italki vs Preply comes down to how you like to pay. italki is pay as you go, with up to three trial lessons and Spanish lessons listed at $4 to $60 an hour. Preply has far more Spanish tutors and a subscription model, and lets you switch tutors for free if the first one is not a match.
This lesson comes from Speak Better Spanish, live one-to-one Spanish coaching for adults with Hannah, Arturo and Jacky. Rated 5.0 on Google. Get a free speaking plan →
We are Speak Better Spanish, and we are neither of these. We run our own coaching school, which we describe at the end as a third option, clearly labeled as ours. Every italki and Preply fact below comes from their own websites on October 25, 2026. Preply’s Spanish page showed several different average prices in different places that day, so we do not quote a Preply price.
Key Takeaways
- Both are marketplaces: you choose a tutor, and quality depends on who you choose.
- italki is pay as you go. Preply is built around a subscription you can pause.
- italki lets you take up to three trial lessons, one per tutor. Preply lets you switch tutors for free if the first is not a match.
- Cancel more than 24 hours ahead on italki, or more than 12 hours ahead on Preply, to get the lesson back.
- If you want one team that tracks your progress and sends notes after every session, a coach is a different kind of option.
italki vs Preply at a glance
| italki | Preply | Speak Better Spanish (ours) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A marketplace of Spanish teachers | A marketplace of Spanish tutors | A coaching school with three coaches |
| Spanish teachers listed | 2,347 | 15,496 | Hannah, Arturo and Jacky |
| Price shown for Spanish | $4 to $60 an hour; a 30-minute lesson typically $4 to $10 | Different averages in different places on its page, so we quote none | On our pricing page |
| How you pay | Pay as you go, optional italki Plus subscription | A lesson plan subscription you can pause | Single sessions or packages |
| Try it first | Up to three trial lessons, one per teacher, many discounted | 25 or 50 minute trial lesson, and up to two free tutor switches | Free Roadmap Session |
| Cancel and get the lesson back | More than 24 hours ahead | More than 12 hours ahead | At least 24 hours ahead, plus a one-time emergency pass |
| Teacher types | Professional teachers and community tutors | Native and non-native tutors | Real-life Mexican Spanish |
Knowing the rule is the easy part. Using it mid-conversation is where most adults freeze. In a free roadmap session, a coach hears you speak and gives you a plan for what to practice next.
1. italki: best if you want to pay lesson by lesson
italki’s Spanish page listed 2,347 tutors when we checked. It says Spanish lessons cost between $4 and $60 an hour depending on the tutor’s experience and lesson format, and that a 30-minute lesson typically costs between $4 and $10. italki tutors are either professional teachers, who are certified with formal training and offer structured lessons, or community tutors, who are native or fluent speakers without teaching credentials and focus on conversation.
You pay as you go. You can book up to three trial lessons, one with each tutor, and many tutors discount them, but italki says there are no completely free lessons. There is an optional italki Plus subscription with AI study tools. italki’s teacher terms say lessons cannot be canceled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the start time, except in a true emergency.
italki suits you if you like trying a few teachers, want short cheap lessons, or only want to book when you have time.
2. Preply: best if you want a big choice and a steady schedule
Preply’s Spanish page listed 15,496 tutors when we checked, far more than italki. It is built around a subscription: you subscribe to a lesson plan, and you can reschedule, pause or switch tutors anytime. You can book a 25 or 50 minute trial lesson, and if your first tutor is not a match, Preply lets you try two more for free.
Preply’s help center says that if you cancel more than 12 hours before a lesson, it returns to your balance, and if you cancel later than that, it does not. Its Spanish page lists tutors from Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Venezuela and other countries, so you can filter for the accent you want.
Preply suits you if you want a regular weekly slot with one tutor and like having thousands of tutors to choose from.
Which one should you choose?
