Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
italki vs Preply
italki vs Preply: the differences
| Compare |  italki |  Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5 | €2 |
| Lesson price from | $5 | €2 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, Arabic | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Korean, Hindi, IndonesianCovers more |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 90 | 25 to 50 |
| Free trial length | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 90 |
| Offline use | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: AI conversation practice (Yes), Kids version (Yes).
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Key differences
- Free tier: only italki.
- Support channels: only Preply offers Email, Chat.
- Founded is lower at italki: 2006 vs 2012.
- Languages: only Preply offers Polish, Dutch, Turkish.
- Learning method: only italki offers Live group.
- Learning method: only Preply offers App.
Our verdict on each
italki
italki suits learners who want live tutor time rather than self study app drills, and its 30 day trial gives room to try teachers before paying. The trade-off sits in pricing: lessons start at $5, and regular sessions cost more than that entry figure.
Preply
Preply suits learners who want live lessons with a tutor they choose, and parents learning alongside a child. Each tutor sets their own price, so the €2 entry point says little about the bill you run up over a term. There is no free tier, so the first lesson is a purchase.
Score breakdown
| Area | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Lessons start at $5, and that lesson price ranks 2 of 6 brands among tutor platforms. | 9.8HigherEntry sits at €2, ranking 8 of 35 brands compared, with a 12 hours cancellation window. |
| Offer | 9.1A free tier, a 30 day trial and the live formats in live 1to1 and live group cover most ways learners begin. | 9.2Higherfrom 100,000 tutors, 90 languages, ai conversation practice, offline lessons and a kids version on one account. |
| Trust | 9.8HigherFounded in 2006 and run by italki HK Limited with its base in HK, italki has a long trading record. | 9.3Screened tutors with background checks, a switch or full refund if the trial lesson disappoints, and support on email, chat and help centre. |
What we checked
italki
- italki.com: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- support.italki.com: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- company.italki.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Preply
- preply.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Online language tutors and classes | 1 of 25 | 2 of 25 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | Live 1to1, Live group | Live 1to1, App |
| Legal entity | italki HK Limited | Preply Inc. |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | United States |
| Founded | 2006Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Tutoring
| Fact | italki | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Median lesson price | Not confirmed | €26 |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Math, English, Languages, School |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | from 100,000 |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Cancellation notice | Not confirmed | 12 hours |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | Free switch to another tutor or a full refund if the trial lesson disappoints |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | italki | Preply | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 30 dayshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 90above the median | 41 |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 90at the median | 25 to 50below the median | 30 |
Median across 25 listed providers.
Pros and cons
italki
Pros
- A free tier and a 30 day trial let you test the platform before paying, and the trial length ranks 1 of 21 brands.
- Lessons start at $5, and that entry lesson price ranks 2 of 6 brands among tutor platforms.
- Tutors cover English, Japanese and Spanish, so most learners find a teacher for the language they are studying.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so an urgent booking problem waits in a queue rather than reaching a person on the phone.
- The $5 entry price is above ErsteNachhilfe's €1.99 start and SpanishPod101's $4, so it is not the cheapest opening offer here.
- The $5 figure is a floor: the middle lesson price across the brands we price sits at €44.31, so regular sessions cost more than the headline number.
Preply
Pros
- You choose the tutor from a pool of from 100,000, so a weak match is a change rather than a commitment.
- A trial lesson that disappoints can be swapped for another tutor or refunded in full, and the cancellation window is 12 hours.
- Ai conversation practice and offline lessons mean study continues on days with no live session.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so nothing can be tried before paying.
- Tutors set their own prices, so the €2 entry is not the bill: the median lesson is €26.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, so there is no phone line when a booking goes wrong.
Who each suits
italki
Who it suits
- Learners who want live speaking practice with a tutor instead of self study drills.
- Learners working on English, Japanese and Spanish, who prefer teacher feedback to app exercises.
- People starting small, since lessons begin at $5 and a free tier is available to try the platform first.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers chasing the lowest entry price, since SpanishPod101 and FrenchPod101 list $4 and $4 to start.
- Learners who want help on the phone or in live chat, because support runs on help centre only.
- Anyone budgeting on a single flat monthly fee, since italki prices each lesson from $5 instead.
Preply
Who it suits
- Learners who want live speaking practice and are happy to interview tutors until the match works.
- Parents who want adult lessons and a kids version under the same account, with 90 languages available.
- Anyone who values a switch or a full refund after a trial lesson more than a fixed course.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bunpro, because it costs $0 and suits anyone unwilling to pay per lesson from the first booking.
- Phase6, because a course at €0 is a smaller commitment than lessons at the €26 median.
- Reading Eggs, because one entry payment of £6.99 is easier on a fixed budget than a per lesson bill.
Questions about each
italki
How much does a lesson cost on italki?+
italki bills per lesson rather than by subscription. Entry pricing starts at $5, and the cheapest single lesson on the platform is listed at $5. Because each tutor sets their own rate, a first session at $5 is a floor rather than a typical bill.
Is there a free trial, and how long does it last?+
Yes. italki offers a free tier, so you can look through teachers and the platform before paying, and its trial runs 30 days. That trial length ranks 1 of 21 brands in our comparison, which is longer than most tutor and app trials.
Preply
How much does a Preply lesson cost?+
The cheapest tutor on Preply is €2 for a lesson, and the median lesson is €26. Every tutor sets their own rate, so what you pay depends on who you book and rises as you move toward experienced teachers. Preply ranks 1 of 6 compared brands on the cheapest lesson price.
Is there a free tier or a free trial lesson?+
There is no free tier, so nothing on Preply is free to use. What stands in its place is cover on the opening lesson: if the trial lesson disappoints, you can switch to another tutor or take a full refund. With lessons of 25 to 50 minutes, the first booking is small enough to treat as a test.