Is Preply worth it for casual language learners?

Yes, if you can commit to at least one lesson per week. Preply's 1-on-1 interaction accelerates speaking confidence compared to apps. However, at $15–30/hour average, it's an investment. Casual learners might find Duolingo ($13/month) more cost-effective for light practice.

Does Preply integrate with Google Calendar?

Yes, Preply syncs with Google Calendar to automatically add lesson bookings, send reminders, and avoid double-booking. You can enable this in your account settings. It also integrates with Microsoft Teams and Zoom for video lessons.

How does Preply compare to italki?

Both are tutor marketplaces with similar pricing ($5–$50/hour). Preply has a larger tutor pool (100,000+ vs. italki's ~10,000) and AI matching, but italki offers community features and more structured course options. Preply's Proven Progress system adds milestone tracking. italki may be better for budget-conscious learners due to more tutors under $10/hour.

What's the cheapest Preply plan?

Preply has no fixed plans; you pay per tutor. The cheapest tutors start at $5/hour for some languages (e.g., English, Spanish). You can also get subscription discounts (10-30% off) when buying lesson packages. There's no free trial beyond a reduced-rate trial lesson.

What are Preply's biggest limitations?

Pricing varies wildly by tutor ($5–$50+/hour), making budgeting difficult. Quality depends on the individual tutor—no standardized curriculum. Free tier is only browsing; you pay for every lesson. Niche languages (e.g., Hebrew, Urdu) have fewer tutors. No group classes or social features.

Can Preply replace Duolingo for learning Spanish?

Partially. Preply offers real conversation practice with native speakers, which Duolingo lacks. But Duolingo is better for building vocabulary and grammar basics through gamified exercises. A common approach is to use Duolingo for daily practice and Preply weekly for speaking.

How long does Preply take to set up?

Creating an account and starting to browse tutors takes under 5 minutes. Booking a trial lesson can take another 5 minutes after contacting a tutor. You can have your first lesson within hours if the tutor has availability.

How do I migrate from italki to Preply?

You can search for similar tutors on Preply by language and price. Preply offers AI matching to suggest tutors based on your goals. Export your italki tutor list, then use Preply's filters to find comparable profiles. Trial lessons are available at reduced rates.

Is Preply good for kids learning English?

Yes, Preply has many tutors specializing in teaching children. You can filter by 'kids' specialty and read reviews from parents. Lessons are customizable with games and activities. However, you must supervise to ensure consistency; there's no parental dashboard.

Preply: Pricing, Features & Alternatives in 2026

Preply: Pricing, Features & Alternatives in 2026 | RightAIChoice

Editorial Verdict

Best for

Learners seeking one-on-one language tutoring with a vast selection of tutors from around the world.Professionals needing Business English or corporate language training for teams.Students preparing for exams like IELTS with specialized tutors.Parents looking for online English or Spanish classes for their children.Adult learners wanting conversational practice in a language of their choice.

Not ideal for

Learners who prefer self-paced, app-based learning without human interaction.Those on a very tight budget, as tutors set their own rates.People who want a structured, fixed curriculum (e.g., traditional classroom course).Users looking for free language learning resources with no payment.Individuals uncomfortable with selecting from many tutor options.

Preply is a top choice for learners who want flexible, one-on-one language tutoring with a huge pool of vetted tutors. It's ideal for motivated self-starters but may overwhelm beginners with too many choices. Strong for business training too.

Last verified: June 2026

Behind the Verdict

Preply excels when you want a human tutor tailored to your needs—whether you're a busy professional needing Business English, a parent looking for kids' classes, or a traveler preparing for a trip. The sheer variety (120+ subjects, 180+ nationalities) means you can find a specialist for niche goals. However, if you prefer structured curriculum or self-paced apps (like Duolingo), Preply's marketplace model might feel overwhelming. The closest alternative is italki, but Preply offers a slightly larger tutor base and a satisfaction guarantee. Real-world caveat: consistency depends on your tutor; quality can vary. The platform itself is solid, but you'll need to trial a few tutors to find your match. For corporate training, Preply offers dedicated programs, making it a competitor to Rosetta Stone for Business. Overall, Preply is best for learners who value personalization and are willing to invest time in selecting a tutor.

Skip Preply if Skip Preply if you need a fixed, low monthly price or prefer app-only self-study without live interaction.

Latest from Preply

We're gathering recent updates for Preply from changelogs, press, Hacker News, and social. Check back in a day or two.

Viability Score

80/100

Safe Bet

How likely is Preply to still be operational in 12 months? Based on 6 signals including funding, development activity, and platform risk.

funding runway

website health

github activity

category mortality

wrapper dependency

100

hyperscaler overlap

About Preply

Preply is an online language learning platform that connects students with over 100,000 experienced tutors worldwide. It offers personalized one-on-one tutoring in more than 120 subjects, including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, and many more. With tutors from 180+ nationalities and 300,000+ 5-star reviews, Preply helps learners find a tutor who matches their goals, schedule, and budget. The platform features a user-friendly app, a satisfaction guarantee (try another tutor for free if not satisfied), and corporate training options for businesses. Preply emphasizes a structured learning journey: find a tutor, start tailored lessons, and make consistent progress. It stands out for its massive tutor selection and flexible scheduling, positioning itself as a marketplace rather than a rigid curriculum provider.

