Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
BaseLang vs italki
What sets them apart
| Compare |  BaseLang |  italki |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99 | $5Lower |
| Free tier | No | YesHas it |
| Free trial length | 7 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Languages | Spanish | English, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, ArabicCovers more |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 | 30 to 90 |
| Price per month | $179 | Not confirmed |
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | $5 |
| Money-back period | 35 days | Not confirmed |
| Highest CEFR level | C2 | Not confirmed |
| AI conversation practice | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Kids version (Yes).
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Key differences
- italki scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Price from is lower at italki: $5 vs $99.
- Free tier: only italki.
- Free trial length is higher at italki: 30 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only BaseLang offers Email.
- Founded is lower at italki: 2006 vs 2015.
- Languages: only italki offers English, Japanese, Chinese.
- Learning method: only italki offers Live group.
Our verdict on each
BaseLang
BaseLang suits Spanish learners who want live teaching and a long refund window rather than the cheapest entry price. Starting cost runs from $99 to $179, and the 35 days money-back promise is the part that stands above cheaper rivals such as italki.
italki
italki suits learners who want live tutor time rather than self study app drills, and its 30 day trial gives room to try teachers before paying. The trade-off sits in pricing: lessons start at $5, and regular sessions cost more than that entry figure.
Score breakdown
| Area | BaseLang | italki |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Entry pricing of $99 ranks 32 of 35; monthly pricing of $179 ranks 24 of 25. | 9.4HigherLessons start at $5, and that lesson price ranks 2 of 6 brands among tutor platforms. |
| Offer | 8.9Live 1to1 lessons of 30 minutes, 300 to 350 tutors, a kids version and a trial of 7 days with no free tier. | 9.1HigherA free tier, a 30 day trial and the live formats in live 1to1 and live group cover most ways learners begin. |
| Trust | 8.9A money-back window of 35 days ranked 7 of 29, from BaseLang, LLC based in US. | 9.8HigherFounded in 2006 and run by italki HK Limited with its base in HK, italki has a long trading record. |
Licences and countries
| Country | BaseLang | italki |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Hong Kong |
By the numbers
| Fact | BaseLang | italki |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99 | $5 |
| Free trial length | 7 days | 30 days |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | BaseLang | italki |
|---|---|---|
| Online language tutors and classes | 13 of 25 | 1 of 25 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BaseLang | italki |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | Live 1to1 | Live 1to1, Live groupCovers more |
| Legal entity | BaseLang, LLC | italki HK Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | Hong Kong |
| Founded | 2015 | 2006Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Tutoring
| Fact | BaseLang | italki |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription price | $99 to $179 | Not confirmed |
| Trial lesson | Discounted | Not confirmed |
| Subjects | Languages | Not confirmed |
| Lesson format | 1to1 | Not confirmed |
| Number of tutors | 300 to 350 | Not confirmed |
| Minimum age | 8 | Not confirmed |
| Cancellation notice | 0 hours | Not confirmed |
| Satisfaction guarantee | 35-day money-back guarantee: full refund plus an extra $20 for wasting your time | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BaseLang | italki | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99highest quarter | $5below the median | $13.49 |
| Price per month | $179highest quarter | Not confirmed | $13.24 |
| Free trial length | 7 daysat the median | 30 dayshighest quarter | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 35 dayshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30at the median | 30 to 90at the median | 30 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
BaseLang
Pros
- Lessons run in the 1to1 format, taught live, with sessions of 30 minutes
- A money-back window of 35 days ranks 7 of 29 brands
- Entry pricing of $99 ranks 32 of 35 brands
Cons
- Entry pricing of $99 sits well above italki at $5 and SpanishPod101 at $4
- Monthly pricing of $179 ranks 24 of 25 brands, the dearer end of the monthly group
- Coverage is limited to Spanish, with no second language to switch to
italki
Pros
- A free tier and a 30 day trial let you test the platform before paying, and the trial length ranks 1 of 21 brands.
- Lessons start at $5, and that entry lesson price ranks 2 of 6 brands among tutor platforms.
- Tutors cover English, Japanese and Spanish, so most learners find a teacher for the language they are studying.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so an urgent booking problem waits in a queue rather than reaching a person on the phone.
- The $5 entry price is above ErsteNachhilfe's €1.99 start and SpanishPod101's $4, so it is not the cheapest opening offer here.
- The $5 figure is a floor: the middle lesson price across the brands we price sits at €44.31, so regular sessions cost more than the headline number.
Who each suits
BaseLang
Who it suits
- Learners who want a matched tutor and regular live practice, since lessons run in the 1to1 format
- Families who need a kids version alongside adult Spanish, with a minimum age of 8 for younger learners
- Learyers who value a refund route over a low entry price, given the money-back period of 35 days
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners who need several languages, since BaseLang covers Spanish only
- Budget-first learners, who may find italki at $5 a smaller first step
- Learners who want phone support, as support runs on email and help centre
italki
Who it suits
- Learners who want live speaking practice with a tutor instead of self study drills.
- Learners working on English, Japanese and Spanish, who prefer teacher feedback to app exercises.
- People starting small, since lessons begin at $5 and a free tier is available to try the platform first.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers chasing the lowest entry price, since SpanishPod101 and FrenchPod101 list $4 and $4 to start.
- Learners who want help on the phone or in live chat, because support runs on help centre only.
- Anyone budgeting on a single flat monthly fee, since italki prices each lesson from $5 instead.
Current offers
BaseLang
Current offer
Free trial
First week for $1: $1 for 7 days
Real World and Real World Lite, first week then monthly price, cancel anytime
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Questions about each
BaseLang
How much does BaseLang cost to start?+
Entry pricing starts at $99, and the BaseLang monthly plan is $179. Both sit above italki at $5 and SpanishPod101 at $4. The higher outlay buys live teaching rather than recorded material, and the money-back window softens the risk of paying that much up front.
Is there a free plan or a free trial?+
There is no free tier, so the free trial length of 7 days is the cheapest way in. The first lesson is discounted rather than free, which makes the trial the real test rather than a free taster. On length, that trial ranks 8 of 21 brands.
italki
How much does a lesson cost on italki?+
italki bills per lesson rather than by subscription. Entry pricing starts at $5, and the cheapest single lesson on the platform is listed at $5. Because each tutor sets their own rate, a first session at $5 is a floor rather than a typical bill.
Is there a free trial, and how long does it last?+
Yes. italki offers a free tier, so you can look through teachers and the platform before paying, and its trial runs 30 days. That trial length ranks 1 of 21 brands in our comparison, which is longer than most tutor and app trials.