written by

Khawar Malik

first published

November 22, 2024

last updated

November 22, 2024

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italki vs preply: which platform is best for teaching languages online? 🤔

if you're an online language teacher wondering which platform is better for you—italki or preply—you're not alone. both platforms are popular, but each offers different benefits depending on your goals.

in this post, we'll compare italki and preply to help you decide where you fit best, and we’ll introduce somos as an alternative if you’re looking to build your own online language teaching business beyond just 1-on-1 classes.

italki vs preply: what are the basics?

italki and preply are two of the most well-known platforms for teaching languages online. both are great for connecting with students worldwide, but they cater to different styles of teaching and learning.

italki is known for being flexible—whether you’re offering informal conversation practice or more structured lessons, you can find students who are looking for your style of teaching. plus, the community vibe on italki encourages language exchange and makes it easy to build a loyal student base.

preply, on the other hand, has a more structured approach, which means it's a great choice if you're looking to provide formal lessons and exam prep. they also take extra care in curating their tutor pool, making it a good option for teachers who want a more guided teaching setup.

but what happens when you want more control over your business? or if you want to diversify beyond 1-on-1 classes? let’s dig deeper into their features and pricing.

features comparison: how do italki and preply stack up?

italki lets you set your own rates and gives you access to thousands of potential students. you can build your student base and decide how structured you want your lessons to be. it's ideal if you love the idea of community learning—there’s a ton of social interaction on the platform, like open discussion forums for language learners.

preply has a smaller pool of tutors but offers more guidance to both students and teachers. if you enjoy having a more formal lesson plan and prefer students who are looking for a structured approach, preply might be your go-to.

they also provide custom lesson plans that are tailored to individual goals—making it an ideal option if you like a more guided experience.

both platforms are designed for 1-on-1 teaching—but what if you want to teach more than just 1-on-1 classes?

pricing: what about commission rates? 💸

italki and preply have different pricing structures that impact both students and teachers.

• italki lets teachers set their own rates, typically generally ranging between $4 and $75 per hour. teachers pay a 15% commission fee on each lesson (but doesn’t charge commission on trial classes). there are also additional payment fees for students and teachers (learn more about payments at italki here.)

• preply's pricing starts at $5 per hour and goes up, usually sitting between $10-$50 for most tutors. their commission is higher, ranging from 18% to 33% depending on the number of lessons you've taught. they also charge 100% commission for every first class with a new student, which means you don’t get paid at all for your time (learn more about payments at preply here).

if you’re choosing between these platforms, consider not only what you’ll be charging but also how much commission will be deducted—this can significantly affect your take-home income. and if you want to see whether building a more balanced suite of offerings would suit your business better, try out our interactive comparison tool.

user experience: community vs structure

both platforms have their strengths, depending on what kind of experience you're looking for as a teacher.

• italki is great if you love community-driven experiences. they have messaging tools and discussion forums that help build relationships with students.

• preply is ideal if you want a more streamlined teaching experience—its intuitive dashboard lets you schedule lessons, message students, and keep everything in one place.

they’re both great for 1-on-1 teaching, but neither is designed to support teachers beyond just those private lessons. and that’s where somos comes in.

looking for an alternative? consider somos 🌱

somos is built for teachers who want more control. instead of taking a commission on every class you teach, somos offers you the chance to build an online teaching business in a way that’s sustainable (and hopefully more interesting!) for you as an educator.

here’s what makes somos different:

• giving you the tools to teach creatively: create a balanced teaching offer that includes group clubs, digital products, and even free community spaces for your students. 1-on-1 classes are still an option, but we help you diversify so you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.

• helping you keep your earnings: as a teacher-first platform, we don’t charge commission. your only charges are: payment processing fees to stripe + a 1% donation to our impact fund. somos charges 0% on transactions.

• control your refund, booking & cancellation policies: somos allows you to customize your refund, booking, and cancellation policies to match your needs as a teacher. this ensures your business operates on terms that work for you. our automated processes also allow for these to be handled for you in the back-end!

• generous referral scheme: when a language teacher joins through your referral link, you'll earn 20% of their subscription revenue every month... for as long as their subscription lasts! as an added bonus, you can make the incentive double-sided by including a discount code for your referral’s first payment!

the trade-offs:

• we know that building your own business can be challenging. finding students, marketing yourself, and managing the extra elements of an online teaching business isn’t easy.

• but if you’re ready to make the jump, our guide to building a language teaching business beyond 1-on-1 classes is full of tips and insights to help you get started.

if you're tired of commission cuts and just want a platform that supports your growth on your terms, somos might be the right fit for you.

conclusion: italki vs preply, or something else entirely?

italki and preply are both excellent options if you're looking to teach languages online and you’re comfortable staying within the 1-on-1 class model.

• italki is for you if you value flexibility and the chance to build a community feel with your students.

• preply is a great choice if you’re into structured teaching and like a curated pool of students looking for formal learning.

but if you're ready to build your own brand and go beyond 1-on-1 teaching with no commission cuts, then somosis here to support your journey.

→ interested in learning more? check out somos and see how you can grow your online teaching business today!

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