an online tutoring service to make your Thai education easier. Our options include helpful private tutors, comprehensive online courses, and app-based learning experiences to accommodate any budget or busy schedule.
How to Pick an Online Thai Tutoring Service
When picking an online Thai tutoring service, it’s important to consider how you learn best. While some students will benefit from the time and attention of a private tutor, others might opt for an app-based tutoring service to make learning on the go easier. Some might enjoy the structure of an online course with a set curriculum, recorded instruction, and downloadable resources.
Next, consider your unique learning goals. While a private tutor can accommodate nearly any learning goal, some apps might work better for specific purposes than others. Those learning Thai for work or travel might benefit the most from audio-based apps that function like podcasts. In comparison, those learning Thai for higher-education help might enjoy a gamified app that focuses on a fun and engaging user experience.
Lastly, consider your budget and how much you would like to invest in your Thai education. Our list has options to suit every budget, from the most thrifty to those looking to make a more significant financial investment.
Learning a new language for travel
A trip abroad is always an exciting experience, and a trip to Thailand is no exception. Consider a beginner’s course from Udemy to learn foundational vocabulary and traditional greetings, or try a private tutor from Italki to practice your conversational skills.
Learning Thai for work
Finding a tutoring service that fits your busy schedule might seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Try audio-based lessons from ThaiPod101 or Glossika for the ultimate learning-on-the-go experience, and take advantage of their intelligent algorithm that promises to keep things challenging.
Help with studying Thai for school
For those seeking help with their studies, consider Mondly. Their app is full of fun games that make learning feel like less of a chore. Alternatively, consider PickUpThai for an immersive experience well-equipped with free educational resources.
How We Picked the Best Online Thai Tutoring Services
We started with dozens of services and picked only the best online Thai tutoring services based on selective criteria. We evaluated each tutoring service for its user recommendations and reviews. What past and present users say about a service often speaks directly to its overall quality, so we put that first.
Next, we evaluated each service for its affordability and the availability of a free trial. While the majority of our picks are relatively budget-friendly, some may require a subscription or a higher up-front payment to access their content. A free trial can make a tutoring service more accessible to its users, so this was also important for us to consider. Our options include a 7- or a 14-day free trial or a money-back guarantee.
The 10 Best Online Thai Tutors
While there’s no shortage of options when it comes to finding an online Thai tutoring service, finding the right tutoring service can be challenging. This list has been compiled to help you find the best solution for your specific tutoring needs.
Italki
Specializing in online private tutoring, Italki provides students with individualized lessons geared specifically to their learning goals. Scroll through their list of Thai tutors to read instructor bios, watch their introduction videos, and view their schedules. To find what you’re looking for, use their handy search feature to easily filter tutors based on the lesson type, time, and price.
Reddit user edelay wrote of their Italki experience and encouraged new users to “try a bunch of different tutors. Finding one that you connect with makes the experience much more pleasant and efficient,” and to “read the reviews from other student[s] when you find a teacher.”
Click on any tutor’s profile to learn more about them, including valuable statistics like the number of lessons taught and their attendance rate. When you’re ready to book lessons, you can do so directly through the tutor’s profile.
| Price | $5 – $25 per hour |
| Free trial | Discounted 30-minute trial lesson |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | iTalki classroom, or Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or WeChat |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Italki.
Pimsleur
A self-paced online learning course, Pimsleur is grounded in The Pimsleur Method, a learning-based theory that focuses on the optimal spacing of material to move information from short- to long-term memory. Students learn Thai quickly and efficiently in 30-minute lessons that can be streamed through the Pimsleur app or an Amazon Alexa device.
Pimsleur offers two pricing options for their Thai course: access to Thai Level 1 for a one-time purchase of $119.95, and for learning multiple languages, Pimsleur offers full access to their entire library for $21.95 per month. No matter which option you choose, you’ll be well on your way to attaining basic comprehension in no time.
| Price | $119.95 Complete course, 30 lessons
$21.95 per 5 lessons |
| Free trial | Free audio lesson |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Audio lessons with a digital booklet |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner |
Learn more about Pimsleur.
Transparent Language
Transparent Language puts students in the driver’s seat with their unique self-study course. Instead of courses designed to be taken in a series, Transparent Languages gives each student the option to take courses in the order they see fit. Students can also engage in skill-based activities to focus even further on their interests.
Be sure to check with your local library to see if they have a membership with Transparent Language. Many libraries provide their services for free to library card members. If not, all new users receive a 14-day free trial, so you can test their services without making a financial commitment.
| Price | $24.95 per month: 1 Language
$149.95 per year: 1 Language $49.95 per month: All Languages $249.95 per year: All Languages |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Using Transparent Language Online
Language exercises and quizzes |
| Certificate of completion: | Yes |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Transparent Language.
Drops
Drops offers bite-sized language lessons to help you improve your Thai vocabulary in just five minutes daily. Many users comment on the visually-appealing interface, making it easy to associate images with the words they represent. The app also provides instant feedback and a personalized learning experience, so you’re continuously updated on your progress.
Simply download the app for Android or iOS directly from their website to get started. While Drops offers free language learning on their app, you might need to purchase a Premium subscription to access additional features.
| Price | $11 per month
$76.50 yearly, 7 days free, then billed annually $149.99 One-time purchase |
| Free trial | Premium subscription may start with a free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Thai audio, Thai alphabet, and grammar |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner |
Learn more about Drops.
