How Preply pricing actually works
Preply doesn't have a single price. Each tutor sets their own hourly rate, and you buy "hours" in packages that auto-renew every month. Three numbers drive your total cost:
- The hourly rate of your tutor — anywhere from $4 to $80+ per 50-minute lesson.
- The package size — 6, 12 or 20 lessons per month, with a discount that grows with the package.
- Whether you let lessons expire — unused hours within a month carry to the next if you stay subscribed; if you cancel, they're forfeited within ~30 days.
The trial lesson cost
You don't get a free trial in the literal sense. You pay for one lesson up front (often at a discount — sometimes 50–70% off through partner links like ours) to test the tutor. If you didn't like it, you can request either a full refund of the trial or a free replacement lesson with another tutor, within 7 days. After the trial, you decide whether to buy a package and stay with that tutor.
Hourly rates by language (May 2026 data)
| Language | Cheapest | Average | Top tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | $5/h | $15–25 | $50+ |
| Spanish | $4/h | $12–20 | $40+ |
| French | $6/h | $15–25 | $48+ |
| German | $7/h | $18–28 | $55+ |
| Italian | $6/h | $15–22 | $40+ |
| Japanese | $8/h | $18–30 | $60+ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | $5/h | $12–22 | $50+ |
| Korean | $8/h | $18–28 | $55+ |
| Arabic | $5/h | $12–22 | $45+ |
| Math (school/uni) | $8/h | $18–28 | $60+ |
| Chemistry | $10/h | $22–32 | $65+ |
Cheaper isn't always better — see our Preply review for why $7 tutors often cost more in wasted hours.
Subscription packages explained
After your trial, Preply offers a recurring monthly package. The three sizes (as of May 2026) and the typical discounts:
| Package | Lessons / month | Discount vs single hour | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 4 lessons | ~5% | Hobby learners, busy schedules |
| Standard | 8 lessons | ~10% | Most adults — two lessons/week, the sweet spot |
| Intensive | 16 lessons | ~15% | Exam prep, immersion, very motivated learners |
Numbers vary between markets — Preply runs constant A/B tests. The pattern holds: the bigger the package, the bigger the per-hour discount, and the bigger the risk of unused hours.
Auto-renewal: the part nobody reads
This is the single most important paragraph on this page. By default, every package auto-renews on the same calendar date each month. Renewal happens whether you used your hours or not. You can:
- Downgrade or upgrade before the renewal date.
- Pause the subscription for up to 3 months — hours pause too.
- Cancel any time; remaining hours expire within ~30 days, so use them.
Warning: Set a calendar reminder 3 days before your renewal date. If you've fallen behind, pause or downgrade before renewal hits, not after.
The 12-hour cancellation rule
If you cancel a lesson more than 12 hours before its start, the hour returns to your balance — no penalty. Cancel less than 12 hours in advance, and the hour is forfeited. Same applies to no-shows. Tutors who cancel on you last-minute don't take your hour and may be removed from your tutor list.
This rule catches everyone at least once. The fix is to reschedule, not cancel — Preply's UI sometimes pushes you to cancel, but rescheduling preserves the hour.
Refunds — what's actually possible
- Trial lesson refund — within 7 days, no questions asked, via support chat.
- Tutor cancelled or didn't show up — hour returned automatically.
- Tutor was unprofessional — open a support ticket within 7 days; Preply reviews chat and lesson logs.
- You changed your mind after the trial — unused hours can be refunded within the first 30 days of a package, minus the lessons you took.
Want to pay less from day one?
Use our partner link for up to 70% off your trial lesson — refund if it doesn't fit.
Try Preply — Up to 70% Off Trial →Affiliate link · we may earn a commission.
Preply Business pricing
For teams, Preply Business runs custom quotes. Typical 2026 ranges: $40–80 per employee per month for a standard pool of hours, with admin dashboards, progress reporting and group rate negotiations. Worth it for companies sending 10+ employees through training; overkill for very small teams.
FAQ
Is Preply expensive?
Compared to in-person tutoring (often $30–60/hour locally), Preply is significantly cheaper. Compared to apps like Duolingo (free), it's expensive. The right comparison is "private 1-on-1 tutoring" — there it's competitive.
Can I get hours back if I forget to cancel?
If you cancel within 12 hours of the lesson, no. If life genuinely got in the way (illness, emergency), contact support — they consider cases individually.
Does Preply charge in my local currency?
Yes — Preply auto-detects your billing currency. You can change it in Settings → Billing.
Are there hidden fees?
No — what you see on the tutor's profile is what you pay per hour, plus standard payment-processing fees if your bank charges them.
Can I gift Preply lessons?
Yes — Preply gift cards are available in $25, $50 and $100 denominations.