Preply
What is Preply?
Preply is an online platform that connects students with independent tutors via video chat. It was founded in 2012 in the Ukraine by Serge Lukianov, Dmytro Voloshyn, and Kirill Bigai and is currently based in the U.S.
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Preply Jobs
Overview
Online platform for independent tutors
Teach any language
Choose from 100 subjects overall, including university prep, hobbies, or art.
Set your own schedule, no minimum hours required
Set your own hourly rate
No mandatory teaching props or backdrops needed
Is Preply legit?
Preply has been around since 2012 and has built a solid reputation. It’s total funding since it began is approximately $170 million. You'll find plenty of teachers and students using it, which is usually a good sign.
They boast having 800,000+ students, 44,000+ experienced tutors, 120+ subjects taught, 180+ tutor nationalities, and a 4.8 rating on the App Store.
One of the critical aspects of any teaching platform is how it handles payments. Preply uses a secure system for transactions, so you can trust that you'll get paid for your work. They pay you through Paypal, Payoneer, Skrill, or Wise, depending on your preference.
They also offer get support through professional development webinars, live chat and email.
Preply Tutor Requirements
The company does not list any specific requirements on its website to become a Preply tutor.
Depending on the language or subjects you wish to teach, certification may be required.
Your bookings depend on your profile, your rate, your qualifications, and your ratings from students.
Preply Class Type
One-on-one lessons
Preply tutors can teach 50 languages and over 100 subjects, in total.
Preply Age range
Varies
Since Preply is a free marketplace, you may get adults who are interested in learning themselves, or children who have been signed up by their parents.
Preply Minimum Hours
No minimum hours required
No maximum hours
How does Preply work?
Preply Booking System
There are two ways to get booked by students on Preply. You can:
reply to offers posted by students, or
be booked directly by a student through the search function.
Where your profile appears in the search results is determined by your:
availability,
reviews from students,
the quality of your profile,
and how quickly you respond to student messages.
Tutors who teach more frequently appear higher in Preply’s search results.
Preply Pay
Tutors on Preply set their own hourly rate.
The average rate is between $15 and $20 USD.
Popular tutors earn about $550 weekly.
Preply takes a commission from each class you teach
If you teach a student their first class (a trial class), Preply takes 100% commission from this class.
This is because Preply gives its students a money-back guarantee on their trial class.
Thereafter, the commission ranges from 18 to 33 per cent
The commission Preply takes depends on the number of hours you teach. The more tutoring you do, the less commission you pay.
Preply pays its tutors via Payoneer, PayPal, Skrill, or Wise.
(If you use our link to sign up for Payoneer, you can earn a $35 bonus)
(If you use our link to sign up for Wise, you get a fee-free transfer of up to £500 ($630+ USD).
Preply Commission Structure:
0–20 hours taught = 33% commission deducted
21–50 hours taught = 28% commission deducted
51–200 hours taught = 25% commission deducted
201–400 hours taught = 22% commission deducted
400+ hours taught = 18% commission deducted
Preply Peak Teaching Times
Since Preply is used to connect tutors with students from all over the world, the peak teaching times will depend on you and your students’ locations.
Generally, students tend to take more classes before and after work/school time in their location.
Preply Application Process
Step 1 - Basic Info:
Enter:
- your first and last name,
- country of origin,
- languages spoken,
- subjects you can teach,
- and desired hourly pay rate (you can change this anytime, $15-20/hour is the average starting rate).
Step 2 - Upload a Profile Picture:
Choosing the Right Profile Photo
Your profile picture is the first thing students see, making it a key part of their first impression of you. A great photo reflects both professionalism and approachability, helping you attract more students.
To ensure your profile photo meets Preply’s standards, follow these guidelines:
Your face and eyes should be fully visible (exceptions apply for religious reasons).
The photo should be centered and upright.
Use a high-resolution, color image without filters.
Choose a neutral background with even lighting.
Smile and look directly into the camera to create a welcoming impression.
Profile Photos That Preply Does Not Accept
To maintain a professional and consistent experience for students, Preply does not accept the following types of profile photos:
Images containing logos or contact information
Photos that include people other than the tutor (for legal reasons)
Pictures with borders or frames
Blurry or low-quality images
Heavily edited or overly filtered photos
Black-and-white images
Wearing hats, sunglasses, or masks (unless for religious or medical reasons)
Photos featuring animals
Cropped images that do not show your full face properly
Head-to-waist photos (close-up headshots are preferred)
Below are examples of profile photos that do not meet Preply’s guidelines.
Examples of good profile photos.
Examples of photos that will not pass approval.
Step 3 - Profile Description:
Your Preply profile is crucial for attracting potential students, and it’s made up of three main sections:
Profile Headline
Profile Description (About the Tutor)
Subject Section (if you’re an approved tutor)
1. Profile Headline
Your headline is one of the first things a student sees in the search results, making it a key factor in attracting clicks to your profile. Create a unique, personalized, and attention-grabbing headline to stand out.
Research shows that headlines between 50 to 75 characters get the most profile views, so aim for that sweet spot!
Here are a few questions to ask when crafting your headline:
What is your specialty? (e.g. Business English, English for kids)
Why should students trust you? (e.g. years of experience, certifications)
What makes you different from other tutors?
