The hardest part of learning a new language is getting started. There are plenty of apps for students and language learners—like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and more—but few offer instruction from actual humans. Enter Preply.
iPhone
Preply allows you to choose your personal tutor, connect to lessons, chat with classmates, and even complete homework assignments. You control your own learning by selecting your tutor, ideal group size, and classes that fit your personal schedule. I can confirm, after testing the app for two weeks with an Italian tutor, that Preply’s convenience is worth the price tag.
If you’re serious about language learning, Preply handles everything. All you have to do is connect and learn.
How I tested Preply
I've used Preply through the free trial period, and had two full lessons with an Italian tutor to thoroughly evaluate language learning effectiveness.
The features I tested included the following:
- Connecting to introductory video-call sessions and full conversational classes
- Sending messages through the Preply platform to my tutor and classmates
- Conversing with other users through Reddit
- Completing homework assignments with outside material supplied by my tutor
The bottom line
Preply offers personalized language learning that is simple and easy to use, but be prepared to pay the price. You get access to everything you need to learn a new language with one click. Subscribers can schedule sessions, connect to class, receive and send messages to their tutor, and continue practicing outside class-time to make learning meaningful. That being said, all of these features come at a cost. Preply is ideal for serious and committed learners.
What is Preply?
Preply is a subscription language learning platform available on desktop and mobile through the App Store or Google Play. Match with your ideal tutor and strike up a conversation in a new language. Preply offers over 50 language options and lets you completely personalize your learning experience. You can even practice whenever and wherever you want; all you need is an internet connection.
Created in 2012, Preply has grown into one of the top language learning apps, with more than 44,000 tutors offering their services on the platform. From conversational skills to professional qualifications, you can reach your language goals from the comfort of your own home. The wide variety of tutors makes Preply stand out among the multitudes of language-learning apps. The fact that you talk with a real person, native or non-native, and connect with their interests makes this app really motivating. While it lacks Duolingo’s witty green owl, it’s still a great tool that prompts you to use language in real communication, which helps you learn fast.
Preply app cost
Pricing varies because tutors set their own prices. Preply is a subscription service, meaning you must pay a monthly fee to use the app and connect with your tutor. For example, the Italian tutors' pricing ranged from $8/hour to $40/hour.
You can schedule up to five sessions per week, but you won’t be charged until the end of each 28-day period. Be forewarned: Preply claims that the subscription service benefits both tutors and learners by obliging both parties to commit to the classes. However, the app has received criticism on review site Trustpilot, with users complaining about last-minute cancellations and unreliable tutors. (Not to mention the time zone differences!) Those criticisms are warranted, though some of these users seem to forget that these are real people connecting to teach you, and it may not be their full-time job. The good news is you can always reschedule or swap tutors if one isn’t working for you.
Preply features
Preply is unique among language learning apps because it allows you to select your tutor based on your needs in a teacher and budgetary goals.
Each tutor offers different experiences, levels, methodologies, and group sizing. You can try up to three tutors in Preply’s trial period, which is 50% off the normal subscription price. Watch the introductory videos each tutor has on their profile to hear their accent, voice, and target language level before scheduling with them. After I had finished browsing tutor profiles, I swiftly received messages from each tutor asking if I had any questions or doubts before booking a trial.
Once you’ve decided on a tutor and subscribed for your weekly sessions, you can utilize the direct messaging interface to contact your tutor with questions, or connect with other classmates to continue practicing outside class time. Although there aren’t any interactive course books within the main features associated with the app, tutors themselves send you assignments and projects for homework.
Streaming and data usage
Will using Preply eat up your data? To an extent, yes. Steaming of any kind, whether it be connecting to online classes through video chat or watching lessons, will use up data more quickly. For some perspective, one 25-minute Preply class can use between 3 to 4 GB of data. In general, most people use about 20GB of data a month. If you are worried about data usage, check out some of these tips:
- Opt for Wi-Fi vs. cellular data when you can.
- Check out the best apps for monitoring your data usage.
- Learn more about data usage.
Alternatively, you can upgrade to an unlimited data plan and stream to your heart's content. Browse some of our favorite, affordable unlimited plans from these smaller carriers, otherwise known as MVNOs:
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#1
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Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
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Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
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#3
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US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
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My experience on Preply
With future plans of traveling to Italy in mind, I wanted 1:1 lessons with a native speaker to fully immerse myself in the language. I chose a few sessions with Giada to practice conversational skills. She seamlessly created a lesson plan with that in mind, and even after one lesson, I couldn’t help but gesture a half-clenched fist in the air!
Even though I’ve only had two lessons so far, I can confirm that Preply's convenience favors unconventional students. No more worrying about class time or struggling with your assigned teacher; you control your learning through the handy in-app features, like your class schedule and message inbox. All you have to do is connect from anywhere and begin your lesson. You can even use the interactive messaging feature to keep in touch with your tutor or classmates as you go through your personalized curriculum.
That being said, keep your learning goals in mind before subscribing. It was refreshing to connect with a native speaker and brush up on Italian conversation basics, but I wouldn’t depend on Preply if I were studying for a language certification exam, since not every tutor is a qualified teacher.
Each language instructor develops their own curriculum and activities, so I suggest shopping around for a tutor that’s right for you. Using an app allows you to connect anytime, anywhere to language teachers, but it comes with the risk of cancellations, time-zone mix-ups, and the hassle of rescheduling. Preply is pricey (if I continued with Giada, it would’ve cost $85/month), but that money will go far, offering unique learning experiences via a convenient tool.
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Is Preply worth checking out?
Preply is worth checking out if you have serious language learning goals in mind. Since there is a hefty financial price tag associated with the monthly subscription, it's not an app to subscribe and abandon. With auto-renewal, you will automatically be charged every 28 days for your subscription if you don't remember to cancel.
If you're just looking to learn some conversational phrases to use while you travel, I'd suggest a lower-maintenance app like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone. However, if you're looking to truly learn a language, then Preply would be perfect for you. The app allows you to focus on what you need and connect with real tutors through this comfortable, convenient, and effective learning tool.
How WhistleOut reviews apps
Our mobile experts scour the app stores every month, looking for the best new apps for Android and iPhone. Before recommending an app, we use the app for at least one full workday, testing its basic functionality and evaluating whether or not it delivers on its promises.
- Easy to use
Great apps simplify your phone. We selected the tools that don't require a complicated instructional manual. - Affordability
The internet is filled with expensive price tags, but we're not buying what they're selling. We leaned into inexpensive, quality apps. Extra points if they're free! - Hands-on testing
We played around with these before recommending them, ensuring they're worth your download.
From there, we weigh the app's pros and cons and then determine whether or not it's a worthwhile download for the wider population of cell phone users.
Jessica Santero
Jessica is a Junior Staff Writer for WhistleOut. After six years teaching abroad, she now uses her way with words as a linguist and language enthusiast to help the everyday reader maneuver the complicated world of wireless and tech. When disconnecting from the digital world, Jessica enjoys the great outdoors, preferably on two wheels. Cycling may be her number one hobby, but a close second is open water swimming.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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