Ringle Reviews, Alternatives, Pricing, Offerings in 2025

Ringle is an online 1:1 English tutoring platform based in Seoul, founded in 2015, serving mainly adult learners and professionals. It matches students with tutors (often from top universities) for live video lessons. This article provides detailed insights about Ringle — its reviews, pricing, and services — to help students and parents compare tutoring platforms and make informed choices.

Ringle Reviews and Testimonials

Apple App Store (Ringle – 1:1 Online English): 211 user ratings, average 4.6/5. Students praise its motivating content (e.g. “english study platform”). Some note minor app issues (like screen orientation) or interface improvements, but most feedback is positive.

Google Play Store (Ringle – English Learning): ~1,060 reviews, average 4.8/5. Users call it “the best advanced English learning platform” and appreciate the up-to-date content. A few recent reviews mention occasional app errors, but overall learners like the flexibility and quality of lessons.

Indeed (Tutor Reviews): 12 reviews, average 3.8/5. Tutors highlight Ringle’s flexible scheduling and friendly students (“great students”). They enjoy tutoring one-on-one with prepared materials. On the downside, several tutors mention the strict 24-hour cancellation policy and note that starting pay is only around $16–$17 per 40-minute lesson. Some feel the company support could improve.

Handshake (Career reviews): 11 entries. Tutors describe it as a convenient, high-pay side job. One says, “Ringle provides lesson plans and pay is solid – it’s the perfect side hustle”. They value the autonomy and materials provided, but one tutor wished for more leniency on late cancellations. In summary, Ringle’s tutor reviews are mixed: they love the flexibility and lesson structure but note issues like cancellations and modest pay.

Ringle’s own site and blog: Ringle’s site showcases student testimonials (many praising improved English and career help). For example, it emphasizes Ivy-League tutors and AI tools, which aligns with user feedback about tutoring quality. However, we couldn’t retrieve direct quotes from their site to cite here.

Is Ringle legit? Yes. Its apps have high ratings (4.6/5 on iOS, 4.8/5 on Android) indicating many satisfied users. Tutor forums and sites like Indeed show Ringle is a real, established company; no reports suggest it’s a scam. Overall, feedback on credible platforms is mostly positive about Ringle’s services and policies.

In summary, Ringle’s student reviews are strongly positive, and tutors generally like its flexible format. The company is considered legitimate, delivering on its advertised features. The main criticisms are about lesson cancellations and pricing – themes noted across reviews. Overall, students find its English tutoring effective, and tutors find it a worthwhile gig, reflecting Ringle’s solid reputation in the tutoring market.

Ringle Pricing

Pricing Range

Ringle charges by lesson and subscription. A 40-minute 1:1 lesson costs roughly USD $55 (based on their published credits); a 20-minute lesson is about $27. Tutors earn about $16–17 per 40-min (≈$24/hour), so Ringle retains ~70% of each fee. Pricing does not vary by subject (since Ringle focuses on English), nor by tutor background – all tutors follow the same pay scale. They offer tiered packages: for example, the Basic plan is ~$24.99/mo ($129.99/yr) and Premium ~$69.99/mo ($249.99/yr). Ringle also sells lesson bundles (e.g. 4 lessons for $220). Separate services like AI Speaking practice have their own fees (e.g. $24.99/mo for AI Call). Check Ringle’s pricing page for details.

What students say about Ringle Pricing

Many notes find Ringle’s rates relatively high. A 40-min lesson at ~$55 means ~$82/hour, which exceeds typical US tutor rates (~$25–$80/hr). Some Reddit users and tutors comment that students pay far more than tutors earn. However, few dispute the pricing explicitly; instead they point out the value of Ivy-League tutors and structured lessons. In essence, Ringle is seen as a premium service. Compared to average tutoring costs, its pricing is on the upper end, which some users feel is justified by the quality of instructors and materials.

Hidden costs

Ringle has no separate signup fee, but has other costs. Purchased lesson credits expire after one year, so long-term funds won’t last indefinitely. Lessons can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance for free; canceling later forfeits the credit (no refund). They also advertise a 100% refund if the first paid lesson is unsatisfactory. Subscription refunds are clear: full refund within 7 days, after which a 10% penalty applies. We found no evidence of surprise charges beyond these standard policies.

