Updated October 1, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Preply vs SpeakBrit Academy
Facts checked September 30, 2026.
Preply vs SpeakBrit Academy: the differences
| Compare |  Preply |  SpeakBrit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2 | £89.99 |
| Lesson price from | €2 | £89.99 to £199.99 |
| Languages | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Korean, Hindi, IndonesianCovers more | English |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 25 to 50 | 30 to 60 |
| AI conversation practice | YesHas it | No |
| Price per month | Not confirmed | £89.99 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Number of languages | 90 | Not confirmed |
| Offline use | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Family subscription | Not confirmed | No |
Same on both: Free tier (No), Kids version (Yes).
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Key differences
- AI conversation practice: only Preply.
- Support channels: only Preply offers Help centre.
- Languages: only Preply offers Spanish, French, German.
- Learning method: only Preply offers App.
- Learning method: only SpeakBrit Academy offers Live group.
Our verdict on each
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.
SpeakBrit Academy
SpeakBrit Academy suits families and adults who want live English classes with native British teachers rather than self-paced material. Group plans start at £89.99 a month, and a free assessment plus a 14-day cooling-off window in the UK keep the first step low risk.
Score breakdown
| Area | Preply | SpeakBrit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8HigherEntry sits at €2, ranking 8 of 35 brands compared, with a 12 hours cancellation window. | 8.3Monthly subscription with group plans at £89.99, plus a 14-day cooling-off window in the UK after you join. |
| Offer | 9.2Higherfrom 100,000 tutors, 90 languages, ai conversation practice, offline lessons and a kids version on one account. | 8.6Live English tuition with native British teachers across 9 program stages from 4, starting with a free assessment. |
| Trust | 9.3Screened tutors with background checks, a switch or full refund if the trial lesson disappoints, and support on email, chat and help centre. | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | Preply | SpeakBrit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Preply | SpeakBrit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Online language tutors and classes | 2 of 25 | 15 of 25 |
| Online tutoring | 1 of 48 | 38 of 48 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Preply | SpeakBrit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | Live 1to1, App | Live 1to1, Live group |
| Legal entity | Preply Inc. | SpeakBrit Academy |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2012 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat |
Tutoring
| Fact | Preply | SpeakBrit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Median lesson price | €26 | Not confirmed |
| Subscription price | Not confirmed | £89.99 to £199.99 |
| Trial lesson | Not confirmed | Free |
| Subjects | Math, English, Languages, SchoolCovers more | Languages |
| Lesson format | 1to1, App | 1to1, Group |
| Number of tutors | from 100,000 | 7 |
| Tutor vetting | Screened | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum age | Not confirmed | 4 |
| Cancellation notice | 12 hoursLower | 24 hours |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Free switch to another tutor or a full refund if the trial lesson disappoints | Free 20-minute assessment before enrolment; 14-day cooling-off period, full refund if cancelled before the first lesson, pro-rata refund for lessons not yet taken |
Online courses
| Fact | Preply | SpeakBrit Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Platform type | Not confirmed | Subscription |
| Certificate types | Not confirmed | Completion |
| Number of courses | Not confirmed | 9 |
| Course languages | Not confirmed | English |
| Graded assessments | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Offline downloads | Not confirmed | No |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Preply | SpeakBrit Academy | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 days |
| Number of languages | 90above the median | Not confirmed | 41 |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 25 to 50below the median | 30 to 60at the median | 30 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
SpeakBrit Academy
Pros
- Entry starts with a free no-obligation assessment, and placement is confirmed by consultation and assessment rather than a self-declared level.
- A 14-day cooling-off period in the UK, with a full refund if you cancel before your first lesson.
- Group plans hold £89.99 a month, and the subscription means that same figure is what renews.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so the only no-cost step is the free assessment before enrolment.
- Moving a class needs 24 hours' notice, which is awkward around work and school runs.
- Classes are live on Zoom at set times, so there is nothing to download and watch later.
Who each suits
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.
SpeakBrit Academy
Who it suits
- Families with children from 4 who want live British English classes with a named, vetted teacher.
- Adults working towards IELTS or everyday fluency who prefer speaking with a person to working through material alone.
- Learners who want to test the fit before paying, since a free assessment comes before enrollment.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants recordings or downloads to work through on their own time; classes are live on Zoom and never pre-recorded.
- Anyone studying a language other than English, since the teaching here is English.
- Learners who want to place themselves by a self-declared level; a consultation and assessment set the placement.
Questions about each
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.
SpeakBrit Academy
How much does SpeakBrit Academy cost each month?+
Courses are sold as a monthly subscription, so one figure covers entry and renewal. The Adult Group plan sets the entry figure at £89.99, Teen Group and The Social Learner also sit at £89.99, and the individual Private Scholar plan sits at the top of a range running £89.99 to £199.99. Each booking is a live session of 30 to 60 minutes.
Is there a free trial or a free tier?+
There is no free tier. Instead, every learner starts with a free assessment that carries no charge and needs no payment details, and final placement is confirmed afterwards through a consultation and assessment. Group and individual lessons then begin on a paid monthly plan.