An online language tutor usually costs between $4 and $60 an hour, and the averages on Preply are $23 to $30 an hour for English. Group classes cost less: Lingoda’s group plans work out at about €5.49 to €11.49 per class. What you pay depends on the tutor, the lesson format and how many lessons you buy at once.
Prices were checked on 18 October 2026.
Hourly rates on the main platforms
| Platform | Price shown | Currency | How you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preply | Average $30/hour (US tutors of English), $23/hour (non-native tutors of English) | USD | Per lesson, tutor’s price |
| italki | $4–60/hour (English tutors); trial lessons from $5 | USD | Per lesson, tutor’s price |
| Lingoda | €44.99–180.99 for 4–32 group classes; €109.99–394.99 for 4–32 private classes | EUR | Plan every 4 weeks |
| Cambly | Depends on your country | Local | Subscription by minutes per day |
These are the figures each platform published on our check date. We have not booked lessons ourselves. Preply and italki show prices for English tutors; rates for other languages can differ.
-
Preply
- 1:1 tutors
- Trial
- If the first tutor isn't a match, try up to 2 more for free
- Refunds
- Refund if you're not happy with your first lesson
- Average hourly rate, US tutors of EnglishEach tutor sets their own priceUS$30/hour
- Average hourly rate, non-native tutors of EnglishUS$23/hour
from US$23/hour Go to Preply -
italki
- 1:1 tutors
- Trial
- Discounted trial lesson, priced by each tutor
- English tutors, per hourRange given by italki; depends on the tutorUS$4–US$60/hour
- Trial lessonLowest trial price we saw on tutor profilesUS$5/lesson
from US$4/hour Go to italki -
Lingoda
- Group classes
- 1:1 tutors
- Trial
- 7 days free: 3 group classes or 1 private class
- Refunds
- Refund within 14 days, minus classes taken
- Group classes: 4 per 4 weeksPlan renews every 4 weeks; unused classes roll over€44.99
- Private classes: 4 per 4 weeks€109.99
- Group classes: 32 per 4 weeks€180.99
from €44.99 Go to Lingoda
Prices checked on 18 October 2026. They change often; check the final price before you pay.
What drives the price
The tutor sets the price. On Preply and italki, every tutor chooses their own rate. That is why italki’s range is so wide, from $4 to $60 an hour.
Native or non-native. Preply’s own averages show a gap: $30 an hour for US tutors of English and $23 for non-native tutors of English. A non-native tutor who has learned the language themselves can be a good choice for beginners, and costs less.
Professional teacher or community tutor. italki lists both. Third-party sources report that community tutors, who focus on conversation, usually charge less than professional teachers.
Group or private. On Lingoda, a private class costs much more than a group class. On the 4-class plans, the price was €109.99 for private and €44.99 for group.
Package size. Lingoda’s bigger plans are cheaper per class. A 4-class group plan works out at about €11.49 per class, while the 32-class plan works out at about €5.49. The saving only counts if you use the classes.
Trial lessons. italki tutors offer discounted trials, which lowers the cost of finding the right person. Preply says you can try up to 2 more tutors free if the first is not a match.
Example monthly budgets
| Plan | Lessons per 4 weeks | Example cost per 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 lesson a week at $23/hour (Preply non-native average) | 4 | $92 |
| 2 lessons a week at $23/hour | 8 | $184 |
| 2 lessons a week at $30/hour (Preply US tutor average) | 8 | $240 |
| 2 lessons a week at $10/hour (a lower-priced italki tutor) | 8 | $80 |
| Lingoda group plan, 8 classes | 8 | €63.99 |
| Lingoda private plan, 8 classes | 8 | €148.99 |
The $10 italki example is only an illustration inside italki’s published $4–60 range. Dollar and euro figures are shown as each platform listed them; we don’t convert them.
How to spend less
- Start with a trial. Test two or three tutors with cheap trials before you buy a package. Our checklist on how to choose an online tutor helps.
- Mix paid and free. Use one paid lesson a week for speaking, and a free app such as Duolingo for daily vocabulary. See free ways to learn a language.
- Try groups. If you don’t mind sharing the class, Lingoda’s group plans cost less per class than its private plans. Read our Lingoda review.
- Compare marketplaces. Our Preply vs italki guide explains the trial and refund rules on each.
When you are ready to book: find a tutor on Preply, find a teacher on italki or try Lingoda free for 7 days.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an online language tutor cost per hour?
According to Preply, the average is $30 an hour for US tutors of English and $23 for non-native tutors of English. italki gives a range of $4 to $60 an hour for English tutors.
Are native-speaker tutors more expensive?
On Preply's figures, yes. The average for US tutors of English was $30 an hour, against $23 for non-native tutors.
How much should I budget per month?
As an example, 2 one-hour lessons a week at Preply's averages comes to about $184 to $240 over 4 weeks. A Lingoda group plan with 8 classes every 4 weeks was €63.99 on our check date.
What is the cheapest way to get a tutor?
italki community tutors and Lingoda group classes are the cheapest paid options we found. italki's range starts at $4 an hour, and Lingoda's largest group plan works out at about €5.49 per class.
Can I try a tutor before paying full price?
On italki, tutors offer discounted trial lessons; the lowest we saw was $5. Preply lets you try up to 2 more tutors free if the first is not a match. Lingoda offers 7 days free.
Sources
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