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TL;DR: This Preply review shows that the platform offers flexible, one-to-one tutoring with a wide range of subjects and price points, but your results depend heavily on choosing the right tutor.
Finding the right language tutor online can feel overwhelming. With so many platforms promising fluency, flexible schedules, and affordable lessons, it’s hard to know which one actually delivers.
In this Preply review, we take a clear, practical look at what you really get: the quality of tutors, how pricing works, what lessons feel like in practice, and whether learners genuinely see results.
If you’re considering investing your time and money, here’s what you need to know before you book your first session.
Preply as an online tutoring platform
Preply is a global online tutoring marketplace that connects students with one-to-one tutors across languages, academic subjects, and professional skills.
Rather than offering pre-recorded courses, it focuses on live, personalised lessons delivered over video.
How it works
- Tutor marketplace model: Tutors create profiles, set their own hourly rates, and outline their teaching style and experience.
- Flexible pricing: Prices vary depending on the tutor’s background, specialism, and demand.
- Trial lessons: Students can book an initial session to see if the tutor is the right fit.
- Subscription-based lesson packages: After the trial, lessons are typically booked in monthly bundles.
Importance of choosing the right tutor for effective learning
The platform matters but the tutor matters more. In one-to-one learning, your progress, confidence, and motivation are shaped almost entirely by the person guiding you.
The right tutor can accelerate your improvement dramatically. The wrong one can leave you frustrated, stuck, or questioning your ability.
Why the right tutor makes all the difference:
- Personalised learning approach: A strong tutor adapts lessons to your level, goals, and learning style rather than following a rigid script.
- Clear explanations: Complex grammar, pronunciation, or exam strategies become simple and practical when explained well.
- Constructive feedback: Effective tutors correct mistakes in a way that builds skill without damaging confidence.
- Goal alignment: Whether you want conversational fluency, business language, or exam success, your tutor should specialise in that area.
- Consistency and structure: Progress happens faster when lessons build logically week by week.
- Motivation and accountability: The right tutor keeps you engaged and pushes you just beyond your comfort zone.
What is Preply?
In a world full of language apps and recorded courses, Preply takes a different approach: real people, real lessons, real-time feedback.
Instead of learning through pre-set modules alone, students connect directly with tutors for personalised, one-to-one sessions designed around their goals.
Preply’s mission and vision
At its core, Preply aims to make personalised education accessible worldwide
The platform’s mission centres on connecting learners with tutors who can deliver tailored, goal-driven instruction. Whether that’s mastering conversational Spanish, passing IELTS, or improving business English.
The broader vision is simple but ambitious: remove geographic barriers to quality education. The focus is on global access, flexibility, and human connection.
The platform’s features and functionalities
Key features include:
- Search filters: Narrow tutors by price, availability, native language, speciality, and student preply reviews.
- Trial lessons: A low-risk way to test compatibility before subscribing.
- Built-in classroom tools: Video calling, chat, shared whiteboard, and lesson notes within the platform.
- Flexible scheduling: Book lessons around your timetable, including evenings and weekends.
- Subscription system: After a trial, students typically purchase monthly lesson packages.
Types of subjects and languages offered
Although best known for language learning, Preply covers a wide range of subjects.
Languages:
From global languages like English, Spanish, French, and German to less commonly taught options such as Swedish, Korean, or Arabic. Many tutors specialise in exam preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, DELE) or business communication.
Academic subjects:
Mathematics, science, history, and other school-level subjects are available, often tailored to GCSE, A-level, or international curricula.
Professional skills:
Business communication, public speaking, coding, and career coaching also feature on the platform.
This breadth makes Preply more than just a language app. It’s a flexible tutoring ecosystem where the quality of your learning experience is shaped by the tutor you choose.
Tutor Selection Process
On a marketplace platform like Preply, your results depend heavily on who you choose.
The platform gives you access to thousands of tutors, but that freedom comes with responsibility.
A thoughtful selection process can mean the difference between steady progress and stalled motivation.
How to find and choose a tutor on Preply
Choosing a tutor isn’t just about price or availability. It’s about alignment.
When browsing tutors, start with filters:
- Set your budget range
- Choose preferred native language or accent
- Select a specialism (e.g. business English, exam prep, conversation)
- Check availability that matches your schedule
Once you’ve narrowed the list, look beyond the headline price. Watch their introduction video.
Before committing long-term, book a trial lesson. Use it to:
- Clarify your goals
- Ask about their teaching structure
- See how they correct mistakes
- Gauge how comfortable you feel speaking with them
Comfort and clarity matter more than credentials alone.
