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Preply Review 2026: Is It the Right Language-Learning App for You?
We tested Preply’s tutoring marketplace against five self-paced apps to see how 1-on-1 lessons compare on price, flexibility and speaking practice.
Preply is a tutoring marketplace that connects learners with real, native-speaking tutors for live 1-on-1 lessons rather than a fixed app curriculum, across dozens of languages. It’s our #3-ranked pick in our 2026 testing, scoring 9.3/10 overall — here’s exactly why, and where it falls short.
What we liked
- Real 1-on-1 tutors, not a fixed curriculum
- Flexible scheduling and a wide range of price points
- Wide choice of dialects and native-speaker accents, across many languages
What held it back
- Costs add up faster than a flat-rate app
- Quality varies by tutor — plan to try a few before settling
What Is Preply?
Preply is an online tutoring marketplace, not a self-paced app — you book live 1-on-1 video lessons with an independent tutor who sets their own rate, schedule and teaching style, in any of dozens of languages the platform supports. For Spanish specifically, Preply lists 15,000+ tutors, letting you filter by country, price, availability and specialty (conversation practice, exam prep, business Spanish, and more).
Because every tutor works differently, there’s no single fixed curriculum — lessons adapt to whatever you and your tutor agree to focus on each session.
How Preply’s Tutoring Works
You start by browsing tutor profiles, each with a video introduction, reviews from past students, and an hourly rate. A 25- or 50-minute trial lesson lets you test a tutor before committing to a regular schedule. The advertised offer is 50% off your first trial with tutors charging $7 or more. Because every lesson is 1-on-1 with a real person, Preply ties for the highest Speaking Practice score of any app we tested — there’s no substitute for live conversation with a native speaker.
- Filter tutors by country and price, so you can specifically target a Latin American or Castilian accent
- If a paid trial isn’t a fit, request a free replacement trial with another tutor (up to 2 per account)
- Lessons adapt week to week to whatever you need help with, rather than following a fixed syllabus
Choosing & Switching Tutors
With 15,000+ Spanish tutors to choose from, quality and teaching style vary. If a paid trial lesson is not a fit, you can request a free replacement trial with another tutor, up to 2 per account. Compare tutor profiles and use the trial to assess whether their teaching style suits your goals.
Lesson Scheduling & Flexibility
Book through your tutor’s calendar. You can cancel or reschedule a lesson free of charge at least 12 hours before it starts. You can also pause your subscription for up to 20 days per cycle. You are responsible for scheduling your sessions and managing your subscription.
Pricing, Trial Lessons & Subscription Flexibility
Spanish lessons start at $3, with listed rates ranging up to $40+ per lesson and an average of $17. Prices depend on your tutor. Trial lessons last 25 or 50 minutes, with an advertised 50% discount on your first trial with tutors charging $7 or more. Check the offer terms when booking.
If a paid trial does not suit you, request a free replacement trial with another tutor (up to 2 per account). Cancel or reschedule lessons free of charge at least 12 hours ahead, and pause your subscription for up to 20 days per cycle.
Support & Learning Resources
Preply’s help center covers account, billing and tutor-dispute questions, and its in-platform messaging lets you communicate with your tutor between lessons to share materials or ask follow-up questions.
Preply Score Breakdown
The Bottom Line: Preply is the only app on this list built around a real person rather than a fixed course — the best choice if speaking practice with a native tutor matters more to you than a flat, predictable monthly price.
Preply — our verdict
9.3
Great
- Lesson price$3-$40+
- Trial offer50% off
- Cancellation12+ hrs ahead
- Spanish tutors15,000+
More From Language Learning
Best Spanish Apps 2026Preply vs. the Competition
Preply scores third overall, and its per-lesson tutoring model is a genuinely different approach from the self-paced apps around it. Here’s how it stacks up against the other highest-scoring language apps we tested.
Preply
This review$3-$40+/lessontutor-set rate
Choosing your own tutor
Babbel
$8.07/mo12 months, billed upfront
Learning grammar step by step
Pimsleur
$19.95/moSpanish Premium plan
Speaking on your commute
Who Is Preply Best For?
You want a real person correcting you from the very first lesson, not a scripted app exercise, and you’re comfortable managing your own tutor’s schedule.
We’d start with a trial lesson — 50% off, from $3.50You’re targeting a specific dialect or accent in the language you’re learning — Preply’s tutors (15,000+ for Spanish alone) let you filter by country in a way no app-based course can match.
We’d start with a trial lesson — 50% off, from $3.50If you want one flat, predictable monthly price instead of variable per-lesson billing, a subscription app like Babbel or Busuu will suit you better — see the comparison table above.
Ready to find a tutor on Preply?
50% off your first trial lesson with tutors charging $7 or more.
Find a tutor →Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Preply lessons cost?
Spanish lesson prices range from $3 to $40+ per lesson, averaging $17, with rates set by each tutor. Trial lessons last 25 or 50 minutes. The advertised offer is 50% off your first trial lesson with tutors charging $7 or more; check the offer terms when booking.
How far ahead do I need to cancel a Preply lesson?
At least 12 hours before the scheduled time — cancel later than that and the lesson credit isn’t returned to your balance.
Can I choose a tutor who speaks a specific Spanish dialect?
Yes — with 15,000+ tutors, you can filter by country, so you can specifically look for native speakers with your desired dialect.
What other languages can I learn on Preply besides Spanish?
Preply’s tutors cover dozens of languages, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Mandarin. The same marketplace model — browsing tutor profiles, booking a discounted trial lesson, and choosing a tutor — works the same way regardless of which language you choose.
Can I switch tutors on Preply?
Yes. If a paid trial lesson is not a fit, you can request a free replacement trial with another tutor, up to 2 per account. This does not mean every new trial lesson is free.
Does Preply have a fixed curriculum?
No — lessons are set by your individual tutor and adapt to what you want to work on, rather than following one standardized course structure like Babbel or Pimsleur.
Is Preply cheaper than a subscription app?
It depends on how often you take lessons — a single weekly lesson can cost less than a monthly app subscription, but taking several lessons a week with a higher-priced tutor will usually cost more than a flat-rate app like Babbel or Busuu.