Preply review: what English lessons really cost, and is it worth it?
Preply is a marketplace of online tutors: you choose a teacher, book a 50-minute video lesson, and pay the price that tutor sets, from about $3 to over $40 a lesson for English (checked 15 October 2026). If you are not happy with your first lesson, Preply offers a free replacement tutor or a refund. It is one of the best ways to get a real teacher; the trade-off is cost per hour and the time it takes to find the right tutor.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 7 min read
Preply at a glance (checked 15 October 2026)
- What it is
- A marketplace of independent online tutors, in 90+ languages
- English tutors
- About 46,000, average rating 4.94 from about 478,000 students (preply.com)
- Lesson length
- Usually 50 minutes, by video
- Price
- Set by each tutor: about $3 to $40+ per English lesson
- First lesson
- Free tutor replacement or a refund if you are not satisfied
- How you pay
- Lessons booked through a Preply subscription with the tutor you choose
- App rating
- 4.8 from about 45,000 ratings (US App Store)
On this page
How Preply works
- Filter tutors by price, country of birth, other languages they speak, availability and focus (business English, conversation, exam preparation, kids).
- Watch their intro video and read reviews. This is the most useful step: you will hear their accent and teaching style.
- Book a trial lesson. If it doesn’t go well, Preply lets you try another tutor for free or get your money back.
- Choose a plan with that tutor: a number of lessons a week, paid in advance, and schedule them in the app or on the website.
How much does Preply cost?
Every tutor sets their own rate, so there is no single Preply price. For English, the price filter on preply.com runs from $3 to $40+ per lesson; the top-listed experienced tutors charged $27 to $45 for 50 minutes on 15 October 2026.
What a month of lessons costs (example)
- 1 lesson a week at $10
- about $40 a month
- 1 lesson a week at $25
- about $100 a month
- 2 lessons a week at $25
- about $200 a month
Several reviews report that the price you pay can be higher than the tutor’s listed rate because Preply adds a service fee, especially on the trial lesson. Always look at the total on the payment screen, and check how unused lessons are handled if you skip a week.
What Preply does well
- Huge choice. Tens of thousands of English tutors, from every accent and price level.
- A real teacher. A good tutor notices patterns in your mistakes and builds lessons around your goal.
- Low risk to start. The first-lesson guarantee means you can switch if the match is wrong.
- Accountability. A booked lesson with a person is harder to skip than an app.
Where Preply falls short
- Cost per hour. Even at $15 a lesson, daily speaking practice adds up to hundreds of dollars a month.
- Quality varies. Tutors are independent; you may need two or three trials to find the right one.
- Scheduling. You need a fixed time; time zones and cancellations get in the way.
- Prepaid lessons. Read the rules for unused lessons and refunds before you buy a plan.
Preply vs an AI speaking app like YoFluent
We make YoFluent, so read this with that in mind. They are not substitutes; they do different jobs.
| Preply | YoFluent | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you talk to | A human tutor | AI tutors with American or British voices |
| When | Booked lessons at fixed times | Any time, as long or short as you like |
| Best for | Explanations, a plan, a teacher’s judgement | Daily speaking time and confidence between lessons |
| Feedback | The tutor’s comments | Scores for pronunciation, fluency, grammar and vocabulary after each call, CEFR level |
| Cost | About $3 to $40+ per 50-minute lesson | $14.99/month or $59.99/year (US); 3-day free trial on the yearly plan |
If you take one tutor lesson a week, practise speaking the other six days: that is where fluency grows.
Preply alternatives
- italki: a similar tutor marketplace where you pay per lesson. Read our italki review.
- Cambly: on-demand chats with tutors, paid by subscription.
- YoFluent (ours): AI speaking practice with scores, any time.
- Speak and ELSA: app courses. Read our Speak review and ELSA Speak review.
- Compare more: the best English speaking apps and AI English tutor: what it can and cannot do.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Preply cost?
Each Preply tutor sets their own price. For English, lessons cost about $3 to over $40 for 50 minutes; the top-listed experienced tutors charged $27 to $45 (preply.com, 15 October 2026). One lesson a week at $25 is about $100 a month.
Is Preply legit?
Yes. Preply is a large, established tutoring marketplace with about 46,000 English tutors, an average tutor rating of 4.94 from about 478,000 students, and a 4.8 rating on the US App Store. Tutors are independent, so lesson quality depends on the tutor you choose.
Is the Preply trial lesson free?
No, you pay for the trial lesson, but Preply offers a free replacement tutor or a refund if you are not satisfied with your first lesson. Check the total at checkout, since reviews report that a service fee can be added.
Is Preply worth it for learning English?
Preply is worth it if you want a human teacher who plans lessons around your goal and corrects you, and you can afford regular lessons. Because hourly lessons get expensive, many learners combine one lesson a week with daily speaking practice on an app.
Preply or italki: which is better?
Both are tutor marketplaces with similar prices. Preply sells lessons through a plan with one tutor, which suits regular weekly lessons; italki is often preferred for paying per lesson. Try a trial on each and keep the tutor you like most.
Practise speaking between tutor lessons
Talk with an AI tutor any time and get scored on pronunciation, fluency, grammar and vocabulary after every call. Free for 3 days.
Start your free trialSources
- Online English tutors, Preply
- Preply: Language Learning App (App Store), Apple
- Preply review, LearnEnglish.life