Preply Online Tutors: Game-Changer or Just Another Platform?

Looking to master a new language? You’ve surely heard of language learning apps like Duolingo and Babbel, but have you considered online language tutoring? 

This brings us to Preply, a human-led language learning platform which connects you to tens of thousands of experienced language tutors, covering every popular language you can think of: English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Arabic, and so on.

But is Preply any good? How does it work? And what’s the experience like for language learners? Our reviewer trialled the platform to provide you with a full breakdown of Preply’s features, processes, pros and cons.

What is Preply?

Founded in 2012, Preply is a global online tutoring marketplace which is all about helping language learners speak with confidence. It’s designed for learners looking for one-on-one, personalized language tutoring over an app or a communal class, and connects would-be students with thousands of experienced tutors.  

Apps like Duolingo are usually self-paced and more about passive learning (with features like vocabulary matching, grammar drills, etc.) while Preply’s focus is on real-time interaction and personalized teaching methods. You get to choose a human tutor, schedule one-on-one video sessions, and get instant, honest feedback on your progress.

How does Preply work?

Preply isn’t really a language learning tool in the traditional sense. Known for its proven, personalized language learning model, Preply brings together language learners and tutors from all over the world, and helps students select the best tutor based on their individual learning needs and preferences. Think of it a bit like Airbnb, but for language learning.

As a learner, I found using Preply really straightforward. Here’s a rough outline of the process:

1. You answer a few questions about your language preferences, current knowledge levels etc. and Preply matches you with the most suitable tutors.
2. You select a tutor, and usually you’ll have the option of a no-commitment trial session to see if the tutor’s teaching style suits you.
3. If you’re happy to continue with the tutor, you’ll typically commit to a weekly package (most courses involve around 1-3 sessions per week).
4. You attend your lessons via Preply’s integrated virtual “classroom”, which is just like a video call. There’s also a virtual whiteboard, notes and flashcards.

Preply’s key features

• Global tutor marketplace. Preply connects over 100,000 experienced tutors (across 90+ languages and 120+ subjects) to students in more than 180 countries. You can browse tutors based on price, native language, specialties, availability, and reviews.
• Trial lessons. Most tutors offer a trial session so you can see how you “vibe” with them. If you decide not to continue, you can simply trial another tutor.
• Flexible scheduling. You book lessons based on your own availability. There are tutors in most time zones, and you can easily reschedule sessions through the platform.
• Live 1-on-1 sessions. Sessions are conducted via Preply Classroom, a built-in video platform. Features include note-taking and document-sharing tools.
• Customized learning. With Preply, there’s no fixed “curriculum”. Your lessons are tailored to your goals, and can include help with grammar, pronunciation improvement, and so on.
• Subscription-based model. You choose how many lessons you’d like to have each week (usually one, two or three) and prepay monthly.
• Wide subject coverage. Preply isn’t just a language learning marketplace. You can also find tutors for math, coding, exam prep, and even music theory.
• Business learning options. Companies can set up team-wide learning plans, which is ideal for international teams working in multilingual environments.

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How easy is Preply’s signup process?

Really easy. You start with the “matching” process, where you answer a few basic questions and Preply’s AI-powered matching tool recommends the best tutors for you based on what you’re specifically looking for, considering factors like your availability and budget. 

When I trialled the platform, I was matched with a number of tutors and signed up for a trial session with one. There was no obligation to commit to a monthly contract or anything at this stage (so I felt confident giving it a go) and actually decided to continue with the tutor, since we clicked well and she had the kind of firm yet reassuring teaching style I prefer.

When you decide to continue, there’s a little more commitment involved. But Preply is actually still really flexible. I pre-paid for a month’s worth of sessions, and was informed I could cancel at any time (just as long as I did so before my next payment was due).

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What is the learning experience like?

This one is a bit harder to answer, since it really depends on the tutor you select. Preply’s tutor matching process is really helpful in ensuring you end up with a tutor you feel comfortable with. Each one has a short video intro which helps you get a sense of their personality, and the reviews from previous students are useful for understanding what the sessions will be like. 

From a personal perspective, I was looking for a French tutor to improve my fluency in French (I had a basic grasp of the language but wanted to be more confident in conversational settings) and was matched with a number of tutors. I found the options it gave me really suited what it was I was looking for, and in fact, choosing a tutor I liked the sound of only took a matter of minutes.

The sessions themselves were great because they felt completely tailored to my needs. My tutor took the time to ask about my goals and panned and adjusted the lessons accordingly. We covered everyday topics like travel and work scenarios, which made the lessons feel practical and genuinely useful. I wasn’t just learning phrases like, “Where is the library, please?”

I appreciated how the tutor corrected me gently as we went, noting patterns in my mistakes and offering better ways to express myself in French, all without disrupting the flow of conversation.

Generally, I’d agree with the Reddit user on this Preply student reviews thread, who argues that Preply works so well because “there is no better way to learn a language than by speaking it with real people in actual conversation”.

How much does Preply cost?

Again, this all depends on the tutor. The cost can vary quite significantly depending on who you decide to go with. Some tutors charge as little as $10 per hour (perfect for more budget-conscious learners) while the most experienced tutors might cost $30 or more for an hour-long session.

Generally, it seems the average you’ll pay for a Preply tutor is somewhere between $15 and $20, but it’s really down to what you can afford and how much you hope to get out of the sessions. For my money, I think you get really good value when you consider how efficient and personalized the whole experience is.

Preply’s biggest pros

✔️ There’s a huge selection of tutors. There are literally thousands of tutors on the platform, and Preply’s matching process helps you find someone who suits your learning style and budget.

✔️ You can try before you buy (sort of). You get a trial first lesson so you can try out a tutor before you commit, and switch tutors if you’re not satisfied.

✔️ Lesson schedules are really flexible. You can book lessons whenever it suits you, and reschedule them easily if you can’t make a session.

✔️ The learning process is fully interactive. The Preply Classroom is more than just a Zoom-style video environment. You also have features like virtual whiteboards and file sharing so the tutoring is more interactive.

✔️ The experience feels very personal. Preply has a really personalized, learner-first approach, and you can tailor your lesson plans to your specific needs and learning style.

✔️ There’s no long-term commitment. You pay on a month-by-month basis, and you can cancel anytime before the next billing cycle.

Potential drawbacks of using Preply

❌ Tutor quality can vary. Preply’s vetting process is apparently pretty robust, but the teaching quality can be inconsistent, especially if you’re looking for low-budget options. 

❌ Self-motivation is required. There’s no fixed curriculum or any gamification elements, so you really need to be committed to the learning process.

❌ Costs can add up. While there are budget-friendly tutors and the subscriptions are flexible, higher-quality tutors don’t come cheap.

The verdict on Preply

Would I recommend Preply? If you’re looking for flexible, personalized language tutoring with no long-term subscription commitments, then absolutely yes. The tutor matching process is seamless and intuitive, and the fact you can trial a tutor before you sign up for a batch of sessions is really valuable. 

Of course, the quality of the lessons really depends on the tutor you select (Preply helps you with this, but it’s still on you to make the right choice) and the cost can vary based on the tutor’s experience, but overall my experience with Preply was really positive.