italki vs Cambly: which to choose, and what each costs
Prices checked 6 Oct 2026 · How we check
italki if you want to choose a teacher and pay lesson by lesson, in almost any language.
Cambly if you are learning English and want a weekly plan you can book on short notice.
| Question | italki | Cambly |
|---|---|---|
| A year costs | Set by each teacher: $5 to $15 a lesson on italki's homepage (checked 6 Sept 2026). A year of weekly lessons is 52 times your teacher's rate | $144 a year for a 30-minute small-group lesson a week, or $24 month to month; $336 a year for a private one |
| A lesson is | A live video lesson with the teacher you pick, usually 30 to 60 minutes. | A live video conversation in English with a native-speaker tutor, booked ahead or on demand. |
| Try it | A discounted trial lesson, with up to two credit refunds if the teacher doesn't suit you. | No free tier; $1 trial lesson. |
How a lesson works in each
Both are tutor marketplaces, so a lesson has the same shape
Side by side, as published
| Compare | italki | Cambly |
|---|---|---|
| CEFR levels stated | None stated: your teacher sets the level | None stated: your teacher sets the level |
| A year costs | Set by each teacher: $5 to $15 a lesson on italki's homepage (checked 6 Sept 2026). A year of weekly lessons is 52 times your teacher's rate | $144 a year for a 30-minute small-group lesson a week, or $24 month to month; $336 a year for a private one |
| What it is | Tutor marketplace: Marketplace of professional and community tutors, priced per lesson | Tutor marketplace: On-demand English conversation with native-speaker tutors |
| Per lesson | Set by each teacher: $5 to $15 a lesson on italki's homepage (checked 6 Sept 2026) | About $2.77 a lesson on the yearly small-group plan ($6.46 private) |
| Free tier | None | None |
| Languages offered | 104 | 1 |
| Speech recognition | — | — |
| Live tutoring | Every lesson is live and one to one; italki also sells group classes. | Every lesson is live: one to one, or in a small group on the cheaper plans. |
| Offline mode | — | — |
| Placement test | Yes | — |
| Refund or trial | Discounted trial lesson with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: up to two credit refunds on trial lessons if the teacher did not show up or did not meet expectations, requested within 48 hours | $1 trial lesson; 7-day money-back guarantee on a first plan; after that, cancel any time and pay only for days used, with long-term discounts forfeited on early cancellation |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Company | italki HK Limited, Hong Kong | Cambly Inc. |
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italki
Tutor marketplace
In our comparison: strongest on speaking practice and the number of languages, weakest on offline use.
$5 to $15 a lesson on italki's homepage; each teacher sets a rate
Choose a teacher for the language and conversation you need, then pay lesson by lesson. You get a real person to practise with without committing to an app subscription.
- Free tier
- None
- Languages
- 104
- Speech recognition
- —
- Live tutoring
- Every lesson is live and one to one; italki also sells group classes.
- Offline mode
- —
- CEFR levels
- —
- Refund or trial
- Discounted trial lesson with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: up to two credit refunds on trial lessons if the teacher did not show up or did not meet expectations, requested within 48 hours
Cambly
Tutor marketplace
In our comparison: strongest on speaking practice and trial and refund terms, weakest on the free tier.
$144 a year $12 a month, billed yearly · Small groups, 1 lesson per week (30 min)$24 on the monthly plan
On-demand English conversation with native-speaker tutors. Live lessons with a tutor are the product.
- Free tier
- None
- Languages
- 1
- Speech recognition
- —
- Live tutoring
- Every lesson is live: one to one, or in a small group on the cheaper plans.
- Offline mode
- —
- CEFR levels
- —
- Refund or trial
- $1 trial lesson; 7-day money-back guarantee on a first plan; after that, cancel any time and pay only for days used, with long-term discounts forfeited on early cancellation
italki is a marketplace: each teacher sets a price per lesson, usually 30 to 60 minutes, and you pay with prepaid credits, in any of 104 languages. Cambly teaches English only, on weekly plans, with tutors you can book ahead or on demand.
