italki vs preply? Want to learn a new language? It can help you see new places, meet new people, and think in new ways! Picking the right website to help you learn is super important.
Two popular choices are italki and Preply. Both help you find teachers from all over the world, but they work a little differently. Let’s look closely to see which one might be the best for you.
italki vs Preply, What are they?
italki and Preply are like online stores for language lessons. They let students find and book lessons with teachers one-on-one. Instead of following a set plan, you talk right to teachers who make lessons just for you and go at your speed. This special way of learning is why many people like these sites.
Different Kinds of Teachers
Both sites have lots of teachers who can teach many different languages. But the way they sort and check their teachers is a bit different.
italki Has Different Teacher Types
italki has three kinds of teachers:
- Pro Teachers: These folks went to school to learn how to teach languages and have taught for many years. They are good at making lesson plans and knowing what you need to learn.
- Community Tutors: These are people who speak the language very well, usually because it’s their first language. They can help you practice talking and understand how people really speak in that language.
- Language Friends: This is where you can practice with other people who are also learning languages. You don’t pay them, but you can help each other learn.
Having these different types on italki lets you choose based on how much money you have and what you want to learn. If you need real lessons with someone who knows how to teach, pro teachers are the way to go. If you just want to chat and learn how people really talk, community tutors are great.
Preply Shows You Teacher Profiles
Preply mostly has “tutors” who have pages that tell you about their experience, what they know, and show a video of them. Many Preply tutors are also trained teachers, but the site doesn’t sort them like italki does. You need to look at each person’s page to see if they are a pro.
Try a Lesson First
Before you pick a teacher or a website, it’s great to try a lesson first.
italki’s Cheap First Lessons
italki lets teachers offer their first lessons for a lower price. This means you can try out different teachers without spending a lot of money. You can see how they teach, if you like them, and if they can help you learn the way you want.
Preply Promises You’ll Be Happy
Preply offers a promise that you’ll like your first lesson. If you don’t, they will let you try a free lesson with a different tutor. This makes it safer to try out new teachers.
How Much Does it Cost?
How much lessons cost can be very different on both sites. It depends on how good the teacher is, how much experience they have, if it’s their first language, and what language you want to learn.
italki Has Prices for Everyone
italki usually has a bigger range of prices because they have different kinds of teachers. Community tutors often cost less than pro teachers. This can be good if you don’t have a lot of money to spend. You can easily look for teachers in your price range.
Preply’s Prices Can Be Different
Preply’s prices also change, and teachers with more experience usually cost more. You can still look by price, but there might not be as many super cheap options as on italki. Sometimes, teachers might have deals if you buy a bunch of lessons.
How Lessons Work
Both sites let you have a say in how you learn.
italki Lets Teachers Make Your Lessons
On italki, teachers usually make their own lesson plans based on what you need and want to learn. You talk about this when you first chat or during your trial lesson. This means lessons are curated for you specifically, focusing on what you need to get better at, like grammar, words, saying things right, or just talking.
Preply Likes Lessons with Goals
Preply offers some lessons that have a set plan, along with lessons made just for you. Some teachers on Preply use plans that Preply made or have their own special classes. This can be helpful if you like to have clear goals for what you’re learning.
Finding People Who Speak the Language Natively
Learning from people who speak the language as their first language can really help you sound more natural and understand the culture better.
italki Has Lots of Native Speakers
italki has many native speakers for lots of languages, especially in their community tutor group. This makes it easy to find someone who grew up speaking the language you’re learning.
Preply Also Has Many Native Speakers
Preply also has many native speakers as tutors. Their pages usually say what their first language is, so it’s easy to find someone who speaks it naturally.
What the Websites Look Like and How They Work
Both sites have tools to help you learn.
italki Has Tools All in One Place
italki has a classroom built in for video calls, ways to schedule lessons, and a place to share things you’re learning. They also have forums where you can talk to other students and ask questions.
Preply Focuses on Talking
Preply’s site has video calls, messaging, and ways to plan lessons. They also keep track of how you’re doing and remind you about your lessons.
Questions You Might Have
Q: Can I really find teachers who know what they’re doing on both sites?
Yes, you can find professional teachers on both italki and Preply. italki tells you which teachers are “Professional Teachers” because they have training. On Preply, you need to read what each teacher’s page says about their training and experience.
Q: Are the first lessons always cheaper?
On italki, trial lessons usually cost less because the teacher sets a lower price. Preply offers a promise that you’ll be happy with your first lesson or you can get a free one with someone else.
Q: About how much do lessons usually cost?
The price range is different on both sites, from about $5 to more than $80 per hour. italki might have cheaper options because of their community tutors.
Q: Can I learn any language on these sites?
Yes! Both italki and Preply have many languages you can learn from, popular ones like Spanish and English.
Q: How do I know if a teacher grew up speaking the language?
Both sites show what a teacher’s first language is on their page.
Q: What if I can’t make it to a lesson?
Both italki and Preply have rules about changing lesson times. Usually, you need to tell the teacher ahead of time so you don’t have to pay. These rules are usually on the website and might be a little different for each teacher.
Which One Should You Pick: italki or Preply?
Picking between italki and Preply depends on what you need and what you like.
Pick italki if:
- You like that they have different kinds of teachers: pros, community tutors, and language friends.
- You want to see if you can find cheaper lessons, especially with community tutors.
- You like that you can usually get a cheaper first lesson.
- You want to talk to other students in their forums.
Pick Preply if:
- You like that they promise you’ll be happy with your first lesson.
- You like that they might have lessons with a set plan.
- You like that they keep track of how you’re learning.
The best way to know for sure is to check out both sites, look at the teachers, and try a first lesson on one or both!
Ready to Start Learning?
Don’t wait! Go to italki and Preply now, find some great teachers, and start learning a new language! Sign up for a first lesson on either site and see how fun and easy it can be to learn with a real person. Your language adventure starts today!