Researching Preply? Skip the guesswork.

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Key Features

100,000+ experienced tutors
120+ subjects taught
180+ tutor nationalities
Personalized one-on-one lessons
Tailored learning goals per lesson
Free trial lesson with a different tutor if unsatisfied
Flexible scheduling
Online tutoring via app and web
Corporate language training
Business English courses
IELTS tutors
English classes for kids

Real-world workflow fit

Concrete scenarios for the personas Preply actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.

Busy professional

You need to improve business English for presentations. You search Preply for 'Business English' tutors, filter by availability in your time zone, and book a trial lesson with a tutor who has corporate experience.

Outcome: Within a week, you have weekly 30-minute sessions focused on presentation vocabulary and receive personalized feedback, tracked in Proven Progress.

University student

You're preparing for the IELTS exam in two months. You use Preply's AI matching to find a top-rated IELTS tutor, then purchase a 20-lesson package for a discounted rate.

Outcome: You take mock tests during lessons, review writing assignments via messaging, and see your predicted band score improve each week.

Parent

You want your 8-year-old to learn Spanish. You browse tutors who specialize in kids and schedule three 25-minute lessons per week.

Outcome: The tutor uses games and songs; your child stays engaged and starts using basic phrases after two weeks.

Use Cases

Take personalized 1-on-1 Spanish lessons from a native speaker in Mexico to improve conversational fluency.
Prepare for the IELTS exam with a specialized tutor who provides mock tests and feedback on writing.
Learn Japanese for business travel using a tutor who focuses on keigo and professional vocabulary.
Boost your French accent and listening skills through daily short sessions with a tutor from Paris.
Get your child started with English using a tutor experienced in teaching kids with fun activities.
Maintain German proficiency for work by scheduling weekly lessons with a tutor who aligns with your industry jargon.

Limitations

Pricing is set per tutor, making it hard to predict costs without browsing many profiles. The free tier only allows browsing and matching; actual lessons require payment. Quality varies significantly between tutors, and there is no standard curriculum or certification beyond individual tutor expertise. Advanced learners may find fewer tutors for niche languages or specialized fields.

12-month cost

Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.

Plan

Annual total

$60

Over 12 months

Effective monthly

Billed monthly

Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.

Plans compared

For each published Preply tier: who it actually fits, and what it adds vs. the previous tier. Cross-reference the cost calculator above for projected annual outlay.

Per-Lesson Pricing

Varies by tutor ($5–$50+/hour)

Ideal for

Learners who want flexibility to try different tutors without commitment.

What this tier adds

Starting tier; pay per lesson at tutor's set rate ($5–$50/hour), with discounted trial.

Subscription Discounts

10-30% off per lesson when purchasing packages (4, 8, 20)

Ideal for

Regular learners committed to a specific tutor who want to save per lesson.

What this tier adds

10-30% off per lesson when buying packages of 4, 8, or 20 lessons from the same tutor.

Corporate Training

Contact for pricing

Hidden costs & gotchas

What the public pricing page doesn't put in bold. Captured from pricing-page footnotes, contract terms, and recurring complaints.

•Tutor rates vary from $5 to $50+/hour; no cap.
•Subscription discounts (10-30% off) require purchasing lesson packages (4, 8, 20 lessons).
•Trial lesson reduced rate, not free (unless tutor offers).
•Corporate training pricing is custom, not publicly listed.

Where the pricing makes sense

The company stage and team size where Preply's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.

Preply's per-tutor pricing fits learners who value flexibility over predictability. It's cheaper than traditional language schools ($50+/hour) but more expensive than app-only subscriptions like Duolingo ($13/month). Best for intermediate learners who can afford $15–30/hour for tailored 1-on-1 sessions. Budget learners may prefer italki (similar model) or Baselang (fixed $149/month for unlimited Spanish).

Setup time & first value

How long it actually takes to get something useful out of Preply — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.

As a student, you can create an account and start browsing tutors in under 5 minutes. Booking a trial lesson takes another 5 minutes once you've contacted a tutor. First lesson can be as early as the same day if the tutor has availability. For corporate training, setup takes 1-2 business days for initial consultation.

Switching to or from Preply

How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.

Migrating in

→From Duolingo: keep your vocabulary base; search Preply for tutors to practice conversation.
→From italki: similar model; import your preferred tutor list and compare rates.
→From a language school: cancel group classes; find a tutor on Preply for one-on-one flexibility.

Migrating out

↗To Duolingo: if you prefer gamified self-study at $13/month.
↗To Baselang: for unlimited Spanish lessons at $149/month fixed.
↗To Lingoda: for structured group classes with fixed curriculum.

Recent material changes

Pricing, brand, ownership, or deprecation changes worth knowing before you commit. Most-recent first.

•2026: Help Center updated with new articles; no material pricing or feature changes detected.
•2025: Preply introduced 'Proven Progress' feature for milestone tracking.
•2024: Corporate training platform rebranded as Preply Business.

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