Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
International TEFL Academy vs The TEFL Institute
International TEFL Academy vs The TEFL Institute: the differences
| Compare |  International TEFL Academy |  The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1,299 | $205Lower |
| Course hours | 170 hoursHigher | 120 hours |
| Teaching practicum | YesHas it | No |
| Qualification level | Level 5 | Level 3 |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | 11 | 2 to 4 |
| Money-back period | 2 days | 14 daysHigher |
Same on both: Certification type (Tefl), Tutor support (Yes), Job support (Yes).
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Key differences
- The TEFL Institute scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Price from is lower at The TEFL Institute: $205 vs $1,299.
- Course hours is higher at International TEFL Academy: 170 hours vs 120 hours.
- Teaching practicum: only International TEFL Academy.
- Money-back period is higher at The TEFL Institute: 14 days vs 2 days.
- Founded is lower at International TEFL Academy: 2010 vs 2017.
- Delivery: only International TEFL Academy offers In person.
Our verdict on each
International TEFL Academy
International TEFL Academy is the costly, thorough option in this TEFL group, suiting trainee teachers who want assessed coursework and a practicum. The course runs 170 hours with Ofqual accreditation behind it, while the $1,299 fee sits well above the cheaper rivals here.
The TEFL Institute
The TEFL Institute suits adults who want a tefl certificate without classroom hours, since the course runs online for 120 hours and carries no practicum. Entry fees of $205 leave room in a tight budget, though schools that require observed teaching will pass.
Score breakdown
| Area | International TEFL Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Cost scores 8.4 on a $1,299 entry fee, ranking 71 of 87 brands. | 9.0HigherCourse fees start $205 and the certificate fee is €0, with a 14 days money-back period. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherOffer scores 9.1 with 170 hours, a practicum, tutor support and job support in the plan. | 9.0A 120 hour tefl certificate with assessments, tutor support and job support, online only. |
| Trust | 8.8HigherTrust scores 8.8 on Ofqual accreditation, Ofqual credit recognition and a named legal entity founded 2010. | 8.2Registrants can draw on email and phone, backed by 14 days and access for 6 months. |
Where these facts come from
International TEFL Academy
- internationalteflacademy.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
The TEFL Institute
- tefl.ie: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | International TEFL Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 158 of 269 | 130 of 269 |
| Online professional certificates | 60 of 86 | 46 of 86 |
| TEFL courses | 11 of 14 | 8 of 14 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | International TEFL Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | Ofqual | Not confirmed |
| Delivery | Online, In personCovers more | Online |
| Legal entity | INTERNATIONAL TEFL ACADEMY, INC. | The TEFL Institute Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | Ireland |
| Founded | 2010Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Phone |
Online courses
| Fact | International TEFL Academy | The TEFL Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 3 days |
| Platform type | Curated | Curated |
| Subjects | Languages | Languages |
| Certificate types | Professional | Completion, ProfessionalCovers more |
| Credit recognition | Ofqual | Ofqual, CpdCovers more |
| Access period | Not confirmed | 6 months |
| Graded assessments | Yes | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | International TEFL Academy | The TEFL Institute | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1,299highest quarter | $205above the median | $79 |
| Course hours | 170 hourshighest quarter | 120 hoursabove the median | 60 hours |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | 11above the median | 2 to 4lowest quarter | 6 |
| Money-back period | 2 dayslowest quarter | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
Median across 52 listed providers.
Pros and cons
International TEFL Academy
Pros
- Ofqual accreditation and Ofqual credit recognition sit behind the certificate, at a Level 5 qualification.
- The 170 hour course is the largest in the TEFL group, where the typical programme runs 120 hours.
- A practicum, tutor support and job support are all part of the plan, so classroom hours come before the job search.
Cons
- The $1,299 entry fee is the highest of the group, against $249 at International TEFL and TESOL Training and £169.50 at TEFL Global.
- There is no free tier, so nothing can be read or sampled before the fee is paid.
- The money-back window is 2 days, the shortest in this TEFL group, where the typical window runs 14 days.
The TEFL Institute
Pros
- Certificate fees come to €0, so the award adds nothing to the course price
- The course runs 120 hours with assessments included, at a Level 3 qualification level
- Job support comes with the certificate, which matters more to new teachers than course hours alone
Cons
- The course carries no practicum, so anyone needing observed classroom teaching has to look at a provider that includes it
- Price from $205 puts the budget floor well above TEFL Global at £169.50
- Course access lasts 6 months, which is short for anyone spreading study around full-time work
Who each suits
International TEFL Academy
Who it suits
- Trainee teachers who want a long programme with a practicum and an Ofqual accredited certificate.
- Learners who can pay the entry fee in one go and commit to the 11 week completion schedule.
- People who want both online and in-person options, or support by phone as well as email.
Who should look elsewhere
- TEFL Global, for buyers who rank the entry fee first: £169.50 sits well below the $1,299 charged here.
- International TEFL and TESOL Training, for anyone taking the cheapest route to a TEFL certificate at $249.
- The TEFL Institute, for buyers who would rather pay $205 than $1,299 for the same credential type.
The TEFL Institute
Who it suits
- Adults training to teach English online or abroad on a tight budget
- Readers who want a certificate that lists ofqual and cpd for professional development
- Learners who prefer self-paced study and can finish inside 2 to 4 weeks
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs observed classroom practice, since there is no practicum
- Readers who want live chat support, as the channels are email and phone
- Anyone set on a Cambridge CELTA, where Oxford TEFL starts at €1,650
Questions about each
International TEFL Academy
How much does International TEFL Academy charge?+
The listed entry price is $1,299 for the TEFL certification course. That sits well above International TEFL and TESOL Training at $249 and The TEFL Institute at $205, so the fee is the first thing to weigh before anything else on the page.
Is there a free tier or a trial period?+
There is no free tier on International TEFL Academy. The nearest thing to a trial is the money-back window of 2 days, the shortest in this TEFL group, where the typical window runs 14 days. That leaves little room to change your mind once the course is underway.
The TEFL Institute
How much does the TEFL Institute course cost?+
Course fees start at $205, and the certificate fee that often sits on top of tuition is €0 here. So the figure a student budgets for is the entry price, with no separate award charge layered on afterwards. Money-back cover of 14 days applies to the purchase.
Is there a free trial or free tier?+
There is no free tier on paid plans, but a free test course is available for 3 days. That gives readers a sample of the material before they buy a full place. The sample sits apart from the paid certificate, which carries the assessments and tutor support.