Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
International Open Academy vs The TEFL Institute
What sets them apart
| Compare |  International Open Academy |  The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €129 | $40 |
| Certificate fee | €23.99 | $0 |
| Platform type | Subscription | Curated |
| Access period | 2 months | 6 monthsHigher |
| Price per month | €29.99 | Not confirmed |
| Price per year | €169 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 3 days |
| Number of courses | 300 | Not confirmed |
| Course languages | English, French, Spanish | Not confirmed |
| Offline downloads | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | Not confirmed | GB, US, CA, ZA, IN, AU, NZ, CN, RU, DE, FR, ES, NL, VN, AE, IT, PL, TH, TR |
Same on both: Free tier (No), Money-back period (14 days), Graded assessments (Yes), Team plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- The TEFL Institute scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Access period is higher at The TEFL Institute: 6 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only The TEFL Institute offers Phone, Community.
- Credit recognition: only The TEFL Institute offers Ofqual.
- Subjects: only International Open Academy offers Business.
Our verdict on each
International Open Academy
International Open Academy suits learners who want one subscription covering many subjects rather than a single certificate, and it prices below the certificate specialists. It holds an overall score of 8.7 out of ten, and the team plan makes it workable for a small group buying together.
The TEFL Institute
The TEFL Institute fits readers who want a single online route to a TEFL certificate: the exam fee is included, tutor support and job support come with it, and 120 hours of study ends in a certificate bundled with the course. The catch is no free tier and no practicum attached.
Score breakdown
| Area | International Open Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Subscription pricing starts at €129, monthly billing is €29.99 and yearly is €169, with a certificate fee of €23.99. | 9.2HigherEntry at $40 with a $0 certificate fee, so the certificate adds no charge of its own. |
| Offer | 8.7A subscription catalogue of 300 courses in English, French and Spanish, covering business and languages, with assessments yes and a team plan yes. | 8.9HigherAssessments, offline download and a team plan, with 6 months of access after enrolment. |
| Trust | 8.8Money back runs 14 days, and support runs on email and help centre. | 9.1HigherAccredited by deac with credit recognition for cpd and ofqual, from a provider founded in 2017. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | International Open Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 14 days | 14 days |
| Access period | 2 months | 6 months |
Licences and countries
| Country | International Open Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Ireland | Ireland |
A third option
Future Skills Academy has access period at 12 months, against 2 months for International Open Academy and 6 months for The TEFL Institute.
Future Skills Academy reviewHow they place
| Ranking | International Open Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 17 of 269 | 1 of 269 |
| Online professional certificates | 8 of 86 | 1 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | International Open Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Business, LanguagesCovers more | Languages |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional | Completion, Professional |
| Credit recognition | Cpd | Cpd, OfqualCovers more |
| Legal entity | North Royal Training Limited | The TEFL Institute Limited |
| Headquarters | Ireland | Ireland |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Certifications
| Fact | International Open Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Not confirmed | Tefl |
| Course hours | Not confirmed | 120 hours |
| Teaching practicum | Not confirmed | No |
| Accreditation | Not confirmed | Deac |
| Exam fee included | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Tutor support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Job support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | Not confirmed | 2 to 4 |
| Delivery | Not confirmed | Online |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | International Open Academy | The TEFL Institute | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | €29.99above the median | Not confirmed | €29.45 |
| Price per year | €169below the median | Not confirmed | €180 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 3 dayslowest quarter | 14 days |
| Money-back period | 14 daysat the median | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 300above the median | Not confirmed | 240 |
| Access period | 2 monthslowest quarter | 6 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 169 listed providers.
Pros and cons
International Open Academy
Pros
- A single subscription price of €29.99 covers 300 courses, so the cost per course falls as study volume rises.
- The yearly option at €169 costs less per year than paying the monthly rate, which is the cheaper choice for steady learners.
- Courses run in English, French and Spanish, which suits learners who want to study in a second language.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no live channel listed for questions that cannot wait for email.
- There is no free tier, so the 14 day money back window is the only way to test the subscription before paying for a longer period.
- The certificate is not included in the subscription, so €23.99 sits on top of €29.99 for anyone who needs the document.
The TEFL Institute
Pros
- The exam fee is included in the course price, so there is no separate exam payment to budget for on top of tuition.
- The advanced TEFL course runs 120 hours of study, with a completion pace of 2 to 4 weeks for anyone planning a study schedule.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so a phone line and a help centre sit alongside email during the course.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so the only no-cost option is the test TEFL course that runs 3 days.
- The certification carries no practicum, so supervised classroom practice has to be arranged outside the programme.
- A free trial length of 3 days places The TEFL Institute low on that measure among the brands compared here.
Who each suits
International Open Academy
Who it suits
- Learners who want broad business and languages study on one subscription instead of a single course purchase
- Anyone budgeting monthly, since the monthly and yearly plans let you switch between a smaller and a larger commitment
- Groups and small teams that want a shared subscription and completion or professional certificates
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who only need a professional certificate in a regulated field, who will find DRCertifications cheaper at $19.99 for a single route
- Anyone who wants to browse before paying, since there is no free tier and no trial to sample the catalogue
- Learners after a wide technology catalogue, who get more subject choice from Hotmart
The TEFL Institute
Who it suits
- Learners who want a TEFL certificate with the exam fee already included and no separate certificate charge.
- Anyone who wants tutor support and job support built into the same course rather than sold as an add-on.
- Schools and employers buying training for several teachers, since a team plan is offered and lessons can be downloaded for offline study.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers set on the lowest entry price should start with DRCertifications, listed at $19.99.
- Anyone after a free catalogue to browse rather than a paid certificate should compare Hotmart, listed at $0.
- Shoppers after a fitness qualification rather than a TEFL certificate should compare Academy for Health and Fitness, listed at £25.
Current offers
The TEFL Institute
Current offer
Free trial
Free 3-Day Level 5 Diploma Trial: 3 days
Sample 3 real Level 5 Diploma modules with unlimited access over 3 days
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Questions about each
International Open Academy
How much does International Open Academy cost to start?+
The entry price is €129, and the platform runs as a subscription rather than a one off purchase. Monthly billing is €29.99 and the yearly plan is €169. Buyers who already know they will study for a full year find the yearly rate the cheaper commitment.
Is there a certificate included in the subscription?+
No. The certificate is charged separately at €23.99, on top of the subscription. Two types are offered, completion and professional, so a learner taking a single course or a longer route can pick the document that matches the course. Budget the fee on top of €29.99 if you plan to pay monthly.
The TEFL Institute
How much does a TEFL certificate from The TEFL Institute cost?+
The listed entry price is $40 and the certificate fee is $0, so the certificate is not a separate charge added on afterwards. Read those lines together rather than the headline figure alone. A cheaper starting price elsewhere does not always mean a cheaper finished certificate, since certificate charges often sit outside the entry number.
Can I try The TEFL Institute for free before paying?+
There is no free tier, so nothing on the paid catalogue opens at no cost. What is free is a test TEFL course that runs 3 days, long enough to see how the material is organised and how the assessments are framed. It samples the course rather than granting permanent free access, so the paid course still has to be budgeted for.
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