9 Best Online Debate Classes of 2025 [Full Comparison]

Online debate classes promise to build unshakable confidence and razor-sharp thinking, all from the comfort of home. 

However, most students find themselves stuck in theoretical lectures that never translate to real competitive success. Meanwhile, peers who chose the right program are winning tournaments, acing high school and college interviews, and developing persuasion skills that will serve them for life.

To help identify which online debate class is the best fit for you, we’ve put together an in-depth comparison of the top 9 programs currently available, complete with insights on:

Bergen Debate

For over a decade, Bergen Debate has offered students a personalized, hands-on approach to debate—with results to back it up.

With 1,000+ awards to its name, Bergen’s insightful and engaging curriculum in three key areas (public speaking, debate, and critical thinking) has established a track record of success for over 4,000 students. Offering a wide range of subjects and course lengths/timings for all experience levels, Bergen provides the flexibility and accessibility for students to excel in the field. 

The quality of the instruction you’ll receive is unparalleled. Every full-time staff member at Bergen is an expert in debate education, carefully selected through nationwide searches for the best and brightest instructors and former competitors. These experts are then thoroughly trained in Bergen's exceptional training and curricular protocol. Many Bergen instructors are current or former debaters from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia.

Bergen's success extends to its competitive travel team, which has achieved remarkable results. Currently, four of Bergen’s middle school teams rank in the top 10 on the Debate Land rankings, including a team holding the #1 position. This competitive excellence reflects the quality of our comprehensive debate program and our commitment to developing excellent debaters at all levels.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Public Forum Debate, Model UN, Young Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Debate
  • Structure: 13-17 weekly classes
  • Length of classes: 2 hours
  • Class timing: 1x per week
  • Instructor qualifications: University-level program directors and debate experienced alumni
  • Cost: Early bird pricing starts at ~$1,500 for Fall semester. Regular registration for Spring is $2,050. 
  • Refund policy: Not listed

Best for: Gifted young students looking for a convenient and accessible program to help develop their skills throughout their debate learning journey, from introductory programs to specialized instruction. Bergen’s expertise and tailored curriculum offers students of all grades and experience levels the opportunity to grow into successful debaters.

National Symposium for Debate

Much like their in-person camps, the National Symposium for Debate (NSD) runs online debate classes and camps for middle and high school students focusing on Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debate. They offer different tracks based on your experience level.

These 2-week class intensives over the summer meet daily and include labs, practice rounds, mentor groups, and elective seminars. You'll collaborate with peers and participate in structured practice sessions throughout the day.

NSD brings in different subject experts each day to teach specialized topics. You'll learn directly from professionals who specialize in the specific debate elements you're studying.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Debate
  • Structure: Two-week daily classes
  • Length of classes: 8 hours of core classes with 2.5 hours of evening electives with a 1-hour break for lunch
  • Class timing: 5x per week, 10am - 6pm (core), 7:30pm - 10pm (elective)
  • Instructor qualifications: Classroom teachers, successful private debate coaches, and top recent debate competitors
  • Cost: Lincoln-Douglas: $1,995, Public Forum: $1,695 
  • Refund policy: 30% of total payment is non-refundable, with the percentage of the remaining amount dependent on the timing of cancellations

Best for: Students wanting the most comprehensive Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum training available in an intensive format. The program delivers tournament-winning strategies through a carefully designed curriculum taught by championship-level coaches.

Debate Drills

Debate Drills specializes in one-on-one classes with flexible scheduling options for students who need personalized attention.

Through detailed lesson plans and proven coaching methodologies, students can enjoy in-depth one-on-one classes on a variety of subjects from Lincoln-Douglas to Public Forum, Congress, Policy, and Speech from a range of experienced tutors.

