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Preply (/ˈprɛpli/ PREP-lee)[4] is a multinational online language learning platform headquartered in the United States. The company connects learners with tutors for live, one-on-one lessons through its website and mobile app, using a recommendation algorithm to match students and teachers.[5]

Key Information

Founded in 2012 by Kirill Bigai, Serve Lukyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn, Preply operates on a subscription model that combines human tutoring with artificial intelligence-powered study assistance. Preply operates an online platform and mobile app for live teaching and its own proprietary curriculum.[6]

As of 2024, Preply employed more than 678 people of over 50 nationalities, with offices in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv, and users across more than 190 countries.

History

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Founding and early growth

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Preply was founded in 2012 by Ukrainian entrepreneurs Kirill Bigai, Serge Lukyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn. Together they developed the first version of preply.com, which was launched in November 2012.[1][7] On August 31, 2013, Preply received an angel investment of $180,000. Some of the named investors in the funding round were Semyon Dukach, Borya Shakhnovich, Vadim Yasinovsky, Dan Pasko, Torben Majgaard and Vostok Ventures.[8] Preply's first expansion took place in its founding year, when it began expanding into the markets of other countries of Eastern Europe, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Poland and Russia.[8] It was influenced by Bigai’s experience studying English online with a tutor, which he thought was more flexible and cost-effective.[1] In the summer of 2012, the founders launched Preply as an online marketplace for live, personalized language learning.[1] The company sought to differentiate itself from traditional language learning methods by focusing on real-time interaction and individualized instruction.[9]

In its first three years, Preply experienced a notable growth in both employee headcount and financial performance. In 2016, the employee count reached 100, marking a seven-fold increase in less than three years. In June 2016, Preply raised $1.3 million in funding from investors including Techstars, SMRK VCDigital and Arthur Kosten and the Preply platform was updated with a new ranking algorithm based on machine learning and used for classifying and recommending tutors.[10][11] At the time, the company did not operate its own videoconferencing technology; instead, lessons were conducted through third-party platforms such as Skype.[12]

Expansion and funding

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Preply Classroom, formerly known as Preply Space, was launched as the all-in-one language ecosystem. Classroom provided integrated video, online chat, screen sharing and other useful features.[13] The company also closed another round of funding during the same year.[14]

In 2019, Preply entered the Spanish market and opened an office in Barcelona, then expanded further in European, including the United Kingdom and Germany.[15] It also launched its B2B division, known as Preply Business. This followed growing demand in the sector from companies seeking tailored language training solutions that could be used by their employees.

In March 2020, TechCrunch reported that Preply saw record daily hours booked and spikes in tutor registrations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain during early COVID‑19 school closures.[16]

By March 2021, Preply had facilitated more than 10 million lessons and listed about 40,000 tutors across 190 countries,[17] and had raised a cumulative $50.6 million over eight funding rounds.[18][19] At the time, it employed about 250 people and operated offices in Kyiv and Barcelona.[18]

Recent developments

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In March 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in support of Ukraine, a message of support was projected onto the Warsaw Spire building in Warsaw, Poland.[20] It also provided free language lessons for approximately 1,000 displaced Ukrainians adapting to new countries.[21] Preply reported that it offered relocation for employees in Ukraine due to the 2022 invasion from Russia.[22]

Preply raised its largest single amount to date of $50 million via a funding round in July 2022.[23][19][24] In July 2023, the company raised an additional $70 million via an extended Series C funding round, which was led by Horizon Capital.[19] Funds were to be used for an artificial intelligence-based assistant focused on grammar explanations and conversation starters.[25] Preply opened an office in New York City in October 2023.[26] An office was opened in London in July 2024.[27] Preply's total funding raised was $170 million, as of 2023.[28]

In 2025, the company launched the “Speak Ukraine” campaign, a multimedia initiative aimed at promoting Ukrainian language and culture.[29]

Services

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Preply is a learning language app and online platform that combines human tutoring with artificial intelligence. It operates on a subscription model in which learners purchase lesson packages on a recurring basis.[30]

