Choosing how to learn a language online usually comes down to a simple choice. Do you want a private tutor who builds lessons just for you, or do you prefer a structured school with a set curriculum? This is the main divide between Preply and Lingoda. Preply is a massive marketplace where you can find thousands of independent tutors. Lingoda is a structured online school that uses certified teachers and a set curriculum. Both platforms can help you speak, but they work in completely different ways.
Verdict: Choose Preply if you want maximum speaking time, a dedicated tutor, and the freedom to choose your own topics. It is also the best choice if you want to learn on a budget. Choose Lingoda if you want a structured, school-like curriculum with certified teachers and official certificates, and you do not mind sharing your class with other students.
| Feature | Preply | Lingoda |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking Practice Volume | High with 50 minutes of 1-on-1 attention per class. | Low to moderate with group classes sharing the floor. |
| Curriculum Structure | Flexible with no rigid syllabus and lessons tailored to student needs. | Highly structured with fixed step-by-step CEFR-aligned slides. |
| Teacher Consistency | High with a dedicated tutor who only changes if requested. | Low with rotation through different teachers globally and no continuity. |
| Teacher Qualifications | Variable ranging from casual native speakers to certified professional educators. | High with certified native-level professionals vetted by the platform. |
| Scheduling Flexibility | Moderate and restricted to the calendar availability of your selected tutor. | High with 24/7 availability and classes running around the clock. |
| Cancellation Policy | Lenient allowing cancellation or rescheduling up to 12 hours before. | Strict requiring 72 hours notice to refund the credit. |
| Official Certification | None as the platform does not offer officially accredited levels. | Yes with internationally recognised CEFR certificates accepted by employers. |
| Self-Study Integration | AI-driven features including daily exercises and interactive scenario practice avatars. | Traditional materials including static PDF slides and post-class quizzes. |
| Pricing Value (Private) | Excellent with private tutoring rates as low as $10-$15 per hour. | Expensive with private lessons ranging from €14.49 to €33.99 per hour. |
| Price | General Instruction: $3 to $40+ hour; Standard Conversational: $10 to $15 hour | Group Flex Starter: €59.99 month; Group Flex Medium: €98.99 month |
_Prices checked 2026-09-23._
Preply offers flexibility and tutor choice
Preply (https://preply.com/en/app) works best if you want complete control over your learning path. With over 90 languages on offer, you can find a tutor for almost any dialect. Because you work one-on-one, you get about 50 minutes of direct speaking practice in every single class. This is a massive contrast to group setups where you spend most of your time listening to other students.
The platform also offers excellent scheduling flexibility. You can cancel or reschedule your lesson up to 12 hours before it starts, which is incredibly lenient. If you want to practise specific vocabulary for a job interview or a holiday, your tutor can build lessons around those exact needs.
However, this freedom comes with a catch. Because Preply is an open marketplace, teaching quality varies wildly. You might find a brilliant certified educator, or you might get a casual native speaker with no teaching experience. You also remain locked into one tutor per subscription unless you manually transfer your credits.
Image: preply.com.
Lingoda provides structure and certified teachers
Lingoda (https://www.lingoda.com/en/) operates like a traditional language school moved online. If you thrive on structure, you will appreciate their rigorously designed curriculum. Every lesson follows fixed, CEFR-aligned slides from level A1 to C1. When you complete a level, you receive an official, internationally recognised CEFR certificate that employers actually accept.
Every teacher on the platform is a certified, native-level professional. You do not have to spend hours reading reviews or guessing whether your tutor knows how to explain grammar. Because classes run 24/7, you can book a session at any hour of the day or night.
But this academic rigour has clear downsides. Lingoda only offers 5 major languages. Because classes are mostly group-based, you share the floor with other learners, which limits your individual speaking time. You also rotate through different teachers constantly, making it impossible to build a long-term mentor relationship. Finally, their cancellation policy is exceptionally strict, requiring a full 72 hours of notice to get your class credit back.
Image: lingoda.com.
How the lessons work in practice
The daily experience on these two platforms could not be more different. Preply focuses entirely on personalised video lessons. Outside of class, you can use their AI-driven features, which include daily exercises and interactive scenario practice avatars to keep your skills sharp.
Lingoda relies on a highly structured, school-like environment. You log in, download static PDF slides, and join a group class. After the session, you reinforce your learning with traditional post-class quizzes.
Preply fits the bill for those who want to speak as much as possible and enjoy modern digital tools. For a predictable, step-by-step academic programme where you know exactly what you will study next week, Lingoda is the stronger system.
Comparing prices and value
Your budget will likely dictate your choice. Preply operates on a tutor-by-tutor basis. Standard Conversational lessons generally cost between $10 and $15 per hour, while General Instruction ranges from $3 to over $40 per hour. This makes private tutoring incredibly affordable if you choose tutors living in lower cost-of-living countries. Just watch out for the subscription rules: any unused, unscheduled lessons expire permanently at the end of your 28-day billing cycle. Lingoda uses fixed monthly subscriptions. Their Group Flex Starter costs €59.99 per month, while the Group Flex Medium plan is €98.99 per month. If you want private lessons on Lingoda, the price jumps significantly, ranging from €14.49 to €33.99 per hour. For cheap, intensive one-on-one speaking practice, Preply offers far better value. For structured group learning with guaranteed professional teachers, Lingoda justifies its monthly fee. To build real speaking confidence without booking live video calls or managing complex tutor schedules, try an audio-first approach.
Which platform should you choose?
Choose Preply if:
- You want to maximise your speaking time with 50 minutes of 1-on-1 attention.
- You want to build a long-term relationship with one dedicated tutor.
- You want to study a less common language, as they offer over 90 languages.
- You want a lenient 12-hour cancellation policy for your lessons.
- You want to set your own budget with rates starting as low as $3 per hour.
Choose Lingoda if:
- You want a highly structured curriculum aligned with official CEFR levels.
- You need an internationally recognised language certificate upon completion.
- You want guaranteed professional teachers who are fully certified.
- You want to book classes 24/7 at any time of the day or night.
- You prefer learning in small groups rather than 1-on-1.
When to choose Lingoda
Lingoda is the better choice when you need an official language certificate for work or a visa, and you want a strict, step-by-step curriculum that guarantees you cover every grammar point.
FAQ
What is the difference between Preply and Lingoda?
Preply is a marketplace offering fully personalised 1-on-1 video lessons with over 90 languages. Lingoda is a structured online language school offering group classes in 5 major languages with certified native-level teachers.
Do unused hours on Preply expire?
Yes, they do. Under the Preply subscription expiration rules, any unused and unscheduled lessons expire permanently at the end of each 28-day billing cycle. To avoid losing your money, you must schedule your lessons before your cycle ends.
Do Lingoda class credits roll over?
Lingoda does not state whether credits roll over, but they enforce a strict 72-hour cancellation policy for subscription plans. To avoid losing your credits, it is best to schedule your classes well in advance.
Is Lingoda better than Preply for Spanish beginners?
When comparing Lingoda vs Preply Spanish, Lingoda is excellent for beginners who need a highly structured, step-by-step grammar curriculum. However, Preply is better if you want to start speaking immediately with a dedicated tutor who can adapt to your pace.
To practise speaking without the pressure of live video calls, try HearSay for hands-free, audio-first lessons right inside WhatsApp.