italki vs Preply
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
italki
Marketplace for booking online one-to-one lessons with language tutors.
Preply
Online tutoring marketplace for languages and other subjects, with lesson-plan subscriptions.
The short answer
italki and Preply are both marketplaces for one-to-one online language tutoring, with tutors setting their own prices. The key difference is how lessons are bought: italki is pay-per-lesson or package with no subscription, while Preply usually puts learners on a weekly lesson subscription with a chosen tutor. Flexible or occasional learners tend to suit italki; learners who want a fixed weekly routine often prefer Preply.
italki or Preply: our take
italki lets learners browse tutor profiles with intro videos, prices, availability and reviews, then book single lessons or packages. It separates professional teachers, who plan structured lessons, from community tutors, who mainly offer conversation practice for less. It lists 20,000+ teachers and a very wide range of languages, including many that apps do not cover. English tutor prices run from $4 to $60 per hour, and a 30-minute English lesson is typically $4 to $10. It now also offers group classes, and lessons happen in italki's classroom or other video tools.
Preply is larger, with 100,000+ tutors of 180+ nationalities across 120+ subjects, though languages and especially English are its core. Learners filter by price, availability, native language and speciality, take a trial lesson, and then usually subscribe to a weekly number of lessons with that tutor. Lessons take place in Preply's own video classroom with shared materials and progress tracking, and there is a business programme for company language training.
Both take a commission from tutors, both run on the web and in iOS and Android apps, and on both the quality depends on the tutor, so trying a few is normal. The subscription on Preply builds consistency but is less flexible when schedules change; italki's pay-as-you-go model suits irregular study but relies on the learner's own discipline, and costs add up with frequent lessons on either. Choose italki for occasional conversation practice, uncommon languages or cheap community tutors. Choose Preply for steady weekly lessons with one tutor, built-in progress tracking, or company-sponsored training.
Which should you pick?
Choose italki if…
- Learners who want flexible, pay-per-lesson tutoring in almost any language
- Pay per lesson with no subscription
- Huge range of languages and tutors
Choose Preply if…
- Learners who want a regular weekly tutor and a structured schedule
- Very large pool of tutors
- Built-in classroom with progress tracking
About each app
What is italki?
italki connects learners with independent language teachers for paid one-to-one video lessons. You browse tutor profiles with intro videos, prices, availability and reviews, book individual lessons or packages, and pay per lesson, with no subscription. It distinguishes professional teachers, who plan structured lessons, from community tutors, who mainly offer conversation practice at lower prices, and it now also offers group classes. The range of languages is very wide, including many that apps don't cover, and prices vary from a few dollars to much more per hour depending on the tutor. italki takes a commission from tutors. Lesson quality depends entirely on the tutor you pick, so trying a few trial lessons is common. Lessons run through italki's classroom or other video tools, on the web and in iOS and Android apps. italki suits learners ready to speak who want flexible, pay-as-you-go tutoring.
What is Preply?
Preply is a large marketplace for one-to-one online tutoring, best known for languages, especially English, though it covers more than a hundred subjects. Learners filter tutors by price, availability, native language and specialities, take a trial lesson, and then usually subscribe to a weekly number of lessons with that tutor, which suits steady progress but is less flexible than paying per lesson. Lessons run in Preply's own video classroom with shared materials and progress tracking, and there is a business programme for company language training. Tutors set their own rates, so prices range widely, and Preply takes a commission. As with any marketplace, quality varies and finding the right tutor can take a few tries. It runs on the web and in iOS and Android apps. Preply suits learners who want a regular weekly tutor and the motivation of a set schedule.
Side by side
| Attribute | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Learners who want flexible, pay-per-lesson tutoring in almost any language | Learners who want a regular weekly tutor and a structured schedule |
| Status | Active | Active |
italki vs Preply pricing
italki: paid
- English tutor prices: $4 to $60 per hour source
Preply: paid
We couldn't verify Preply's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Platforms
| Platform | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
italki facts
3 of 3 verified- English tutor prices
- $4 to $60 per hour
- Checked Oct 25, 2026italki.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “English tutors on italki cost between $4 to $60 per hour, depending on the tutor’s experience and lesson format.”
- 30-minute English lesson
- Typically $4 to $10
- Checked Oct 25, 2026italki.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “A 30-minute online English lesson typically costs between $4 and $10.”
Preply facts
3 of 3 verified- Subjects
- 120+
- Checked Oct 25, 2026preply.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Find your tutor 100,000+ Experienced tutors 300,000+ 5-star tutor reviews 120+ Subjects taught”
- Tutor nationalities
- 180+
- Checked Oct 25, 2026preply.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “180+ Tutor nationalities”
- Tutors
- 100,000+
- Checked Oct 25, 2026preply.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Find your tutor 100,000+ Experienced tutors”
Pros and cons of italki
- Pay per lesson with no subscription
- Huge range of languages and tutors
- Cheap community tutors for conversation
- Quality varies by tutor
- Scheduling across time zones takes effort
- Costs add up with frequent lessons
Pros and cons of Preply
- Very large pool of tutors
- Built-in classroom with progress tracking
- Business programme for company training
- Subscription model is less flexible than pay-per-lesson
- Quality depends on the tutor
- Prices vary widely
Other apps to consider
italki vs Preply: common questions
Is italki better than Preply?
italki and Preply are both marketplaces for one-to-one online language tutoring, with tutors setting their own prices. The key difference is how lessons are bought: italki is pay-per-lesson or package with no subscription, while Preply usually puts learners on a weekly lesson subscription with a chosen tutor. Flexible or occasional learners tend to suit italki; learners who want a fixed weekly routine often prefer Preply.
Is italki free?
No. italki is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Preply free?
No. Preply is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is italki or Preply open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do italki and Preply support?
italki: Web, iOS and Android. Preply: Web, iOS and Android.