Tutor profiles typically include biographical information, introductory videos, and reviews from other learners, and users may contact tutors before booking.[31] A machine-learning algorithm matches students and tutors based on factors such as budget and schedule.[6] Tutors work as independent contractors and set their own rates and schedules.[1] Preply also offers a corporate language training program known as Preply Business.[32]

Awards and recognition

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In May 2020, Preply won "The Revenue Hack of 2020" at the Ukrainian Startup Awards.[33]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Preply

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from Grokipedia

Preply is an online marketplace platform that connects students with independent tutors for one-on-one video lessons, primarily focused on language learning but extending to other subjects such as test preparation and professional skills. The platform provides localized support for users in various regions, including a Portuguese-language interface at preply.com/pt/ for Brazilian users, with lessons accessible in major cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Salvador. Founded in 2012 by Ukrainian entrepreneurs including Kirill Bigai and Dmytro Voloshyn, the company is headquartered in Brookline, Massachusetts, with additional offices in Barcelona, Kyiv, London, and New York, employing over 500 people across multiple nationalities. The platform facilitates flexible scheduling, personalized curricula, and direct payments to tutors, who set their own rates averaging around $20–$35 per hour for English lessons, while Preply takes a commission that has drawn for being high, particularly from new tutors facing rates up to 33%. Preply has achieved significant scale, with tutors serving over 800,000 students globally and reporting a doubling of its user base following rounds. In terms of growth, the company secured approximately $170 million in total , including a $70 million extension to its Series C round in 2023, which supported AI integrations for tutor assistance and lesson scaling. Despite its expansion, Preply has faced tutor complaints regarding account suspensions based on student reports, inconsistent review systems, and platform policies perceived as favoring students over educators.

Overview

Core Services and Platform Description

Preply operates as an that connects students with independent tutors for personalized, one-on-one lessons delivered via video conferencing, with a primary focus on but extending to other academic subjects. The platform enables users to search for tutors using filters such as subject expertise, hourly rates (typically ranging from $5 to $50 or more), tutor ratings, availability, and native speaker status, supported by a machine-learning that recommends matches based on learner goals and preferences. Lessons are scheduled flexibly around the clock, accommodating global time zones, and conducted through the integrated Preply Classroom, which includes video and audio chat, real-time messaging, screen sharing, and basic interactive tools like whiteboards and file uploads to facilitate dynamic instruction. Core services center on facilitating direct tutor-student interactions without structured curricula imposed by the platform, allowing tutors to customize lessons using their own materials or Preply-provided resources. In addition, Preply offers free educational content through its Spanish-language blog, including detailed articles on English prepositions ("preposiciones en inglés"). These resources provide comprehensive lists of common prepositions, categorized by usage (time, place, movement), usage rules, examples, tips to avoid common errors, specific guides on prepositions such as "in/on/at", and verb-preposition combinations. Such materials support self-study and complement the platform's one-on-one tutoring for personalized grammar lessons on prepositions and related topics. Students access the service via web or mobile app, where they can trial lessons—often the first session at a discounted rate—to assess compatibility before committing to ongoing packages. Payment occurs through subscription plans that bundle a fixed number of weekly lessons (e.g., 1 to 8), auto-renewing every 28 days, or via individual lesson purchases for greater flexibility, with all transactions processed securely on the platform to ensure tutor payouts after commission. As of October 2025, Preply supports over 90 languages—including English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and less common ones like Arabic and Korean—and extends to approximately 120 subjects such as math, science, and test preparation, drawing from a pool exceeding 100,000 tutors who serve learners in more than 180 countries. The platform provides localized experiences in various regions; for example, in Brazil, users can access the service through the Portuguese-language site (preply.com/pt/), which offers Brazilian Portuguese courses with over 580 tutors (many native Brazilians, average $20/hour, 4.9 rating) and localized pages for major cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Salvador, primarily facilitating lessons in English, Spanish, and other languages. This model emphasizes tutor autonomy, with providers setting their schedules, prices, and teaching styles, while the platform handles marketing, matching, and technical infrastructure to scale access to private instruction.

