Best Alternatives to Preply and iTalki for Language Tutors in 2025
The best alternatives to Preply and iTalki for language tutors in 2025 are: TutorLingua (0% commission on direct bookings), Wyzant (25% flat commission), Superprof (subscription-based), Cambly (fixed hourly rates), Verbling (15% commission), and building your own direct booking system. Each platform offers different trade-offs between student acquisition, commission rates, and tutor autonomy. Here's a detailed comparison to help you choose the right platform—or combination of platforms—for your tutoring business.
Quick Comparison: Tutoring Platform Alternatives 2025
| Platform | Commission | Avg. Hourly Rate | Student Quality | Payment Speed | Best For | |----------|------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------|----------| | TutorLingua | 0% | You set | High (direct) | 2-3 days | Tutors with existing students | | Preply | 18-33% | $15-50 | Mixed | Weekly | New tutors seeking visibility | | iTalki | 15% | $10-40 | Good | Bi-weekly | Conversation practice | | Wyzant | 25% | $30-80 | High | Weekly | US-based academics | | Superprof | €0-29/mo | You set | Varies | Direct | European markets | | Cambly | Fixed $0.17/min | ~$10.20/hr | Casual | Weekly | Flexible schedules | | Verbling | 15% | $20-60 | Good | Weekly | Structured lessons | | Direct Booking | 0-3% (payment fees) | You set | Highest | 2-3 days | Established tutors |
Why Tutors Are Looking for Preply and iTalki Alternatives
If you're teaching on Preply or iTalki, you've probably noticed how much of your income disappears before it reaches your bank account. Here's the reality:
Preply's sliding commission starts at 33% for your first students and drops to 18% only after you've earned thousands on the platform. That means on a $30/hour lesson, you're losing $9.90 at best—and up to $9.90 at worst.
iTalki's 15% flat rate seems better, but you're still giving up $4.50 per $30 lesson. Over 20 lessons per week, that's $360/month or $4,320/year going to the platform instead of your pocket.
The question isn't whether these platforms provide value—they do, especially for student acquisition. The question is: are there better alternatives that let you keep more of what you earn?
The 7 Best Alternatives to Preply and iTalki
1. TutorLingua — Best for Commission-Free Direct Booking
TutorLingua is purpose-built for independent language tutors who want to run their business without giving up a percentage of every lesson.
Commission: 0% on lessons (only standard payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30)
Key Features:
- Professional booking pages with your branding
- Integrated payment processing (Stripe)
- Student CRM and progress tracking
- Automated lesson reminders and follow-ups
- Calendar sync with Google Calendar, Outlook
- Multi-currency support for international students
Pricing: Free tier available; Pro plans from $19/month
Best For: Tutors who already have students on other platforms and want to transition them to direct booking, or tutors building their brand through social media and referrals.
Why It Works: Instead of taking a cut of your lessons, TutorLingua charges a flat monthly fee. If you teach 20 lessons/week at $30/hour, you'd pay Preply up to $396/month in commissions. With TutorLingua, you pay $19/month—saving over $375/month.
Learn more about TutorLingua's features
2. Wyzant — Best for US-Based Academic Tutoring
Wyzant is the largest tutoring marketplace in the United States, connecting tutors with students seeking academic help across all subjects, including languages.
Commission: 25% flat rate (no sliding scale)
Key Features:
- Large US student base (3+ million students)
- Background check verification
- In-platform messaging and scheduling
- Built-in video conferencing
- Review and rating system
Average Rates: $30-80/hour for language tutoring
Best For: Tutors targeting US students, especially those offering academic language courses (Spanish for high school, French for college, etc.).
Pros:
- Steady stream of students actively searching
- Higher rates than Preply/iTalki for academic work
- Strong reputation and trust factor
Cons:
- 25% commission is significant
- Primarily US market
- Less focus on conversation practice
3. Superprof — Best for European Markets
Superprof operates differently from most platforms—instead of taking a commission, they charge tutors a monthly subscription to appear in search results.
Commission: €0 (subscription model instead)
Subscription Cost: €0-29/month depending on visibility features
Key Features:
- 23+ million students across 28 countries
- Strong presence in France, Spain, UK, Germany
- No per-lesson fees
- Direct communication with students
- Reviews and ambassador programs
Best For: Tutors in European markets who want predictable costs without percentage-based commissions.
Pros:
- Keep 100% of lesson fees
- Large European student base
- Good for in-person and online lessons
Cons:
- Subscription required for full visibility
- Less structured than Preply/iTalki
- Payment handled outside platform (more admin work)
4. Cambly — Best for Flexible, Low-Commitment Teaching
Cambly offers a unique model where tutors are paid a fixed rate per minute, making it ideal for those who want maximum flexibility.
Pay Rate: $0.17/minute (~$10.20/hour) for regular Cambly; $0.20/minute (~$12/hour) for Cambly Kids
Key Features:
- No scheduling required—students call you when you're available
- Built-in video platform
- Lesson materials provided
- Weekly payments via PayPal
Best For: Tutors who want supplemental income without scheduling commitments, or those just starting out who want teaching experience.
Pros:
- Extreme flexibility—work when you want
- No lesson planning required
- Consistent, predictable pay
- Good for building conversation skills
Cons:
- Low pay compared to other platforms
- No control over pricing
- Primarily conversation practice (limited structured teaching)
5. Verbling — Best for Structured Language Lessons
Verbling positions itself as a more structured alternative to iTalki, with better tools for curriculum-based teaching.
