Preply Review: The Best Way to Gift Language Lessons?

What Is Preply?

Preply is an online language tutoring platform founded in 2012 by Ukrainian entrepreneurs. As of January 2026, they raised $127 million in Series D funding at a $1.2 billion valuation — making them a genuine unicorn in the edtech space.

The platform connects students with tutors for live, personalized 1-on-1 video lessons. Unlike app-based learning (like Babbel or Mondly), Preply offers real human conversation with native speakers who adapt to your specific goals, whether that is business Spanish, conversational Japanese, or preparing for a French exam.

How Preply Works

1. Browse tutors: Filter by language, price, availability, rating, and specialization
2. Book a trial lesson: Most tutors offer discounted or free trial lessons so you can test compatibility
3. Start learning: Live video lessons customized to your goals. No fixed curriculum — your tutor adapts to you
4. Continue or switch: If the tutor is not right, easily find another. No lock-in

Gifting Preply Lessons

Preply is one of the most gift-friendly language platforms we have reviewed. There are two ways to gift it:

• Gift cards: Available at preply.com with customizable amounts. Delivered by email (instant) or printable PDF. Valid for 12 months. The recipient can choose their own tutor and language
• Direct lesson purchase: Create a profile for the recipient, book a trial lesson with a selected tutor, then purchase lesson packages on their account. More personal but requires more setup

Gift cards are the easiest option for most people. The 12-month validity period gives recipients plenty of time to start at their own pace — no pressure to use it immediately.

Languages Available

Preply offers tutoring in 90+ languages, including all the popular choices:

• Most popular: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic
• European: Russian, Polish, Swedish, Dutch, Greek, Turkish, and many more
• Less common: Vietnamese, Thai, Hindi, Hebrew, Swahili — hard-to-find languages where Preply's tutor network really shines

Pricing

Preply does not charge platform fees for students. You pay the tutor's hourly rate directly:

• Budget tutors: $5-15/hour — often non-native community tutors or tutors in lower-cost countries
• Mid-range: $15-30/hour — experienced tutors, many native speakers with teaching credentials
• Premium: $30-60+/hour — highly qualified professionals, test prep specialists, business language coaches

For gifting, a $50-100 gift card covers 3-10 lessons depending on tutor selection — enough to get started and see real progress.

What We Like

• Massive tutor selection: 100,000+ tutors means you can find exactly the right personality, accent, schedule, and teaching style
• Proven results: A 2025 efficiency study showed learners progress 3x faster than industry benchmarks. 94% reported improved fluency after 24 lessons
• No forced subscriptions: Unlike many language apps, Preply does not trap recipients in recurring charges. Pay per lesson or per package
• Flexible scheduling: Tutors available across all time zones. Book early morning, late night, weekends — whatever works
• Gift-friendly design: Gift cards with 12-month validity, instant email delivery, no setup required for the giver
• Real conversation practice: You cannot learn to speak a language without speaking it. Preply fills the gap that apps cannot

What to Consider

• Tutor quality varies: Not all tutors are certified. Some list themselves as native speakers but have noticeable non-native patterns. Requires vetting — read reviews and try trial lessons
• 12-hour cancellation policy: Cancel within 12 hours of a lesson and you lose the credit. Fair but strict for emergencies
• Tutor cancellations happen: Some tutors cancel without warning. The platform makes switching easy, but repeated swaps disrupt learning momentum
• Not structured like an app: If the recipient prefers gamified, structured lessons (like Babbel or Duolingo), Preply's open-ended format may feel unfocused at first

Preply vs Babbel vs Mondly

Bottom line: Gift Preply for conversation practice and real human interaction. Gift Babbel for structured, self-paced learning. Gift Mondly for casual or multi-language exploration. All three are excellent gifts — they just serve different learning styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you gift Preply lessons?

Yes. Preply offers gift cards with customizable amounts, delivered by email (instant) or printable PDF. Gift cards are valid for 12 months and the recipient can choose their own tutor and language.

How much should a Preply gift card be?

A $50 gift card covers about 3-5 lessons with mid-range tutors — enough to get started and find a good match. For a more substantial gift, $100-150 provides 6-15 lessons, which is enough to see real progress based on Preply's research data.

Is Preply better than Duolingo?

They serve different purposes. Duolingo is free, gamified, and good for basic vocabulary. Preply provides real conversation with human tutors, which is essential for speaking fluency. Research shows Preply learners progress 3x faster, but it costs more. For gifting, Preply is the clear winner — nobody gifts a free app.

Does Preply work for beginners?

Absolutely. Many tutors specialize in complete beginners and will structure lessons from scratch. The trial lesson helps match the right tutor to the learner's level and goals.

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