Market Position and Key Metrics

Preply occupies a leading role in the live online language tutoring segment of the $21.06 billion online language learning market as of 2025, which is projected to expand to $44.38 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 16.08%. It primarily competes with platforms like italki, Verbling, and Cambly in the marketplace model for personalized tutoring, while differing from self-paced app-based services such as Duolingo and Babbel, which dominate broader consumer segments through gamified, subscription-driven content. The platform connects over 100,000 tutors with hundreds of thousands of learners across more than 180 countries, supporting lessons in over 50 languages via an AI-driven matching algorithm. As an illustration of its scale in key regional markets, Preply maintains a significant presence in Brazil, where it offers personalized 1-on-1 language lessons, including Brazilian Portuguese courses with over 580 tutors (average $20/hour, 4.9 rating), many of whom are native Brazilians. The platform is accessible via a dedicated Portuguese-language site (preply.com/pt/) and supports learners in major cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Salvador, primarily for English, Spanish, and other languages, with localized features tailored for Brazilian users. Preply's U.S. market, its largest, has seen client numbers more than double in recent years, with over 200 new organizational partners added in the 12 months prior to August 2025. Key financial metrics include $171 million in total funding raised across nine rounds, the most recent being $28 million in debt financing on July 19, 2023. The company's stood at $395 million following its Series B in 2022. reached $50 million in 2021, up 39% from the prior year and reflecting a fourfold surge in 2020 amid the shift to remote learning; Preply reported a tenfold increase over the following three years through 2025. These figures underscore Preply's growth in a fragmented market favoring platforms with scalable tutor networks and algorithmic .

Founding and Leadership

Founders and Origins

Preply was founded in May 2012 in , , by Kirill Bigai, Dmytro Voloshyn, and Serge Lukyanov, three Ukrainian entrepreneurs motivated by the challenges of accessing qualified tutors. Bigai, who later became CEO, drew from his own difficulties learning languages like English and Chinese, as well as experience from a prior failed startup called FindGuru in 2011, to envision a global enabling video-based connections between tutors and students. The initial team comprised Bigai, an early CTO named Roman Apostol, and Voloshyn as ; Lukyanov joined soon after as a and evolved into a co-founder responsible for . With $180,000 in seed funding, the founders launched a prototype targeting the U.S. market while operating from , aiming to disrupt traditional tutoring by facilitating direct, personalized online lessons without intermediaries. However, high operational costs and insufficient prompted a pivot back to by late 2012, where the platform was bootstrapped with remaining funds of about $40,000 and relaunched in March 2013 as an English-language tutoring marketplace tailored to the Ukrainian market. This early phase emphasized and tutor recruitment, with the founders forgoing salaries for several months to sustain operations amid limited resources. The origins reflect a bootstrapped, founder-driven approach rooted in Eastern European tech , prioritizing practical problem-solving in over immediate .

Executive Team and Governance

Preply was founded in 2012 by three Ukrainian entrepreneurs: Kirill Bigai, Dmytro Voloshyn, and Serge Lukyanov, who established the company in the United States as an online marketplace connecting language students with tutors. Bigai, who holds a degree from the National Technical University of Ukraine 'Kyiv Polytechnic Institute,' has led the company as co-founder and CEO since inception, guiding its growth amid challenges including the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The current executive leadership includes Dmytro Voloshyn as co-founder and , overseeing platform development; Aurélien Pallain as ; Sofia Tavares as Chief Brand Officer, appointed in August 2025; and Josh Crossick as . Other key roles encompass Keiran Dodd as VP of People, Jerry Kingkade as (joined August 2025), and various VPs handling sales, product, data, design, and customer experience, reflecting a structure focused on scaling operations and AI integration. Serge Lukyanov, the third co-founder, contributed to early but is no longer listed in active executive roles. As a , Preply's details, including board composition, are not fully public. Investors such as Horizon Capital (leading a $70 million Series C extension in 2023), Reach Capital, Hoxton Ventures, Owl Ventures, and development institutions like IFC and EBRD hold stakes and likely influence strategic oversight through board representation, though specific directors beyond executives remain undisclosed in available records. The structure emphasizes founder-led decision-making, with Bigai articulating a focus on human-AI hybrid tutoring amid competitive pressures in edtech.

