In this Preply vs. Varsity Tutors comparison, we have analyzed the two popular online tutoring services. From tutor qualifications to price, subjects, guarantees, and other features, discover which is the best tutoring platform.
Our analyses are done on the following parameters:
- Tutor qualification
- Tutor selection
- Cost of tutoring
- Subjects offered
- Pros and Cons
The main difference between Preply and Varsity Tutors is that Preply is an online tutoring marketplace that focuses mainly on language learning and Varsity Tutors is one of the largest online tutoring service platforms in the world. Read further to figure out which is a better fit for you between the two.
If you are considering online tutoring help and want to know how to find it, the most important step is to carefully compare all your options for online tutoring services and make an informed decision on which tutoring service is the right fit for you.
Looking for private tutors? Book a Free Trial Lesson and match with top tutors for concepts, homework help and grade improvement on Wiingy today!
Introduction to the debate: Preply vs Varsity Tutors
Let’s compare the two Preply vs. Varsity Tutors to figure out which one is a better option for you.
Preply vs Varsity Tutors: Comparison
| Parameter | Preply | Varsity Tutors |
| Company Type | Tutor marketplace | Tutoring service |
| Subjects offered | Over 120 subjects are taught but the focus is on language learning such as Spanish, French, and German. | Offers tutoring for 275 subjects including test prep, and certification. |
| Mode of teaching | Online. | Online. |
| Cost of tutoring | Tutors set their own prices. The average price range is $15 to $40 per hour. | Pricing is set by Varsity TutorsThe average price range is $81 to $99 per hour. |
| Minimum purchase | You are offered a monthly subscription plan with the tutor. It allows students to choose how many hours of lessons they’ll take every week. | You have to purchase a minimum package priced at $1,140 for 12 tutoring hours ($95/hour). |
| Help in tutor selection(Tutor match) | Users can view and shortlist tutors based on criteria such as ratings, cost, and so on. | You can go through the sample tutor profiles and place a request with Varsity Tutors. Varsity Tutors will assign a tutor for you. |
| Offers free trial | No. It depends on the tutor if they want to offer the free trial or not. | No. Depending on the tutor, it is up to them if they want to make the first session free. |
| Cancellation policy | Yes. Free cancellation 4 hours before the session starts. | Yes. Free cancellation 24 hours before the session starts. |
| Rating | Trustpilot score: 4.1/5 | Trustpilot score: 4.7/5 |
Understanding Preply
What is Preply?
Preply is a Ukraine-based e-learning website that connects students and tutors worldwide for one-on-one tutoring classes via video call. Preply has over 14,000 registered tutors from 203 countries.
While you can find a wide range of skills to study on Preply, it’s most popular for finding language tutors. The website can connect you with highly-qualified tutors for multiple languages, including languages not often offered on other language-learning apps or platforms, like Dutch and Hebrew.
How does Preply work?
Preply allows tutors to offer their skills through an online marketplace while setting their own prices. Preply does not offer in-person tutoring. Preply is focused on language learning but you can find teachers for other topics as well.
Before beginning their lessons, students can complete a Preply placement test to help their tutors better understand their skill level and design activities or lessons that would suit them.
Finding a tutor on Preply:
- The “Find Tutors” button is located in the upper left corner of the website. Make use of the search filters to refine the search based on your needs and find a perfect tutor.
- Choose a subject you would like to study.
- Choose specialties – narrow down your learning focus, e.g. Business English, Math for kids.
- Define price range. (search for a tutor based on the price you are willing to pay per hour)
- If you are looking for a language tutor, you can choose a native speaker.
- Specify when is the best time for you to take lessons.
- Sort the results according to your preferences.
Subjects offered by Preply
Preply offers tutors for around 120 subjects like math, science, and languages.
Its main focus is on language learning. The website states that it has tutors for 24 languages.
Understanding the pricing structure of Preply
Tutors set their own prices. You must pay for blocks of lessons up front, and Preply’s lesson costs are slightly more than those of other websites with comparable features. The average cost of tutoring on Preply ranges from $10 per hour to $40 per hour.
Lessons for subjects with fewer tutors available can cost between $15 and $40 per hour. Lessons for more widely used abilities, such as Spanish or French, can start from $10 per hour.
*Prices retrieved from the Preply website in June 2023
Evaluating Preply: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| A large of tutors are available in commonly taught languages such as Spanish and French. | Limited flexibility on lesson packages. You have to sign up for a minimum package of 4 hours per month. |
| Preply has a large number of native speakers which makes it a popular platform for language learning. | They offer a placement test to check your language proficiency. Some users might dislike placement tests. |
| Discounts on larger lesson packages. | Preply is inclined towards language tutoring and therefore not that popular for academic subjects. |
Understanding Varsity Tutors
What is Varsity Tutors?
Varsity Tutors is a popular tutoring service. The company offers quality tutoring services through its private and group tutoring classes taught by qualified tutors.
How does it work?
Varsity Tutors offers online classes. On top of private, one-on-one tutoring, they also have group classes, summer camps, and workshops linked to local school programs.
Varsity Tutors online classes can be delivered on 400 or so topics. Students are from elementary to undergraduate level. You can also find help with professional exams.
Students are paired with tutors based on over 100 matching criteria, including their learning styles, needs, and personalities.
Finding a tutor on Varsity Tutors:
- Call them with any of your tutoring needs (homework, exams, test prep, etc.).
- They will help you identify a tutor who meets your needs and has met their stringent requirements.
- The tutor will contact you to arrange the sessions.
- You will meet online with your tutor on Varsity Tutors’ Live Learning Platform.
Subject offered by Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors offers around 400 topics.
