TL;DR
- Choose italki if you want access to a wide range of languages, flexible scheduling, and pay-per-lesson pricing with no subscription.
- Choose Preply if you prefer a structured, weekly learning routine built around a subscription model.
- italki supports 150+ languages with professional teachers and community tutors, making it a strong fit for learners who value choice and adaptability.
- Preply focuses on consistency through recurring lessons, which suits learners who want a fixed schedule for regular lessons.
If you are comparing italki vs Preply, you are likely trying to find a language learning platform that fits your budget, your schedule, and the way you prefer to learn.
Both platforms connect you with professional tutors for one-on-one lessons, but differ in pricing structure, lesson flexibility, and how structured the learning experience feels.
This comparison guide is for language learners who want clear answers before committing time or money. You’ll see how italki and Preply handle tutor quality, costs, scheduling, and learning tools, and where each platform works best in real use.
By the end, you’ll know which tutoring platform suits your learning style, which teaching methods match your goals, and which option makes it easier to stay consistent over time.
What is italki?
italki is the leading online platform for personalized language learning that connects students with tutors for one-on-one lessons. You choose your tutor, lesson focus, and pace, making it suitable for beginners, advanced learners, and anyone studying toward a specific goal.
The teaching platform has been operating for over 15 years and supports more than 5 million learners worldwide. It offers access to 20,000+ tutors across 150+ languages, including widely taught niche foreign languages. This variety makes it easier to find tutors who match your level and learning goals.
Lessons on italki follow a pay-per-lesson model. You book individual sessions without subscriptions or long-term commitments. This setup works well if your schedule changes or if you want to try different teachers before settling on one.
Trusted by learners in over 190 countries, italki helps you start a new language or advance your skills through flexible, personalized lessons.
Find Your Perfect Teacher
At italki, you can find your English tutor from all qualified and experienced teachers. Now experience the excellent language learning journey!
Book a trial lesson
What is Preply?
Preply is an online language tutoring platform that connects learners with tutors for one-on-one video lessons.
The platform encourages ongoing lessons with the same tutor, often through lesson packages or recurring bookings rather than only ad‑hoc single sessions.
This approach differs from italki’s more flexible model, where tutors customize each lesson based on your learning goals rather than following preset packages.
italki vs Preply: Comparison at a glance
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Languages offered | 150+ languages | Around 50 to 90 languages |
| Pricing model | Pay per lesson | Subscription with weekly hours |
| Typical pricing | $3 – $20 per hour for most tutors | $4 – $50 per hour for most tutors |
| Tutor types | Professional teachers and community tutors | Professional teachers and community tutors |
| Lesson duration | 30, 45, 60, 90 minutes | 25 or 50 minutes |
| Scheduling | Book anytime with global tutors; instant booking and rescheduling. | Flexible scheduling across time zones; reschedule with advance notice. |
| Free trial | 3 discounted trial lessons | Paid first lesson with guarantee |
| Best for | Learners who want flexible scheduling, wide tutor choice, and simple per-lesson payments. | Learners who prefer structured bookings and a package-based system. |
How do the key features of italki and Preply compare?
1. Tutor selection & variety
italki offers 20,000+ active tutors across 150+ languages with clear distinction between professional teachers (with credentials) and community teachers (conversation practice).
You can compare tutors based on training, teaching experience, teaching style, reviews, availability, and focus.
Whether you need formal lessons, test preparation, or regular speaking practice, it’s easy to find the right tutor. You can switch tutors anytime to adjust your approach.
On Preply, formal credentials are optional, which means teaching qualifications and experience levels vary significantly across profiles. You rely more on badges, reviews, and filtering to find teachers with specific backgrounds. This structure can feel broad but may take more time to evaluate.
Key takeaway: italki provides depth of professional experience across many languages. Preply provides volume, but quality varies more widely.
2. Pricing structure
italki uses a pay-per-lesson model. You buy italki Credits and schedule online lessons when you want. Credits do not expire. Each tutor sets an hourly rate, and many offer discounted trial lessons which help you try different teachers before taking regular lessons. This gives you full control over how often you study and how much you spend.
Preply uses a subscription model. After your first paid trial, you choose weekly hours with a tutor and pay every 28 days. You can adjust or pause the subscription, but the system expects a steady rhythm.
3. Lesson flexibility and scheduling
Both platforms offer global tutor availability across time zones, but the booking structure differs considerably.
italki lets you book individual lessons whenever you want. You choose 30, 45, 60, or 90-minute sessions based on your learning pace and available time. Most tutors allow instant booking, and you can reschedule according to each tutor’s cancellation policy. This flexibility helps busy learners fit lessons around work, travel, or family commitments.
Preply operates through weekly subscription hours. Lessons typically default to 50-60 minutes, and you meet with your tutor on a recurring schedule. While you can reschedule with advance notice, the subscription structure requires consistent weekly participation regardless of schedule changes.
