How to Become a Preply Tutor and Start Earning Online

Getting started with a side hustle sounds simple until you have to pick a platform and actually begin. If you’ve come across Preply, you might be wondering if becoming a Preply tutor is a realistic way to earn extra income.

Many people like the idea of teaching online, but the questions usually come up quickly. How much can you earn? How hard is it to get students? And is it worth the time in the beginning?

Preply online teaching can be a good starting point if you want something flexible and based on skills you already have. The key is understanding how it works and what to expect before you jump in.

What Is Preply and How Does It Work?

Preply is an online tutoring platform that connects you with students who want to learn a language or improve their communication skills. As a Preply tutor, you create a profile, set your hourly rate, and teach students through video sessions.

The platform handles things like scheduling, payments, and student matching. This means you don’t have to find students on your own or manage the technical side of teaching online.

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• You create a tutor profile
• Students find you based on your subject and rate
• You teach sessions online
• Preply processes the payment

For example, if you want to teach English, a student from another country can book a session with you based on your availability. You complete the lesson, and the payment is handled through the platform.

This setup makes it easier to start, especially if you don’t want to deal with finding students or managing payments on your own.

Preply Tutor Requirements (What You Need to Get Started)

The Preply tutor requirements are fairly simple, which is one reason many people choose it as a starting point.

You don’t need a formal teaching degree in most cases. What matters more is your ability to explain concepts clearly and communicate with students.

Here’s what you typically need to become a Preply tutor:

• A skill or subject you can teach
  This could be English, another language, or even academic subjects depending on your experience.
• Basic communication skills
  Students expect clear explanations, especially if you’re working as a Preply English tutor or helping beginners.
• A short introduction video
  This is required as part of your Preply tutor application and helps students decide if they want to learn with you.
• A stable internet connection and device
  Since sessions are online, a reliable setup is important for smooth lessons.
• A complete tutor profile
  Your profile should clearly explain what you teach and who you help.

In most cases, you don’t need prior teaching experience to start. Many tutors begin with simple sessions and improve as they gain confidence.

This is why many beginners choose Preply as their first step into online tutoring

Can You Really Make Money as a Preply Tutor?

You can earn as a Preply tutor, but it usually takes a little time to build consistency.

When you first begin Preply online teaching, it’s common to spend some time building your profile and getting your first few students. Most new tutors start with a lower hourly rate to attract bookings, especially if they’re new to working as an online tutor.

For example, if you’re starting as a Preply English tutor, you might begin at $8–$15 per hour. As you gain reviews and regular students, you can gradually increase your rate. The same applies if you teach other subjects, like working as a Preply maths tutor or helping students with specific skills.

What matters most is consistency. Even a few sessions each week can turn into steady income over time.

Here’s a simple example:

• 1–2 sessions per day at $10/hour
• Around $70–$140 per week
• Roughly $300–$600 per month

In the beginning, income may feel slow. You might not get bookings right away, and that’s normal. Building trust through your profile, reviews, and availability usually makes the biggest difference.

This is why many people treat it as a gradual side income rather than expecting quick results.

How to Become a Preply Tutor (Step-by-Step)

If you’re planning to become a tutor on Preply, the process is simple and doesn’t take much time.

The key is setting things up clearly so students can find and trust your profile.

Quick Steps to Become a Preply Tutor:

• Create your profile
• Upload intro video
• Set your rate
• Complete approval
• Start teaching

Create Your Tutor Profile

Start by signing up and completing your Preply tutor application. Add your subject, experience, and a short description of how you help students. Keep it simple and clear so it’s easy to understand.

Record a Short Introduction Video

Preply requires a short video where you introduce yourself. This helps students decide if they want to learn with you. A clear, friendly explanation of what you teach is enough.

Set Your Starting Rate

You can choose your own hourly rate. When you first teach on Preply, starting slightly lower can help you get your first bookings. You can increase your rate later as you gain reviews.

Complete the Approval Process

Once your profile is ready, Preply reviews it. The Preply tutor requirements are not overly strict, but your profile should be complete and clear to get approved.

Start Getting Students

After approval, your profile becomes visible to students. This is where your availability, profile quality, and pricing start to make a difference.

Keep Improving as You Go

As you get more sessions, you can refine your approach, adjust your rate, and improve your profile based on what works.

You don’t need everything to be perfect before you start. A clear profile and consistent effort usually matter more in the beginning.

How Much Does Preply Pay?

Preply does not pay a fixed salary. As a Preply online tutor, your earnings depend on your hourly rate, the number of students you teach, and the platform’s commission.

How the Pay Structure Works

When you teach on Preply, you set your own price per hour. However, Preply takes a commission from each lesson, especially at the beginning.

