italki vs Preply: Are They Really The Same?
Maria Claudia Alvarado Published on September 20, 2023 
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If you want to learn a new language, finding a local tutor can be hard depending on where you live and which language you are studying. Luckily, there are many platforms that help you find someone to practice your target language from the comfort of your home. If you have been looking for one of these platforms, you may have heard about Preply or italki. They are both popular language learning websites that connect you with tutors for 1-on-1 online classes. However, only one has a secure platform that completely allows you to choose how many classes you want to take and when to take them, and that’s italki.
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italki and Preply are two massive online language learning platforms that connect you to a tutor no matter where you are. They are very similar, so it makes sense that people often compare the two. In this article, we’ll look at their pros and cons so you can decide where you want to go next.
italki vs Preply: A Quick Breakdown
Preply and italki both have a comprehensive selection of tutors and filters to help you find the right one for you. Both apps allow tutors to set their own prices and schedules, and create their lesson plans, but they have different booking systems. With Preply, you have to buy packages for a certain amount of class hours. italki has lesson packages, but you also have the option of buying one lesson individually. You can use Preply to study other subjects like art, literature, and science, whereas italki only has language classes available.
The table below shows you a direct comparison of italki and Preply based on their features, prices, and trial offers:
| italki | Preply |
|---|---|
| 150+ languages | 90+ languages |
| $4-$80 per lesson | $1-$40 per lesson |
| 1 trial lesson at a discounted price | 1 trial lesson at a discounted rate |
 | |
Preply vs italki: Cost Comparison
Each italki tutor sets the price for their lessons, which usually starts at $4.00 per lesson and goes up to $80.00 per lesson for more specialized topics. You can also get a discount if you buy multiple lessons at once. Most tutors offer a trial class at a discounted price to help you see if they are a good fit for you.
The price for Preply lessons can vary depending on the language you want to learn, but the range is often between $1-$40 per lesson. Each tutor chooses how much they charge per lesson, and Preply requires you to buy packages of a certain number of hours to take lessons with them. The app has 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20–hour packages. You can take a trial lesson at a discounted price to see if you like the tutor’s teaching method. If you are not happy with your trial, you can contact Preply and get another trial lesson with a different tutor for free.
While buying the exact number of classes you want might seem more flexible at first, especially if you’re just testing the waters with online tutoring, I’ve found that Preply’s lesson packages actually work better in the long run. Committing to a bundle of classes helped me stay consistent and make real progress, rather than drifting in and out of lessons. Preply is still flexible too, letting you reschedule, pause your plan, or even cancel if something comes up. On top of that, you get access to a bunch of extra learning resources. Preply is investing heavily in AI, so many of these tools are actually personalized based on your recent lessons with your tutor. If you’re serious about sticking with language learning, Preply makes it easier to stay focused and motivated.
If you’d like to see more options, we have more useful recommendations to help you achieve your language goals. Here are some similar alternatives:
italki vs Preply: How They Work
italki and Preply are language learning platforms that have a wide selection of tutors and languages. They both have scheduling charts to help you pick a teacher that fits your schedule and budget, as well as filters to find your perfect match. While iTalki uses regular filters, Preply uses machine learning to choose the tutor. italki allows you to take as many or as few lessons as you want. Preply offers a satisfaction guarantee but makes you buy packages.
Check out the table below to see how italki and Preply rate across the web:
| Reviews | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Store | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Google Play | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| TrustPilot | 4.3 | 4.1 |
| Total Average Score | 4.5 | 4.5 |
How italki Works
italki is an online learning platform and app that connects language learners with tutors from all around the world. It has filters that help you find a tutor based on criteria like the language you want to study, their native language, price, lesson type, and availability. italki also has two types of teachers: Community Tutors and Professional Teachers. Community Teachers are native speakers or advanced language students who can help you practice conversation or other common topics, while Professional Teachers are certified professionals with language teaching experience.
Each tutor has a profile page with their bio and an introduction video to tell you more about their personality. They list the type of lessons that they offer and their rates, but you can also contact them if you’d like to study something specific. Each teacher’s profile has their schedule, short bio, and past students’ ratings you can read to learn more about their teaching method.
italki has private and group lessons available you take through the italki Classroom. There are additional interactive practice activities for you to complete outside of class, and a community forum you can use to interact with tutors and other students in italki.
If you’re interested, you can learn more about the app in this italki review.
How Preply Works
Preply is a language learning platform that helps you find a tutor no matter where you are located. It has more than 100,000 tutors available to teach the 90+ languages it offers. You can use filters to find the best tutor for you based on the language you want to study, prices, where the tutors are from, availability, specialties, and even specific words – this comes handy if you want a teacher with the same interests as you.. Like italki, Preply provides different options. You can learn with a regular tutor, a Super Tutor, or a professional tutor. A regular tutor is a native speaker or an advanced language student, and they can turn into a Super Tutor once they have enough positive ratings and experience. A professional tutor, on the other hand, is always a certified language instructor.
If you want to learn more about a tutor, you can visit their profile page to read their bios and watch their introduction video. Once you choose a teacher, you can pick an open time slot in their schedule to book a class with them. The lessons take place in the Preply Classroom (Space).
