Updated October 17, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Mandarin Blueprint vs Preply
Preply
Higher score in this comparison
Mandarin Blueprint
What sets them apart
| Compare | Mandarin BlueprintReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | PreplyReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,000 | €2 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Languages | Mandarin Chinese | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Korean, Hindi, Indonesian |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 | 25 to 50 |
| AI conversation practice | No | YesHas it |
| Kids version | No | YesHas it |
| Lifetime price | $2,000 | Not confirmed |
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | €2 |
| Free trial length | 28 days | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 28 days | Not confirmed |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 90 |
| Highest CEFR level | C1 | Not confirmed |
| Speech recognition | No | Not confirmed |
| Certificate | No | Not confirmed |
| Family subscription | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Offline use (Yes).
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Key differences
- Preply scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.3.
- Free tier: only Mandarin Blueprint.
- AI conversation practice: only Preply.
- Kids version: only Preply.
- Support channels: only Mandarin Blueprint offers Community.
- Support channels: only Preply offers Chat, Help centre.
- Languages: only Mandarin Blueprint offers Mandarin Chinese.
- Languages: only Preply offers English, Spanish, French.
Our verdict on each
Mandarin Blueprint
Mandarin Blueprint suits learners who want a single Mandarin track with app study, offline access and live teaching in a single paid programme. The trade-off is commitment: the lifetime fee is the whole price, eased by a trial of 28 days and a full refund if it is not the right fit.
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 | Mandarin Blueprint | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.0Entry price and lifetime price read $2,000 and $2,000, the same figure on both counts, a single payment rather than a monthly bill. | 9.8HigherEntry sits at €2, ranking 8 of 35 brands compared, with a 12 hours cancellation window. |
| Offer | 8.6A free tier, lessons of 30 minutes, and progress tracked to C1 within a single Mandarin track. | 9.2Higherfrom 100,000 tutors, 90 languages, ai conversation practice, offline lessons and a kids version on one account. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.3Screened tutors with background checks, a switch or full refund if the trial lesson disappoints, and support on email, chat and help centre. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Mandarin Blueprint | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Choosing between them
Pick Mandarin Blueprint if free tier matter most.
Pick Preply if ai conversation practice and kids version matter most.
What we checked
Mandarin Blueprint
- mandarinblueprint.com: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Preply
- preply.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Mandarin Blueprint | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Language learning apps | 51 of 63 | 3 of 63 |
| Online language tutors and classes | 25 of 33 | 2 of 33 |
| Online tutoring | 49 of 58 | 1 of 58 |
| Kids learning apps | 35 of 47 | 1 of 47 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Mandarin Blueprint | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | App, Live 1to1 | Live 1to1, App |
| Legal entity | Mandarin Blueprint, LLC | Preply Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Online courses
| Fact | Mandarin Blueprint | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Platform type | Curated | Not confirmed |
| Subjects | Languages | Math, English, Languages, SchoolCovers more |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Not confirmed |
Tutoring
| Fact | Mandarin Blueprint | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Median lesson price | Not confirmed | €26 |
| Lesson format | 1to1, App | 1to1, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | from 100,000 |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Minimum age | 13 | Not confirmed |
| Cancellation notice | 24 hours | 12 hoursLower |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Four-week trial with full refund of all amounts paid if the program is not the right fit | Free switch to another tutor or a full refund if the trial lesson disappoints |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Mandarin Blueprint | Preply | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 28 dayshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 28 daysbelow the median | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 90above the median | 41 |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30at the median | 25 to 50below the median | 30 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Mandarin Blueprint
Pros
- A trial of 28 days sits with a money-back period of 28 days, and the guarantee returns every amount paid in full if the programme is not the right fit.
- Lessons come through 1to1 and app, so live teaching and app practice sit in the same programme instead of in separate purchases.
- Offline is listed as yes and offline download as yes, so a long programme survives a bad signal, a commute or a flight.
Cons
- Speech recognition and AI conversation are both listed as no, so speaking and conversation practice rests on live sessions rather than on the app.
- Support runs on email and community only, so a phone line or live chat is not part of the package.
- Certificate, kids version and family subscription are all listed as no, so there is nothing here for a school certificate request, a young learner or a shared household login.
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
Mandarin Blueprint
Who it suits
- Learners who want app study and live teaching in a single Mandarin track, delivered through 1to1 and app.
- Anyone willing to pay a single lifetime fee of $2,000 rather than a monthly subscription.
- People who need the material away from a connection, since offline and offline download are both listed as yes.
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners testing a course before spending: Phase lists an entry price of €0 and Bunpro of $0, where Mandarin Blueprint asks $2,000.
- Learners who want a completion certificate or in app speaking practice, since the certificate option, speech recognition and AI conversation are all listed as no, leaving Phase or Bunpro to compare.
- Readers after a broad reading curriculum: Reading Eggs starts at £6.99 rather than at the $2,000 asked here.
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
Mandarin Blueprint
How much does the Mandarin Blueprint programme cost?+
The programme lists an entry price of $2,000 and a lifetime price of $2,000, and the two figures are identical. Both describe a single payment rather than a recurring bill, so the amount to weigh at renewal is the same one paid at entry. There is no separate monthly figure to budget for.
Is there a free tier and how long is the trial?+
A free tier is part of the offer, and the trial runs 28 days. The guarantee states that if the programme is not the right fit, every amount paid comes back in full, with the money-back period set at 28 days. That gives a free stretch and a paid stretch before the decision has to be made.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Preply
Mandarin Blueprint