If you’ve been learning Mandarin from apps and textbooks, at some point you’ll want to actually speak. The same goes the other way: many Mandarin speakers can read English well but freeze in conversation. A 1-on-1 online tutor is one of the most direct ways to get regular speaking practice with feedback, from home, at a time that suits you.
italki and Preply are two of the best-known marketplaces for this. Both let you browse independent tutors, book a trial lesson, and learn over video. But they work quite differently once you get past the first lesson. This guide explains the difference, how to pick a tutor, and how to stay within budget.
The details below were checked against each platform’s help pages at the time of writing. Policies change, so please confirm on the official sites before you pay.
How italki works
italki is a marketplace of independent teachers. You set your own pace and pay per lesson.
- Pay as you go. You buy italki credits and use them to book individual lessons or lesson packages. There’s no subscription.
- Two types of teachers. “Professional teachers” usually have teaching qualifications or experience and tend to offer structured lessons. “Community tutors” are typically focused on conversation practice and are often cheaper.
- Trial lessons. New students can take up to three trial lessons, each with a different teacher. Not every teacher offers trials. Trials are usually shorter and cheaper than a regular lesson.
- Packages. Many teachers offer packages (for example 5, 10, or 20 lessons) at a lower per-lesson rate. Packages are prepaid and have an expiry date (six months, per italki’s help centre at the time of writing), so only buy one once you’re sure about the teacher.
Good for: people with irregular schedules, people who want to try several teachers, and anyone who prefers not to be on a recurring payment.
How Preply works
Preply is also a marketplace of independent tutors, but it’s built around regular lessons with one tutor.
- Trial lesson first. You book a paid trial lesson of 25 or 50 minutes with a tutor. You don’t need a subscription to book a trial, and each tutor offers one trial per student.
- Then a subscription. If you want to continue, you choose a plan with that tutor based on how many hours a week you’d like. You’re charged automatically every 28 days. You can change, pause, or cancel the plan.
- One tutor per subscription. If you want lessons with two tutors, you’d need two subscriptions.
- Use it or lose it. According to Preply’s help centre, lessons not scheduled before your renewal date expire. Booking your lessons early in each cycle avoids this.
- Trial replacement. If a completed trial didn’t meet your expectations, Preply lets you request a free replacement trial with a different tutor, up to a limit (two per account at the time of writing). This isn’t available once you’ve started a subscription with that tutor.
Good for: people who want a fixed weekly routine and benefit from the commitment of a regular booking.
italki vs Preply at a glance
| italki | Preply | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment model | Pay per lesson or prepaid package | Recurring subscription with one tutor, billed every 28 days |
| Trial lessons | Up to 3, with different teachers (where offered) | One paid trial per tutor, 25 or 50 min; free replacement if unsatisfied (limits apply) |
| Flexibility | High: book when you want | Lower: lessons expire if not scheduled before renewal |
| Best for | Irregular schedules, trying many teachers | Steady weekly routine with one tutor |
| Main risk | Drifting: easy to stop booking | Paying for lessons you forget to schedule |
Neither is “better” overall. The right choice mostly depends on whether you do better with flexibility or with commitment.
How to pick a good tutor
Both platforms have many tutors, so filtering well saves time and money.
1. Be clear about your goal. “Conversation practice” calls for a different tutor than “pass a Mandarin exam” or “prepare for English job interviews.” Use the platform filters for specialties such as conversation, business, exam prep, or kids.
2. Watch the intro video. It’s the quickest way to judge whether you can understand the tutor and whether you like their manner. For Mandarin, listen to their pronunciation and how clearly they speak at a slower pace.
3. Read reviews from learners like you. Look for reviews that mention a similar level or goal. A tutor who is wonderful with advanced learners may not be the best for complete beginners.
4. Check availability against your real schedule. Singapore is UTC+8. Many Mandarin tutors are in time zones close to ours, which makes evening lessons easy. For English, tutors may be spread across very different time zones. Confirm your time zone is set correctly in your profile before booking.
5. Message before booking. Send a short note: your level, your goal, and what you’d like from lessons. How a tutor replies tells you a lot.
6. Consider language support. Complete Mandarin beginners often find it easier with a tutor who can explain in English. Intermediate learners may prefer a tutor who mostly speaks Mandarin. The same applies in reverse for Mandarin speakers learning English.
How to make a trial lesson count
A trial is a short interview in both directions. Go in prepared:
- Bring your goal in one sentence. “I want to hold a 15-minute conversation with my partner’s parents in Mandarin” is far more useful than “I want to improve.”
- Ask how they’d structure lessons. Do they use a textbook, their own materials, or free conversation? Do they give homework?
- Ask how they’ll correct you. Some learners like instant correction; others prefer notes at the end.
- Notice how you feel. Did you speak a lot, or did the tutor talk most of the time? Did you leave with something new? Did you feel comfortable making mistakes?
Try at least two tutors before committing to a package or subscription, if your budget allows.
Keeping it within budget
Prices are set by each tutor and vary a lot, depending on experience, demand, and lesson length. Rather than chasing the cheapest option, try this:
- Decide your monthly budget first, then work out how many lessons it covers at different price levels.
- Shorter, more frequent lessons (say 30 minutes, two or three times a week) often work better than one long lesson, and can cost about the same.
- Mix lesson types. A professional teacher once a week for structure, plus a cheaper conversation tutor for practice, can be a good balance.
- Do free practice in between. Review lesson notes, shadow audio, and use free tools such as flashcard apps. Paid lessons go further when you come prepared.
- Watch the commitments. On italki, don’t buy a package until you’re sure about the teacher. On Preply, schedule all your lessons early in each 28-day cycle, and set a reminder before renewal in case you want to change your plan.
- Check the currency. Prices may be shown in different currencies, and your card may charge a foreign transaction fee.
FAQ
Is an online tutor enough to learn Mandarin? A tutor is great for speaking, listening, and feedback, but most learners also need self-study for characters, vocabulary, and review. Think of lessons as the place you use what you’ve studied.
How often should I have lessons? Regular beats intense. Two or three short lessons a week is a common, sustainable rhythm, but even one lesson a week helps if you practise in between.
Native speaker or not? Native speakers are ideal for natural pronunciation and expressions. For beginners, though, a tutor who has learned the language themselves (or shares your first language) can sometimes explain grammar more clearly.
Can I learn Cantonese on these platforms too? Both platforms list tutors for many languages. Search the platform for the language you want and check how many tutors are available at times that suit you.
What if I don’t like my tutor after a few lessons? Switch. On italki you can simply book someone else. On Preply, you can change or cancel your subscription; check the help centre for how unused lessons are handled.
The short version
Choose italki (you can browse italki tutors here) if you want flexibility and to try several tutors without a subscription. Choose Preply if you thrive on a steady weekly routine with one tutor and will schedule lessons consistently. Whichever you pick, a clear goal, a well-used trial lesson, and regular practice between sessions matter more than the platform itself.