The subjects offered by Varsity Tutors are:
- Geometry
- Middle School Math
- Study Skills and Organization
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Elementary School Reading
- SAT
- Chemistry
- Physics
- College Algebra
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School English
- High School English
- Python
- Biology
- Essay Editing
- PSAT
- Differential Equations
- Elementary School English
- Special Education
- Professional Certifications –
- Bar Exam
- CFA
- СРА
- CSET
- NAPLEX
- NCLEX
- NMLS
- PMP
- Praxis (all types)
- Real Estate License
- Other
Understanding the pricing structure of Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors charges $199 per month for 2 hours to $649 per month for 8 hours of tutoring depending on the package the student purchases. The packages available are:
| Number of sessions | Middle School | High School | College |
| 2 hours per month | $199 | $199 | N/A |
| 4 hours per month | $329 | $329 | $369 |
| 8 hours per month | $579 | $579 | $649 |
On Varsity Tutors, you must buy a package of at least 2 hours so the minimum cost is $199 for 1 tutoring session cost $99.5/hour.
The test prep tutoring session costs are slightly different starting from $199 per month for 2 hours and going up to $649 per month for 8 hours.
*Pricing info is subject to change. Please check with Varsity Tutors for updated info.
Evaluating Varsity Tutors: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| With Varsity Tutors’ “Better Score Guarantee” policy, students can claim a full refund if their test scores don’t improve. | Varsity Tutors offer you a minimum package of 12 hours which is expensive. |
| Varsity Tutors offer customized homework assignments and help you with the weak points in your problem subject. | Varsity Tutors doesn’t offer free trial sessions but if you’re unsatisfied with the tutor you are working with, you can contact them, explain the situation, and get matched with a new tutor. The next session will be free under Tutor Satisfaction Guarantee. |
| The digital platform consolidates all aspects. (payment, assignments, messages) | According to some user reviews, their Live Learning Platform doesn’t work smoothly. |
Preply vs Varsity Tutors: which one is right for you?
Preply and Varsity Tutors are both great online tutoring platforms with their own strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the best platform for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.
If you are looking for a highly personalized tutoring experience with a qualified and experienced tutor, then Preply is a good option. Preply tutors are typically available 24/7, and they are able to tailor their teaching style to your specific needs. However, Preply can be more expensive than Varsity Tutors.
If you are looking for a more affordable option with a wider range of features, then Varsity Tutors is a good option. Varsity Tutors offers a wider range of tutoring types, including one-on-one, group, live classes, and test prep. Varsity Tutors is also typically less expensive than Preply.
Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing in Preply vs. Varsity Tutors:
- Your budget: Preply is typically more expensive than Varsity Tutors.
- Your learning style: If you prefer a more personalized tutoring experience, then Preply is a good option. If you prefer a wider range of tutoring options, then Varsity Tutors is a good option.
- Your subject area: Preply has a wider range of subject areas than Varsity Tutors.
- Your availability: Preply tutors are available 24/7, while Varsity Tutors tutors may not be available as often.
Why you should consider Wiingy for 1-on-1 online tutoring instead?
So far, we have compared Wyzant and Preply and explored their unique tutoring programs. However, before deciding on a tutoring service for yourself or your child, there is another better and affordable option to consider Wiingy.
The Wiingy platform offers 1-on-1 online tutoring to school, college, and adult students through its network of 1,000+ expert-vetted tutors for coding, math, science, computer science, AP, and 100+ subjects.
Over 20,000 students have used Wiingy for private tutoring, homework help, assignment help, language learning, homeschool tutoring, and test prep. Students and parents have consistently rated the Wiingy experience as 4.8 out of 5.
Unlike tutor marketplaces, each Wiingy tutor is vetted individually and undergoes an extensive assessment that includes interviews, mock lessons, and coding tests.
Less than 3% of applicants are selected to become tutors on Wiingy’s platform. This means that you work only with top verified, qualified, and experienced tutors.
An experienced tutor will be able to create a structured lesson plan customized to your pace and learning style. You will also get access to study materials, notes, practice materials, and exam strategies to help accelerate your learning.
We know that sometimes you don’t want to pay for private tutoring because it is too expensive. Tutoring costs anywhere from $100 to $150 per hour which isn’t reasonable at all.
However, Wiingy’s rates are affordable, starting from just $28 per hour, much lower than the average tutoring offered by other platforms.
We don’t require you to sign up for packages or subscriptions, so you can pay for lessons as you need them. We also offer a free trial lesson so you can try out our service before you commit.
While we try to match you with the perfect tutor per your needs, we understand that sometimes, even the best tutors might not be the right fit for you.
This is why we offer you the Perfect Match Guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your tutor for any reason, you can request a replacement tutor at no additional cost.
Lastly, if you do not wish to continue our services, we offer you a no-questions-asked full refund for your unused lessons with us.
In addition, we have 24/7 instant support from a personal student success advisor. You can contact your advisor via chat or phone if you have any questions, whether it’s about your lessons, your tutor, payments, or if you are looking to explore any other subject.
Get help in concepts, assignments, and test-prep from expert 1-on-1 online tutors. Book a Free Lesson Now.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How much does Preply charge?
The average cost of Preply is ranging from $10 to $40 per hour.
Lessons for subjects with fewer tutors available can cost between $15 and $40 for each class. Lessons for which a lot of tutors are available such as Spanish start at $10 per hour.
How does the subscription model of Preply work?
The subscription model allows students to choose how many lessons they want to take with a tutor each week and pay for their classes with a recurring payment every 28 days.
Students are offered a choice of subscription plans after their trial lessons.
How to cancel a tutoring session on Varsity Tutors?
You need to mail your tutor 24 hours prior to the start of your scheduled tutoring session.
If you don’t cancel your tutoring session 24 hours prior to the start of your scheduled tutoring session it would be marked as No Show and you will be charged for the session.
