italki Review 2025: Features, Pricing, and Alternatives

italki is an online tutoring platform that matches language tutors with students through a video chat. It supports language learners in improving their fluency and vocabulary. If you are also preparing for a standardized test, you can find an ACT tutor for dedicated one-on-one support.

In this blog, we will discuss italki’s reviews, features, pricing, alternatives, and future plans. The information here can help students, language enthusiasts, and tutors learn about the company and its competitors.

User Reviews and Testimonials

According to reviews on Glassdoor, italki is rated 4.4 out of 5. It has received 597 reviews, of which 97% of reviewers would recommend it to a friend.

• Reviews mentioned that italki is good for tutors as it provides a flexible schedule, a work-from-home option, and an opportunity to set their rates.
• Reviews also mentioned that tutors face issues like low pay, high commission fees, seasonal demand for their work, no incentives, and poor customer service.

On Trustpilot, italki is rated 4.4 out of 5. It has received almost 13,560 reviews, of which 82% of the reviews rated it 5 stars.

• Student reviews mentioned that the italki website is clear, concise, and suitable for finding tutors within their budget for many different languages.
• Students also highlighted that they experienced glitches with the italki website and had to rely on Zoom or Skype tools for lessons.
• The tutors’ reviews mentioned that they are paid less, with a commission rate of 40% of their payment, poor treatment of tutors, and ineffective customer care policies.

italki is rated 4.3 out of 5 on Indeed. It has almost 85 reviews, of which 53% of reviews rated it 5 stars.

• Reviews pointed out that their platform is effective for matching language tutors to students. Many tutors praised it for offering flexible work schedules and the freedom to set their rates.
• Reviews also highlighted that tutors face issues like high commission fees, low pay and seasonal demand, and high competition. Students also face issues like website crashes and glitches while attending lessons.

On Real Reviews, italki is rated 4.2 out of 5, though it has just 6 reviews. Reviews mentioned that students like it due to its real-time practice tests, feedback from tutors, and the quality of tutors. However, one of the reviews mentioned that it lacks accountability and quality checks of tutors.

Features and Offerings

italki offers online lessons across a wide range of languages like English, French, Spanish, Korean, Arabic, etc. They provide customizable one-to-one sessions, live video chat options, a group classroom, and a private italki digital classroom.

italki has its own app called “italki”, available on multiple platforms, including iOS and Android. The app makes learning more convenient. They also allow users to connect with the global community of language learners to build connections among them.

Apart from classroom lessons, they have a section called “Take learning beyond the classroom,” where you can explore assessments, podcasts, articles, discussions, prompts to practice, and quizzes to have some amazing learning experiences.

Pricing Structure for Students

Pricing on italki usually is between $4 to $30. However, it can vary as the tutors can set their rate for the classes, and italki keeps a high commission. italki does not offer a free trial.

italki’s Alternatives

Many online tutoring platforms provide services similar to italki. We will discuss those alternatives to italki alongside their pros and cons for students and tutors.

Alternatives for Students

Preply

Preply is an online tutoring website specifically designed for language learners.

Pros: They provide online tutoring with extensive video chat options. With over 50,000+ tutors on their platform, they provide services to students in various languages.

Cons: They only provide online language lessons. You can’t learn other subjects like Biology, Maths, Economics, etc. They do not provide free trials.

Duolingo

Duolingo is a platform for language learners that connects learners with tutors.

Pros: It is free for basic language learning. They also provide a time tracker and statistics to view the progress. They have their own app to improve the learning experience.

Cons: They provide services in subjects like languages and math and no other subjects are provided. For more advanced learning, a subscription is required.

AmazingTalker

AmazingTalker provides online tutoring services across a wide range of languages, K12 education, music, sports, etc.

Pros: They provide customized one-to-one lessons and instant tutoring. Some tutors may offer free trial lessons on this platform.

Cons: There are no introductory videos by all tutors, the website is not user-friendly and there are very limited tutors.

Superprof

Superprof is a digital platform that offers online tutoring in a broad spectrum of subjects like music, maths, languages, etc.

Pros: It provides private online tutors to students in a wide range of subjects at an affordable price range. They also offer student passes for students to access the contact information of tutors.

Cons: The Student pass is only to access tutor details and it does not cover the cost of online tutoring.

My Engineering Buddy (MEB)

My Engineering Buddy is an online website that provides online tutoring, homework guidance within tutoring sessions, and test preparation services to students.

Pros: They provide personalized tutor matches, multilingual support, and online tutoring services starting from $20 per hour.

Cons: As of now, they provide tutoring services only in four languages, i.e., English, Spanish, Hindi, and French.