Example headline that includes all three elements:
Certified Business English Tutor with 5+ Years of Experience Making Learning Fun!
Specialty: Business English
Trustworthy: Certified, 5+ years of experience
Unique Factor: Making learning enjoyable
2. Profile Description
Your profile description is your opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and teaching approach. Here's how to make it stand out:
What to Do: ✅
Mention your qualifications, experience, and what kind of students you teach.
Describe your teaching style and the methods you use.
Give students a sense of what to expect in your lessons.
Share a bit about your personality and interests to help students connect with you.
Keep your description engaging and authentic.
Write in only one language.
Protect your privacy by keeping personal info confidential.
What Not to Do: ❌
Don’t include your surname (for privacy reasons).
Avoid including contact information (students can reach you via Preply messages).
Don’t add links to personal websites or social media.
Don’t write in the third person (e.g., “Jennifer is an experienced tutor”).
Avoid copying and pasting from your CV or repeating yourself.
Don’t invite students to a free lesson (trial lessons are not free).
Do not include reviews—students will see these separately on Preply.
Focus on how you can help students achieve their learning goals. Your description complements your video: the video shows your personality, while the description outlines how you can support their success.
Additional Tips to Make Your Description Stand Out:
Start with a friendly greeting and end with a strong call to action (e.g., "Book your trial lesson with me and let’s work together to improve your English!").
Be approachable and authentic—students will spend a lot of time with you, so you want to come across as easygoing and personable.
Mention your hobbies or interests briefly to give students a glimpse into who you are as a person, but make sure the focus remains on your teaching abilities.
Break up the text into paragraphs or use bullet points for readability.
Proofread your description for spelling and grammar errors.
By following these guidelines, you’ll create a profile that attracts students and shows them exactly how you can help them achieve their learning goals!
Step 4 - Upload/Record a Video Introduction:
You can record from directly within the browser or upload to Youtube/Vimeo and paste the link.
Creating an Engaging Intro Video
Your introduction video is a powerful way to connect with potential students and showcase your unique teaching style. A well-crafted video helps you stand out and gives students a preview of what to expect in your lessons.
How to Structure Your Video
1. Introduce Yourself (15–20 seconds)
Start by answering these key questions:
What is your first name? (For confidentiality, only first names should be used.)
Where are you from and where are you currently located?
What subject(s) do you teach?
What languages do you speak?
2. Highlight Your Skills (30–50 seconds)
Give students a reason to choose you as their tutor:
What are your qualifications, experience, and skills relevant to teaching?
What can students expect from your lessons?
Do you have a preferred teaching method?
What activities or materials do you like to use?
Do you specialize in areas like Business English, exam preparation, or specific proficiency levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)?
3. End with a Call to Action (15–25 seconds)
Encourage students to book a lesson with you! Thank them for watching and leave them with a motivational message.
Video Requirements
To ensure your video meets Preply’s approval standards, follow these guidelines:
✅ DO:
✔ Record in horizontal mode at eye level
✔ Keep your video between 30 seconds and 2 minutes
✔ Use good lighting and a neutral background
✔ Record in a quiet place with no background noise
✔ Keep the camera steady and ensure your face is fully visible
✔ Showcase your teaching skills and experience
❌ DO NOT:
✖ Mention your surname or share contact details
✖ Use frames, borders, or filters
✖ Include other people in the video
✖ Use slideshows, presentations, or demo lessons
✖ Display logos or external links
By following these steps, you’ll create a compelling introduction video that attracts more students and sets you up for success on Preply!
Step 5 - Availability:
Choose the times at which you are available to tutor.
Step 6 - Verification:
Within 3 business days of submitting your application, you will receive an email from the Preply team with your application status update.
Profiles may not get approved on the first attempt. This happens if the profile photo, video or description do not meet the requirements.
Be sure to follow the recommendations given at each step of the registration process above
Also, make sure you do not put any contact details or misleading information on your profile. This will slow down the process and may prevent you from getting approved.
Please note that if you make any changes to your profile after it has been approved, you will then have to be re-approved, which could take up to 2 business days. During this time, your profile does not appear in search results.
Check out this video that takes you through the entire Preply application process, step-by-step.
Preply Reviews
Preply is for:
people who are independent and have confidence in their ability to build up a dedicated student base.
tutors who want to have ultimate flexibility and freedom of scheduling.
teachers who teach languages other than English. Obviously, English tutoring is in high demand on their platform, however Preply is an opportunity for tutors who are fluent in other languages to obtain meaningful work.
those interested in teaching topics other than languages.
tutors who may not have a degree or teaching certificate, but who are passionate about teaching.
Things to consider about Preply:
If you teach a student who is taking their first class with Preply, you do not make any money.
Depending on your frequency of teaching, Preply may take up to 33 per cent commission from your hourly rate.
Because you are an independent tutor on a free marketplace that offers a variety of subjects, you may have to create your own lesson material, unlike some of the other online language learning companies we recommend. It may also take some time to acquire a dedicated student base.
Preply Technical Requirements
a computer or tablet
a stable internet connection
a webcam
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