{"id":928,"date":"2025-05-14T18:20:45","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T18:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myengineeringbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=928"},"modified":"2026-03-30T16:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T16:12:23","slug":"ef-education-first-reviews-alternatives-pricing-offerings-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myengineeringbuddy.com\/blog\/ef-education-first-reviews-alternatives-pricing-offerings-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"EF Education First Reviews, Alternatives, Pricing, & Offerings in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

EF Education First (EF)<\/a> is a global education company that specializes in language training and cultural exchange. It was founded in 1965 by Bertil Hult, a Swedish entrepreneur who started the company to improve language learning for students<\/a>. Today, EF\u2019s mission is \u201cto open the world through education\u201d. The company operates worldwide; as of 2021 it had 654 schools\/offices in 50 countries (with a presence in 114 countries). EF offers language courses, study-abroad programs, and travel learning experiences for students of all ages.<\/p>\n

EF Reviews and Testimonials<\/h2>\n

EF\u2019s reviews are mixed. On EF\u2019s own site, learners say they enjoy 24\/7 access to classes and friendly teachers. On independent sites, feedback varies. EF English Live has a 5.0\/5 rating on G2<\/a> (with only a few reviews); one student said they \u201clove it\u201d and can \u201cstudy when you want\u201d with useful private lessons. But others gave lower scores: a 1-star review complained that EF promised unlimited classes but only allowed 52 group lessons, and then refused a refund.<\/p>\n

Employee reviews (Glassdoor\/Indeed<\/a>) also note pros and cons. Some EF teachers praise the mission and flexible scheduling, noting \u201cstudents are wonderful!\u201d. But others cite low pay and management issues. In summary, EF has many happy students and staff, but also notable complaints on price, policies, and technology.<\/p>\n

EF Pricing<\/h2>\n

EF\u2019s course pricing is not listed<\/a> upfront; customers must sign up or call to get a quote. One analysis found that EF\u2019s 12-month English course plans ranged from about $1,068 to $1,668 total. That works out to roughly $89\u2013$139 per month for plans that include 30 group classes plus 2\u20138 private lessons each month. (EF always bundles a fixed number of group lessons.) EF also offers shorter subscriptions but at higher monthly rates.<\/p>\n

There is typically a free trial period (for example, EF\u2019s Hello app offers 7 days free<\/a>). However, students report that you must cancel at least a day before the trial ends, or you will be charged for a full term. In practice, some students found cancelling difficult: one reviewer said they could not cancel within 7 days and ended up paying for unwanted courses. EF\u2019s refund policy appears strict. As one user wrote, EF responded \u201cwe don\u2019t provide refunds\u2026 good luck with your studies\u201d when they tried to cancel. In short, EF courses tend to be expensive and binding; always check the fine print on trials and cancellations.<\/p>\n

EF Alternatives<\/h2>\n