italki vs. Cambly: The Ultimate Comparison for Learners (2026)

Key takeaways:

• italki offers 20,000+ professional teachers and community tutors across 150+ languages. You get structured learning tailored to your goals with clear progress tracking.
• Cambly focuses on casual conversations with native English speakers. Students jump straight into English speaking with minimal planning or structure.
• italki is the preferred choice for most learners in 2026. It offers a wider variety of languages and is especially beneficial for beginners and goal-oriented learners.

Quick answer: italki vs Cambly in 2026 

Choose italki if you want a well-rounded learning experience in any language. The platform offers structured classes to learn and progress in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. 

Choose Cambly if your sole goal is casual, drop-in English conversation. It’s best if you’re already a confident speaker who wants to practice without planning or long-term skill development.

When comparing italki vs Cambly, you’ll notice they’re both popular platforms for online language learning. However, they offer very different learning experiences when it comes to lessons, tutors, and pricing. 

Having trouble deciding between the two? Or simply searching for the best language learning platform? We’re here to help. Below, we provide an in-depth comparison of italki vs Cambly. We break down the key features of each so you can choose the right platform for your needs.

Prefer to skip the details? Find a native-speaking tutor and start learning with Spanish tutors, Japanese tutors, French tutors, English tutors, and many more.

What is italki 

italki is the leading online platform for personalized language instruction. It connects students with native-speaking teachers and is trusted by over 5 million learners worldwide. Its vast selection means you can pick from over 20,000 teachers, offering 150 languages across 190 countries. 

Check out our full italki review to understand exactly how the platform works.

What is Cambly 

Cambly is an online platform connecting English learners with native English speakers. It focuses on casual conversation practice, with classes offered on demand or through prior scheduling. 

italki vs Cambly: Quick comparison table

Feature	italki	Cambly
Languages offered	150+ languages	English (focusing on conversational skills)
Pricing model	Pay per lesson	Subscription with minutes-based access to tutors
Typical pricing	$3-$20 per hour for most tutors	$26 per hour on the basic plan
Tutor types	Professional teachers and community tutors	Native speakers (qualifications vary, with no required certification)
Lesson duration	30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes	Flexible; typically 15, 30, or 60 minutes
Scheduling	Book anytime; instant booking and rescheduling options	On demand or scheduled in advance
Trial lessons	3 discounted trial classes	30-minute trial class for $1
Best for	Learners who want a wide variety of tutors and language choices, structured classes with lesson goals, and progress tracking	English learners who want casual conversation practice

Curious how italki works? Create a free italki account to browse native teachers, prices, and language options.  

italki vs Cambly: key differences

1. Teacher selection & variety

Both italki and Cambly have a huge pool of online teachers.

italki has over 20,000 qualified teachers who are clearly designated as Professional Teachers (certified instructors) or Community Tutors (native speakers who focus on conversation practice). Lessons are available in over 150 languages, so you can find English teachers alongside Spanish teachers, Japanese teachers, or even Icelandic teachers.

Meanwhile, Cambly offers native English teachers but does not require certification. You’ll find everything from brand new tutors to ones with formal teaching experience.

Not sure which language to choose? Here are the 5 best languages to learn in 2026. 

2. Pricing structure

italki uses a pay-per-lesson model. You buy credits, which can be used at any time and do not expire. Teachers set their own hourly rates, and many have discounted trial lessons. This flexible payment structure makes it super easy to find a tutor that fits your budget. Just browse online teachers and filter by price.

Cambly has a subscription model. You pay monthly, quarterly, or annually for a set amount of conversation time. Costs vary depending on lesson frequency and length, the plan you choose (small group vs private), and subscription duration. 

3. Lesson flexibility & scheduling

On italki, students typically browse a tutor’s availability and book a lesson in advance. They can also choose Instant Lessons (trial lessons that start immediately with available teachers). With such a wide supply, you’re bound to find several teachers that fit your schedule. Once you find one you like, you can book recurring lessons (which helps language learning actually stick).  

