A lot of people are looking for the best online Icelandic course to get started with the language.
Icelandic has always fascinated me personally.
Part of that is the history: the sagas, Old Norse, Viking-age Iceland, and the fact that modern Icelanders can still access so much of that medieval literary world in a way most of us can’t.
A few years ago, I actually set myself the goal of learning Icelandic seriously, and I spent time getting my ears used to the sound of the language through radio, audio content, and online resources.
It’s a beautiful language to listen to, but it also has a reputation for being difficult - which, honestly, makes it even more appealing to me.
Thankfully, there are now more Icelandic learning options available online than there used to be, even if it’s still a relatively niche language compared to most European languages.
Today I’ll give you my rundown of the best (and worst) online Icelandic courses.
Below you’ll find pros and cons for each Icelandic course, pricing, and a 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 Icelandic. The reason I’ve included them is that they’re popular enough Icelandic tools and therefore should be included.
DISCLAIMER: The comments below are personal opinions and some affiliate links are used.
The best Icelandic courses online (most popular Icelandic resources)
1. Talk In Icelandic
Cost: $97 (one-time purchase)
Summary: Talk In Icelandic is the best online course for learning Icelandic, with hundreds of lessons designed to take you from zero knowledge through to a B1 equivalent competency.
It’s a linear course that’ll 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 Icelandic
- 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 Icelandic course.
2. Icelandic Online
Cost: Free (Premium tutor option available)
Summary: Developed by the University of Iceland, this platform is a strong academic resource for learning Icelandic online.
It guides learners from absolute beginner to advanced levels.
You’ll work through interactive text, audio, and grammar exercises.
What I like:
- Created by the University of Iceland
- Comprehensive grammar focus
- Authentic cultural context
- Free for self-study
What I don’t like:
- Dated user interface
- Can be academically dry
- Steep learning curve
3. Pimsleur
Cost: Subscription model ($14.95 - $20.95/month)
Summary: Pimsleur relies on its signature spaced-repetition audio method to build conversational skills.
This structure helps you build speaking confidence in a natural way.
The Icelandic course focuses heavily on correct pronunciation, listening comprehension, and essential travel phrases.
What I like:
- Excellent for pronunciation
- Hands-free audio lessons
- Focuses on conversational skills
What I don’t like:
- Only one level available for Icelandic
- No advanced grammar instruction
- Relatively slow pacing
4. Mango Languages
Cost: Subscription model ($7.99/month) or free via many public libraries
Summary: Mango Languages breaks down conversational Icelandic into manageable, color-coded chunks.
This helps learners understand complex sentence structures.
It heavily emphasizes practical conversation skills and cultural notes.
This makes it highly accessible for new beginners.
What I like:
- Often free through libraries
- Color-coded grammar and syntax highlights
- Native speaker audio with semantic breakdowns
What I don’t like:
- Only covers foundational Icelandic
- Limited reading and writing practice
- No advanced content
5. Drops
Cost: Freemium (Free for 5 mins/day, Premium subscriptions available)
Summary: Drops is a visual and fast-paced vocabulary builder.
It limits study time to five-minute bursts in its free version.
It focuses purely on teaching Icelandic nouns, verbs, and common phrases.
It uses interactive matching exercises to help you learn single words quickly.
What I like:
- Engaging, game-like interface
- Excellent for building vocabulary
- Beautiful visual associations
What I don’t like:
- No grammar explanations
- Doesn’t teach sentence structures
- Limited to single words and short phrases
6. Glossika
Cost: Subscription model ($30.00/month)
Summary: Glossika uses audio-based spaced repetition and mass sentence training.
This method helps improve your fluency and speaking reflexes.
It skips grammar rules in favor of language pattern recognition.
You’ll immerse yourself in thousands of Icelandic sentences spoken by native speakers.
What I like:
- Mass sentence learning method
- Improves speaking reflexes and fluency
- Customizable audio speed
What I don’t like:
- Expensive subscription
- Not suitable for absolute beginners
- No direct grammar explanations
7. Clozemaster
Cost: Freemium (Free with optional Pro subscription)
Summary: Clozemaster aims to bridge the gap between beginner and advanced levels.
It teaches Icelandic vocabulary in context through fill-in-the-blank sentences.
It relies heavily on frequency lists.
This ensures learners practice the most commonly used words first.
What I like:
- Great for intermediate learners
- Builds vocabulary in context
- Gamified, retro 8-bit aesthetic
What I don’t like:
- Text-to-speech audio can be robotic
- Not meant for total beginners
- Lacks structured lesson plans
8. uTalk
Cost: Subscription model or one-time fee per language
Summary: uTalk is a straightforward vocabulary and phrase learning application.
It’s tailored specifically for travelers and absolute beginners.
The Icelandic course features engaging speaking and listening games.
These are paired with authentic native pronunciation.
What I like:
- Covers thousands of practical words
- Native speaker audio from both male and female speakers
- Fully functional offline mode
What I don’t like:
- No grammar instruction
- Not designed for full fluency
- Exercises can feel repetitive over time
9. Transparent Language
Cost: Subscription model ($14.95/month) or free via select libraries
Summary: Transparent Language offers a flexible learning path.
It covers speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Icelandic.
It uses a flashcard-driven methodology.
This is combined with speech-recognition tech to ensure learners actively produce the language.
What I like:
- Comprehensive skill coverage (reading, writing, speaking, listening)
- Extensive vocabulary lists
- Integrated speech-recognition technology
What I don’t like:
- Interface feels slightly outdated
- Activities can become monotonous
- Grammar explanations are brief
10. italki
Cost: Pay-per-lesson (varies by tutor, typically $15 - $35/hour)
Summary: italki is a global tutoring platform.
It connects students with native Icelandic teachers and community tutors for video lessons.
It’s an ideal resource for developing conversational fluency.
It also allows you to receive instant, personalized feedback from a real person.
What I like:
- One-on-one personalized instruction
- Direct speaking practice with natives
- Flexible scheduling and pricing
What I don’t like:
- Quality heavily depends on the individual tutor
- Can be expensive over time
- Requires learner initiative to design a curriculum
A course by itself isn’t enough
That covers the main online Icelandic course options currently available.
Icelandic still doesn’t have the enormous range of resources you’ll find for languages like Spanish, French, or German, but there’s more than enough here to make serious progress.
The important thing is to pick a course that gives you structure, and then combine it with regular Icelandic listening and speaking practice.
For that, italki is still one of the easiest ways to find affordable practice partners and tutors, especially if you want actual correction from native speakers.
But as I said earlier, motivation matters almost as much as the course itself.
For me, Icelandic has always been tied to a love of Icelandic history, the sagas and ancestry - and that kind of personal motivation is what keeps you going when the grammar gets difficult.
Even a mediocre Icelandic course can work in the hands of someone who’s genuinely determined to succeed.
Make sure to Join the Guild and select Icelandic as your target language for more content like this.
🎓 Cite article
Grab the link to this article
COMMENTS
NO ADVERTISING. Links will be automatically flagged for moderation.