Debate Drills offers tutoring as early as Grade 1, so options are available regardless of a student’s age or experience, as well as self-paced debate education courses through Debate Drills Academy.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congress, Policy, and Speech
  • Structure: Monthly 4-Class package
  • Length of classes: 1 hour per class
  • Class timing: 1x per week
  • Instructor qualifications: Experienced tutors and debate coaches, as well as elite former competitors, all screened by the program’s founder
  • Cost: $360 (Associate Tutor) - $600 (Expert Tutor) per monthly package
  • Refund policy: Booked classes can be cancelled up to 24 hours prior to the session’s start for class credit

Best for: Students needing personalized classes that adapt to their specific goals and learning style. The program offers unmatched flexibility while maintaining exceptional quality through rigorously selected expert tutors.

Broome County Debate Alliance

Started by Joe Schatz, the Director of Debate at Binghamton University, the Broome County Debate Alliance offers classes through Outschool, an online learning platform that offers live, interactive classes. 

BCDA classes feature a wide selection of debate-related subjects, course lengths/timings, and experience levels, from introductory to advanced, and one-week intensives to full 10-week curriculums. 

Depending on what is available when a student goes to sign up, BCDA offers everything from general introductions to focused classes on topics like Model UN, providing a broad range of options at any given time. 

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Introduction, Model UN, Argumentation, Persuasion and Audience Adaptation
  • Structure: 1 to 10-week programs
  • Length of classes: 1-2 hours per session
  • Class timing: Can range from 1x per week to 5x per week
  • Instructor qualifications: Masters or PhD in Communications
  • Cost: $20-$85 per week, some are $135 for 5 classes
  • Refund policy: Some classes allow full refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of purchase. For ongoing classes, you must stop your subscription within 24 hours of the most recent payment and before attending any class meetings for that time period. Stopping your subscription after this period will halt future charges but won’t refund the latest payment.

Best For: Students seeking a budget-friendly introduction to debate basics through a third-party learning platform.  While a majority of classes tend to focus on introducing students to different formats through beginner and intermediate classes, some advanced/specialized classes are also available.

Ivy Camps

With a focus on ages 6-14, Ivy Camps offers students an early opportunity to start their debate careers, plus boost confidence and performance throughout their studies.

Led by instructors from some of the country’s top universities, students can gain experience in Public Speaking and Debate through a 3-class pathway (one foundational, two applied of their choosing) on their way to earning a Public Speaking Certificate.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Public Speaking and Debate
  • Structure: Several weeks but varied, depending on course choice
  • Length of classes: 90 minutes
  • Class timing: 1x per week
  • Instructor qualifications: Instructors must complete a comprehensive training program designed by the program’s curriculum professionals
  • Cost: Not listed
  • Refund policy: Full refunds (minus credit card fees) are available for any online class as long as they are requested 7 days before the class begins. Within 7 days, camp credits are offered. They allow full refunds if cancelled within 24 hours of purchase. For ongoing classes, you must stop your subscription within 24 hours of the most recent payment and before attending any class meetings for that time period. Stopping your subscription after this period will halt future charges but won’t refund the latest payment.

Best For: Elementary and middle school students (ages 6-14) wanting general public speaking exposure rather than competitive debate training. Works as an introductory program before transitioning to more specialized debate instruction.

Eye Level

With over 40 years of providing high-quality education to students from Grade 1 to Grade 8, Eye Level has helped countless students develop their skills across numerous subjects, including Debate and Public Speaking.

Designed for easy access, Eye Level offers simple registration and flexible scheduling options (including evenings). Through their app, parents/students can enroll in a variety of live, small-group online classes, including Debate and Public Speaking 101, Debate Class, Persuasive Speech, Informative Speech, and Speech Games, each of which provides a unique focus and approach to honing their skills.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Debate and Public Speaking 101, Debate Class, Persuasive Speech, Informative Speech, and Speech Games
  • Structure: Several weeks, depending on the class
  • Length of classes: 50-55 minutes
  • Class timing: Can be scheduled for best fit, most commonly on a weekly basis
  • Instructor qualifications: None provided
  • Cost: $80 per month, per subject
  • Refund policy: Full refunds will be issued for subscription cancellations within 48 hours of sign-ups or renewals as long as no sessions were received.

