Preply Review: A Stress-Free Platform For Finding Online Tutors

If you’re learning a language for a specific goal, you can incorporate these classes to enhance your overall language skills. For example, if you’re learning Mandarin for business, you can take relevant lessons from Preply tutors who speak both Mandarin and English.

The Distinction in the Quality of Lessons 

Preply does not offer a set curriculum or standardized classes, as every tutor creates their own. It means the teaching methods and materials tutors utilize may or may not align with your language learning goals. It’s essential for language learners to pick a suitable tutor. Fortunately, trial lessons and detailed tutor profiles make this process easier.

Most Preply teachers have certifications and enough teaching experience. These increase the likelihood of a positive experience. You can view the learning materials tutors use on their profiles or message them for more information. Users also have the option to search for tutors with specific specialties, such as a Spanish teacher focusing on SIELE or Cuban Spanish.

Overall, these factors contribute to a positive learning experience with Preply. You’ll have access to tutors who create unique classes designed to help you speak confidently, which makes Preply stand out from other ways to learn a language.

Preply Review: User Friendliness 

Preply offers a user-friendly website with neutral colors and a straightforward layout. Although finding the right tutor may take some time at first, the platform makes the process easier.

Hovering your mouse over a tutor’s profile reveals their calendar and introduction video. From there, you can view teacher schedule, watch their introduction video and read student reviews. If a tutor isn’t a good match, you can continue to browse tutors from where you left off.

Preply Classrooms is quick and responsive, requiring only a click to join online lessons with your tutor. All the necessary tools for learning and interacting with the tutor are a click away. 

Having a positive learning experience requires a stable internet connection. In case there’s a problem with Preply Classroom, teachers can conduct classes on another video platform. On Preply Classrooms, learners can click the ‘Need help?’ button to see the tutor’s Skype ID if they included it in their profile.

Even though most language students taking one-on-one lessons prefer using the website, the app is also convenient. Everything is well-placed, ensuring that users engaging in online lessons through the Preply app won’t miss out on any features.

Preply Competitors and Alternatives

Preply vs Live Lingua

Live Lingua focuses only on a handful of languages, but the teachers are very experienced, and classes are customized. It’s not to say that you can’t find the same learning experience on Preply (and for cheaper), but you’ll need to find a tutor there yourself. Read our Live Lingua review for more information.

Preply vs Baselang

Baselang provides structured and affordable one-on-one tutoring with Spanish native speakers. Preply gives more room for tutors to set their prices and has more languages. But if you know you’ll be learning only Spanish and want a structured plan, consider Baselang as an alternative. Read this Baselang review to learn more.

Preply vs Italki

italki is the most common alternative for Preply. Its advantage is the classroom interface and more affordable community tutors. However, Preply creates more trust with their flexible refund process and has a bit better search functionality. The platforms are so similar that we recommend giving them both a try. Learn more in this italki review.

Preply vs Verbling

Verbling is another platform for finding online tutors. It tests its teachers well and allows personalized curriculum. The biggest difference from Perply is that Verbling doesn’t support so many languages and has fewer cheap classes. Consider Verbling if you want a more guided experience. Read our Verbling review to find out for yourself.

Preply vs Lingoda

Lingoda provides affordable online group classes available 24/7. The aim is to kick-start your language-learning journey in a school-like environment. Recently, Preply started to offer group classes too, but one-on-one lessons are still our go-to option. If you are looking for group classes specifically, read this Lingoda review.

What Should Be Upgraded? 

After completing the first lesson with a tutor, Preply pushes users for a commitment to a package of 6, 12, or 20-hour. Not being able to pay for two lessons with the same tutor is a downside, as a single lesson may not be enough to decide. However, users can email Preply to buy a second lesson instead of a whole package.

Preply could benefit from implementing a better placement test to help users assess their current level and find a tutor accordingly. Although most tutoring apps don’t even have a placement test, Preply’s heavily emphasizes grammar. The accuracy is questionable, as the test only asks students to fill in the blanks and occasionally translate a sentence.

Tutors don’t receive payment for the first lesson you cancel. The lack of compensation demotivates tutors from showing enthusiasm during the trial lesson and impacts the quality of the platform.

Lastly, there isn’t a good system to check tutor qualifications. Unqualified teachers can charge the same or even more than qualified ones. The Preply application process could implement better ways to measure the qualifications of each tutor on Preply. The Preply tutor requirements could also be more strict, as many aren’t actively teaching.

Preply Costs

Tutor rates on Preply vary significantly, as each tutor sets their own price. The hourly rate can range from $3 to $40 an hour. The rates largely depend on the tutor’s experience, the language being taught, and the duration of the lessons.

After completing a trial lesson with a tutor, Preply offers 6, 12, or 20-hour lesson packages with that specific tutor. Additionally, students can subscribe to a tutor’s lessons by selecting how many hours they want to study per week. 

Users can reserve up to 5 hours in the tutor’s weekly schedule. Preply also gives discounts on longer weekly subscriptions. The subscription is on a weekly basis but is paid every 28 days.