Historical Development

Inception and Early Operations (2012–2016)

Preply was established in 2012 by Ukrainian entrepreneurs Bigai, Dmytro Voloshyn, and Serge Lukyanov, who initially developed the concept around a local English teaching service to address demand for personalized language instruction. The founding team, based in , recognized limitations in models and sought to create a scalable alternative leveraging technology for tutor-student matching. In April 2013, the company pivoted to launch its core online marketplace platform, enabling students to connect with tutors for live language lessons via video, with options for both virtual and local in-person sessions. Early operations emphasized English tutoring due to surging global demand, while the platform incorporated basic matching features to pair users based on needs, location, and tutor expertise. The Kyiv headquarters supported initial development, with the team growing from three founders to about 15 employees focused on product refinement and user acquisition. Preply participated in the Berlin accelerator program in 2015, which provided mentorship and resources to enhance scalability and market entry strategies. By 2016, the platform had expanded to five primary markets—Poland, , , , and —while onboarding 3,000 tutors from 58 countries and scaling the core team to 100 employees, reflecting sevenfold growth in under three years. In June 2016, Preply raised $1.3 million in seed funding from investors including , SMRK, and VC Digital to support European expansion and platform improvements.

Expansion Amid Challenges (2017–2022)

In 2017, Preply secured $1.3 million in seed funding from investors including , enabling team expansion to approximately 100 employees and supporting early scaling of its tutor network. The following year, the company announced its European expansion, opening an office in and targeting further entry into and the to capitalize on growing demand for online language tutoring. The onset of the in 2020 presented initial disruptions to global education but ultimately accelerated Preply's growth as lockdowns drove a surge in online learning. The platform raised $10 million in funding that March, reporting nearly tripled demand in , doubled growth in , and a 130% increase in , alongside a rapid influx of tutors to meet rising student enrollments. Revenue expanded fourfold in 2020, reflecting the broader shift to digital platforms amid physical classroom closures. By 2021, Preply achieved $50 million in annual revenue, marking 39% year-over-year growth from the prior year, with its user base tripling compared to pre-pandemic levels due to sustained remote learning trends. The company continued tutor , building toward a network exceeding 100,000 by 2022, while navigating competitive pressures from apps like and scaling operational challenges in matching learners with vetted instructors. In July 2022, amid Russia's invasion of —which posed logistical strains for the Kyiv-headquartered firm—Preply raised $50 million in Series C to strengthen its U.S. and European presence, underscoring resilience through diversified global operations in and beyond. This period solidified Preply's position in the edtech sector, with expansions in corporate language programs despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical risks.

Post-2022 Growth and Adaptations

Following the rapid expansion during the 2017–2022 period, Preply experienced sustained revenue growth, with revenues increasing tenfold over the three years leading up to October 2023. This growth was supported by a 51% year-over-year revenue increase in 2022, building on the platform's enterprise offerings that attracted clients such as and Uber's . In 2023, Preply more than doubled its U.S. client base and added 200 new organizations in the preceding 12 months, reflecting strengthened corporate adoption amid a global online language learning market projected to reach $47 billion by 2025. To capitalize on this momentum, Preply opened its first U.S. office in New York City's West Village on October 25, 2023, aiming to employ over 25 staff by year-end and complementing existing hubs in Kyiv, Barcelona, and . The company also underwent a comprehensive on the same date, introducing a new , vibrant color palette, and redesigned developed by London-based agency Koto, emphasizing repetition as a core learning principle to improve user and tutor experiences. Leadership enhancements included appointing Sofia Tavares as Chief Brand Officer and Jerry Kingkade as , both based in New York, to drive global marketing and revenue strategies. In response to evolving edtech demands, Preply introduced AI-powered adaptations in 2025, announcing on August 5 features such as Lesson Insights for personalized progress summaries, Daily Exercises for habit-building reinforcement, and Scenario Practice for real-world speaking simulations. These tools, initially rolled out for learners and tutors, integrate with human-led sessions to enable data-driven lesson customization and accelerate outcomes, with internal studies indicating up to three times faster progress in fluency and CEFR levels within 12 weeks. Concurrently, Preply enhancements on August 11, 2025, added corporate dashboards and analytics to optimize enterprise programs. These innovations position Preply within a $115 billion global learning market, prioritizing hybrid human-AI models over fully automated alternatives.

