Among the many options for finding a language teacher, Italki offers an appealing approach that has captured the interest of many learners.
Italki promises an intuitive platform and the flexibility to learn up to 150 languages with private teachers—but does it really deliver? There are plenty of other websites offering similar learning experiences, often with even more useful tools.
That’s why at Papora, we’ve taken a close look at what Italki offers and how it compares to other platforms—examining whether it truly meets the needs of English learners. Let's get started!
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What is the Italki language platform and how does it work?
Italki is an online platform that connects language learners with tutors and native speakers from around the world, offering everything from English and Spanish to Mandarin and Arabic.
The platform focuses on personalized student-teacher classes, letting users find a tutor that fits their needs and schedule.
Teachers offer both individual and group online lessons, and students can select the level and approach that best suits their goals—whether it’s learning a language for travel, improving conversation skills, preparing for an exam, or any other purpose.
The main goal of Italki is to create real interaction between students and teachers, which is why the platform is designed to be easy to use.
Getting started is simple: register with your email, choose the language you want to learn, and indicate your current level—basic, intermediate, or advanced. You’ll also be asked why you want to learn the language (for work, travel, or a specific purpose) and your preferences for skills and topics.
Once in your dashboard, you’ll see a panel of available teachers and can schedule trial lessons with those that fit your needs. You’ll also have access to group classes, teacher profiles, and the community, making it easy to explore all the resources Italki has to offer.
Key features
When you click on a teacher’s profile, you’ll find details about their experience, teaching approach, whether they are native speakers, and any other languages they speak. Many also explain what you should expect when studying with them.
Each teacher has their own style and method, so every class can be different. The lesson experience depends less on the Italki platform itself and more on the individual teacher you choose. This can affect class length, activities, schedule, and price.
You can also read reviews from other students who have taken classes with that teacher. Another key feature is the ability to message teachers before booking a trial class, allowing you to ask questions and find the best fit for your learning goals.
How many languages can be learned on this platform?
Italki is a platform offering lessons in over 150 languages, connecting students with teachers from around the world—from the United States to India.
While you can study a wide variety of languages, its strongest offerings are the most in-demand ones, such as English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, French, and Italian. These are popular both for professional purposes, like career advancement, and for personal reasons, such as travel or leisure.
Extras offered by Italki:
One of the most interesting features Italki offers is its “Community” tab, which anyone can explore without registering—though you’ll need an account to participate.
In the Community section, you can access articles, exercises, and “notebooks,” browse questions and comments, join discussions, listen to topic-specific podcasts, and enjoy a wealth of content shared by both Italki teachers and fellow students.
It’s a great free resource for practicing the language you’re learning and connecting with others in the process.
Unlike other platforms, Italki is not a traditional course—it’s a marketplace for students, professional teachers, and language enthusiasts who want to become tutors
It’s important to understand that Italki functions more like a catalog. Teachers are not vetted based on experience; anyone interested in teaching English or another language can sign up and wait for approval from the platform.
With this model, Italki serves both students and teachers, giving everyone the opportunity to learn a language or teach one, depending on their goals.
How much do you pay for English lessons on Italki?
One of the most common questions about Italki is how much English lessons cost. Since the platform connects students directly with teachers, prices can vary widely.
Each teacher sets their own rates, influenced by factors such as their experience, whether they are a native speaker, the language they teach, and more. On average, English lessons range from $3–$5 per hour at the low end, up to $60 per hour for highly experienced tutors.
Prices also depend on the country you’re in and the teacher’s location. Trial lessons aren’t free, but they are usually offered at a slightly lower rate than regular classes.
So, how much will your English lessons on Italki cost? It really depends on the teacher you choose and the type of lessons you want.
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What are the payment methods for Italki classes?
Another thing to keep in mind is that Italki's payment method is different from other alternatives. You can't pay directly with a credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. These are actually used to top up your Italki credit or balance.
To top up your balance, you'll need to make a withdrawal from your account and add it to your balance. It's like an extra, unnecessary step to pay for your classes.
Advantages and disadvantages of learning English with Italki:
A key factor to consider when choosing a language learning option is its pros and cons, as these will directly impact your experience in class.