Profiles and qualifications of tutors
Preply tutors range from certified teachers to experienced conversational coaches.
Not all tutors have formal teaching qualifications and that’s not necessarily a problem, depending on your goals.
When reviewing profiles, look for:
- Teaching certifications (TEFL, CELTA, etc.) if you want structured instruction
- Subject expertise for exam preparation or academic support
- Years of experience and number of completed lessons
- Clear lesson descriptions explaining their methodology
A strong profile typically outlines:
- Who they teach (beginners, professionals, children)
- How they structure lessons
- What materials they use
- What outcomes students can expect
Importance of tutor ratings and reviews
Ratings and reviews are your social proof layer. They reveal what consistent students actually experience.
When reading reviews, look for patterns rather than isolated comments. Ask yourself:
- Do students mention measurable progress?
- Are they praised for patience and clarity?
- Is feedback described as constructive?
- Do learners stay long-term?
High lesson counts combined with strong ratings often indicate reliability and student satisfaction.
Tutor Profiles: A Closer Look
On Preply, tutor profiles are more than simple CVs. They’re your primary decision-making tool.
Since the platform operates as a marketplace, each profile reflects the tutor’s background, teaching philosophy, and working style.
Learning how to read between the lines can save you time, money, and frustration.
Breakdown of typical tutor profiles
Most tutor profiles follow a consistent structure, combining professional details with personal presentation.
You’ll usually find:
- A profile photo and intro video
- A short biography or teaching summary
- Stated areas of expertise
- Lesson pricing per hour
- Total number of lessons taught
- Student rating and written reviews
- Availability calendar
The intro video is particularly important. It gives you a sense of pronunciation, clarity, confidence, and personality. All factors that influence how comfortable you’ll feel in lessons.
Key information included in Preply
When reviewing profiles, focus on three core areas: experience, methodology, and logistics.
Experience
- Years teaching or tutoring
- Formal qualifications (e.g. TEFL, CELTA, subject degrees)
- Specialisation in exam prep, business language, or conversational practice
- Number of completed lessons on the platform
Teaching Style
Look for details about:
- Lesson structure (structured syllabus vs flexible conversation)
- Use of materials (custom slides, textbooks, role-play, homework)
- Approach to correction (immediate vs delayed feedback)
- Goal-setting and progress tracking
The more clearly a tutor explains their method, the more likely they have a defined system.
Availability
- Time zone compatibility
- Consistent weekly slots
- Flexibility for rescheduling
Practical alignment matters just as much as teaching skill.
Importance of personalising the tutor search
Not all learners need the same type of tutor.
If your goal is:
- Fluency and confidence → Prioritise conversation-focused tutors
- Exam success → Choose tutors with proven exam preparation experience
- Professional communication → Look for business-specialist teachers
- Beginner foundations → Structured, qualified instructors are often best
Filtering by price alone can be a mistake. A slightly higher hourly rate from a specialist who accelerates your progress may save you money long-term.
Personalising your search ensures you’re not just booking a lesson. You’re investing in the right learning partnership.
Pricing Structure
Understanding how pricing works on Preply is essential before you commit.
Unlike fixed-course platforms, Preply operates on a marketplace model, which means tutors set their own hourly rates. This creates flexibility, but also variation.
Preply’s pricing model
Preply does not charge a single standard rate for lessons. Instead:
- Tutors set their own hourly price
- Students book a trial lesson
- After the trial, learners purchase monthly lesson packages (a set number of lessons per month)
- Payments are handled through the platform via subscription
This means your total monthly cost depends on:
- The tutor’s hourly rate
- How many lessons you book per week
- Whether you commit to consistent sessions
It’s subscription-based, and lessons are typically renewed automatically unless you pause or cancel.
Comparison of hourly rates among different tutors
Hourly rates on Preply vary significantly.
You’ll typically see:
- Lower-cost tutors offering more affordable conversational practice
- Mid-range tutors balancing experience and accessibility
- Higher-priced tutors specialising in exams, business language, or niche subjects
Rates can range widely depending on the language and tutor background.
English and Spanish tutors often span a broad pricing spectrum due to high supply, while tutors for less commonly taught languages may command higher rates due to scarcity.
Factors influencing tutor pricing (experience, subject, demand)
Several factors influence how tutors price their lessons:
- Experience and Qualifications: Certified teachers, exam specialists, or tutors with years of experience often charge more.
- Specialisation: Business language, IELTS/TOEFL prep, or academic subjects usually cost more than general conversation practice.