4. Learning tools & resources
italki includes an online classroom, writing boards, AI-powered tools, and a community hub. These features help you practice between lessons.Tutors can also share notes, lesson plans, and custom materials based on their teaching methods to guide you.
It also integrates AI-powered features through italki Plus. This generates lesson summaries, flashcards, vocabulary lists, and personalized exercises to help you progress faster.
Preply offers a classroom, vocabulary tools, and progress tracking. How these tools are used depends on each tutor.
Want to learn a language at italki?
Here are the best resources for you!
5. Accessibility and use
Both platforms are available on web and mobile.
italki offers a simple interface for browsing tutors, booking lessons, messaging, and tracking credits.
Tutor profiles include video introductions, reviews, schedules, and teaching experience so you can compare them quickly.
Preply also provides a clean layout with filters, profile cards, and a clear schedule dashboard.
Key takeaway: Both italki and Preply are easy to use. Your preference depends on whether you prefer open scheduling or subscription-style planning.
What is the user experience like on italki vs Preply?
1. Platform interface
italki keeps everything simple and direct. Your dashboard shows upcoming lessons, messages, and credits. Tutor profiles include videos, reviews, schedules, and teaching experience so you can compare them quickly.
Preply uses consistent profile cards that show price, rating, and availability. You rely more on filters to narrow the search. It is clean, but it may take more effort when sorting through many profiles.
2. Mobile app experience
Mobile access matters when you need to squeeze lessons between commitments or study while traveling. In 2023, language learning apps were downloaded around 231 million times worldwide, highlighting how many learners depend on phone access.
italki’s app mirrors the clarity of the website. You can browse tutors, book lessons, send messages, and join classes of your preferred foreign language in one place.. Notifications help you stay on track even when life gets busy.
Preply’s app follows the same structure as its site. You can manage your plan, scroll through tutors, and join lessons from your phone. Some features work better on desktop, but the app is helpful for regular study.
Start your language journey today. Download the italki app.
Find Your Perfect Teacher
At italki, you can find your English tutor from all qualified and experienced teachers. Now experience the excellent language learning journey!
Book a trial lesson
Pros and cons
Preply and italki each have their strengths, and each comes with trade-offs to consider. And since you’re already close to choosing, these are the points that help you decide which setup matches your goals and study routine.
Quick comparison: pros and cons
| italki | Preply |
|---|---|
| Pros: Pay-per-lesson flexibility, 150+ languages options, credential-verified teachers, no subscription commitments | Pros: Set-it-and-forget-it billing, one-tutor consistency, large tutor pool |
| Cons: Individual lesson booking requires self motivation | Cons: Subscription commitment required, Tutor quality varies, less scheduling flexibility |
italki vs Preply, which platform is right for you?
Choose italki if you:
- Want to control when and how often you take lessons
- Want to test different teaching styles before committing
- Need lesson lengths that match your focus window (30-90 minutes)
- Want pay-per-lesson control without subscriptions
- Prefer exploring topics with different teachers based on their specialties
- Enjoy community features like Q&A forums and language exchange partners
- Are learning a rare or niche language
Choose Preply if you:
- Commit to fixed weekly study routines with one tutor
- Want one long-term tutor relationship throughout your language learning journey
- Focus only on major languages (Spanish, English, French, etc.)
- Prefer structured curriculum over self-directed exploration
- Want subscription structure over flexible booking
Most learners who value scheduling freedom and spending control find italki matches their needs better. The pay-per-lesson system removes pressure to use subscriptions before they expire, while the credential-verified tutor pool makes it easier to find qualified teachers for specific goals.
Learn at your own pace with personal guidance from 20,000+ expert tutors trusted by over 5 million learners worldwide across 150+ languages. Start learning with italki today.
FAQs
Which one is better, italki or Preply?
The better platform depends on your goals. italki fits learners who want flexibility and wide tutor choice. Preply fits learners who want predictable weekly lessons. Most learners find italki’s flexibility matches real-world schedules better than Preply’s fixed subscription structure.
How much does italki cost compared to Preply?
Most italki tutors typically charge $3-$20 per hour with pay-per-lesson pricing and no subscription. Preply tutors typically charge between $4-$60+ per hour through weekly subscriptions that bill every 28 days. The main cost difference is the payment structure: italki lets you pay only for lessons you book, while Preply requires committing to weekly hours.
Do I need to buy packages on both platforms?
italki does not use packages. You pay per lesson. Preply requires a subscription with weekly hours.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like my tutor?
On italki, refunds appear as Credits you can use with another tutor. Preply may offer a replacement lesson or refund after review.
Which platform has more languages?
italki offers more than 150 languages. Preply lists 50 to 90 languages. If you’re learning a less common language, italki provides significantly more options.
