Choose italki if you want the cheapest lessons and like testing tutors with low-cost trials. Choose Preply if you want a safety net on your first booking: Preply says it lets you try up to 2 more tutors for free if the first is not a match. On both platforms the tutor sets the price, so the real difference is the trial and refund rules, not the hourly rate.
Prices were checked on 18 October 2026.
Preply and italki at a glance
-
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
Prices checked on 18 October 2026. They change often; check the final price before you pay.
Both are marketplaces. You browse tutor profiles, book one-to-one video lessons and pay per lesson. Neither runs a fixed course: what you learn depends on the tutor you pick.
| Preply | italki | |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson format | 1:1 with a tutor | 1:1 with a tutor |
| Who sets the price | The tutor | The tutor |
| Price data | Averages: $30/hour (US tutors of English), $23/hour (non-native tutors of English) | Range: $4–60/hour (English tutors) |
| First lesson | Up to 2 more tutors free if the first isn’t a match | Discounted trial lesson, priced by each tutor |
| Refund | Refund if you’re not happy with your first lesson | Not stated on the page we checked |
| Currency | Averages given in USD | Payments in USD |
All figures are what each platform showed on its English tutor pages. We have not taken lessons on either platform.
Prices: who is cheaper?
According to Preply, the average hourly rate is $30 for US tutors of English and $23 for non-native tutors of English. These are averages, so you will find tutors above and below them.
italki gives a range instead: $4 to $60 an hour for English tutors. The lowest trial lesson we saw on a tutor card was $5. italki has two kinds of teachers: professional teachers and community tutors. Third-party sources report that community tutors usually charge less, which explains the low end of the range.
So italki is not cheaper by default. It simply has more very cheap options. If you pick a qualified teacher on either platform, expect to pay a similar price. Our guide to what an online tutor costs shows the monthly maths.
Trial lessons and refunds
This is where the two differ most.
- Preply. Preply says that if your first tutor isn’t a match, you can try up to 2 more for free. It also offers a refund if you’re not happy with your first lesson. Read the current refund terms before you pay, because conditions apply.
- italki. Each tutor offers a discounted trial lesson and sets its price. On the cards we checked, trial prices ranged from $5 to $17.99. This makes it cheap to compare two or three tutors before you commit. italki keeps its rules for lessons and credits in a separate payment policy, which we have not reviewed.
Languages
Both platforms cover all the languages this site writes about: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Romanian, Dutch, Portuguese and Russian. italki says it offers more than 150 languages. For rare languages, check how many tutors are available before you decide.
Pros and cons
Preply
Pros
- Free tutor replacement: up to 2 more tutors if the first isn't a match
- Refund option if you're unhappy with the first lesson
- Clear average prices on its tutor pages
Cons
- No cheap trial lesson: you start at the tutor's price
- Prices vary widely between tutors
- Refund conditions need reading before you pay
italki
Pros
- Very wide price range, from $4 an hour for English
- Discounted trial lessons from $5 on the cards we checked
- Community tutors for cheap conversation practice
Cons
- No replacement guarantee like Preply's on the page we checked
- Trial price and quality depend on each tutor
- Payment rules sit in a separate policy
Which should you choose?
- You want conversation practice on a budget: italki, with a community tutor.
- You want a structured teacher and less risk on the first booking: Preply, thanks to the free tutor replacement.
- You are unsure: take a cheap trial on italki and the first lesson on Preply, then stay where the tutor fits.
Browse tutors on Preply or browse teachers on italki.
If you also want group classes or a fixed curriculum, see our list of the best online tutoring sites, which adds Lingoda and Cambly. If money is tight, start with our guide to free ways to learn a language.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure and how we research.
Frequently asked questions
Is Preply or italki cheaper?
It depends on the tutor, because on both platforms tutors set their own prices. italki gives a range of $4 to $60 an hour for English tutors. Preply gives averages of $30 an hour for US tutors of English and $23 for non-native tutors. italki has more room at the very low end.
Does Preply have a free trial?
Not a free first lesson. According to Preply, if your first tutor isn't a match you can try up to 2 more for free, and you can get a refund if you're not happy with your first lesson.
How much is a trial lesson on italki?
Each tutor sets a discounted trial price. The lowest trial price we saw on italki tutor cards was $5, and the cards we checked went up to $17.99.
Do Preply and italki teach the same languages?
Both cover all the major European languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Dutch, Portuguese and Russian. italki says it has more than 150 languages in total.
Which is better for beginners?
Both work. Preply's tutor replacement guarantee makes a first booking less risky. italki's cheap trial lessons let you test several tutors for little money. A beginner on a tight budget may prefer italki community tutors.
Sources
Last updated: