If you only try one thing on this list, make it this. Language Transfer is a free audio course of 90 short lessons. The teacher guides a student through building sentences, and you try to answer first. You learn why Spanish works, not just what to memorize. There’s no reading or writing, though.

Duolingo’s main Spanish course is free, with ads and a daily limit on mistakes. Five-minute lessons and streaks make it a great daily habit, and it now goes up to B2 level. You can see how it compares with paid options in our guide to the best apps to learn Spanish. It’s weak on real speaking practice.

StudySpanish.com is a no-frills website that teaches grammar and words one topic at a time, each with a short quiz. It looks old, but it’s clear and well organized. It’s a handy place to review basic Spanish for beginners.

Getting Started with Spanish 1 is a free Spanish for beginners level 1 course from the UK’s Open University, on its OpenLearn site. It takes about eight hours over two weeks, includes audio, and gives you a free statement of participation at the end.

Mango Languages is a full paid app, but many public libraries give their members free access to it. All you need is a library card, so ask your local library.

Coffee Break Spanish has four seasons of 40 free lessons each, from total beginner to advanced. Each episode lasts 15 to 20 minutes, about the length of a coffee break. It mainly teaches the Spanish spoken in Spain. Extras like videos and lesson notes cost money.

On Notes in Spanish, Ben and Marina, a couple living in Spain, chat about everyday life in natural Spanish, which makes it perfect if you want to learn conversational Spanish. Episodes are sorted by level, so it’s a great next step after Coffee Break Spanish.

The US government made FSI Basic Spanish to train diplomats, and it’s now free for anyone. It’s old-fashioned and full of drills, but it works if you’re patient. It focuses on Latin American Spanish.

Once you’re past the basics, try Radio Ambulante, an award-winning podcast of true stories from Latin America. It’s made for native speakers, so it’s a challenge. ¡Vale la pena! (It’s worth it!)

Dreaming Spanish has thousands of videos, all in Spanish and sorted from easy to hard. Teachers use drawings and gestures, so even total beginners can follow along. If you’d like to learn Spanish watching TV and videos, this is a great place to start. A big part of the library is free. It has no grammar lessons or speaking practice.