Advantages:
Italki features an interactive student community
The community section encourages users to connect, share questions, chat with one another, and explore content created by both students and teachers, making it a valuable resource for learning and practice.
It is flexible and intuitive
A major advantage of Italki is its flexibility—lessons can be scheduled to fit each student’s individual timetable. On top of that, the platform has a user-friendly, intuitive interface that makes navigating it simple.
There are many teachers available.
Because tutors can register easily, the platform offers a wide selection, allowing each student to find the teacher that best fits their needs.
Disadvantages:
It is necessary to try several teachers
Having many teachers makes it difficult to quickly find one that suits your needs. You will most likely have to pay for many trial lessons until you find one that fits your way of learning English.
The quality is not reliable.
With a large number of teachers who follow their own rules rather than a method established and studied by Italki, the quality of their classes is inconsistent and varies between teachers and even between classes.
It does not offer secure or fast payment methods.
The Italki credit method is a major drawback, not only because it adds an unnecessary filter, but also because it can create problems with refunds if you top up more than you need.
User reviews:
To truly understand what Italki offers, it’s important to look at reviews from real users. Their experiences—both the positive highlights and any challenges they’ve faced—will give you a more complete picture before making a decision.
“I had a very unpleasant experience with a tutor and left a complaint through the support service. There has been no follow-up. Variables to consider, such as whether a tutor is suitable, reliable, should have a grading scale, and most importantly, the learning environment.”
Because Italki teachers set their own standards rather than following platform-wide guidelines, issues like tardiness or canceled classes are fairly common. This lack of consistency can make the learning experience less reliable.
“I must say that the platform works quite well and access to classes and communication with students is quite simple; However, I would suggest that when grading students, tutors should include the criterion of PUNCTUALITY on a scale of 1-100% or 1-5 🌟, as it is incredible how many tutors arrive late to their classes and do not even apologize or give an acceptable excuse.”
The platform does offer some positive aspects that can help you pick up a few things, but the reality is that its drawbacks—especially for teachers—are quite significant.
“Quite disappointed. I had a first teacher who, although punctual and respectful of appointments, spoke to me a lot in Spanish. So I gave him a good rating, but decided to look for another teacher. I found a girl, Dani, who seemed perfect. She never showed up for our appointment. And although she told me why, I never heard from her again, nor did I get my money back. I wasted my time and money. I do not recommend this platform at all.”
In addition, frequent technical difficulties can become a real obstacle, preventing students from enjoying a smooth learning experience and reducing the overall effectiveness of the classes.
“The teachers are informal, the service is expensive, and the platform has poor audio and video quality.”
So, how good is learning English with Italki?
Italki can be an appealing option for those looking to connect with English teachers—or tutors of many other languages. The ability to review teacher profiles before choosing, along with features like the community tab and notebooks, are definite advantages. However, several drawbacks can’t be overlooked.
Because teachers are not guided by a unified methodology but rather their own approach, the quality of lessons can feel inconsistent. Added to this are issues such as having to recharge your Italki balance and the recurring problem of teacher punctuality. These disadvantages can easily disrupt the learning experience—especially when compared to other platforms that provide a more structured and reliable service.
Why do we recommend studying English online with Papora?
Compared to Italki, Papora's English teachers are trained using the same method that was created specifically to deliver the highest quality.
At Papora, group English classes are taught by native-level teachers (not tutors). Their interactive and fun lessons focus on speaking to achieve fluency, as well as learning to read, write, and listen.
Another big advantage is that prices are fixed—so you don’t have to worry about sudden increases or wide variations between teachers. Plus, Papora’s lessons are much more affordable compared to Italki.
With Papora, you can start learning English from the ground up, with top-quality content, unlimited live lessons, and a flexible self-paced course designed to fit your lifestyle.
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Frequently asked questions about Italki reviews:
With Italki, the cost largely depends on the student—specifically how many classes they want to take each week and what their budget allows. The price also varies depending on whether you choose a specialized teacher with professional training or an enthusiastic tutor offering conversational practice. As a result, the costs can differ quite a lot.
The level of English you can achieve with Italki largely depends on your starting point, the time and effort you put into studying, and the quality of instruction from your chosen teacher.