Some Cambly tutors do offer advanced scheduling, but it’s not required. Instead, the platform is known for its log-in-and-talk approach. Students hop online for immediate classes focused on English conversation. While this is convenient, you’re not guaranteed the same teacher every time, so you’ll need to adapt to various teaching styles. 

4. Learning experience and outcomes

With italki, you can see the same tutor over a designated period. This means you can get structured lessons targeting your specific learning goals. Tutors can go at your pace, track your progress, and adjust lessons as needed. If you need extra help with verb tenses, pronunciation, or writing, your tutor can shape upcoming classes to focus on those areas.

italki is the ideal choice if you have specific learning objectives. You can focus on conversational fluency, prep for exams, or learn practical phrases for that upcoming vacation. This personalized approach makes for a well-rounded experience. You don’t just get speaking practice, but grammar, reading, writing, pronunciation, and more.

Cambly isn’t as structured. You’ll be jumping straight into conversational English, which is good for general speaking practice. However, lessons are more spontaneous, so it’s harder to track progress or consistently work on skills like vocabulary or grammar.

5. Suitable for English beginners

Both italki and Cambly offer English lessons, but italki is better suited for English beginners. Italki allows you to work with the same online English tutor over time and follow a structured lesson plan, so you can build skills gradually.

Cambly jumps straight into speaking. But have you tried speaking a foreign language from absolute zero? It can be daunting, to say the least. Italki takes a step-by-step approach to build a solid foundation first. This makes speaking a lot less intimidating. By the time you move to full-on conversations, you’ll have the English speaking skills you need.

If you’re ready to start learning English, find beginner-friendly tutors on italki today.

6. Community engagement and support

When it comes to italki vs Cambly, italki offers more community engagement and support. 

When you sign up for italki, you don’t just get access to over 20,000 native teachers in 150+ languages. You get access to community features. Students participate in forums, set up language exchanges, or get feedback from peers. The platform also has language challenges, like free exercises and podcasts. 

Cambly doesn’t have built-in community features. The platform is focused on one-on-one or small group lessons, so you’ll need to rely on classes for interaction and support.

Why many learners prefer italki

When it comes to Cambly vs italki, many learners prefer italki because it offers more languages and learning paths. 

Both italki and Cambly can improve your conversational skills, but italki provides a more well-rounded learning experience. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, teachers tailor each class to your specific goals. On top of conversation, you get structured grammar, reading, and writing practice.

italki also makes it easy to find specialized tutors for exam preparation, business conversation, or travel-related language skills. And because tutors create their own rates and lesson plans, you can choose one that fits your budget and learning style.

Learn faster with personalized guidance. Over 5 million learners trust italki because they can choose from 20,000+ professional teachers and 150+ languages. Sign up for italki and find your ideal teacher today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, italki or Cambly? 

If you’re looking for more than casual English conversation practice, italki is the better choice. It offers other languages (150+) rather than solely English. You still get plenty of conversation practice with italki. But since teachers plan classes to suit your needs, you can also improve other skills simultaneously. Think grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing. 

italki also has better customer reviews. Cambly scored 2.2/5 on Trustpilot. italki scored 4.1, which is considered a high ranking for this site.

What is the best online English tutor site? 

There are many websites to find good English teachers online. The best one depends on your goals, schedule, and budget. 

Cambly is good for practicing conversation skills, while Tutor is great for improving your English writing. For more comprehensive learning, sites like italki are ideal. With italki, you can get personalized one-on-one tutoring sessions that cover all bases: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  

italki also lets you choose from a huge variety of teachers, which matters when it comes to accents. If you want to learn an American English accent or a British one, you can pick tutors from your preferred location.  

Which one is better, italki or Preply? 

italki is generally the better choice because it offers more flexibility and language choices. Italki lets you pay per lesson, but with Preply, you have to subscribe and commit to weekly hours. Italki teachers speak 150+ languages, while Preply teachers offer 90+. 

italki also offers a clear distinction between tutor types (Professional Teachers versus Community Tutors), which saves time when searching. Preply puts all teachers in one pool, so you’ll need to read through profiles to see their qualifications.  

To fully understand the differences, read our guide on italki vs Preply .