As the most spoken language in the world, English is a popular language to learn. Many tutoring services offer options for English students in a variety of subjects, from conversational English to business English and everything in between. Whether you’re a language-learner just starting out on your journey to proficiency or an English student looking to boost your confidence in the subject, our list has a tutoring service to suit your needs. We have found all of the best options for learning English for any purpose, including traveling abroad, higher education help and immigration.
How to Pick an Online English Tutoring Service
When picking an online English tutoring service, it’s important to consider how you learn best. While some students might enjoy the communal environment of a virtual classroom, others will opt for a private tutor who can prioritize their learning objectives and design lesson plans accordingly. Either option might require meeting with multiple instructors before you feel ready to commit to several lessons, and some students might even opt to pursue both options if they have the time commitment required for both.
It’s also important to consider how much you would like to spend. Our list includes options for every budget, and many tutoring services give tutors the freedom to set their own prices — meaning that prices will vary from tutor to tutor and from service to service.
Learning a new language for travel
Learning English can be beneficial for a variety of travel plans. Check out Italki for their private tutors who are highly skilled in the art of conversation, or consider taking a class with Lingoda for a communal language-learning experience.
Learning English for work
Taking up English for work can lead to a promotion or further career opportunities. Head to AmazingTalker to search for tutors who specialize in English for business or corporate English to make your journey easier.
Help with studying English for school
For those in search of the perfect English tutor for a class, check out Skooli. Their focus is on instant tutoring. In just a few clicks, you can be connected with an English tutor who can assist you with any school-related need.
How We Picked the Best Online English Tutoring Services
Considering that English is the most spoken language in the world, it’s no wonder that there are so many English tutoring services operating worldwide. Sifting through them to find the best options took hours of research and evaluation, but we ultimately found the best 10 tutoring services currently teaching students in a variety of formats.
We started by analyzing dozens of options based on their user recommendations and reviews. What previous and current users had to say can go a long way, so we put this first. Then, we considered other relevant features like affordability and the availability of a free trial. While many of our options are relatively affordable, some may be more of a financial investment than others. Free trials are hard to come by in this industry, but most of our providers offer features like free tutor replacement or a money-back guarantee.
The 10 Best Online English Tutors
The following list includes options for both private one-on-one tutors and group classes with a live instructor. While all of these services can provide a great experience for learning English at any knowledge level, some might be better suited for achieving certain language-learning goals than others.
Italki
Italki offers private, one-on-one tutoring sessions with a focus on fostering student development through regularly scheduled sessions. Easily scroll through their selection of English tutors to view tutor introductions, videos and availability to find your ideal tutoring match or use their search feature to filter for things like lesson type, time and price.
Click on each tutor’s profile to view additional information, including the different classes they offer and helpful statistics like response and attendance rates. You can also read student reviews to help you make your final decision, or message your tutor to share your learning goals.
| Price | $5-$80 per hour |
| Free trial | Discounted 30-minute trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Italki classroom, or Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, WeChat |
| Certificate of completion | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Italki.
AmazingTalker
AmazingTalker is known for their AI tutor matching service that promises to match you with your best tutor in seconds. Answer questions about your learning goals, age and availability to be matched with a shortlist of the best tutors for your needs. With tutors who can suit every learning goal from attaining conversational proficiency to studying for a proficiency exam, AmazingTalker has an option for you.
For those just looking to browse, you can easily scroll through their list of recommended tutors. Keep an eye out for tutors available for “instant tutoring” if you’re looking to get started right away or book a discounted trial with any tutor on their list to schedule a session.
| Price | $10-$30 per hour |
| Free trial | Discounted trial lesson |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Zoom |
| Certificate of completion | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about AmazingTalker.
Skooli
With tutors always online, Skooli offers instant online tutoring from highly qualified English tutors with a variety of educational backgrounds. Select a tutor from their homepage to get help immediately, or send in a question to be matched with a tutor who is your best fit.
Click on an instructor’s profile to learn more about their educational background and the subjects they teach. With a strong focus on instant tutoring, Skooli is best for students in elementary, middle or high school who are seeking help with essay writing or homework for their English class.
| Price | $0.82 per minute: Starter
$0.73 per minute: Genius $0.70 per minute: Mastermind $0.65 per minute: Einstein |
| Free trial | Free trial offered upon signing up |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Video conferencing, digital whiteboard, instant messaging, upload and share files |
| Certificate of completion | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Skooli.
Wyzant
Known for their pay-as-you-go pricing model, Wyzant is a popular service for their straightforward pricing that eliminates pesky package pricing altogether. A general search for English tutors on Wyzant will return thousands of results, but you can further specify what you’re looking for with options like reading, writing, grammar or studying for a proficiency exam.
Scroll through their list of tutors to find your ideal match and be sure to read instructor bios and student reviews to get a better idea of your options. Once you’re ready to move forward, you can contact a tutor directly from their profile to share your learning goals and get on their schedule.
| Price | $35-$55 per hour |
| Free trial | No free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Video, games, teacher instruction, etc. |
| Certificate of completion | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Wyzant.
Justlearn
Although its interface isn’t as intuitive as Italki or AmazingTalker, Justlearn is another platform for private one-on-one tutoring. Their tutors hold impressive credentials and are from a variety of English-speaking countries, so you’re likely to find a good fit for your language-learning experience.