Business Model and Operations

Revenue Generation and Commission Structure

Preply generates revenue primarily through a commission-based model applied to lessons booked on its platform, functioning as an intermediary marketplace between students and independent tutors. The company takes a of the fees paid by students for tutoring sessions, with tutors setting their own hourly rates typically ranging from $15 to $40 or higher depending on expertise and demand. Approximately 95% of Preply's derives from language courses under this structure. The commission structure is tiered based on the total hours a tutor has taught on the platform, incentivizing higher volume to reduce fees: it begins at 33% for tutors with 0–20 hours, decreases to 28% for 21–50 hours, 25% for 51–200 hours, 22% for 201–400 hours, and reaches 18% thereafter. For the initial trial lesson with any new student, Preply retains 100% of the fee as a charge, providing no payout to the tutor for that session. Subsequent lessons with the same student follow the tutor's applicable tiered rate, with payments processed weekly via methods like or bank transfer after deducting the commission. This model has evolved from earlier flat rates, such as the approximately 20% cited in reports, to the current performance-based tiers that align tutor retention with platform growth. While effective for scaling, the high initial commissions—particularly the 100% trial fee—have drawn criticism from tutors for reducing early earnings and pressuring sales of lesson packages to recover costs, though Preply maintains it supports and visibility.

Tutor Recruitment, Vetting, and Compensation

Preply recruits tutors through an open online application process accessible via its website, where candidates submit basic personal information, a profile photo, a , a description of their expertise, and an introductory video. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and no formal degree or professional teaching experience is required for many subjects, including English tutoring, allowing individuals with subject knowledge to apply. As of February 2026, Preply's Tutor Success team reviews tutor applications within 5 business days after completion, with approval possible in as little as 3 days, allowing tutors to start teaching soon after. The process and timeline are the same for all subjects, including Computer Science and Programming, with no specific differences or additional requirements mentioned for these areas, though the platform emphasizes completing a strong profile to increase approval chances. Vetting primarily involves review of the submitted profile for completeness and basic suitability, without a formal or extensive qualifications check, as reported by tutors who note the process accepts applicants regardless of prior experience. Qualified tutors can earn a "Professional" badge by uploading and verifying relevant certificates, such as credentials, which enhances visibility but is optional for initial approval. Identity verification, required before withdrawing earnings, uses automated tools like to confirm details via document upload and facial recognition, reducing manual reviews but focusing on payout eligibility rather than pedagogical screening. No mandatory background checks or verifications are detailed in official guidelines, leading some user accounts to describe the entry barrier as low compared to platforms with stricter hiring. Tutors set their own hourly rates, typically ranging from $15 to $25 on average, though experienced or specialized instructors may charge up to $50 or more depending on demand and subject. Preply deducts a 100% commission on the first lesson with each new student to cover platform acquisition costs, with subsequent lessons incurring a sliding fee of 18% to 33% based on cumulative hours taught to that student—the rate decreases as loyalty increases (e.g., 33% for 1-4 lessons, dropping to 18% after 20+ lessons). Earnings are paid weekly after verification, with reported net hourly wages averaging $20 to $25 in the U.S. after commissions, varying by tutor pricing and student volume. High-performing tutors may qualify for the Super Tutor program, offering benefits like reduced commissions or promotional boosts, awarded based on consistent performance metrics such as ratings and lesson volume.