- Language Demand: High-demand languages or niche dialects may have higher average rates.
- Student Reviews and Lesson Volume: Tutors with hundreds (or thousands) of completed lessons and strong ratings often increase their prices over time.
- Location and Market Positioning: Tutors based in different countries may price according to their local market expectations and cost of living.
Payment Options and Policies
Before committing to lessons on Preply, it’s important to understand how payments, subscriptions, and cancellations work.
Preply operates on a marketplace model, the financial structure is slightly different from one-off booking platforms or traditional tutoring agencies.
Accepted payment methods on Preply
Preply processes payments directly through its platform, meaning you don’t pay tutors individually. This centralised system adds a layer of security and transaction tracking.
Typically accepted methods include:
- Major credit and debit cards
- Secure online payment processing systems
- In some regions, additional digital payment options
Payments are made in advance when purchasing lesson packages. Once processed, the credits are allocated to your subscription and scheduled lessons.
Refund and cancellation policies
Refunds and cancellations depend on timing and lesson status.
Trial lessons: If you’re not satisfied with your trial lesson, Preply generally allows you to request support or switch tutors rather than lose your payment outright.
Regular lessons:
- Lessons can usually be rescheduled or cancelled within a defined notice period (often 12–24 hours in advance, depending on the tutor’s policy).
- Late cancellations or missed lessons may be charged in full.
It’s crucial to check your tutor’s cancellation policy before booking, as individual tutors may set their own notice requirements within platform guidelines.
Subscription vs pay-per-lesson options
Preply primarily operates on a subscription-based model, not a true pay-per-lesson system.
After your trial lesson, you typically:
- Choose how many lessons you want per week
- Pay monthly for that set number
- Automatically renew unless you pause or cancel
There isn’t a standard “one-off lesson booking” option after the trial.
The subscription model encourages consistency, which can benefit learning progress but it also requires active management if your schedule changes.
Learning Experience and Results
The real question isn’t just how Preply works. It’s whether it actually helps you improve.
Lessons are one-to-one and tutor-led, the experience can feel very different from app-based learning. For many learners, that difference is exactly what drives results
The learning environment (one-to-one sessions, materials used)
Preply lessons take place in a live, virtual classroom. You meet your tutor via video, and sessions usually include:
- Real-time conversation practice
- Screen sharing and interactive whiteboards
- Chat-based corrections
- Shared documents or custom materials
Because sessions are personalised, tutors may use:
- Digital textbooks
- Custom slide decks
- Role-play scenarios
- Exam-style practice tests
- Business case studies
- Homework assignments between lessons
The biggest advantage of one-to-one learning is adaptability. If you struggle with pronunciation, the lesson can pivot immediately.
If you need interview practice, the session can simulate real scenarios. That flexibility is difficult to replicate in pre-recorded courses.
Success stories and testimonials from users
Many users report positive experiences, particularly when they’ve found a strong tutor match. Common themes in testimonials include:
- Increased speaking confidence
- Noticeable pronunciation improvement
- Exam score gains
- Faster progress compared to self-study
- Greater motivation through accountability
Long-term students often highlight consistency as the key factor. Regular weekly sessions build momentum, while sporadic lessons tend to slow progress.
How to measure progress and results
Progress in language learning can feel subjective, so it helps to track it intentionally.
You can measure results by:
- Tracking how comfortably you hold conversations compared to week one
- Noticing reduced hesitation or fewer grammar mistakes
- Monitoring vocabulary growth
- Taking mock exams if preparing for certifications
- Recording yourself speaking periodically to compare fluency
It’s also helpful to set clear goals at the beginning:
- “Hold a 10-minute conversation without switching languages.”
- “Score 7.5 in IELTS.”
- “Deliver a work presentation confidently in English.”
When goals are specific, improvement becomes visible.
Pros and Cons of Using Preply
No platform is perfect, and Preply is no exception.
Its marketplace model creates both opportunity and variability.
The strengths and limitations helps you decide whether it aligns with your learning style and goals.
Advantages of Preply
Preply’s biggest strength is flexibility.
Flexible scheduling
You can book lessons around your routine, including evenings and weekends. This makes it ideal for professionals, students, or anyone balancing a busy schedule.
Wide variety of tutors
With tutors from across the world, you can choose based on accent, speciality, teaching style, and budget. Whether you want business English, exam preparation, or casual conversation practice, there’s likely someone who fits.
Personalised one-to-one learning
Lessons are tailored to you. The pace, materials, and focus areas adapt to your needs rather than following a rigid curriculum.
