Preply vs italki vs Superprof at a glance
All three let you set your own price. The big differences are how much of each lesson they keep and what happens with the first lesson.
Facts checked on 30th of October 2026 on each platform's own pages. Fees change, so check the source before you sign up.
| Platform | What it keeps | Trial or first lesson | Who sets the price | How you get paid | Minimum payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Preply | 100% of the trial lesson with each new student; after that, 33% down to 18% depending on the hours you teach | Preply keeps 100% of the trial lesson with each new student | You choose your hourly rate and can change it anytime | Bank transfer (via Wise), Wise, PayPal, Payoneer or Skrill | Check their site |
 italki | A variable commission it doesn't publish in its terms; it varies by lesson type, the number of lessons in the package and your performance | Not stated in its terms for teachers | You set your own prices and hours | To your italki wallet once the student confirms the lesson; the withdrawal method may charge its own fee | Check their site |
 Superprof | 10% only if you're paid through Superprof, the listing is free | Your first lesson is offered free automatically while your status is New or Confirmed | You set your price | To your bank account a few days after the lesson or at the end of the month, from €30 | Over €30 |
Preply: a published scale that drops with your hours
Preply suits you if you'll teach a lot of hours there: its commission starts at 33% and drops to 18% as your hours grow.
Pick Preply if
- You want to know the commission before you start.
- You plan to teach many hours there, so your rate keeps dropping.
- You want to get paid by Wise, PayPal, Payoneer or Skrill.
Think twice if
- You'd teach many one-off trial lessons: Preply keeps 100% of each one with a new student.
- You want to keep most of your price from the first month (the commission starts at 33%).
- You'll only teach a few hours a week there, so you'd stay close to 33%.
italki: your prices, a fee it doesn't publish
italki lets you set your own prices and hours, but its terms don't say how much it keeps: the fee varies by lesson type, package and your performance.
Pick italki if
- You want to set your own prices and hours.
- You want the platform to handle international payments for you.
- You don't mind seeing your real fee in your teacher wallet after the first lessons.
Think twice if
- You need to know the exact commission before you start.
- You want to compare platforms on numbers alone: italki doesn't give you one.
- You need the money in your bank right away: it goes to your italki wallet first.
Superprof: free listing, the student pays
Superprof is free to join and charges 10% only on lessons paid through it. Students pay a €29 monthly pass to contact teachers.
Pick Superprof if
- You want a free listing and your full price when students pay you directly.
- You want to set your price and have the student cover the platform's cost (with their monthly pass).
- You'd rather pay no commission at all: with the Premium subscription you don't pay that 10%.
Think twice if
- You don't want to give your first lesson for free while your status is New or Confirmed.
- Your students won't pay a monthly pass just to message a teacher.
- You want payouts under €30 to arrive on their own: below that you ask for the transfer by hand.
Which one should you pick?
Pick by what matters most to you right now: growing on one platform, a free listing or students from many countries.
- You want to grow on one platform: Preply, where the commission drops as your hours grow.
- You want a free listing and no commission on lessons students pay you directly: Superprof.
- You want students from many countries and the platform to handle international payments: italki.
- Not sure? Start with one, and build your own students on the side as you go.
What about your own students?
A marketplace brings you students; with your own students you keep your full price. You can have both.
Before you open a profile, see what each platform keeps per lesson and how much Preply tutors make with real numbers. Want to build your own students alongside? Here's how to teach online independently.
Keep your own students organised
Bookings, packs and payments for the students who book with you directly. Try SmartCookie for 14 days, no card needed.