Student Experience and Pricing Dynamics

Students access Preply by creating an account on the platform, where they can search for tutors using filters such as , range, tutor ratings, , and specialization. Once a suitable tutor is selected, students book a trial , typically lasting 30-60 minutes, to assess compatibility before committing to regular sessions. Lessons occur via one-on-one video calls using the platform's integrated tools, including interactive whiteboards, chat, and recording options for review. Pricing on Preply is determined by individual tutors, who set their own hourly rates, ranging from as low as $1 to over $100 depending on factors like rarity, tutor experience, location, and demand—English lessons commonly fall between $15 and $50 per hour. Students pay the full advertised rate directly through the platform for each or package, with no mandatory subscriptions, though bulk purchases may offer minor discounts via tutor-set bundles. Preply does not charge students additional platform fees beyond the tutor's rate, but recent tutor complaints indicate potential indirect impacts from platform commission adjustments, such as increased rates to offset 18-33% (or higher for low-hour tutors) deductions from tutor earnings. The platform offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee for trial lessons, allowing refunds or rescheduling if unsatisfied, though user reports highlight inconsistencies in enforcement, with some students facing denials despite policy claims. Flexible scheduling accommodates global time zones, and features like automated reminders and progress tracking enhance usability, contributing to reported improvements in fluency for consistent users. Aggregate student satisfaction stands at 4.3 out of 5 on from over 18,000 reviews as of late 2025, praising personalized pacing, tutor quality, and affordability for budget learners, though criticisms include variable lesson effectiveness from low-priced tutors and occasional technical glitches. Better Business Bureau feedback reveals disputes over unauthorized renewals and refund processing delays, underscoring tensions in customer support responsiveness. Pricing dynamics favor cost-sensitive students seeking rare languages at lower rates but can lead to mismatched expectations when opting for the cheapest options, as tutor retention and quality correlate with higher pricing tiers.

Technology and Innovations

Core Platform Features

Preply's platform centers on facilitating personalized, one-on-one online lessons by connecting students with independent tutors worldwide through searchable profiles and algorithmic recommendations tailored to user-specified goals, budget constraints, and preferences such as tutor native , accent, and availability. Students initiate the process by completing a detailing their learning objectives, after which the suggests compatible tutors, allowing further refinement via advanced filters for specialization, experience, and hourly rates ranging typically from $5 to $50. The integrated Preply Classroom serves as the primary environment for conducting lessons, featuring built-in video conferencing for real-time interaction without requiring external software. Key tools within the classroom include an for drawing, uploading images, and collaborative annotations; a notes section for tracking progress, assigning homework, and providing feedback in shared or private tabs; and screen sharing with layout options like corner, sidebar, or floating views to display documents or presentations. Additional classroom functionalities support language-specific engagement, such as a tool that automatically or manually adds terms in languages like English, French, and Spanish; a talk time tracker to monitor and encourage speaking practice; and access to a of pre-built lesson materials for topics including practice and preparation. In-lesson chat enables sharing links, files, and quick communications, with all content preserved for post-lesson review. Scheduling occurs directly through tutor calendars, where students select available slots for immediate or future bookings, with lessons purchasable individually or in prepaid packages to manage costs and commitments. Payments are processed securely via the platform's flexible system, supporting per-lesson billing or subscriptions, and tutors receive compensation after a commission deduction following successful sessions confirmed by both parties. Post-lesson reviews and ratings further refine matching accuracy by incorporating user feedback into profile visibility and recommendations.

AI Integration and Future Directions

Preply has integrated primarily to augment human tutoring rather than supplant it, leveraging for initial tutor-student matching since its early operations. This system analyzes learner profiles, preferences, and goals alongside tutor expertise to optimize pairings, enhancing matching efficiency on the platform. In August 2025, Preply launched three AI-powered tools aimed at personalizing post-lesson reinforcement for English learners: Lesson Insights, which generate instant summaries and key takeaways from sessions; Daily Exercises, which create tailored self-study tasks based on lesson content; and Scenario Practice, which simulates real-world conversational contexts for skill application. These features draw from session transcripts and tutor inputs to produce customized content, initially rolled out to select users before broader availability. Additionally, Preply's AI Teaching Assistant, integrated into tutor chat interfaces, enables educators to generate personalized exercises, explanations, and lesson materials on demand, reducing preparation time while maintaining human oversight. This tool supports tutors in delivering adaptive content without replacing their role in instruction. Looking ahead, Preply envisions a hybrid model where AI amplifies human tutoring's efficacy, with plans to expand these tools across more languages and learner segments by refining algorithms with from its 100,000-plus tutors and global user base. Company leadership emphasizes an "anti-Duolingo" stance, prioritizing tutor-led progress over fully automated learning, while investing in AI for in skill gaps and engagement forecasting. Future developments may include deeper AI analytics for tutor performance evaluation and dynamic curriculum adjustments, informed by ongoing platform to sustain personalized outcomes in a competitive edtech landscape.