• New tutors may pay a higher commission (up to around 30%–33%)
• The commission decreases as you teach more hours on the platform

This means your take-home earnings increase over time as you gain experience and regular students.

What You Can Expect as a Beginner

If you’re just starting as a Preply tutor, your rate will likely be lower until you build reviews.

For example:

• Set rate: $10 per hour
• After commission: around $7–$8 per hour

As you gain students, you can increase your rate gradually.

Example Monthly Earnings

Here’s a simple breakdown:

• 2 hours per day at $12/hour
• Around $24 per day
• About $120 per week
• Roughly $400–$500 per month

This can grow as you:

• increase your hourly rate
• get repeat students
• teach more hours

Earnings on Preply are not fixed, but they can become steady with time and consistency.

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Preply Tutor

Like any side hustle, working as a Preply tutor has both advantages and trade-offs. Understanding these early can help you decide if it fits your situation.

Pros

• Flexible schedule
  You can choose when to teach and adjust your hours based on your availability.
• Control over your rate
  As a Preply online tutor, you decide how much to charge and can increase your rate over time.
• Access to global students
  You can teach students from different countries, which increases your chances of getting bookings.
• Low barrier to entry
  The Preply tutor requirements are not overly strict, making it easier to get started compared to some other platforms.
• Good starting point for online tutoring
  If you’re new to Preply online teaching, it helps you understand how online tutoring works without needing to set up everything yourself.

Cons

• Unpaid trial lessons
  The first session with a new student is usually unpaid, which can affect your initial income.
• Competition in popular subjects
  Areas like English tutoring can be crowded, so standing out may take time.
• Income is not immediate
  It may take time to get your first few students and build consistent bookings.
• Requires consistency
  To earn steadily, you need to stay active and maintain your availability.

This balance is important to understand before you decide to become a Preply tutor.

How to Get Your First Students on Preply

Getting your first few students is often the hardest part when you become a Preply tutor. A simple and focused approach usually works better than trying to do everything at once.

Keep Your Profile Clear and Specific

Students choose tutors based on how clearly they understand what you offer. Instead of writing a long description, explain:

• what you teach
• who you help
• how you help

For example, if you’re a Preply English tutor, you could mention that you help beginners improve everyday communication or prepare for basic conversations.

Start with a Competitive Rate

When you begin Preply online teaching, a slightly lower rate can help you attract your first bookings. Once you get a few students and reviews, you can increase your price gradually.

Be Consistent with Availability

Students are more likely to book if they see regular time slots. Even if you only teach a few hours a day, keeping your schedule consistent helps build trust.

Make Your Introduction Video Simple and Clear

You don’t need a perfect video. A short introduction explaining who you are and what you teach is enough. Speaking clearly and confidently matters more than production quality.

Focus on Your First Reviews

Your first few students help you build credibility. Positive reviews make it easier for other students to choose you over other tutors.

Stay Active on the Platform

Updating your availability and responding quickly to messages increases your chances of getting bookings as a Preply online tutor.

Getting started may feel slow at first, but small improvements in your profile and consistency usually make the biggest difference.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When you’re starting as an online tutor, a few small mistakes can slow your progress. Avoiding them early makes it easier to get students and build a steady income.

Setting Your Rate Too High Too Soon

It’s tempting to start with a higher price, but without reviews, students may skip your profile. Starting at a reasonable rate helps you get your first bookings.

Keeping Your Profile Too Vague

A general profile makes it harder for students to understand what you offer. Be clear about what you teach and who you help, especially if you’re doing Preply online teaching in a specific area.

Expecting Immediate Results

It may take time to get your first students. Not getting bookings in the first few days is normal, especially when you’re new.

Ignoring Your Availability

If your schedule looks inconsistent, students may hesitate to book. Keeping regular time slots helps you appear more reliable.

Overcomplicating Your Sessions

You don’t need detailed lesson plans at the start. Focus on helping the student understand the topic clearly and keep things simple.

Not Adjusting Your Approach

If something isn’t working, small changes can help. This could be updating your profile, adjusting your rate, or improving your introduction video.

Avoiding these common mistakes makes it easier to build momentum and grow as a Preply tutor.

Is Becoming a Preply Tutor Worth It?

For many people, becoming a Preply tutor is a practical way to start earning online without needing a complex setup. You can begin with the skills you already have.

It works well if you’re looking for flexibility. You choose your hours, decide how much you want to teach, and adjust your schedule as needed. This makes it easier to fit Preply online teaching around your existing routine.

At the same time, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Income is not immediate, and your early earnings may be lower while you build your profile and get your first students. The platform also takes a commission, which affects how much you keep at the start.

For beginners, Preply can be a good starting point. It helps you understand how online tutoring works, gain confidence, and earn extra income. Over time, you can decide whether to continue on the platform or explore other options.

FAQs About Becoming a Preply Tutor