How Ringle’s pricing works

Students must prepay. Lessons are sold as credits or monthly plans. For example, one buys a slot on Ringle’s calendar (a credit is deducted). Payment is via credit card (or Apple/Google in-app purchases) at booking. Ringle does not allow “pay after” sessions – you must have credit before the lesson. They do not advertise special discounts (no student/army deals found), but occasionally offer promotions (e.g. referral codes). In summary, you buy a bundle or subscription up front, then schedule lessons against that balance.

Free Trial

Ringle does not offer a completely free trial. Instead, new students can take the first lesson for a nominal fee (around $3 as advertised). Importantly, Ringle guarantees satisfaction: if you are not 100% happy with your first paid lesson, you get a full refund. This acts like a risk-free trial even though it’s not free.

Refund policy

Ringle’s refund policy is clearly stated on its site. Subscriptions (purchased on Ringle’s website) can be fully refunded within 7 days of purchase; after that, a 10% cancellation fee applies. For lessons, they guarantee the first lesson—if you’re unhappy, it’s fully refunded. We found no reports of Ringle failing to honor these policies. There are also no signs of hidden fees or unexpected charges in user reviews. Overall, Ringle appears to enforce its refund and cancellation terms as promised, and its policies are transparent to customers.

Ringle Alternatives

Students may look for tutoring options beyond Ringle if they need different pricing, subjects, or formats. In summary, major alternatives include Wyzant, Cambly, Preply, Chegg Tutors, and My Engineering Buddy. Each has its strengths: some cover more subjects, others have more flexible pricing. Below we compare these platforms to Ringle.

Wyzant: A large US tutoring marketplace covering all subjects (math, science, languages, etc.). Tutors set their own hourly rates, so prices vary widely – you can find cheaper or expensive tutors. Wyzant boasts “thousands of credentialed tutors” across topics. Compared to Ringle, Wyzant is more general (not focused on English) and does not provide structured lesson materials. However, it offers a free initial tutor match and a satisfaction guarantee (though some students say guarantees are hard to use). Wyzant’s flexibility and breadth can be a pro, but it lacks Ringle’s curated curriculum and specialist English focus.

 

Cambly: On-demand English conversation practice with native speakers. Pros: fully flexible 24/7 access, many tutors on-demand, and low per-minute pricing. A reviewer says “you can use [Cambly] wherever and whenever,” with “a lot of really good teachers” and affordable plans. However, it is unstructured: lessons are casual chat rather than a guided curriculum. Unlike Ringle, Cambly does not include lesson planning or AI feedback. Connection issues can occur (some users report losing minutes). In short, Cambly is great for spontaneous practice, but Ringle offers more structure and qualified tutors.

 

Preply: A global tutoring platform for 50+ languages (English, Spanish, etc.) with thousands of tutors. It operates by booking one-on-one lessons with chosen tutors. Preply pros: flexible scheduling and a large tutor pool; it often runs promotions (e.g. 20% off first lesson). Cons: tutor quality can be uneven, and Preply charges a high commission (especially on the first lessons). In comparison, Ringle’s tutors are more rigorously vetted and focused only on English, but Ringle has fewer language options. Both allow scheduling, but Preply lacks Ringle’s built-in content and AI tools.

 

Chegg Tutors: Offers 24/7 academic help across many subjects, with a huge library of Q&A resources. Tutoring is typically $30 per hour (with plans or pay-as-you-go). Students appreciate Chegg’s around-the-clock availability. However, Chegg requires a monthly subscription in addition to lesson fees. Its sessions tend to be focused on solving homework problems. Ringle differs by focusing solely on live English tutoring with professional lesson plans. Chegg may be better for math/science homework help, while Ringle is specialized for advanced English communication skills.

 

My Engineering Buddy: An online tutoring service specializing in engineering, math, and science. It has a high Trustpilot rating (4.7/5). Tutors often hold technical degrees, and users praise their expertise (e.g. “Ashish’s help with my Physics homework has been amazing”). MEB offers one-on-one or small group sessions at competitive rates and provides homework guidance. Unlike Ringle, which focuses on English, MEB covers advanced STEM subjects and complex college coursework. Users describe MEB as “value for money” for challenging courses. MEB is a natural choice for difficult engineering or math problems, whereas Ringle is aimed at English fluency.

How it Works?

