Preply Review (2026): Does 1:1 Tutoring Actually Work? (From a Real User)

This post may contain affiliate links. Check out my Disclosure & Privacy Policy for more information. This post is sponsored by Preply. However, I am a real user of the platform. All opinions are my own. 

If you’ve ever tried to learn a language before travelling, you’ll know the gap between studying a language and actually speaking it can be surprisingly large (as I’ve humbly learned with my French on several trips to Paris).

After years of travelling and living abroad, I’ve realised that the most memorable moments of language learning often happen in small everyday interactions—like ordering coffee, asking for directions, or chatting with someone at a market.

Which is why I decided to test Preply, a platform focused on one-to-one language tutoring.

In this review, I’ll share what Preply is, how it works, my early experience using it, and whether it’s worth considering if you want to improve a language for travel or everyday life.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.

Having lived abroad and travelled extensively across Europe and Asia, language learning has been part of that journey—from studying Mandarin while living in China to continuing to improve my French and German for travel around Europe.

On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.

P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.

Why I Decided to Try Preply

Language learning has constantly followed me through different chapters of my life.

I studied French in middle school, learned Mandarin in high school and while living in China for a few months, made a goal to learn German to communicate with my partner’s side of the family and over the years, I’ve continued to circle back to languages as a way to experience places more deeply.

Living in London also makes this feel particularly relevant.

Paris is only a Eurostar away.
Germany is a short flight.
And travelling around Europe regularly means you constantly encounter moments where speaking even a little of the local language makes a difference.

But like many people, I’ve also experienced the limits of language apps.

They’re great for vocabulary and practice exercises, but they don’t always prepare you for the reality of speaking with another person.

That’s where Preply caught my attention.

What Is Preply?

Preply is an online learning platform that connects learners with one-to-one tutors in more than 90 languages, allowing lessons to be tailored to each student’s goals, schedule, and level.

Rather than following a fixed curriculum like a traditional course, students work directly with a tutor to focus on the areas that matter most to them—whether that’s conversation practice, grammar, pronunciation, travel preparation, or for professional use.

Lessons take place online and can be scheduled around your availability.

Preply also includes several AI-supported tools designed to reinforce learning between lessons, including lesson summaries, exercises, and conversation simulations.

How Preply Works

Getting started with Preply is fairly straightforward.

First, you browse tutors based on language, availability, price, and reviews. Each tutor has a profile page and introduction video so you can get a sense of their teaching style.

Once you find someone who looks like a good fit, you book a trial lesson. This session allows you to meet the tutor, discuss your goals, and decide whether the teaching style works for you.

After that, lessons continue through a subscription that renews every four weeks, with the choice of how many lessons you want per week. This helps encourage consistency (which I desperately need)—something that research consistently shows is one of the most important factors in language learning progress.

My First Impressions Using Preply

I’m still early in my experience with Preply, but even the first stages feel noticeably different from traditional language apps.

Instead of completing exercises alone, you’re immediately interacting with another person, which alone changes the learning dynamic for the better.

When you’re speaking with a real tutor, you receive immediate feedback on pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Conversations also naturally shift based on what you’re trying to say, which makes the learning feel far more relevant to real life.

During my first lesson, I focused on:

• introductions and refreshing conversational basics
• practising pronunciation
• discussing situations that might come up while travelling

Even a short session felt more like actual communication rather than study.

And that, ultimately, is the goal!

Why 1:1 Language Learning Matters

First lesson with my French teacher, Celine!

One-on-one learning is by far one of the fastest ways to learn a new language, as I learned the hard way.

According to Preply’s research, learners who participated in regular one-to-one tutoring reported significant improvements in fluency and confidence over a 12-week period.

And it makes perfect sense. Learning a language involves:

• hearing how it’s spoken
• practising regularly
• receiving feedback
• building confidence speaking out loud

A tutor provides all of those things in real time.

That’s also why many people find that conversational practice accelerates progress compared to learning passively.

What Makes Preply Different

I’m very sceptical of language learning apps or programs’ effectiveness, but in their case, a few aspects of the platform stood out to me.

Personalised Learning for Your Individual Language Goals

Because lessons are one-to-one, tutors can adjust the pace and content to match your level and goals.

This is especially helpful for someone like me who learns languages for travel vs. say exams or relocation.

Flexible Scheduling

Lessons can be booked around your schedule, which make it far easier to maintain consistency.

If you have a busy work or travel schedule, it’s a godsend.

Support Between Lessons

Preply also includes tools like lesson insights and practice exercises to help reinforce what you’ve learned to help keep your progress moving outside of the lesson itself.

Who Preply Might Be Best For

From what I’ve seen so far, Preply seems especially well suited for:

• travellers who want to build conversational confidence
• learners who benefit from accountability and structure
• professionals preparing to use a language for work
• anyone who prefers interactive learning over self-study

It may be less suited to people looking for a completely free or purely app-based learning experience.

Is Preply Worth It?

So far, my early experience suggests that Preply offers a more interactive approach to language learning compared with traditional apps, which absolutely makes it worth it for me.

Speaking with a tutor introduces an element of real conversation that’s difficult to replicate through exercises alone, so if your goal is to feel more confident using a language in everyday situations—especially while travelling—that kind of practice can be extremely valuable.

I’ll continue updating this review as I progress with more lessons!

I hope this review has inspired you to pick up your language learning journey. If you have any more questions about Preply or how my progress is going —feel free to say hello over on Instagram.

CHECK OUT MORE language learning & TRAVEL GUIDES:

• Preply vs Duolingo: Which Is Better for Learning a Language? From a Real User
• How to Do a Solo Trip from London to Paris
• 10 Unique Ways to Learn Chinese
• Rome Solo Trip: Your Ultimate Guide for 2026
• How to Do a Trip to Malaga, Spain
  

Happy travels,