Preply

Preply aims to help you speak confidently in any language by finding online tutors who match your needs. With over 89,000 tutors from 195 countries, Preply is a buzzing platform that accommodates all learning styles. So, you can be assured that you’ll find the right tutor to help you grasp any language.

But is it the best platform for you?

I’ve taken several hours’ worth of Preply lessons to let you know what it’s all about.

With lessons in 24 languages, Preply’s seeks to pair you with the best tutor for your needs and schedule. Thanks to its search filters, you can browse tutors not only by language or skill level, but also by availability.

Also, Preply encourages you to commit to lessons by offering classes in bulk. Namely, the site offers casual learning (6 hours), dedicated learning (12 hours), and unstoppable learning (20 hours).

But just how good is Preply? And can it really help you to speak comfortably in a new language?

That’s what this Preply review is here to answer!

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Investing in your progress

We believe learning with a tutor is life changing. That's why we match online tutors from across the globe with learners, and empower them to create personalized live language classes with tools and learning materials. This is how we deliver progress, create engagement and keep our learners motivated.

The story of Preply

Each journey has its own unique story. And ours is one to share loud and proud (in every language, of course).

2012 – 2015 Ready, set, skyrocket 

Soon after its creation, Preply grows at a remarkable rate with 3,000 tutors in 58 countries. The Kyiv team grows to 15 Preplers and we graduate from Techstars Berlin.

2016 – 2018 Game changer

Preply raises a whopping $1.3M from investors like Techstars, SMRK VCDigital and Arthur Kosten. The team grows to 100 – that’s 7x growth in less than 3 years! 

2019 – 2021 Hola, Barcelona!

Preply opens a new office in sunny Barcelona and raises $10M from investors like Point Nine Capital and RTAventures. This is followed by another round of $35M from investors like Full In Partners and Inovo Venture.

2022 Unstoppable

Preply closes a round of $50M from investors like OWL Ventures, Diligent Capital and Hoxton Ventures, among others. Preply Business expands, bringing in companies like Unilever and Eventbrite.

Quick summary

Pros

• Highly personalized content with realtime feedback
• Discounted trial lessons so you can find the right tutor
• More adaptable to you vs. textbook learning
• Free Preply blog and Q&A community
• Varied content and lesson plans for all levels
• Placement test to determine your level
• Learn anytime with mobile/desktop options
• Packages to suit a range of budgets

Cons

• No free trial available
• Website can be faulty

Best for: Anyone looking to learn a new language on-the-go and by their own schedule. One benefit of the trial lessons, in particular, is that tutors assess your own needs and develop lesson plans with those in mind.

Overall: Preply prepares you for speaking fluently in any language by giving you expert help. Unlike other platforms, Preply develops your vocabulary by connecting you with tutors 1-1. By doing this, you can speed up your learning and get on track with a personalized program. With over 49,000 high-quality teachers, Preply stands out by allowing you to select from a huge pool of teachers and filter lessons by availability. I liked that Preply got me talking with native speakers so I could better immerse myself in language-learning

So, in this Preply review I’ll cover:

• What Preply is and how it works
• The languages you can learn
• What a lesson is like
• How I reviewed Preply
• Pros and Cons
• Who it’s for
• How much it costs
• Can you get a refund?
• Features of Preply
• Alternative providers
• What others have said about Preply
• Is it worth it?
• FAQs

With that said, let’s get started:

What is Preply?

Preply is a language-learning platform that allows you to connect with language experts from around the world.

At the time of writing, there are 24 languages available. Because you choose your own lessons, you can learn any of these languages alongside each other.

When selecting a teacher, you can book a trial lesson where your tutor will discuss your language goals. After that, you can buy hours and are in complete control of what and when you learn.

Your teacher will work with you to create a personal lesson plan. So, you can decide what areas you’d like to focus on and build a program that suits your goals.

Also, Preply has its own blog and community where you can ask and answer any questions you have about your language.

Preply features #2 in our best online English classes review.

How does Preply work?

One of Preply’s selling points is that it’s designed around you. This means you’re in full control of what and when you learn and can trial different tutors to find your fit.

Usually, trial lessons are 1 hour long, and you can use this time to discuss your level and focus areas. By selecting one of the 3 package types (casual, determined, and unstoppable), you can also buy in bulk and commit to your learning.

The Preply classroom is similar to Zoom/Skype but is a built-in feature of Preply’s desktop and app versions. So, you don’t need to download any software.

• With Preply, you can purchase a single lesson or buy in bulk. This means you’re in control of your own learning and can design it around your commitments.
• By taking a trial lesson with your tutor, you can determine your skill level and receive expert advice that suits your requirements.
• Because lessons cover a range of price brackets, you can easily find a tutor that matches your budget.
• Within the Preply classroom, you’ll find a note and chat section, interactive whiteboard, and homework tab. These help to structure your learning and encourage engagement.
• Tutors can send attachments and lesson plans, which appear in their own area. This means your learning is easily accessible wherever you are.

What’s the method behind Preply?

Preply’s method is simple: by connecting you to a native speaker/private tutor, you can speed up your learning by getting carefully tailored content based on your needs. Preply also offers classes for students, businesses, and test preparation such as TOEFL.

So, unlike isolated learning platforms, you and your tutor can build together and get you speaking confidently and fluently in any language.

What languages can you learn with Preply?

At the time of writing, Preply offers 24 languages.

To date, the most popular language courses include English, Spanish, German, and French.

What a lesson is like

On Preply, lessons vary according to where you’re at in your language-learning as well as how far along you are with your tutor. During my time on Preply, I tried out a couple of tutors to see how their styles differed.

Prior to your lesson, your tutor will contact you to confirm your language level. Then, they’ll discuss your learning goals and lesson focus.

Although you can trial different teachers, the idea is that you’ll find one whose teaching style best suits you. From there, you can develop a custom learning plan to help you achieve your goals.

Depending on your teacher, lesson styles vary, but mine allowed me to suggest my problem areas and where I’d like to improve. Also, you can both share resources and set tasks, and the share screen option is great for learning new vocabulary.

After 2 hours on Preply, I improved my basic Italian skills by:

• Getting personalized expert teaching from a native speaker
• Reading new words aloud and sharpening my pronunciation
• Engaging in classroom content and external resources
• Running through grammar tests with my tutor

During my time taking these lessons, I learned a lot more about grammar and syntax than I’d learned in months on other sites like DuoLingo. I also felt I had a better foundation to build upon rather than learning passively without understanding the language’s rules.