Commission: 15% (same as iTalki)
Key Features:
- Built-in lesson planning tools
- Interactive whiteboard
- Homework assignments
- Progress tracking
- Structured curriculum support
Average Rates: $20-60/hour
Best For: Tutors who prefer structured lessons over casual conversation practice.
Pros:
- Good teaching tools built into platform
- Higher average rates than iTalki
- Quality-focused student base
Cons:
- Smaller student pool than Preply/iTalki
- 15% commission still adds up
- Less visibility/marketing compared to bigger platforms
6. Preply (Strategically) — Best for Student Discovery Only
Here's an unconventional take: Preply can still be valuable—but only as a discovery channel.
Strategy: Use Preply to acquire new students, then transition them to direct booking after establishing a relationship.
How It Works:
- Accept students through Preply
- Deliver excellent lessons and build trust
- After 5-10 lessons, introduce your direct booking option
- Offer a small discount (they save too since Preply charges students extra)
- Move ongoing students to your own booking system
Why This Works: Preply spends millions on marketing to attract language learners. You benefit from their advertising without paying for it—you only pay commission on the lessons it takes to convert students.
Important: This is against Preply's terms of service if done explicitly. The ethical approach is to let students discover your website naturally and reach out to you directly for future lessons.
Read more: How to Convert Platform Students to Direct Booking
7. Build Your Own Direct Booking System — Best Long-Term Strategy
The ultimate alternative is eliminating the middleman entirely by building your own student acquisition and booking system.
Commission: 0% (only payment processing fees, typically 2.9% + $0.30)
Components You Need:
- Professional website or landing page
- Booking/scheduling system
- Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal)
- Video conferencing (Zoom, Google Meet)
- Student management system
Cost: $0-100/month depending on tools
Best For: Established tutors ready to invest in their brand and marketing.
Pros:
- Keep 97%+ of every lesson fee
- Complete control over pricing, policies, branding
- Build a real business asset
- No platform dependency
Cons:
- Requires marketing effort (social media, SEO, referrals)
- More administrative work
- Takes time to build student pipeline
The TutorLingua Advantage: TutorLingua combines the benefits of direct booking with done-for-you infrastructure. You get a professional booking page, payment processing, and student CRM without building everything from scratch.
Commission Comparison: Annual Savings Analysis
Let's see how much you could save by switching platforms. Assuming 20 lessons/week at $30/hour:
| Platform | Weekly Commission | Monthly | Annual | You Keep | |----------|-------------------|---------|--------|----------| | Preply (25% avg) | $150 | $600 | $7,200 | $24,000 | | iTalki (15%) | $90 | $360 | $4,320 | $26,880 | | Wyzant (25%) | $150 | $600 | $7,200 | $24,000 | | Verbling (15%) | $90 | $360 | $4,320 | $26,880 | | TutorLingua ($19/mo) | ~$5 | $19 | $228 | $30,972 | | Direct (3% fees) | $18 | $72 | $864 | $30,336 |
Bottom Line: Switching from Preply to a 0% commission platform could put an extra $6,000-7,000/year in your pocket.
How to Choose the Right Platform Alternative
Choose TutorLingua or Direct Booking If:
- You have 5+ regular students already
- You're active on social media or get referrals
- You want to build a long-term tutoring business
- You value keeping 95%+ of your earnings
Stay on Preply/iTalki If:
- You're just starting and need student flow
- You don't have time for marketing
- You prefer letting someone else handle acquisition
- The commission is worth the convenience
Try a Hybrid Approach If:
- You want the best of both worlds
- Use marketplaces for new student acquisition
- Move established students to direct booking
- Gradually reduce platform dependency
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use multiple tutoring platforms at once? A: Yes, most tutors use 2-3 platforms simultaneously. There's no exclusivity requirement on platforms like iTalki, Preply, or Superprof. The key is managing your calendar to avoid double-bookings.
Q: Is it against the rules to move students off Preply? A: Preply's terms prohibit actively soliciting students to book outside the platform. However, if a student independently finds your website and contacts you directly, that's their choice. Many tutors maintain a professional website that students discover naturally.
Q: What's the fastest way to get students without marketplaces? A: Instagram and TikTok content marketing is currently the fastest organic method. Tutors who post educational content consistently (3-5x/week) typically see student inquiries within 4-8 weeks.
Q: How much should I charge on my own platform vs. marketplaces? A: A common strategy is matching your marketplace rate for direct bookings. Students save money (no platform fee on their end), and you keep more. Some tutors offer a small discount (5-10%) to incentivize direct booking.
Q: Do I need a business license to take direct payments? A: Requirements vary by country. In most cases, you can operate as a sole proprietor/freelancer without special licensing. Consult a local accountant for tax obligations in your jurisdiction.
The Bottom Line
Preply and iTalki served an important purpose—they helped create the online language tutoring industry. But in 2025, you have better options.
The best alternative depends on your situation:
- New tutors: Start on marketplaces for visibility, but plan your exit strategy from day one
- Growing tutors: Hybrid approach—use platforms for acquisition, direct booking for retention
- Established tutors: Transition fully to direct booking and keep $5,000-7,000 more per year
The tools exist to run your tutoring business independently. The question is: are you ready to make the switch?
Ready to keep more of your tutoring income? Start your free TutorLingua account and see how much you could save with commission-free booking.
También disponible en español: Mejores Alternativas a Preply e iTalki para Tutores en 2025
Également disponible en français: Meilleures Alternatives à Preply et iTalki pour Tuteurs en 2025
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