ThaiPod101
Learning Thai with ThaiPod101 is an excellent option for students seeking an audio-based learning experience. Like a podcast, ThaiPod101 offers students the opportunity to learn Thai through slowed-down audio and real-world conversations. You never have to worry about forgetting anything important with full access to word lists, slideshows, and flashcards. Want all of the above but still desire a one-on-one learning experience? Consider their Premium Plus membership, where a teacher will give you personal feedback, a full-customized lesson plan, and weekly assignments to help you meet your language-learning goals.
| Price | $8 – $47 per month: 1-Month Subscription
$21 – $125 per month: 3-Month Subscription $36 – $220 per month: 6-Month Subscription $60 – $316 per month: 12-Month Subscription $96 – $549 per month: 24-Month Subscription |
| Free trial | 7-day Premium free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Short audio and video lessons with word lists, slideshows, and flashcards |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about ThaiPod101.
Mondly
Looking for a fully-gamified language learning experience? Look no further than Mondly. An award-winning app that inspires learning across all parts of the brain and offers unique options to learn hands-free or by holding a conversation with its in-app chatbot.
For the most competitive among us, Mondly provides a leaderboard so students can see how they rank against other language learners worldwide. Students can also view their learning statistics, like the number of hours spent on the app and the words or phrases they have learned.
| Price | $9.99 per month, 1-month subscription
$4 per month, 12-month subscription |
| Free trial | Start learning for free |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Conversation and vocabulary
Speech recognition, Conjugation tables and grammar features, weekly quizzes, and monthly challenges |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Mondly.
Mango Languages
With a mission to unite the world through language learning, Mango Languages offers a variety of self-study courses to help any student meet their educational goals. Work with their user-friendly interface to participate in reading and listening activities, all while their algorithm adapts to your unique learning style to best support you.
Similar to Transparent Language, Mango Languages also partners with many local libraries to provide their content for free. Be sure to check with yours to see if their tutoring service is accessible with your library card membership. Regardless, you can always give Mango Languages a try with their 14-day free trial to see if their services are the right fit for you.
| Price | $7.99 per month: Single language
$17.99 per month: All languages |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Conversational, bite-sized lessons
Listening & Reading Activities Critical thinking and memory-building exercises Downloadable print materials |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Mango Languages.
Glossika
Similar to ThaiPod101, Glossika offers an audio-based learning experience that can be completed on the go. Even those with the busiest schedules can learn Thai through Glossika’s training, which focuses solely on listening and speaking to build higher levels of comprehension.
Their intelligent algorithm tracks your progress, helps you review, and teaches you a few new sentences every day. This structure can help you achieve your goals at a reasonable pace and makes learning Thai a manageable achievement. To begin, sign up for their 7-day free trial. No credit card is required, so you can be sure there are no strings attached.
| Price | $30 per month: Monthly unlimited access to all languages
$24.99 per month: Annual unlimited access to all languages |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Audio-based training
The number of sentences each learner receives depends on learning difficulty, the language pair, and personal settings |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Glossika.
Udemy
Taught by experienced Thai instructor Jantawee Supra, this beginner’s course in Thai is a great first step for those just starting their language-learning journey. The course moves at an even pace and specializes in basic greetings and expressions, correct pronunciation, the basics of Thai script, and how to have a simple conversation with a native speaker.
Add this course to your cart and complete the checkout process to get started. Since this course is designed to be completed at your own pace, students can begin immediately or whenever is most convenient.
| Price | $49.99 per course |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | 3 hours of on-demand video
13 articles 32 downloadable resources |
| Certificate of completion: | Yes |
| Knowledge level | Beginner |
Learn more about Udemy.
PickUpThai
Providing an immersive, authentic learning experience, PickUpThai offers a variety of lessons to make your studies easier. Listen to their podcast to work on conversational skills, or opt for a private tutor to make the most progress. Just keep in mind that many of their tutors are located in Bangkok, so scheduling might be difficult depending on where you are in the world.
Students can use their free resources, including a helpful YouTube Channel, Thai trivia, and a Music Station.
| Price | 650 THB – 1,250 THB per hour |
| Free trial | Some free lessons |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Private lessons via Skype
Instructional materials used in your classes will depend on your study goals For conversation, use PickupThai Podcast Textbooks |
| Certificate of completion: | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about PickUpThai.
Other Thai Tutoring Services to Consider
Designed to improve the language skills of US Diplomats working internationally in Thailand, FSI Language Courses is an audio-based free learning program that teaches Thai basics and traditional greetings.
50 Languages offers a comprehensive resource of Thai phrases in audio and written form.
What to Expect When Using Online Thai Tutoring Service
Many online Thai tutoring services are app-based learning systems with a variety of features meant to boost learning potential. Some apps are audio-based, meaning they depend on audio recordings (often from native speakers) to promote better listening and speaking skills. Other apps are gamified and offer fun and engaging learning games to teach users new skills, like vocabulary and conversational phrases. Both options are self-study, and students can complete lessons at their own pace.
Other tutoring options include structured courses with a set curriculum or individualized private tutoring. Online Thai courses feature live or recorded instruction and often incorporate downloadable resources into their lesson plans. Private tutors often meet with students one-on-one through a video conferencing platform like Zoom or Skype. These sessions usually last for 45- to 60-minutes and occur weekly.
What You Need to Learn Thai Using an Online Tutor
While learning needs will differ from provider to provider, most online tutoring services require a high-speed internet connection to work properly. Some learning apps may have offline functionality, but not all. Most online tutoring services can accommodate a wide range of devices, but some may encourage the use of a laptop or desktop computer for optimal performance and the best user experience.
Free vs. Paid Online Thai Tutors: What’s the Difference?
For many reasons, free online Thai tutoring services can be beneficial, but many users find that paid services help them achieve their learning goals faster. A paid service often gives its users an all-access pass to all of its learning material. It provides online tutoring or a complete course designed to help students make significant progress in their Thai studies.
Interested in a degree instead?
Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.