Choose italki if you want to pay one lesson at a time and keep it flexible. Choose Preply if you want a subscription that keeps you showing up every week. On both, the tutor matters more than the platform, so use the trials. Our guide to Spanish tutor vs Spanish coach explains what to look for in a first lesson.
3. The third option: Speak Better Spanish coaching (ours)
This one is ours, so read it as our own description. We are not a marketplace. Hannah, Arturo and Jacky coach adults one to one on Zoom, in real Mexican Spanish. You get a recording and follow-up notes after every session, email support in between, and a full refund within 28 days if you are not fully satisfied. You can start with a free Roadmap Session that maps your level, your goals and what stops you speaking.
If you mainly want speaking time, our 30-minute conversation sessions are the closest thing to a marketplace conversation lesson. You talk in Spanish about your own life with a coach who knows you, and your notes follow you, so nobody starts from zero. There is one small thing to practice, nothing to hand in. See how conversation sessions work.
A marketplace tutor costs less per hour than we do. Our prices are on the pricing page. If you want the full side by side, read Speak Better Spanish vs italki and Speak Better Spanish vs Preply, or see all our comparisons.
How we compared them
- We only used facts we could see on italki’s and Preply’s own websites and help pages on October 25, 2026.
- Where a site showed conflicting numbers, we left the number out.
- We gave no star ratings and did not use reviews.
- We said plainly which option is ours.
Wherever you book, the lessons only help if you speak between them. Try our guides to practicing Spanish alone and easy small talk for your first lesson, and read why you might not be improving if you have been taking lessons for a while.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how you want to pay. italki is pay as you go, with Spanish lessons listed at $4 to $60 an hour, and suits flexible schedules. Preply has more Spanish tutors and a subscription you can pause, which suits a steady weekly habit. On both, choosing the right tutor matters most.
italki states a price range for Spanish of $4 to $60 an hour, with a typical 30-minute lesson at $4 to $10. Preply’s Spanish page showed several different average prices on October 25, 2026, so we cannot compare them fairly. Check the tutors you like on both sites.
italki says it has no completely free lessons, but you can book up to three trial lessons, one per tutor, and many are discounted. Preply offers a 25 or 50 minute trial lesson and lets you switch to up to two more tutors for free if the first one is not a match.
On italki, lessons cannot be canceled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the start time, except in a true emergency. On Preply, cancel more than 12 hours ahead and the lesson goes back to your balance. Later than that, it does not.
A marketplace like italki or Preply lets you pick from thousands of independent tutors, each with their own style. A coaching school like ours is one small team that plans your sessions around your goals, sends notes after each one and tracks your progress. Marketplaces usually cost less per hour.
Try a few, then commit
Book a trial on the platform that fits how you pay, try two or three tutors, and keep the one you look forward to talking to.
If you have tried tutors and still freeze when it is your turn to talk, book a free Spanish Roadmap Session. We will tell you honestly whether a marketplace tutor or coaching fits you better.
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SPANISH FLUENCY COACHING
Reading about Spanish is the easy part. Speaking it is where we come in.
Most adults who find this page already know a lot of Spanish and still freeze in real conversations. A coach works on that freeze directly: what stops you, what you need to say, and real practice until it comes out on its own.
- A personal plan from a free roadmap call
- Live one-to-one sessions on Zoom
- The recording and notes after every session
- Email support between sessions
- Three coaches, so you hear more than one accent
- 100% money-back guarantee within 28 days
Hannah, Arturo and Jacky. Coaching since 2014, based in Monterrey, Mexico.“Hannah assured me one day it will start to click but I was convinced I would never master the language. […] [Recently] I had a full conversation with a worker who was pointing and repairing my windows. He spoke no English and the boss was not on site. I understood almost everything this man was explaining about the work […] I felt so proud of myself! It clicked!”
Catherine, student since 2023“Not only is she a master at her craft and her ability to customize your language education to your specific needs and pace, she's also an absolute joy to work with.”
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Free on Zoom, no payment details. Rated 5.0 on Google. You leave with a plan either way. See pricing
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