Preply vs italki: Find the Best Online Spanish Tutor for You
By Milagros de la Horra
Reading time: 0 minute
October 29, 2025
Contents
Introduction
What Are italki and Preply?
A Closer Look at Each Platform
italki vs Preply: The Big Showdown!
Which One Should You Choose?
Final Thoughts
Introduction
Learning Spanish is a fantastic goal, and having a Spanish tutor online can make a huge difference! But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best Spanish tutoring platform? Today, we're going to look at two of the most popular choices: italki vs Preply. Both are great for finding tutors, but they have some key differences that might make one a better fit for you.
Let's dive in and see which platform will help you reach your Spanish goals!
What Are italki and Preply?
Both italki and Preply are like online marketplaces where you can find a Spanish tutor online. They connect students (like you!) with Spanish teachers from all over the world. Whether you're a complete beginner or just want to practice speaking, these platforms offer lessons that can be customized to what you need. They both have tons of online Spanish tutor platforms to choose from.
A Closer Look at Each Platform
italki: Flexible and Community-Focused
italki is really popular because it gives you a lot of freedom and choice. You can find many italki Spanish tutors. They range from experienced teachers to "community tutors." Community tutors are native speakers and are great for casual conversation practice.
Why people like italki:
You have many italki Spanish tutors to choose from. This way, you can find one that fits your style and budget.
Flexible Scheduling: You can book lessons at times that suit you best. This is helpful if you have a busy schedule with school or other activities.
Each tutor has a profile. You can see their teaching experience and read reviews from other students. You can also watch an intro video. This helps you choose the perfect fit.
Different Lesson Types: If you want a structured grammar lesson or a friendly chat to practice speaking,
Pay Per Lesson: You usually pay for each lesson as you take it. This way, you don’t have to buy a big package upfront. However, packages are often cheaper per lesson. This can be good for your budget, especially if you're not sure how often you'll be able to take lessons.
Community: italki has forums and a language exchange feature. You can connect with other learners and native speakers for free practice. It's a real language tutor marketplace with a community feel.
Preply: Customized Lessons and Learning Paths
Preply is also a top choice for finding online Spanish tutor platforms. What makes Preply stand out is its focus on making lessons super personalized for you.
Why people like Preply:
Tailored Lessons: Preply tutors are known for creating lessons that are specifically designed to help you reach
Trial Lessons: Preply often offers trial lessons, which are a great way to "test drive" a tutor before you commit to more lessons. This helps you find the right online tutor comparison.
Finding Tutors is Easy: Preply has helpful filters and search tools. These make it simple to narrow your choices and find an online Spanish tutor who meets your needs.
Customer Reviews: Just like italki, Preply has reviews and ratings for tutors, so you can see what other students think of them.
Subscription Model: You can take trial lessons. After that, Preply usually suggests buying lesson packages. These packages can have 6, 12, or 20 lessons with a specific tutor. This can be great for consistent learning, but it also means you're committing more upfront.
Progress Tracking: Preply helps you track your progress, which can be really motivating as you see yourself improve.
italki vs Preply: The Big Showdown!
So, is italki or Preply better for Spanish? Let's break down some key things to consider when comparing
italki vs Preply for Spanish:
Pricing Differences
For pricing, italki operates on a pay-per-lesson model where you buy credits to use for lessons. Tutors choose their own rates, usually between $4 and $30 per hour. There is no required subscription, which is good for learners on a budget.
Preply mainly offers subscription packages. After a trial, you usually buy a lesson package, like 6, 12, or 20 hours. Preply's tutor rates usually vary from $10-$50+ per hour. Some users find Preply's pricing less flexible, but it does encourage consistency.
Tutor Qualifications and Lesson Focus
Italki has many types of tutors. They offer Professional Teachers who are certified and experienced. They also have Community Tutors who are native speakers.
These tutors are great for casual conversations. This gives you more options for price and lesson style.
Preply mainly features Qualified Teachers. These teachers focus on structured lessons. They often have specific lesson plans for different goals.
This creates a difference in lesson focus. Italki is very flexible. You can choose structured grammar, conversation practice, exam prep, or just a casual chat. The student and tutor decide the lesson direction together.
Preply has a more focused approach. They use personalized lesson plans and structured learning. This helps you reach specific goals, like passing an exam or achieving a certain fluency level.
Flexibility and Learning Resources
In terms of flexibility, italki allows you to schedule lessons easily. You can choose different tutors and try many of them with trial lessons. Preply also offers good scheduling options but suggests sticking with one tutor for longer packages.
However, trial lessons are available too. For learning resources, italki has community forums, language exchange partners, articles, and quizzes for extra practice. Preply's tutors often provide their own learning materials during lessons. The platform also has a feature to save new vocabulary words.
User Experience and Trial Lessons
The user experience on italki is generally friendly. It has easy navigation and clear tutor profiles. However, some users find the video chat system a bit clunky at times.
Preply, on the other hand, has a modern and clean interface. It offers strong search and filtering tools. Many users find their virtual classroom smooth and easy to use.
When it comes to trial lessons, many italki tutors offer discounted 30-minute trials. They usually get paid for these. Preply also has trial lessons, often lasting 25 or 50 minutes. However, Preply takes 100% commission on the first trial lesson.
This means the tutor does not get paid for it, which can be a point of debate for tutors.
Minimum Lessons and Overall Vibe
Regarding minimum lessons, after a trial on italki, there's no minimum; you can book single lessons as needed. On Preply, after a trial, you typically need to purchase a package, with a minimum of 6 hours with one tutor.
The overall vibe of italki feels like a friendly, global language tutor marketplace. Students have a lot of freedom to choose their own path. Preply tends to be more structured and goal-oriented, focusing on consistent progress with a chosen tutor.
Which One Should You Choose?
Deciding between italki vs Preply Spanish tutors comparison really comes down to what you're looking for:
Choose italki if:
You want maximum flexibility in scheduling and don't want to commit to a subscription.
You have a tight budget and want to try different tutors. Look for their cheap trial lessons or low-cost community tutors.
You enjoy the idea of a language exchange and connecting with a wider community of learners.
You want the option for more casual conversation practice without a super structured lesson plan.
Choose Preply if:
You want a learning plan that is structured and personalized. It should be designed for your specific goals, like passing an exam or reaching a certain level.
You like the idea of committing to one tutor for consistent progress over time.
You appreciate a very polished and modern user interface and classroom.
You want a Preply Spanish review experience that emphasizes specific outcomes from your lessons.
Both italki and Preply are great options for comparing online Spanish tutors. They offer good ways to find a tutor online. Many students even try both platforms to see which one feels better for them!
Final Thoughts
Taking lessons with an online Spanish tutor is one of the most effective ways to truly master the language. It gives you personalized attention, immediate feedback, and the chance to speak with a native speaker regularly.
And if you're looking for tools to support your tutoring sessions, here’s a guide to the best Spanish learning apps and platforms to complement tutoring. These can serve as helpful supplements for vocabulary review, listening practice, and grammar exercises. These can serve as helpful supplements for vocabulary review, listening practice, and grammar exercises.
No matter if you choose italki vs Preply, both platforms offer amazing opportunities to improve your Spanish. So, go ahead, check them out, and take that first step towards speaking Spanish confidently! Your journey to fluency is just a few clicks away.
Milagros de la Horra
Academic Team
Milagros De La Horra is a Spanish teacher from Rosario, Argentina, with experience teaching learners of all ages. She brings her background in creative writing, editing, and literature into the classroom. Passionate about culture and language, Milagros uses games, videos, and poetry to create engaging, meaningful learning experiences.