User-friendly interface
The platform integrates video calls, messaging, scheduling, and payments in one place. You don’t need external tools or complicated setups.
Access to niche languages and skills
Beyond major global languages, Preply offers tutors for less commonly taught languages and specialised professional subjects.
Disadvantages of Preply
The same features that create flexibility can also create inconsistency.
Variability in tutor quality
Because it’s a marketplace, teaching standards aren’t uniform. Some tutors are highly structured professionals; others are more informal. Finding the right match may take time.
Pricing variability
Hourly rates vary widely. While this allows budget flexibility, it can make comparison difficult. Higher price doesn’t always guarantee better teaching, but very low prices can sometimes signal limited experience.
Subscription model limitations
After the trial lesson, Preply typically operates on a monthly subscription system rather than true pay-per-lesson booking. This encourages consistency but may feel restrictive if your schedule changes.
Dependence on tutor fit
Your experience is heavily shaped by compatibility. A poor match can slow progress until you switch.
Overall user satisfaction
User satisfaction on Preply is generally strong, particularly among learners who:
- Take time to research tutor profiles
- Use trial lessons strategically
- Commit to consistent weekly sessions
Most positive reviews highlight improved speaking confidence, structured guidance, and measurable progress.
However, mixed experiences often relate to mismatched expectations rather than platform functionality.
Learners who expect a fixed curriculum may find the marketplace model less predictable.
Alternatives to Preply
Preply isn’t the only option for online tutoring. Depending on your goals, budget, and preferred learning style, another platform might suit you better.
Some focus purely on language exchange, others on school-level academics, and some specialise in teaching children.
italki
What it is: A language-focused tutoring marketplace similar to Preply.
Key features:
- One-to-one language lessons only
- Community tutors and professional teachers
- Pay-per-lesson system (more flexible than subscription-only models)
Pricing: Tutors set their own rates, often comparable to or slightly below Preply depending on the language.
User experience: Many learners appreciate the flexibility of booking individual lessons without committing to monthly packages. It’s especially popular for conversational practice.
Best for: Learners who want maximum booking flexibility and language-only focus.
VIPKid
What it is: An online English-learning platform primarily designed for children.
Key features:
- Structured curriculum
- Pre-designed lesson materials
- Focus on English instruction
Pricing: Typically structured differently from marketplace platforms, often programme-based.
User experience: More standardised than Preply. Lessons follow a fixed curriculum, reducing variability but limiting personalisation.
Best for: Parents seeking structured English lessons for children.
Chegg Tutors
What it is: An academic tutoring platform focused on school and university subjects.
Key features:
- On-demand academic help
- STEM-heavy subject coverage
- Structured academic support
Pricing: Often subscription-based or session-based depending on subject and availability.
User experience: Geared more toward homework help and exam preparation rather than conversational learning.
Best for: Students needing academic subject support rather than language fluency training.
Comparison: Features, Pricing & Experience
| Platform | Focus | Pricing Model | Structure | Best For |
| Preply | Languages + academics + skills | Monthly subscription after trial | Tutor-dependent | Personalised long-term learning |
| italki | Languages only | Pay-per-lesson | Tutor-dependent | Flexible conversation practice |
| VIPKid | English for children | Programme-based | Structured curriculum | Young learners |
| Chegg Tutors | Academic subjects | Subscription/session-based | Academic-focused | Homework & exam support |
Preply Review FAQs
Is Preply worth it for language learning?
Preply can be worth it if you want personalised, one-to-one lessons and are willing to choose your tutor carefully. The platform works best for learners who value flexibility and consistent weekly sessions.
How much do lessons cost on Preply?
Lesson prices vary because tutors set their own hourly rates. Costs depend on the tutor’s experience, specialisation, language demand, and lesson frequency under the subscription model.
Can I change tutors on Preply?
Yes. If your tutor isn’t the right fit, you can switch to another tutor at any time. Many learners try more than one tutor before committing long-term.
Does Preply offer pay-per-lesson options?
After the trial lesson, Preply primarily operates on a monthly subscription system rather than single one-off bookings. You choose how many lessons per week and pay accordingly.
Is Preply good for exam preparation?
It can be, provided you choose a tutor who specialises in exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, or other certifications. Always check the tutor’s profile and reviews to confirm relevant experience.
How do I know if I’m making progress?
Progress can be measured through improved speaking confidence, reduced hesitation, expanded vocabulary, or exam score improvements. Setting clear goals at the beginning makes results easier to track.