Finding a good English course is no easy task. Italki and Preply, two well-known platforms, offer competitive services and prices to connect teachers and students from all over the world.
Learn about their features, advantages, disadvantages, prices, and reviews from other users to make the best decision.
You’ll find out whether these platforms truly deliver on their promises and meet your learning expectations, or if a more complete option like Papora is the better choice for you.
Comparison table between Italki, Preply, and Papora
| School | Method | Levels | Costs |
| Italki | There is no set method because each teacher is free to teach in their own way | From level A1 to C2 | Starting at $10 USD/hour | Preply | Personalized classes whose method depends entirely on each teacher | From level A1 to C2 | From $2 USD to $40 USD/hour |
| Papora | Focused on teaching all areas of the language in a dynamic way | 3 levels reaching B2 | Starting at $6.65 USD/month |
Detailed comparison between both courses
Before diving into the details of Italki and Preply, it’s worth highlighting what makes a good English school: flexible schedules, engaging methods, unique content, and qualified teachers.
A reliable academy goes beyond teaching the basics like months of the year or the use of “was/were.” It adapts to each student’s needs and level to ensure truly effective learning.
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Italki:
Italki is an online platform dedicated to teaching a wide range of languages, from English to Arabic and Mandarin. It operates as a catalog where students can browse and choose the tutor that best matches their needs and availability.
English Learning Method
Each tutor on Italki applies their own methodology, which means there isn’t a standardized system to ensure comprehensive learning. Instead, the class structure depends entirely on the teacher you select.
You can choose between group or private online lessons, define your English level, and set your learning goals—whether it’s traveling, improving fluency beyond basic greetings, or preparing for an exam. Other details, such as pricing and lesson content, are left to the discretion of the tutors.
Prices and plans
Italki’s pricing varies widely since tutors set their own rates based on factors like whether they are native speakers and the language being taught.
For English lessons, prices typically range from $10 to $60 USD per hour, though the cost may differ depending on the teacher or your location.
Advantages and disadvantages
One of Italki’s biggest advantages is the wide variety of teachers from around the world, making it easier to find someone who fits your learning needs. The platform also offers a student community where you can ask questions, exchange ideas, and share content.
On the downside, you may need to try multiple tutors before finding the right fit, and the payment system is not always the fastest or most secure.
Preply:
Preply is an online academy that, like Italki, allows you to contact private language teachers. Basically, you can choose the teacher that best suits your learning style.
Preply is unique in that its classes are private, either via video call or in person, and the teaching is personalized.
Approach to Teaching English
Each instructor plans their lessons using different methodologies. Therefore, Preply does not have a unified method for all students. Instead, each teacher is responsible for structuring their lessons and creating resources for each class activity.
Online training is carried out through a platform called Space, and the first class is free so that you can decide whether you want to continue with the teacher you have chosen or change instructors.
Pricing and plans
Preply's prices are not fixed, as each tutor is responsible for setting their own rates for their services. So, you should pay attention not only to the teacher's qualifications but also to the cost they set for each lesson.
On average, most teachers charge between $10 and $20 USD per hour of class. However, there are costs that can reach around $40 USD per hour of teaching.
Advantages and disadvantages
Preply’s platform and app are designed to be simple and intuitive, making it easy for any user to select a teacher and begin learning English right away.
However, it’s important to review instructor profiles carefully. Some tutors have a reputation for being unreliable, occasionally missing paid, pre-scheduled classes—something that can slow down your progress. Additionally, some teachers may unexpectedly increase their rates after a few lessons.
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What do users think of Italki, Preply, and Papora?
The experiences of users who have attended these English language schools are essential as references for selecting a safe academy with a qualified system. Let's take a look at what students think of Italki, Preply, and Papora.
Italki is a practical platform that provides its students with various resources to help them learn fluently in live classes.
“It has been a very useful platform for connecting with native teachers. The video call connection is generally stable and offers good tools for teaching classes.”
A frequent downside is that their payment methods are unreliable, causing inconvenience for learners.
“The credit card payment method is not working, and although I have already paid for the first two classes with my card, when I purchased my 5-class package, it was not accepted.”
Preply stands out for its wide range of teachers, giving you the option to change tutors whenever necessary. For parents, it’s particularly convenient because children can attend lessons online without having to leave home.
“Everything is perfect so far. I hope it stays that way. I have two wonderful teachers for my daughter. I had a problem with an English tutor, but the Preply professionals helped me resolve it. I booked another English trial with another tutor and hope to add her to my list of regular teachers. It's convenient for my daughter to study at home and not have to take her anywhere after school or have people coming to our house.”
One major limitation is that some Preply tutors are not professionals, which reduces the overall trustworthiness of the lessons. In addition, the platform does not provide a defined study plan.
“Tutors are people who take a test to determine their level and then give English classes. The thing is, they can be anyone from construction workers to college graduates or gardeners. Most are not professionals, have no curriculum, and certainly no program. Don't waste your money and time with Preply; there's no substitute for a professional English school. Cheap ends up being expensive. After 20 classes, you won't have made any progress. When you contact support, they ignore you.”
Unlike previous reviews, people who have had the opportunity to access Papora's courses and classes have no complaints and highlight its excellent learning environment.
“I tend to be a bit skeptical about these types of courses, as I'm not sure if learning online is the same as learning in a classroom. However, I tried the three free classes and really liked the format and the system, and I saw that getting a high score was a personal challenge for me. I decided to sign up for the course and so far I'm very happy with how it's going. I did level A1, received a diploma, and now I'm going for A2. No complaints so far. Good value for money.”
They also highlight the importance of the levels and how valuable they are for mastering the language and expressing a wide range of emotions in English.
“All of Papora's levels are very good. You learn a lot and it's recommended for advancing your knowledge of English. Great work. When there are more levels, I'll definitely come back.”
Conclusion
Italki and Preply are apps for speaking English that are well known in the language teaching field. Although their goal is similar, to help users find their ideal teachers around the world, their costs and intentions are different.
Their main drawback is that they both function as a catalog where not all teachers are experts, so there is no guarantee of quality teaching, and their classes are generally basic.
For more reviews, check out our article on Loora reviews.
We saved the best option for last: Papora
If none of the platforms mentioned above meet your expectations, we still have a third recommendation called Papora that you are sure to like because it focuses on teaching English in a comprehensive way.
All Papora teachers are native speakers and professionals with several years of certified experience. They understand why learning English is so important and work on all areas of the language from the first day of class, encouraging oral communication, listening comprehension, and the ability to learn to pronounce English.
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Their schedules are flexible, so you can learn at your own pace in unlimited live classes or in the self-guided course without external pressure and from anywhere. All you need is an internet connection and you're ready to go.
Papora has an established interactive method that includes grammar exercises, vocabulary, conversation, questions and answers, explained through visual elements such as photos, audio, videos, memes, and emojis.
At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion to validate your knowledge.
Frequently asked questions about Italki or Preply
Both online and in-person courses have their pros and cons; it all depends on your needs and the type of education you are looking for. However, online classes give you the freedom to choose your own schedule and preferred teachers, and they are usually more affordable.
The best English course for live classes with teachers is one that offers modern teaching methods that go beyond grammar theory, such as the one offered by Papora, where you will learn the language in a dynamic way in real-life situations, always guided by native-level teachers.