Funding and Financial Trajectory

Investment History

Preply's investment history commenced with seed funding, including a $1.3 million round in June 2016 from investors such as , SMRK VCDigital, and Arthur Kosten. An additional seed round of $4 million followed in July 2018. The company raised $10 million in a closed in January 2020 and announced publicly on March 30, 2020, led by Point Nine Capital with participation from Hoxton Ventures, All Iron Ventures, Educapital, and Diligent Capital. This funding supported expansion amid rising demand for online language learning during the . In March 2021, Preply secured $35 million in a Series B round co-led by Full In Partners and Owl Ventures, with Inovo Venture Partners also participating. The capital was directed toward scaling operations and enhancing platform features. Preply's Series C funding began with $50 million raised in July 2022, led by Owl Ventures and including Diligent Capital and Hoxton Ventures. This round valued the company at $432 million post-money. The Series C was extended in July 2023 with an additional $70 million—$42 million in equity led by Horizon Capital and $28 million in debt—bringing the total for the round to $120 million; participants included Reach Capital and prior investors. Funds from the extension focused on AI integration to improve tutor-student matching and personalized learning. Overall, Preply has raised over $170 million across these and prior minor rounds, reflecting investor confidence in its marketplace model despite geopolitical challenges in Ukraine.
DateRoundAmount (USD)Key Investors
June 2016Seed1.3MTechstars, SMRK VCDigital, Arthur Kosten
July 2018Seed4MNot specified in announcements
March 2020Series A10MPoint Nine Capital, Hoxton Ventures
March 2021Series B35MFull In Partners, Owl Ventures, Inovo
July 2022Series C50MOwl Ventures, Diligent Capital, Hoxton
July 2023Series C Extension70MHorizon Capital, Reach Capital

Valuation, Revenue, and Economic Impact

Preply achieved a of approximately $432 million following its Series C funding round in March 2022, which raised $50 million led by investors including and Target Global. In July 2023, the company extended its Series C with an additional $70 million in equity and $28 million in debt financing from existing backers, bringing total funding raised to over $170 million, though the updated valuation was not publicly disclosed. Speculation in early 2024 suggested potential growth to $500 million amid ongoing expansion, but no confirmed figures have emerged since the 2022 valuation. The company's reached $50 million in 2021, reflecting a 39% year-over-year increase driven by heightened demand for online learning during the . Preply reported a tenfold expansion over the three years ending in August 2025, fueled by platform enhancements, AI integrations, and into enterprise segments. Estimates from platforms pegged annual at around $750 million by September 2025, aligning with aggressive growth projections in the sector. Economically, Preply facilitates remote income generation for over 100,000 registered tutors worldwide, with more than 40,000 actively teaching over 50 languages to hundreds of thousands of learners across 180 countries. This marketplace model has enabled flexible employment opportunities, particularly for educators in regions with limited local job markets, including , where the company originated and sustained operations despite geopolitical disruptions. By supporting tutor earnings—averaging competitive hourly rates after commissions—and contributing to the broader $47 billion online language learning market projected for 2025, Preply bolsters skill development and cross-border economic activity without relying on traditional employment structures.

Reception and Evaluations

Positive Outcomes and User Testimonials

Preply learners have demonstrated accelerated language acquisition, with data indicating up to three times faster proficiency gains relative to industry benchmarks for those completing over 24 lessons. Specifically, 94% of such learners reported enhanced fluency, while 97% expressed greater confidence in English speaking skills. These self-reported outcomes underscore the platform's efficacy in one-on-one tutoring formats, which facilitate personalized feedback and targeted practice. User satisfaction is reflected in aggregate ratings, such as Preply's 4.3 out of 5 score from over 18,500 reviews as of late 2025, where students and tutors frequently commend the platform's intuitive interface and flexible scheduling. Positive testimonials highlight rapid skill development; for example, learners note achieving functional communication levels in 3-6 months for business purposes (B1 proficiency), attributing this to consistent tutor matching and lesson customization. Tutors also report favorable experiences, with many achieving high earnings and steady student bookings after building profiles, as evidenced by cases of instructors reaching 100 lessons in the first month and maintaining 4.9-star ratings over hundreds of hours. users, including over 1,000 companies, cite improved team language performance and career mobility, such as facilitating international relocations through targeted English . These accounts emphasize Preply's role in delivering measurable, individualized progress without rigid group constraints.

