Croatian is a fun language to study, with its case system, Latin script and close ties to Serbian, Bosnian and Montenegrin.
It’s also the language of a booming travel destination - from Zagreb and Split to Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian islands - so more learners are looking for decent courses beyond a tourist phrasebook.
Whether you’re planning a trip along the Croatian coast, connecting with Croatian family and heritage, working or studying in Croatia, or simply taking on a lesser-taught Slavic language challenge, the benefits of speaking Croatian can’t be overstated.
Today I’m going to give you my rundown of the best - and worst - online Croatian courses.
Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each Croatian course, along with pricing information and a brief summary.
Where applicable, I’ll also link to a full review of the course.
Table of contents
IMPORTANT: Some of the items listed below are probably only loosely defined as “courses” for Croatian.
The reason I’ve included them is that they’re popular enough Croatian tools and therefore should be included.
DISCLAIMER: The comments below are personal opinions and some affiliate links are used.
The best Croatian courses online (most popular Croatian resources)
1. Talk In Croatian
Cost: $97 (one-time purchase)
Summary: Talk In Croatian is definitely one of the best online courses for learning Croatian, with hundreds of lessons designed to take you from zero knowledge through to a B1 equivalent competency.
It’s a linear course that will walk you through every aspect of the language in an easy-to-understand format.
What I like:
- Very comprehensive, detailed course that covers all aspects of Croatian
- Inexpensive and no subscriptions necessary
What I don’t like:
- Linear course may not be for everyone
Use the code MEZZOGUILD20 to save 20% on their Croatian course.
2. Pimsleur
Cost: Subscription model ($14.95 - $20.95/month)
Summary: Pimsleur uses a proven spaced repetition method that focuses strictly on audio and oral language production.
The Croatian course immerses learners in practical conversations right from the start.
This makes it highly effective for developing natural pronunciation and speaking confidence.
What I like:
- Excellent for developing accurate pronunciation
- Audio-based learning is perfect for commuting
- Focuses heavily on practical, conversational skills
What I don’t like:
- Only one level available for Croatian
- Lacks reading and writing exercises
- Subscription can be expensive for a single course
Read this Pimsleur review to learn more.
3. Glossika
Cost: Subscription model (about $30/month)
Summary: Glossika relies on an audio-first approach to language learning.
It uses mass sentence repetition to build muscle memory and improve speaking confidence.
The Croatian course focuses heavily on syntax and pronunciation.
This helps learners absorb grammar naturally through context rather than rules.
What I like:
- Strong focus on listening and speaking skills
- All audio is recorded by real native speakers
- Improves your natural sentence pattern recognition
What I don’t like:
- Can be expensive compared to other language apps
- There’s no explicit grammar instruction provided
Read this Glossika review to learn more.
4. Mondly
Cost: Freemium / Subscription model (approx. $9.99/month)
Summary: Mondly provides a gamified approach to learning Croatian.
It focuses on core vocabulary and basic sentence structures.
The app uses interactive exercises and speech recognition technology to help beginners build a foundation in a fun way.
What I like:
- Bite-sized, gamified daily lessons
- Includes a chatbot for conversational practice
- Offers augmented reality (AR) features
What I don’t like:
- Grammar explanations are minimal
- Exercises can feel repetitive over time
See this Mondly review to learn more.
5. Mango Languages
Cost: Subscription model ($7.99/month) or Free via participating libraries
Summary: Mango Languages centers around real-life conversations.
It breaks down grammar and vocabulary with a unique color-coded system.
The Croatian course emphasizes practical speaking skills and includes helpful cultural insights to contextualize the language.
What I like:
- Often entirely free through public libraries
- Breaks down conversations with color-coded grammar
- Includes helpful cultural notes
What I don’t like:
- Pacing can be too slow for some learners
- Limited content for advanced students
See this Mango Languages review to learn more.
6. HR4EU
Cost: Free
Summary: HR4EU is an academic yet accessible web portal for learning Croatian.
It’s financed by the European Union and developed by the University of Zagreb.
The platform offers structured courses from beginner to intermediate levels with a heavy focus on comprehensive grammar and cultural integration.
What I like:
- Completely free to use
- Developed by Croatian linguistic experts
- Provides detailed grammar and culture lessons
What I don’t like:
- Interface is somewhat dated
- Lacks a dedicated mobile app
7. Drops
Cost: Freemium (5 mins free/day) / Subscription model
Summary: Drops focuses entirely on vocabulary building through fast-paced matching mini-games.
It uses a highly visual design to keep learners engaged.
It’s an excellent supplementary tool for Croatian learners looking to rapidly expand their noun and verb banks without getting bogged down by grammar.
What I like:
- Highly visual and beautifully designed
- Excellent for rapid vocabulary acquisition
- Low daily time commitment
What I don’t like:
- No grammar instruction at all
- Not suitable for learning how to build full sentences
8. Clozemaster
Cost: Free core features, Pro subscription available ($8.00/month)
Summary: Clozemaster bridges the gap between beginner and advanced stages.
It exposes learners to thousands of Croatian sentences through fill-in-the-blank exercises.
This mass-exposure methodology emphasizes learning vocabulary and grammar in context rather than in isolation.
What I like:
- Contextual learning through mass sentence exposure
- Great for intermediate to advanced learners
- Retro 8-bit gamification makes repetitive learning fun
What I don’t like:
- Too difficult for absolute beginners
- Computer-generated text-to-speech audio can occasionally sound robotic
Read this Clozemaster review to learn more.
9. Loecsen
Cost: Free
Summary: Loecsen provides a straightforward phrasebook approach to learning Croatian.
It’s aimed primarily at tourists and absolute beginners.
The program focuses on essential travel vocabulary paired with native audio and memorable illustrations.
What I like:
- Perfect for quick travel preparation
- High-quality audio recordings by native speakers
- Accessible entirely for free online
What I don’t like:
- Very limited in scope and vocabulary
- No deep grammar instruction provided
10. Udemy
Cost: One-time fee per course (varies, usually $15-$20 on sale)
Summary: Udemy hosts various video-based Croatian courses created by independent native instructors.
These options offer a traditional classroom feel.
The courses generally focus on foundational grammar and vocabulary while providing lifetime access so you can learn at your own pace.
What I like:
- Lifetime access to purchased course materials
- Video-based instruction mimics a traditional classroom setup
- Often taught by experienced native Croatian tutors
What I don’t like:
- Quality varies drastically depending on the instructor
- Little to no interactive speaking practice or feedback
Summary: best online Croatian courses
This pretty much sums up every decent online Croatian course option currently available.
Croatian is still less resourced than major European languages, so the best results usually come from combining a structured course (like Talk In Croatian) with free academic material such as HR4EU and real conversation practice.
In addition to a Croatian course, make sure you’re getting regular Croatian practice with native speakers - especially if you want natural pronunciation and confidence with cases in real dialogue.
For that, italki is still the easiest way to find really inexpensive practice partners and tutors.
Just remember that even if you have all the courses on this list, you’ll still fail at Croatian without the right motivation.
Even a poor Croatian course can be effective in the hands of someone with the right amount of determination to succeed.
For tips on how to learn Croatian and overcome various language learning struggles, subscribe below by ‘Joining the Guild’ (select Croatian as your target language).
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