italki Review Review
4.6 on Trustpilot (13,000+ reviews)
italki Review
★★★★★★★★★★5.0
4.6 on Trustpilot (13,000+ reviews)
EASE OF USE4.8
VALUE FOR MONEY4.5
CUSTOMER SUPPORT4.7
FUNCTIONALITY4.6
italki Overview
italki is the world's largest online language-learning marketplace, connecting more than 10 million learners with 30,000+ professional and community teachers across 150+ languages. Unlike app-based self-study tools, italki is a human-first platform: students book 1-on-1 video lessons with a teacher of their choice, at a price and schedule that fit, and pay only for lessons they actually take. Launched in 2007 and based in Hong Kong, italki has grown into the go-to service for serious learners who want real conversation practice with native speakers rather than gamified flashcards.
italki's edge is the human element: real teachers, real accents, real conversation practice. Lessons are tracked, rescheduled, and paid entirely inside the platform, and a money-back guarantee protects the first lesson with any new teacher. For serious learners who have outgrown Duolingo, italki delivers the output practice that apps cannot.
- 30,000+ certified & community teachers
- 150+ languages, including rare ones
- Book single lessons — no subscription
- Flexible scheduling in any time zone
- 30-minute or 60-minute lesson slots
- Trial lessons at reduced rates
- In-app video classroom with whiteboard
- Language exchange partners (free)
- Teacher reviews & verified credentials
italki Pricing
Trial Lesson — $1–$15
intro 30–60 min
Community Tutors — ~$5–$20/hr
conversational practice
Professional Teachers — ~$15–$60+/hr
certified
italki Credits — $10/$20/$50/$100 packs
No subscription — pay per lesson
Card, PayPal, Skrill, Stripe, Apple Pay
Refund if teacher cancels
Lesson packages discounted (5 or 10 packs)
italki is a marketplace where tutors set their own prices, so lesson costs vary by language, teacher experience and trial-vs-regular session. There is no monthly subscription — you simply buy lessons or pre-purchase italki Credits.
- Trial Lesson: $1–$15 — introductory 30–60 minute lesson, set lower by most teachers to let students try them out
- Community Tutors: typically $5–$20 per hour — conversational practice with native or near-native speakers, no formal credentials required
- Professional Teachers: typically $15–$60+ per hour — certified language teachers with structured curricula and lesson plans
- italki Credits: pre-loaded balance ($10, $20, $50, $100 packs) used to book lessons
- No subscription fees — pay per lesson
- Payment via Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Stripe, Apple Pay
- Refund policy: full refund if a teacher misses or cancels the class
- Discounts on lesson packages of 5 or 10 lessons with the same teacher
Reflects italki.com’s 2026 marketplace pricing model; exact rates depend on the teacher.
What italki Users Are Saying
italki maintains strong 4.6+ star ratings across Trustpilot and the App Store thanks to its deep teacher marketplace, transparent pricing, and active support — though learners should expect to try a few teachers before landing on a favorite.
What real users say
Spanish Learner, London • Feb 28, 2026
Booked 3 trial lessons in 3 different teaching styles for under $20, picked my tutor, and I'm now 9 months in speaking conversational Portuguese. italki's flexibility is the real unlock.
EASE OF USE5.0
VALUE FOR MONEY4.0
CUSTOMER SUPPORT4.0
FUNCTIONALITY4.0
Top italki Alternatives
If italki is not the right fit, the top 2026 language-learning alternatives are:
Preply
A huge tutor marketplace.
Cambly
On-demand conversation with native speakers.
Lingoda
Structured curriculum-based classes.
Verbling
One-on-one tutoring with built-in tools.
italki — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from learners comparing italki with Preply, Verbling, Cambly, and traditional language schools.
How much does italki cost?+
italki lessons are priced by the teacher. Trial lessons start around $5, standard 60-minute lessons typically run $8–$30 for community tutors and $20–$60 for certified professional teachers.
Is italki free?+
italki lessons are paid, but features like Language Exchange, discussion forums, and the Notebook correction feature are free to all registered users.
How do I become an italki teacher?+
Teachers apply via the Become a Teacher page, submit a profile video, and pass a background check. Professional teachers must provide certification; community tutors only need to prove native or fluent proficiency.
Is italki better than Preply?+
It depends. italki has a deeper teacher bench in niche languages and uses pay-per-lesson credits. Preply enforces subscription packages and is stronger for short-notice booking. Most serious learners try both and pick by teacher fit.
Can I change teachers on italki?+
Yes. There is no contract. Book different teachers at any time. A 48-hour cancellation policy protects learners and teachers.
Does italki prepare me for IELTS or TOEFL?+
Yes. Filter the teacher search for IELTS, TOEFL, HSK, DELE, or JLPT specialists. Many certified tutors run exam-prep curricula with official practice tests.
What video platform does italki use?+
italki has its own built-in classroom; Zoom and Skype integrations are optional fallbacks chosen by the teacher.
Does italki offer group lessons?+
Yes, but 1-on-1 remains the core format. A small number of teachers run group and Podcast-style lessons.
Is there an italki app?+
Yes, italki offers native iOS and Android apps for booking, messaging, classroom, and community features.
Is my payment secure on italki?+
Payments are processed through Stripe, PayPal, and local methods with PCI-compliant handling; italki itself does not store card data.
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