Best For: Young students (Grades 1-8) whose parents want to add basic communication skills to their general academic enrichment. Appropriate for those prioritizing scheduling convenience over structured classes and coaching.

Dialogy

Dialogy serves international students across many age groups with multiple debate program options.

The curriculum covers four areas: Speech and Debate (core skills), Debate+ (advanced techniques), Community (collaborative learning), and Competitions (real-world practice).

Programs increase in difficulty based on grade level. Younger students start with Junior debate (K-G3), then can progress to Debate Superteam (G3-G6).

Older students can choose from Public Forum (G5-G7), World Schools (G6-12), Public Speaking (G7-12), or British Parliamentary (G8-12). Every fourth session involves a practice competition.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Junior, Debate Superteam, Public Forum, World Schools, Public Speaking, British Parliamentary
  • Structure: 12 week program
  • Length of classes: 2 hours (K-G2), 2.5 hours (G3-G5), 3 hours (G6-G12)
  • Class timing: 1x per week
  • Instructor qualifications: Not listed
  • Cost: Not listed
  • Refund policy: Not listed

Best For: International students seeking exposure to various debate formats. The program offers grade-level progression but doesn't publish instructor qualifications or specific teaching methodologies.

Able2Shine

Established in 2016, Able2Shine is a platform that provides a wide range of online programs. This includes comprehensive Debate and Public Speaking classes, from Elementary/Middle/High School Debate and Competition to Spontaneous Argumentation (SPAR), Congress, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Policy, Parliamentary, and Public Speaking.

As students progress, they can explore more advanced debate formats and complex topics suited to their age and experience level.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Elementary/Middle/High School Debate, Novice and Advanced Competition, Spontaneous Argumentation (SPAR), Congress, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Policy, Parliamentary, Public Speaking
  • Structure: 15 week program
  • Length of classes: 1-1.5 hours
  • Class timing: 1x per week
  • Instructor qualifications: Not listed
  • Cost: $660 (Elementary/Middle), $825 (High School)
  • Refund policy: No cash refunds available, only class credits, based on the time period of cancellation (2-10 days before classes start, 50% of tuition is retained as credit; 11-19 days before classes start, 90% of tuition is retained as credit; less than 48 hours before classes start, tuition is non-refundable).

Best For: Students comfortable with a program offering broad but less specialized debate instruction. Suitable for those who prioritize curriculum breadth over proven competitive results.

Davidson Academy Online

Unlike many other programs, which offer classes over a series of weeks or months, Davidson Academy offers a year-long elective Speech and Debate course to gifted students looking to thoroughly explore the subject matter.

This allows students to get an immersive and comprehensive introduction to several public speaking and debate styles and topics, from Public Forum to Congress. Through instruction, observation, research, and plenty of practice, students will develop excellent critical thinking, listening, and argument resolution skills.

Although students largely explore a large number of debate elements in a non-competitive environment, they do have the option to compete in virtual (and local) competitions as representatives of Davidson Academy.

Key Facts About This Debate Class

  • Types of debate taught: Public Forum, Big Questions, Congress
  • Structure: Year long program (August to May)
  • Class timing: Twice per week
  • Length of classes: 1.5 hours
  • Instructor qualifications: Most instructors hold a master’s or higher, as well as significant experience in the subject matter they teach
  • Cost: $4,000 for the course, plus a $60 non-refundable application fee
  • Refund policy: No cash refunds available, only class credits, based on the time period of cancellation (2-10 days before classes start, 50% of tuition is retained as credit; 11-19 days before classes start, 90% of tuition is retained as credit; less than 48 hours before classes start, tuition is non-refundable).

Best For: Students seeking a year-long academic approach to debate within a formal school curriculum. Suitable for those who can commit significant time and financial resources to an established educational institution's program.