For students preparing for graduate admissions tests, you can also explore GRE tutoring as a focused alternative to general language platforms. You can also read our detailed review of Varsity Tutors to compare another major tutoring platform.

Alternatives for Tutors

Wiingy

Wiingy is an e-learning platform that provides one-to-one online tutoring, homework help, and test preparation services.

Pros: They provide freelance work type and work-from-home options. They also provide an app for a smooth user experience.

Cons: According to reviews on Glassdoor, tutors mentioned that schedules may get hectic and difficulties in work-life balance.

Rype

Rype is an online website that matches students with language tutors all over the world.

Pros: They allow tutors to set their schedules and work at their own pace.

Cons: According to reviews on Trustpilot, users mentioned that they have poor customer support and issues with payment options.

My Engineering Buddy (MEB)

My Engineering Buddy provides online tutoring, homework guidance within tutoring sessions, and test preparation services to students.

Pros: They provide freelance work types, a wide range of subjects, and work-from-home opportunities.

Cons: According to reviews on Glassdoor, tutors mentioned that they find difficulty in navigating when their matches to students are in different time zones.

Verbling

Verbling is a digital platform that provides online tutoring in various languages to students all over the world.

Pros: Work-life balance, freelance type job type, and work-from-home options are given to tutors.

Cons: According to reviews on Glassdoor, tutors mentioned that there is no guarantee of work hours, highly competitive, and poor technical support when required.

Busuu

Busuu is an online tutoring website that matches language learners with tutors.

Pros: Provides a platform to find students and to make payment negotiations with ease.

Cons: According to reviews on Glassdoor, tutors mentioned that they are paid less and have heavy management pressure.

Our review of Wyzant tutoring covers another widely used platform that tutors and students frequently compare with italki alternatives. Students interested in business school preparation may also want to look into GMAT prep help as a complement to language learning.

Future Plans of italki

italki’s future plans are to improve the learning experience on their platform and welcome more challenges, opportunities, and success in the future. italki has also embraced AI for enhanced teaching success and is using AI in the following ways:

• AI-powered language assessment tools.
• Chatbots for language practice and conversation.
• AI-enhanced content curation and presentation tools.

italki for Tutors

How to Become a Tutor on italki

To become a tutor on italki, you have to fill out an online application on their website (not available in their app) and pass ID verification.

After ID verification, you will be provided with some video tutorials to help you understand their platform usage. Then, you will be assessed with quizzes specific to the language you teach, and the final selection will be made. After selection, you are allowed to set up your profile and your rate for tutoring to get started.

Can Tutors Set Up Their Fees on italki

Yes, tutors can set up their fees, but they are liable to pay the commission fee to italki from their earnings depending on the number of lessons they tutor on italki.

How Much Can a Tutor Expect to Earn on an Hourly Basis on italki

The exact earnings of a tutor on an hourly basis cannot be predicted. It usually depends on the price set up by the tutors and the commission fee of italki.

How Many Hours of Work Can a Tutor Get on italki

There is no mention of the hours of work a tutor gets on italki. It mainly depends on the demand by the students and competition among the online tutors.

Is It Easy to Get Students on italki

According to reviews on Trustpilot, tutors pointed out there is huge competition among the tutors on italki and low demand by students. Hence it is not easy to get students with a price set up by the tutors.

How to Get More Students on italki

Make your profile impressive by updating it with all the credentials, student reviews, and tutoring skills. Create your video introduction creatively by targeting the student’s pain points to attract more students.

Why Do Tutors Like italki

Tutors like italki for the following reasons:

1. Flexible work schedule and work-from-home options.
2. Tutors are allowed to set up their prices for lessons.

What Tutors Do Not Like About italki

According to reviews on Glassdoor, Trustpilot, Indeed, and Real Reviews, tutors pointed out the following issues:

1. High competition among the tutors, which eventually makes you either lower your price or move out of the market.
2. Seasonal demand of students.
3. High commission and processing fee that consumes most of your earnings.
4. Ineffective customer care policies.

italki for Students

What Is the Signup Process for Students on italki

Students have to create their italki account by signing up with their email and password to get started with learning.

How Are Tutors Selected on italki

Students have the autonomy to select tutors from the matches provided by the italki algorithm within their budget.

What Is the Process for Scheduling Sessions on italki

To schedule a session, you have to view the tutor’s profile and decide the best tutor within your budget. Then, using the “book now” option, you can request a tutor for a specific duration and at a specific time.

Advantages of italki

1. Offers online language tutoring in more than 150 languages.
2. Allows the tutors to set their prices for lessons.
3. Provides a global community of language learners.
4. Provides group classroom options for interactive peer groups.
5. Private and digital italki classrooms.
6. Flexible and work-from-home option to tutors.