Criticisms from Tutors and Learners

Tutors have frequently criticized Preply's compensation structure, particularly the high initial commission rate of 33% on earnings, which only decreases to 18% after accumulating hundreds of hours, such as 200 hours for the first reduction tier. Additionally, tutors receive no payment for trial lessons, which can last up to one hour and are required to attract students, effectively reducing early earnings potential; for example, after 20 hours of paid lessons following trials, a tutor might net only around $127 after commissions. To compete in the platform's marketplace, many tutors report needing to set hourly rates as low as $3–$5 initially to secure students, leading to perceptions of undervaluation despite the flexibility to determine prices. Further complaints from tutors center on inadequate support for handling disputes, including unfair or retaliatory student reviews that impact profiles without sufficient platform intervention, and occasional account suspensions for alleged code of conduct violations without clear resolution processes. Learners have raised issues with Preply's refund policies, describing them as stringent and often unresponsive, with credits for unused lessons rarely convertible to cash refunds even when requested promptly after purchase or due to tutor cancellations. For instance, complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau highlight cases where funds were deducted for sessions but refunds denied due to system errors or policy limitations, such as a 90-day window or requirements for no unconfirmed lessons. Inconsistent tutor quality has also been noted, with some users reporting mismatches in expertise or preparation despite platform vetting, exacerbating dissatisfaction when combined with challenges in switching tutors or obtaining replacements. Both groups have encountered technical glitches in the Preply Classroom, such as audio/video failures during lessons, which can lead to incomplete sessions without reliable compensation or credits, though the platform provides guidelines for reporting such incidents. While Preply maintains an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 from over 18,000 reviews as of late 2025, negative feedback often focuses on these operational and support shortcomings rather than systemic , with the company responding to most complaints within 24 hours.

Broader Industry Impact and Comparisons

Preply has contributed to the expansion of the online language learning sector by pioneering a tutor-student matching model that emphasizes personalized, one-on-one virtual sessions, operating in over 180 countries with more than 100,000 tutors covering 90+ languages as of 2025. This approach has helped democratize access to live tutoring, particularly amid rising demand driven by and , within a market valued at approximately USD 22 billion in 2024 and projected to reach USD 54 billion by 2030. The platform's internal studies claim learners achieve proficiency up to three times faster than traditional methods, attributing this to algorithmic matching and structured progress tracking, though such outcomes are self-reported and may reflect toward motivated users. Preply's integration of AI for tutor recommendations and lesson planning has influenced edtech trends toward hybrid human-AI models, prioritizing tutor control over fully automated apps like , and enabling scalable corporate training programs that tie language skills to measurable ROI. Events such as its annual Online Teaching Conference, held for the fourth time in September 2025, foster industry-wide for tutors, potentially raising standards in freelance online education. However, critics note that marketplace commissions—often 18-33%—and competitive bidding can pressure tutor earnings, mirroring broader challenges in edtech. In comparisons, Preply differentiates from through advanced AI-driven matching and trial lessons, but offers lower base rates (typically $10-50 per hour) and a broader pool of tutors without Preply's emphasis, appealing to budget-conscious learners. Versus Verbling, Preply provides more flexible pricing and global reach but faces similar complaints about platform fees; Verbling prioritizes certified educators and integrated video tools, positioning it as premium for structured courses. Platforms like Cambly emphasize conversational practice without scheduling, contrasting Preply's lesson-based format, while app-centric rivals such as dominate gamified self-study but lack live interaction, highlighting Preply's niche in high-engagement tutoring amid a fragmented market.

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