Cambly vs Preply: which online teaching platform should you choose?
Compare Cambly and Preply by tutor access, pay model, booking reliability, TEFL value, timeline, flexibility, and platform trade-offs.
- Curated by Kevin Walsh
- Data updated June 2026
- Sources checked 11 sources
- About the team
- Editorial policy
Choose Cambly for simplicity, Preply for control.
Cambly is usually the stronger fit if you are a native English speaker who wants a simple flexible tutoring platform with weekly pay and no degree or TEFL requirement.
Preply is usually better if you want broader access, profile control, and the chance to set your own rates, while accepting trial-lesson and commission trade-offs.
Best for simple native-speaker tutoring
Cambly
Best for rate control
Preply
What are these platforms?
These platforms both sit online, but they offer very different levels of structure and pricing control.
What is Cambly?
Cambly is an online English conversation-tutoring platform where tutors work with learners through live video rather than a school curriculum.
Applicants create a tutor profile and, when accepted, can usually teach from anywhere with a suitable setup; Cambly says there is no degree, certificate, or prior-experience requirement and no minimum-hours commitment.
It suits beginners, travellers, or side-income tutors who want low-friction entry.
The caveat is that it is casual platform work, so demand, profile approval, booking volume, and earnings can be limited.
What is Preply?
Preply is an online tutoring marketplace where teachers create a public profile, set availability and rates, and attract students across languages and subjects.
Applicants register, complete a profile with photo, credentials, description, video, availability, and tutoring rate, then wait for review.
It suits tutors who want more pricing control and are willing to market a niche such as conversation, exams, or business English.
The caveat is marketplace competition: Preply's commission model, trial lessons, reviews, and student retention all affect take-home earnings.
Cambly vs Preply: side-by-side comparison
Use this table to compare the practical differences between Cambly and Preply, including pay, savings potential, requirements, TEFL value, timeline, support, and the main trade-off.
| Factor | Cambly Online | Preply Online |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay Route finder estimate | $400 - $800/mo Booked lesson time estimate | $100 - $1,500/mo Typical monthly estimate |
| Savings outlook Relative outlook | Limited Depends on booked hours and platform demand. | Limited Depends on booked hours and platform demand. |
| Requirements Main entry gates | Degree optional TEFL optional; native speaker required; background check not a core gate | Degree optional TEFL preferred (120+ hour); native speaker optional; background check not a core gate |
| Where TEFL helps How TEFL affects fit | Not required Not normally a route requirement. | TEFL recommended Useful practical signal for hiring. |
| Time to start Typical time to start | 1-2 months Marketplace hiring | Immediate Marketplace hiring |
| Hiring flexibility Route friction | Moderate Documents and employer checks matter. | Low Lower route friction. |
| Support and benefits What support is included | Light support Limited built-in support. | Light support Limited built-in support. |
| Main trade-off Consider this | Income variability Bookings drive practical earnings. | Income variability Bookings drive practical earnings. |
Salary estimates come from our route finder; they are not a job offer. Check current employer or programme details before applying.
What the comparison means
The table keeps the platform facts short. These notes spell out the practical decision points in visible, crawlable copy.
1. Pay and savings
Cambly has a simpler platform pay model in our route research, while Preply has a wider variable range because tutors set their own rates. On both platforms, practical earnings depend on booked lesson time rather than a guaranteed monthly salary.
2. Requirements
Cambly requires native English speaker eligibility but does not require a degree, TEFL certificate, or teaching experience. Preply has broader access and also does not require a degree or TEFL certificate, but profile approval and marketplace competition matter.
3. TEFL value
TEFL is not a formal access requirement for either platform. It matters more on Preply because tutor profiles compete for student trust, while Cambly does not raise its standard platform pay just because a tutor is TEFL-certified.
4. Timeline and support
Preply can be quicker to start because profiles are reviewed before going live and the platform is marked immediate in our route research. Cambly remains flexible, but intake limits, review delays, and platform demand can slow practical start time.
5. Main trade-off
Choose Cambly for a simpler native-speaker tutoring model. Choose Preply for more control over rate, profile, and positioning, while accepting marketplace competition, trial lessons, and commission rules.
Which platform fits your teaching style?
Use this section if you are choosing between Cambly and Preply rather than researching online teaching in general. Cambly is usually simpler for eligible native speakers, while Preply gives you more marketplace control and more responsibility for pricing and bookings.
Choose Cambly if...
- You are a native English speaker and want a low-credential tutoring platform.
- You prefer a simple pay model instead of setting and testing your own rates.
- You want flexible hours and weekly payments, while accepting that bookings are not guaranteed.