Drawbacks of italki

1. High commission and processing fee.
2. Seasonal demand by students for lessons.
3. Poor customer policies.
4. Issues with website crashes and unsatisfied app experience.
5. No refunds will be given for purchased credits.
6. Payment policy that allows only ‘italki credits’ for payment.

Comparison with My Engineering Buddy

My Engineering Buddy is an online tutoring website that offers tutoring services on 2,800+ subjects. In this section, italki will be compared with My Engineering Buddy across several features to assist you in making the right choice.

Students who need support in earth sciences can also connect with a geology tutor through My Engineering Buddy.

Customer Support and Other Policies of italki

How Responsive Is italki’s Customer Support

According to reviews on Glassdoor, users mentioned that they have poor and unresponsive customer support.

Payment Policy and italki Credits

Payment for tutoring services is paid through ‘italki credits’. italki credits are a virtual currency used solely on the italki platform as a mode of payment.

Calculation of italki credits: italki Credits = U.S. Dollars.

Refund Policy of italki

The refund policy doesn’t offer cash refunds for purchased italki Credits. Refunds are added to the student wallet on italki, not to the original payment account of a student.

For example, they provide a 100% refund if class requests are canceled by students or declined by a teacher. Refunds are processed to their student wallet on italki, and those are in the form of italki credits that cannot be converted into cash.

Global Reach and Localization

Is italki Tailored for Specific Regions or Global Use

italki is an online platform that is accessible to learners all over the world.

Does italki Cater to Non-English Speaking Users or Offer Multilingual Support

They provide services in a wide range of languages and cater to non-English speaking users, too.

italki: Company Information

Founding Year and Background

italki was launched in 2006 as a social network for language learning. In 2008, they built a marketplace for teachers to receive payment from learners for lessons. Their Marketplace expanded, and in 2012, they completed an angel financing round.

In 2016, they relaunched the italki mobile app and rebranded it with the “neon salmon” logo. They also completed a finance round with a Chinese online education company called Hujiang.

In 2019, they moved into their own office and started expanding their team internationally. Their first acquisition was Lingbe (based in Spain). In 2020, they became more futuristic and want to further improve the learning experience of their users.

Founder’s Details

There is no mention of founder details on the italki website. However, according to Wikipedia, italki was co-founded by Kevin Chen and Yongyue Jiang.

Kevin Chen, Co-Founder at italki, has a Master of Science in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He was also a Co-Founder of Famento till 2009.

Yongyue Jiang, Co-Founder at italki, has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Hainan University. He was also a Founder and CEO of Talk Technologies and Co-Founder of Microsmile Technologies.

The Mission and Vision of italki

Mission: Their mission is to build the world’s best community-driven language education platform.

Vision: Their vision is to help people become fluent in foreign languages by building connections with people from other cultures.

Scale of Operation

Their scale of operation is not mentioned on italki’s website. However, according to Wikipedia, italki’s headquarters is in Hong Kong, China. Since it is an online platform, it provides global access to learners and language tutors.

Our review of University Tutor offers another useful comparison for students evaluating online tutoring platforms. You can also read our Tutor House review for a look at a UK-based alternative. Students who want support in South Asian languages may also find a Gujarati teacher online through My Engineering Buddy.

FAQs About italki

Is italki Legit?

Yes, italki is a legit platform that matches learners to language tutors all over the world. italki also provides free community access to learners to make their learning more interactive.

How Does My Engineering Buddy Work Compared to italki?

My Engineering Buddy provides a wide range of subjects and languages. My Engineering Buddy also provides homework guidance within tutoring sessions, which is a service that italki does not provide.

How Much Does italki Cost per Month?

The monthly cost of italki depends on how much a tutor sets their price for lessons and the language you choose to learn.

Is italki Free to Use?

italki provides an online community for free, but you have to pay to receive the tutoring classes.

Is italki Safe to Pay?

Yes, the payment process on italki follows through secure channels. Thus, it is safe to pay on italki.

Does italki Use Zoom?

italki provides its own italki digital classroom for learners. However, italki also provides options to add communication tools like Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc.

Conclusion

Overall, italki provides online tutoring services in a wide range of languages, allows tutors to set their prices, and provides private digital classrooms to students. However, they have high commission and processing fees, poor customer support, and an italki credit payment system, resulting in a poor user experience.

My Engineering Buddy provides effective customer support, easy payment options, and a hassle-free learning experience. So, if you are looking for online tutoring in languages like English, French, Hindi, and Spanish, then My Engineering Buddy would be a better choice to make your language-learning journey a bit easier.

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