TOP 5 websites for learning Russian yourself for FREE

These days there are a lot of online materials, websites and programs available for learning languages on your own and even for free. Not all of them have Russian though. Here is a summary of 5 websites that have quality materials for learning Russian with comfort and ease. 
In this post you will find general information about these sites. Detailed reviews with pros and cons you will be able to find in the future posts.

LIVEMOCHA

It is a language learning community where you can learn not only on your own but also by interacting with others. You practice with the help of interactive materials that develop not only reading and grammar skills but also writing, listening and speaking. The results of your studying session can be corrected by a language partner. This website has a unique feature that your speaking skills can be reviewed basically for free (you pay with virtual points that you can easily earn by being active on the website).
http://livemocha.com/pages/languages/learn-russian/

BUSUU

Busuu helps you learn words, phrases and dialogues in a very short time and keeps you practicing them. At the same time it is as well a language learning community where you can chat with native speakers and have your writing corrected. Busuu also has an App available for smartphones.
https://www.busuu.com

MEMRISE

Memrise helps you learn a lot of words in a short time and keeps track of your vocabulary. Learning sessions are available not only online but also as an App for a smartphone or iPad. All words and phrases are recorded by native speakers. You can practice not only reading and listening skills but also writing. There are a lot of courses available for learning Russian depending on the level and what kind of vocabulary you would like to concentrate on.
http://www.memrise.com

LANG-8 

This website is as well a community but with a big difference from others. It is concentrated on improvement of your writing skills and corrections of your text by native speakers. You can use it for free but there is a system of virtual points that you have to earn by helping others. The website also contains a lot of interesting articles written by the natives with the information about countries, languages, cultures and traveling.
http://lang-8.com

LINGQ

This is a powerful tool to help you learn words and start to ready rather complicated texts and articles in a very short time if you keep practicing regularly. Website contains of various lessons that have a text and a record of it read by a native speaker. While reading you mark words that you know and for the new ones you create virtual cards with a translation. You can practice new words using various flash cards exercises. You can use it for free but there are a lot of limitations in a free package that make it rather uncomfortable to use. At the same time the content is very interesting and divided into levels, so you can just keep reading it for free without using other features.
https://www.lingq.com