Choose Preply if...
- You want to set your own rates and build a tutor profile over time.
- You are comfortable competing for students and handling unpaid trial-lesson trade-offs.
- You want TEFL to support profile credibility, even though it is not required to apply.
Check your personalised teaching options
This public comparison cannot account for your passport, residence, age, degree, TEFL status, work rights, or preferences. Use the TEFL route finder for personalised teaching options.
Sources behind this comparison
These are the checked sources used to compare pay, requirements, timelines, support, and route trade-offs.
Read the route finder sources and methodology- Cambly - Teach English Online & Get Paid
Used to check: $0.17/minute on Cambly; $10.20/hour headline rate; $0.20/minute on Cambly Kids; $12/hour Cambly Kids headline rate; No teaching certificate needed; No bachelor's degree needed; No prior teaching experience needed; New tutor intake temporarily limited; Fixed platform pay rates; No TEFL-linked pay increase stated; No bachelor's degree required; Profile processing may take longer; Review-dependent start timing; No minimum hours once accepted; Weekly pay; Flexible schedule; No minimum hours; Work as little or much as wanted; Online English conversation tutoring; One-to-one lessons with global students; Flexible online tutoring model; Work from anywhere.
- Cambly - Tutor Addendum
Used to check: No minimum student guarantee; No minimum revenue guarantee; Weekly payment above threshold; Third-party payment processors; Independent contractor status; Control over tutoring schedule; Non-exclusive platform work; Weekly payment threshold; Independent contractor relationship; Tutor responsible for equipment; Tutor responsible for legal compliance; No workers' compensation entitlement.
- Cambly Help Center - Applying to become a tutor
Used to check: Native English speaker required; Minimum age 18; No teaching certificate required; No prior teaching experience required; Experience helpful but optional; TEFL not required to apply; Laptop or desktop required to apply; Google Chrome required; Mobile application not supported; Application reviewed by Cambly team.
- Cambly - User Agreement
Used to check: Tutors must be over 18; Cambly may set eligibility requirements; Eligibility can be reassessed; Local laws must be followed.
- Preply - Become an online tutor
Used to check: English tutors charge about $15-$25/hour; Popular tutors can earn up to $550/week; Earnings depend on rate, lessons, and retention; No specific certification required; No teaching experience required; Communication skills expected; Approval can be as quick as 3 days; Start after profile approval; Marketplace onboarding; Set your own rate; Flexible schedule; Interactive classroom; Online tutoring marketplace; Teach anytime and anywhere.
- Preply Help - Commission model
Used to check: 100% commission on trial lessons; 33% starting commission after trials; Commission decreases to 18%; Trial lessons unpaid for tutors; Early commission is high; Client base takes time.
- Preply - How much do online tutors make?
Used to check: $117.70 average for 0-10 hours/week; $1,416.40 average for 40-50 hours/week; Hourly rate varies by subject; Formal qualifications can support higher rates; TEFL may improve English-tutor credibility; Experience and subject affect earnings.
- Preply Help - Register to teach on Preply
Used to check: Applicants must be at least 18; Education and certificates can be added; Profile approval required; Review usually within 5 business days; Application can be rejected; Profile quality affects approval; Low entry requirements; Profile review required; Some location restrictions; Age requirement: 18+; Subject-demand restrictions; Location-based application restrictions; Profile application process; Application reviewed before going live.
- Preply Help - Identity verification guidelines
Used to check: Identity verification context; Not a criminal background check; Platform trust and safety process; Identity verification may apply; Platform trust process; Different from criminal background check; Identity verification requirement context; Account trust restrictions; Not a teaching-visa route.
- Preply Help - Professional Tutor status
Used to check: Professional Tutor badge; Accepted English teaching certificates; Qualifications can improve credibility.
- Preply Help - How to withdraw your earnings
Used to check: Bank transfer powered by Wise; Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, and Skrill; Withdrawal methods vary by location.
Common questions
Is Cambly or Preply better for online English teaching?
Cambly is usually better if you are an eligible native speaker who wants a simple flexible tutoring platform. Preply is usually better if you want to set your own rates, build a profile, and compete for students on a broader marketplace.
Does TEFL matter more on Cambly or Preply?
TEFL generally matters more on Preply because it can improve tutor credibility and student trust. Cambly does not require TEFL and our route research does not show it as a formal pay unlock.
Is Cambly or Preply faster to start?
Preply is marked as an immediate-start platform in our route research once a profile is approved. Cambly can still be flexible, but tutor intake limits, review delays, and demand can affect how quickly new tutors begin earning.