The original unlimited Spanish service. Book last-minute, 24/7, with a flat monthly price. Here’s what BaseLang gets right, where it struggles, and whether it’s worth it for you.
Contents
- 1 Quick Verdict
- 2 BaseLang Plans & Pricing (2025)
- 3 Is It Worth It? (Cost-Per-Hour Math)
- 4 What BaseLang Gets Right (and Where It Struggles)
- 5 How BaseLang Works (The Useful Bits They Don’t Shout About)
- 6 Who BaseLang Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)
- 7 Choose Your Path: Real World, Lite, Bootcamp, Hourly
- 8 Scheduling Tips to Get the Most Out of BaseLang
- 9 Curriculum & Materials (What to Expect)
- 10 BaseLang vs Competitors (Unlimited-Style)
- 11 Beginners vs Advanced: Who Gets the Most from BaseLang?
- 12 FAQ: BaseLang
Quick Verdict
BaseLang is still the #1 value if you want to speak Spanish a lot. The flagship Real World plan gives you truly unlimited one-on-one lessons and lets you book at the last minute, 24/7. That mix is rare and, frankly, hard to beat. The rebuilt backend is smoother than the old one, support is good, and the new Lite and Hourly options make it more flexible.
Trade-offs: teacher quality is variable, the best teachers get snapped up fast (daily slot refresh + only three “favourites”), there’s noticeable teacher churn, and the PDF materials are basic. If you want premium, super-consistent teaching every lesson, iTalki or another platform may suit you better.
BaseLang Plans & Pricing (2025)
Online plans
- Real World — $179/mo
Unlimited one-on-one classes. Book any time, including last-minute. Zero to advanced. - Real World Lite — $99/mo
Up to one 30-minute class per day. Great entry point to test momentum. - Hourly — $9/hr
Hidden option. Available when you cancel a subscription. Includes 1 hour, then add hours at $9. Credits don’t expire. - Bootcamp — $1,200
80 hours in ~30 days. Structured “zero to conversational” sprint (payment plan available).
Medellín (in-person + online)
- Real World Plus — $599/mo
Up to 2 hours/day in-person classes plus unlimited online. - Real World Unlimited — $1,199/mo
Unlimited in-person classes and unlimited online. - Bootcamp — $1,200
Intensive in-person version of the sprint.
Trial: one-week trial for $1 is typically available across plans.
Is It Worth It? (Cost-Per-Hour Math)
Here’s why unlimited matters. If you actually use it, the cost per hour gets silly-low:
Plan | Assumption | Monthly Cost | Effective Hours | Cost / Hour |
---|---|---|---|---|
Real World | 5 hrs / month | $179 | 5 | $35.80 |
10 hrs / month | $179 | 10 | $17.90 | |
20 hrs / month | $179 | 20 | $8.95 | |
40 hrs / month | $179 | 40 | $4.48 | |
60 hrs / month | $179 | 60 | $2.98 | |
Real World Lite | 30 mins daily (~15 hrs) | $99 | 15 | $6.60 |
Hourly | Ad-hoc | $9/hr | n/a | $9.00 |
Takeaway: if you’ll do 20+ hours a month, Real World beats almost any marketplace on price. If you’re just starting out, Lite offers a low-pressure runway. Hourly is a useful safety net after canceling.
What BaseLang Gets Right (and Where It Struggles)
Pros
- Truly unlimited lessons — not “fair use”; you can stack huge numbers of classes.
- 24/7 + last-minute booking — rare and incredibly convenient.
- Improved backend — rebuilt scheduling is far more robust than the old system.
- Good customer support — quick and helpful in our experience.
- Flexible line-up — different accents and teaching styles across a big pool.
- Multiple on-ramps — Lite, Hourly, Bootcamp, Medellín in-person.
- Great for conversational fluency — masses of real speaking time.
Cons
- Teacher churn — expect turnover.
- Quality is variable — there are superstars and teachers who aren’t a fit.
- Daily refresh — slots open once every 24 hours; the best teachers go fast.
- Favourites cap — you can only mark three favourites (they get priority access).
- Materials are basic — PDFs are serviceable but underwhelming.
How BaseLang Works (The Useful Bits They Don’t Shout About)
- Booking cadence: new slots appear at a set time daily. To snag the best teachers, be online at refresh time.
- Favourites: you can favourite up to three teachers; favourite students get first pick of their calendars. It’s fair, but competitive.
- 24/7 coverage: enough teachers across time zones for late nights and very early mornings.
- Lesson formats: free-flow conversation, curriculum tracks, electives, and DELE prep.
- Materials: mostly PDFs and worksheets; solid but not flashy. Bring your own content if you like visuals.
- Hourly credits: if you switch to Hourly, credits don’t expire — handy for keeping Spanish alive after a busy month.
Who BaseLang Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)
Best for: beginners through advanced learners who want a ton of 1:1 speaking time; anyone aiming for 20–100+ hours/month; learners who value convenience and momentum over perfect, polished materials.
Not ideal for: learners who want the same superstar tutor every time; highly visual learners who need app-like materials; people who only want 1–2 short lessons a week (a marketplace might be cheaper).
Choose Your Path: Real World, Lite, Bootcamp, Hourly
Real World (Unlimited)
The flagship. Book as many classes as you can handle, any day, any hour. If you’re serious about speaking, this is the sweet spot.
Real World Lite
One 30-minute class per day. Great for building a habit without pressure. Many learners start here, then upgrade when they want more hours.
Bootcamp
80 hours in ~30 days with a set pace. Ideal if you want an intense push to conversational speed. Expect fatigue — plan recovery time afterwards.
Hourly (after cancellation)
Keep BaseLang in your back pocket at $9/hr. Credits don’t expire, so you can stock a few for maintenance or specific goals (interview practice, travel tune-up, DELE speaking drills).
Scheduling Tips to Get the Most Out of BaseLang
- Be there at refresh time. Add a daily reminder; book your prime slots first.
- Audition widely. Try 8–12 teachers in week one. Save two or three that click.
- Mix formats. Alternate free-flow conversation with curriculum or DELE prep.
- Bring topics. Articles, videos, or work scenarios keep lessons focused.
- Batch booking. Lock in your week’s sessions in one go, then add last-minute extras when you can.
Curriculum & Materials (What to Expect)
BaseLang provides a structured curriculum with level progressions, electives, and exam prep paths (e.g., DELE). The handouts are mostly PDFs — clear and functional but minimalistic. If you love interactive apps, supplement with your own tools; if you just want a teacher and a plan, this is enough.
BaseLang vs Competitors (Unlimited-Style)
BaseLang vs SpanishVIP
Feature | BaseLang | SpanishVIP |
---|---|---|
Core model | Unlimited 1:1 online lessons | Unlimited model alternative |
Booking | 24/7, last-minute possible | Scheduled blocks; last-minute varies |
Teacher pool | Large, variable quality; favourites cap (3) | Smaller pool; depends on plan |
Materials | PDF-heavy; basic | Varies; some structured tracks |
Best for | Sheer volume, conversational speed | More structure with “unlimited” feel |
Beginners vs Advanced: Who Gets the Most from BaseLang?
- Beginners: unlimited exposure builds confidence; pair conversation with simple reading/listening input.
- Intermediates: stack hours for a fast jump to B2; mix free-flow + targeted grammar fixes.
- Advanced: use it to maintain and polish; DELE prep + topic-specific practice (work, travel, interviews).
Try it yourself: Start with Real World Lite ($99) to build a habit — upgrade to Unlimited if you’re hungry for more hours.