Tutoring English Online with Preply

Preply Overview

From its humble Ukrainian beginnings, Preply has grown at an incredible rate. Now with employers across the world, and headquarters in the USA, the company’s status as possibly the most well-known online tutoring platform is, at this point, well-established.

What sets it apart is the very obvious cues it’s taken from social media. Connectivity and ease of function are at the heart of the Preply tutoring experience. It’s really simple to set up a profile - all you need to do is provide a headshot, some information about yourself, your strengths as a tutor, and your availability. Obviously, clarity of voice and accents are important factors in how students pick tutors, so a 2-minute welcome video is a must for any Preply profile.

With ‘Edtech’ (educational technology) booming in the 2010s, and especially during Covid, there was a battle for space in the hearts and minds of students and tutors alike. Preply’s advantages, along with functionality, come in the form of who can teach on the platform. There’s no upper age limit, which means that retirees can happily tutor at their own convenience. You can set your own hours, so there’s no minimum - everyone likes a week off now and then! 

Payment is taken in block bookings, as opposed to single lessons, which sets Preply apart from most other platforms of this type. There is also a 100% commission for trial lessons, which is something we’ll cover later on. Tutors are encouraged to bring like-minded colleagues to the platform, through the Affiliate Programme. 

It’s a simple enough system for any language tutor. So let’s get into what you need to start teaching English online with Preply.

How much can you earn teaching English with Preply?

Here, we come to a very important point: how much can you actually earn teaching English with Preply?

According to Preply, the average hourly wage for a tutor is $18.30/£14.37. There are, though, significant factors which influence how much you’re able to earn, even though you set your own hourly rate.

Firstly, your availability. Theoretically, the more you teach, the more you can earn. If you’re able to make yourself as available to clients as possible, you’re going to see more income - that’s just how it is. How many hours you're able to do dictates your income - minus a commission that Preply takes.

Secondly, qualifications and certificates matter when setting your hourly rate. Language tutors can charge more for hourly lessons if they have qualifications, for example, a TEFL certificate, a teaching certificate, a degree, or even a master’s degree. Language tutors dictate the hourly rate, so teachers who have a more distinguished academic background may see fit to charge more. If not, undercutting can risk causing problems with other tutors, and that’s something best avoided, no matter the online platform you're using.

Experience also counts. It’s fairer to demand a higher hourly rate if you have demonstrable tutoring experience. Having a history of successful teaching means you can very fairly demand a higher price from Preply students for your time and skills.

According to Preply, the most popular tutors “earn up to $550 a week” (£446), which translates to around $2,200/£1,784 per calendar month, provided a tutor can stick to the agreed timetable. Preply lessons are paid for in blocks, and there are subscription platforms on Preply for easier budgeting.

What to Consider Before You Start

There are some key things to consider before you get started tutoring on Preply. Here, we’ll break it down into individual issues, and how you might address them:

Do I have the right tech?

Making sure you have a webcam, a reliable computer and wifi connection, headphones and a microphone is imperative. Ensure your computer allows regular software updates and has plenty of memory.

Do I have enough time to tutor?

Really think about your availability. Lesson plans are booked in blocks of 5, 10, 15 and 20, though students can ask for shorter sessions. It’s a commitment, so be absolutely sure you can definitely carry out all the language lessons you're promising.

What should I charge per hour?

Be realistic about your fees for language lessons. You set them, so ask yourself: if I was a student, what would I consider to be reasonable? Again, qualifications and experience count here. Don’t be afraid to charge more if you’ve got good reason to do so. However, underselling yourself can cause a ripple effect with other tutors, while over-charging can obviously turn students off.

Once you have a profile set up, see what other English tutors charge, and calculate an average hourly rate. That’s surely the best way of knowing what your lessons are worth within that particular marketplace.

Preply Reviews

Preply has generally positive reviews on Trustpilot, with a rating of 4.1. 75% of their reviews are 5-star reviews, which talk about the flexibility of the platform, immediate payment and a robust support network. One such 5-star Preply review claims “..for someone who wants to teach online and begin in the market this is probably the best most structured website I have personally come across.

However, there are some negative Preply reviews, which refer to the 100% commission fees for trial lessons, and issues with the subscription model.

Glassdoor, meanwhile, has similarly positive reviews from current or former employees. Again, the flexibility and earning potential are mentioned as positives, with 83% of respondents stating they’d recommend Preply as an employer. On Indeed, the average Preply review is less kind, at 3.2 out of 5. The payment model, specifically the trial lessons, comes under scrutiny through both review sites from tutors on Preply.