Click on each tutor’s listing to visit their profile. Here, you can view their introduction video and a list of the courses they offer, in addition to student reviews and lesson pricing. Tutors also provide information about their preferred video conferencing software, therefore making it easy to understand the process of booking a lesson.
| Price | $15 per month: 6 credits
$29 per month: 13 credits $49 per month: 23 credits |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Zoom |
| Certificate of completion | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Justlearn.
Preply
Preply offers thousands of English tutors to choose from, but they make it easy to simplify your search with handy filters that will narrow the scope for you. Use their specialities filter to choose from a variety of options, including subjects like business English and and English for beginners or a particular regional accent.
Keep an eye out for the green “super tutor” banner they use to differentiate tutors who have taught the most lessons and have the highest customer satisfaction reviews. If you aren’t completely satisfied with your first lesson, Preply offers free tutor replacement until you find your perfect tutoring match.
| Price | $15-$25 per hour |
| Free trial | Discounted 60-minute trial lesson |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Preply’s video platform |
| Certificate of completion | Yes |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Preply.
Cambly
Cambly provides one-on-one English tutoring for children, adults and organizations. With a platform of high-quality tutors who all stand out for their unique credentials, many adult users claim that they benefit from their conversational lessons. Children can enjoy fun and engaging classes structured around language-learning games.
While they have many glowing testimonials, their site isn’t as transparent as the websites of other providers. Prospective users can’t view Cambly tutors without signing up for a membership. Therefore, lthough the trial is at no cost to the user, this might not be the option for you if you like to have the “full picture” before moving forward.
| Price | 15 minutes, 2 to 5 days a week:
$55 – $111 per month: Renews every month $50 – $100 per month: Renews every 3 months $41 – $83 per month: Renews every 12 months 30 minutes, 2 to 5 days a week: $89 – $199 per month: Renews every month $80 – $179 per month: Renews every 3 months $67 – $149 per month: Renews every 12 months 60 minutes, 2 to 5 days a week: $168 – $369 per month: Renews every month $151 – $332 per month: Renews every 3 months $126 – $277 per month: Renews every 12 months |
| Free trial | Offers free trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Video chat |
| Certificate of completion | Yes |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Cambly.
Verbling
As a Chegg company, you can count on Verbling tutors for a knowledgeable and educational approach to tutoring. Browse their list of tutors at your convenience or use their search filters to enter your availability and budget to find a tutor who best suits your needs.
Unlike other services, Verbling offers a totally free trial lesson with no strings attached. Book the lesson directly on Verbling’s homepage or by clicking on a tutor’s profile, then pick a time slot that works for your schedule.
| Price | $5-$75 per hour
$25 average rate per hour |
| Free trial | Free first lesson |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Verbling Video |
| Certificate of completion | Yes |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Verbling.
Lingoda
Lingoda specializes in small group classes based on a structured curriculum. Students can feel comfortable practicing their new language skills immediately in immersive, supportive virtual classrooms. Speaking on the merits of Lingoda in general, Reddit user cianfrusagli wrote, “I think Lingoda is a good choice when you need mostly speaking practice and corrections from an actual teacher and have no access to it otherwise.”
Many users are originally drawn to Lingoda for their Language Sprint program, which promises 50 percent to 100 percent cashback if you complete 30 or 60 classes in a two-month period of time. There are strict rules to completing the Sprint, so we recommend it only for the most ambitious. Regardless, Lingoda is worth considering for their affordable rates and the quality of their curriculum.
| Price | $9.50 per class: Monthly subscription
$6.75 per class: Marathon courses |
| Free trial | Free 7-day trial |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Video conferencing using Zoom
Downloadable exercises |
| Certificate of completion | Yes |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Lingoda.
Classgap
Students learning from Classgap benefit from taking private lessons with English teachers residing all over the world, reflecting the versatile nature of the language. Whether you’re in South Africa, Ireland or the United States, you’re sure to find a tutor who suits your language-learning needs.
Get to know any tutor better by clicking on their profile. Read their bio, view the subjects they teach and check out their availability all in one place. When you’re ready to book, simply register for your free 20-minute trial lesson. Many instructors offer single lessons at an affordable rate or packages of lessons at a discounted rate.
| Price | $14-$20 per hour
(average rate) |
| Free trial | Free 20-minute trial lesson |
| Device | Any device |
| Format | Classgap’s virtual classroom |
| Certificate of completion | No |
| Knowledge level | Beginner to advanced |
Learn more about Classgap.
Other English Tutoring Services to Consider
Similar to Cambly and Classgap, Skimatalk offers private one-on-one tutoring at affordable rates.
What to Expect When Using an Online English Tutoring Service
Many online English tutoring services specialize in private one-on-one tutoring. These sessions require regular weekly sessions with a tutor of your choice. Sessions are conducted through video conferencing software, like Zoom or Skype. Some providers may opt to use their own software for tutoring sessions, which is often provided through the company’s website and may offer interactive features.
Other options offer group classes in an online environment, where a live instructor is present along with a small group of classmates. These classes usually feature a structured curriculum, language-learning activities and group discussion.
What you need to learn English using an online tutor
Requirements may vary based on the provider, but a high-speed internet connection is required for both private and group lessons. While many providers can accommodate a wide range of devices, some tutoring services might encourage the use of a tablet or laptop computer to ensure the best experience.
Free vs. Paid Online English Tutors: What’s the Difference?
While free tutoring services have their share of benefits, many English students appreciate the quality of learning that a paid service provides. The overall financial investment will vary based on the provider, but the time and attention of a private tutor or the learning experience of a group class is considered a worthy expense by many.