For Students

Students register on Ringle’s website or app and then schedule lessons. They pick a date and time from the available slots. Next, they select a tutor whose background or expertise matches their needs (Ringle promotes its “Ivy League” tutors as a selling point). Before confirming, students can choose a lesson focus or style (e.g. interview prep or conversation). At the lesson time, they log in to Ringle’s video platform. The tutor’s live video feed, the shared lesson materials, and a chat interface appear on one screen. After class, Ringle provides a recording of the session, a transcript, correction notes, and AI-generated feedback on pronunciation and pacing, which helps students review what they learned.

For Tutors

Ringle seeks highly-qualified English tutors, often from top universities. The application process is online: tutors submit an application, complete a profile, and undergo a brief interview or mock session. Ringle then approves tutors who meet its criteria (about 70% are from top-ranked schools, according to Ringle’s claims). Once accepted, tutors create availability hours on Ringle’s platform. They connect with students via Ringle’s video app for each booked lesson. Tutors are paid per lesson (around $16–$17 per 40 minutes) via PayPal or similar. To get started, prospective tutors can apply here: Become a Ringle Tutor.

FAQs About Ringle

How does Ringle compare to My Engineering Buddy? Ringle focuses on English-speaking skills with Ivy-League-style tutors, while My Engineering Buddy (MEB) specializes in STEM and homework help. Ringle’s lessons cost around $55 for 40 minutes and emphasize professional English. MEB tutors cover subjects like engineering and math, and users say MEB’s tutoring is “value for money” for hard courses. In short, Ringle is best for advanced English practice, and MEB is best for technical subjects.

How much does Ringle cost per lesson? A single 40-minute Ringle lesson is about USD $55 (a 20-min class is ~$27). Students usually buy packages or subscriptions rather than pay per hour. For comparison, that’s higher than average tutoring rates (typically $25–$80/hr), reflecting Ringle’s premium positioning.

Does Ringle offer a free trial or guarantee? Ringle does not offer a free lesson, but the first lesson is effectively risk-free. They charge a small fee (around $3) for the first class and guarantee a full refund if the student is not 100% satisfied. This means new students can try Ringle’s service with virtually no risk.

What subjects and levels does Ringle cover? Ringle covers only English language learning. It has tracks for business English, interview preparation, resume/essay editing, and general conversation. The platform is geared toward adults and college students (e.g. global professionals and international students). It offers classes from beginner to advanced levels, but it does not tutor other subjects like math or science.

Can tutors set their own rates? No. Ringle pays tutors a fixed rate per lesson, which depends on their level. For new tutors this is about $16–$17 per 40-minute session. Tutors cannot change this rate; Ringle handles all pricing. (In contrast, on some other platforms like Wyzant, tutors set their own hourly fees.)

How much can a Ringle tutor expect to earn per hour? Currently, tutors start at $16–$17 per 40-minute lesson, which is roughly $24 per hour. Experienced tutors can move up a level (some report making about $18/hour after working a while). There is no guaranteed number of lessons, but active tutors who open many time slots often find steady work.

Is it easy to get students on Ringle? Yes – students book lessons through Ringle’s system, so tutors do not have to find students themselves. If you keep your calendar open, Ringle will match you with students. Tutors say the platform reliably provides work. One reviewer on Indeed said, “I really enjoy tutoring with Ringle. It’s flexible…great students”, suggesting lessons are available if you make yourself available.

What do tutors like and dislike about Ringle? Tutors appreciate Ringle’s flexibility and built-in materials. They like that they can set their own schedule and that Ringle provides all lesson content. Many note the work can be enjoyable and not very labor-intensive (you just talk using provided slides). On the downside, tutors mention Ringle’s cancellation policy is strict – after 24 hours you lose the slot. They also observe the initial pay rates are modest (starting pay isn’t as high as some other elite-tutor sites). These are the most common complaints in tutor reviews.

Conclusion

Ringle’s strengths include highly credentialed English tutors and comprehensive lesson tools (recordings, transcripts, AI feedback). Its weaknesses are the high cost per session and strict cancellation rules. My Engineering Buddy, with a 4.7/5 Trustpilot score, offers similarly expert tutoring for STEM subjects at more moderate rates. For students needing advanced, personalized help (whether in English or in engineering/math), MEB can be an excellent alternative to Ringle’s services.