Which one, for whom
You are learning a language other than English
italki
italki lists teachers for 104 languages. Its trial lessons are discounted, with up to two credit refunds if the teacher did not show up or did not meet expectations, asked for within 48 hours.
You want English conversation whenever you have time
Cambly
Cambly connects you with an English tutor, booked ahead or on demand. Plans buy a weekly 30-minute lesson, from $24 a month in a small group; a first lesson costs $1.
You want to pay only for lessons you take
italki
italki has no subscription: you buy credits and spend them lesson by lesson. Cambly is a plan; cancelling early forfeits long-term discounts, though you pay only for the days used after the first week's guarantee.
Where they really differ
- Price: italki: Set by each teacher: $5 to $15 a lesson on italki's homepage (checked 6 Sept 2026). A year of weekly lessons is 52 times your teacher's rate. Cambly: $144 a year for a 30-minute small-group lesson a week, or $24 month to month; $336 a year for a private one.
- A lesson: italki: A live video lesson with the teacher you pick, usually 30 to 60 minutes. Cambly: A live video conversation in English with a native-speaker tutor, booked ahead or on demand.
- Trying it: italki: A discounted trial lesson, with up to two credit refunds if the teacher doesn't suit you. Cambly: No free tier; $1 trial lesson.
- Both: Sell live lessons with a tutor.
Every published plan
italki
| Plan | Billing | Price | Per month | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per lesson (teacher sets the price)Each teacher sets a rate. Teachers on italki's homepage started at $5 to $15 a lesson, and trial lessons on its English listing at $5 to $18. These are examples, not a range italki publishes. | Per lesson | — | per lesson | one teacher, one lesson |
Cambly
| Plan | Billing | Price | Per month | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small groups, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every yearSmall groupsLabelled 50% off; renews every 12 months. | Annual | $144 | $12/mo | one language (English); small group lessons with a tutor and 1-2 students |
| Small groups, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every 3 monthsSmall groupsLabelled 30% off. | Every 3 months | $50.40 | $16.80/mo | one language (English); small group lessons with a tutor and 1-2 students |
| Small groups, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every monthSmall groups | Monthly | $24 | $24/mo | one language (English); small group lessons with a tutor and 1-2 students |
| Private+, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every yearPrivate+ | Annual | $336 | $28/mo | one language (English); private one-on-one lessons |
| Private+, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every 3 monthsPrivate+ | Every 3 months | $117.60 | $39.20/mo | one language (English); private one-on-one lessons |
| Pro, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every yearProPro is also sold for three months at this lesson count: $56 a month, $168 in all. | Annual | $480 | $40/mo | one language (English); private lessons with Cambly Pro tutors |
| Private+, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every monthPrivate+ | Monthly | $56 | $56/mo | one language (English); private one-on-one lessons |
| Pro, 1 lesson per week (30 min), billed every monthProPro adds Pro tutors, structured lessons towards a goal, targeted feedback and self-study suggestions. | Monthly | $80 | $80/mo | one language (English); private lessons with Cambly Pro tutors |
What will Cambly cost you for the months you study?
Total billed over 12 months
$144.00 less on annual billing1 full annual payment · $144.00 at the start of each year.
Check coverage. Monthly: one language (English); small group lessons with a tutor and 1-2 students. Annual: one language (English); small group lessons with a tutor and 1-2 students. Features and language coverage may differ.
Questions people ask
Is italki or Cambly better for English?
Both teach English. Cambly's tutors are bookable on demand on a weekly plan; italki lets you choose a teacher and price for each lesson.
How do italki and Cambly charge?
italki: prepaid credits spent per lesson at each teacher's own rate. Cambly: a plan with a set number of weekly lessons, from $24 a month for one 30-minute small-group lesson a week.
Can I get a refund on a trial?
italki refunds up to two trial lessons in credits if the teacher did not show up or did not meet expectations, asked for within 48 hours. Cambly's first lesson costs $1, and a first plan has a 7-day money-back guarantee.