Preply offers packages of class time you can buy, and most tutors provide a discounted trial lesson. If you’re not satisfied with your first class, Preply lets you try another tutor at no extra cost. What’s great is that Preply doesn’t just stop at the lesson. With your subscription, you also get access to tools that support your progress between classes. These include a speaking tracker, regular progress tests, and daily vocabulary practice. There’s also an AI-powered speaking feature to help you correct your mistakes done during the lesson. Plus, you can explore courses based on your interests and receive personalized exercises created by your tutor through Preply’s AI Teaching Assistant. Just keep in mind that not all features are available for every language yet.
Learn more about the app in the Preply review.
italki: What We Like (and Don’t Like)
italki offers a wide variety of languages to help you find a tutor no matter what you want to study. The app has great flexibility and allows you to choose what you study next and how many lessons you want to take. Instead of being forced to buy lesson packages or plans, you can choose to have as many (or as few) classes as you want with a tutor. If you are trying to pick the best tutor for your learning style, most italki tutors have a discounted trial lesson available to help you try out their teaching method.
You can also use italki if you are looking for tutors that teach specialized topics like medical language. You can take classes with Professional Teachers to make sure you are getting the most accurate information, but continue developing your vocabulary and speaking skills with Community Tutors. italki’s Professional Teachers are certified educators with teaching experience, so you can trust them with more complicated subjects.
One of the downsides to using an online platform like italki, is that it can’t control the way tutors teach. While it would be easy to assume that teachers on italki charge more because they have more experience, this isn’t always the case. I’d highly recommend checking their ratings and reviews beforehand to ensure you have the best experience. Reading past students’ reviews can give you a general idea of the tutor’s quality and if people find that their teaching style is effective or not.
It’s worth noting that italki doesn’t provide a set curriculum, which means that their tutors create their own lesson plans. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on what you practice, but it can cause setbacks if you are constantly changing tutors. It’d be best to stick with a couple of tutors you really like.
Preply: What We Like (and Don’t Like)
If you are on the fence about using the Preply platform, its satisfaction guarantee makes a difference. Even if you just want to take a trial lesson to see if you like taking online classes, if for some reason the tutor you chose doesn’t meet your expectations, Preply can refund your money or help you book a lesson with a different tutor.
Preply is a well-known language learning platform, but it also has other options available. You can use Preply to prepare for an IELTS or TOEFL exam, work on your pronunciation, or study other subjects like Finances or Art History. The app even has lessons for kids with tutors who have experience teaching children.
At first, what I didn’t like about Preply was that once you take the trial lesson, you’re automatically expected to commit to a 4‑hour package for that month, which felt a bit rigid. It didn’t give you the freedom to decide week by week, and especially if you use multiple tutors, it offered little flexibility.
However, after trying it, I realized it has a positive side: this setup encourages you to schedule at least one lesson per week. Having that minimum structure can be really helpful, consistency is key in language learning. In fact, many educators argue that a regular weekly lesson helps reinforce material, maintain momentum, and build a habit of study . If you’re serious about making real progress, committing to one lesson per week is often exactly the way forward.
italki or Preply: Which is better?
Choosing between italki and Preply can be hard if you don’t distinguish the key differences between these two platforms. They have similar filters, trial offers, and flexibility. But, after you take a closer look, choosing the right one might not be so hard.
The whole point of hiring a tutor for online classes is to be able to change the schedule and lesson plan to adapt to your needs. With that said, italki and Preply can both successfully connect you with a tutor for personalized online lessons, and both platforms have pros and cons. While there may occasionally be scheduling hiccups on Preply, the platform offers a satisfaction guarantee to make sure your experience stays on track. On the other hand, italki offers more flexibility.
italki is more ideal for casual learners or complete beginners because you can book as many or as few lessons as you want. For serious learners, this flexibility may lead to a lack of structure or long breaks between sessions. If you’re serious about learning a new language, Preply’s structured approach may be the better option. It offers multi-lesson packages and clear learning goals, and helps learners stay consistent, engaged, and motivated. Moreover, Preply offers an integrated platform with tools like a virtual classroom, interactive exercises, and AI‑powered placement tests, boosting the learning experience. Overall, if you’re looking to make steady long-term progress, Preply is the stronger choice.
Preply or italki: FAQ
Preply is a legit tutoring platform that can connect you with tutors for 1-1 classes. The app has thousands of tutors ready to help you develop your language skills. Preply also offers specialized lessons for test prep, medical language, pronunciation, and more.
italki can connect you with a tutor to practice conversation, but you need to work on all the areas of language if you want to be fluent. You can look for tutors to help you develop specific skills or write to them for more specialized lessons. Many tutors also provide additional practice materials.
Preply is a good way to practice speaking a language, but you can also study other topics like vocabulary or grammar. Preply tutors prepare their own lesson plans and adapt them to your needs. You can use Preply to learn a language as a hobby, get ready for a trip, or reach the next level of language.
Italki isn’t free. Each tutor on the app chooses the price for their lessons, so there’s an option for all budgets. Most tutors also offer a trial lesson at a discounted price so you can see if you like their teaching style before booking more classes.
1 Comment
Ivan says:
I used both Preply and italki and I prefer italki because on Preply I need to buy packages which is really impractical. Also there seem to be more teachers at italki and you can get them for cheaper (especially when the lessons are 60min instead of 50min like on Preply). I also like the italki calendar and payment method more.