If you’ve ever dreamed of earning an income while working from a beachside apartment in Vietnam or a cozy café in Spain, platforms like italki make that lifestyle possible. As one of the world’s largest online language learning marketplaces, italki connects independent teachers with motivated students across the globe—no matter where you’re based.
What sets italki apart is its flexible, open marketplace model. You don’t have to follow a pre-written curriculum or clock into a fixed schedule. You set your own rates, manage your own calendar, and decide how and what you teach. Whether you're an experienced teacher with credentials or just someone fluent in English looking to help others learn, italki offers a clear path to start earning.
The platform welcomes two kinds of teachers: Community Tutors, who focus on conversational practice, and Professional Teachers, who offer structured lessons backed by teaching experience and certification. This dual system makes italki accessible to a wide range of educators—from TEFL-certified professionals building an online teaching career to travelers and freelancers looking for a flexible side income.
For anyone craving freedom, autonomy, and meaningful connections with learners from around the world, italki might just be the right place to start.
italki began in 2006 as a social language exchange platform, where learners could connect and help each other practice. Over time, it evolved into one of the world’s largest online marketplaces for language lessons, now boasting over 10 million students and thousands of active teachers. Based in Hong Kong, the platform has carved out a unique space by offering a decentralized, tutor-led experience.
Today, learners can study more than 150 languages on italki—including English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic, and even regional dialects. What makes italki stand out is its marketplace model: instead of assigning students to teachers or offering a set curriculum, it allows students to browse teacher profiles, compare offerings, and choose who they want to learn from.
This structure contrasts sharply with more rigid platforms like Cambly (which assigns students instantly) or Preply (which pushes trial lessons aggressively). On italki, students and teachers shape the experience together—from lesson format to scheduling to long-term learning goals.
Whether you’re aiming to teach casually or build a full-fledged online teaching brand, italki offers a lot of autonomy—and the chance to connect with learners from all over the world.
One of the most important choices you’ll make on italki is deciding whether to sign up as a Community Tutor or a Professional Teacher. Both roles allow you to earn money teaching English online, but the requirements, responsibilities, and income potential are different.
This is a great path for first-time teachers, backpackers, students, and remote freelancers who want to ease into teaching without formal credentials. It’s also perfect for people who enjoy informal conversations and helping others improve naturally.
Professional Teachers attract serious learners who want measurable progress. If you’re looking to build a long-term teaching career and earn higher rates, this is the way to go.
Role | Best For | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
Community Tutor | New teachers, travelers, casual tutors | Low barrier to entry, flexibility | Lower rates, less structure |
Professional Teacher | Qualified educators, TEFL grads, career teachers | Higher pay, professional credibility | Requires documents, higher expectations |
If you're just starting out, Community Tutor is a great stepping stone. You can always upgrade later once you’ve gained experience and credentials.
One of italki’s biggest strengths is its openness. You don’t need to be a certified teacher to get started—just meet the platform’s basic criteria, and you could be teaching students from around the world in a matter of weeks.
While your qualifications matter, your personality can make or break your success on italki. The most successful tutors tend to be:
Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or build a full-time teaching career, italki gives you the freedom to do it your way.
Before your first lesson, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right tools to create a smooth, professional experience for your students.
Your setup doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to be:
Your application will include:
Investing in a clean, reliable setup upfront will pay off fast in the form of better reviews, repeat bookings, and smoother lessons.
Getting started on italki is simple, but attention to detail matters—especially if you want fast approval and a strong profile from day one.
Applications must be submitted through the desktop version of teach.italki.com. Mobile browsers and the app won’t work for this step.
You’ll be asked to select between:
⚠️ You can’t change this after submitting your application unless you contact support, so choose carefully.
Depending on your tutor type, you’ll need to provide:
Make sure your documents are clearly scanned and match the name on your account.
This is your first impression. In 1–3 minutes, cover:
Look directly at the camera, smile, and keep your tone warm and clear.
Applications are reviewed manually and usually processed within 7–10 business days. You’ll receive feedback or a decision via email.
Once approved, you’ll complete a short onboarding process, including:
After that, your profile goes live, and you’re ready to start teaching!
Once your account is active, you’ll be running your own mini teaching business—with full control over your lessons, schedule, and style.
All lessons are one-on-one and typically conducted via:
Sessions generally run 30 or 60 minutes, and the focus depends on what you offer and what your student books.
You can offer multiple lesson types and packages, depending on your qualifications and niche.
Your profile includes:
Your profile is your storefront—keep it polished and updated as your teaching evolves.
Teaching on italki offers the freedom to build your own teaching brand—whether that means structured classes or laid-back chats over coffee.
On italki, you’re in control of your pricing—whether you're just starting out or bringing years of experience to the table.
There’s no strict upper limit—some experienced teachers with strong reputations charge premium rates.
italki takes a flat 15% commission on all paid lessons. This is simpler and often more favorable than platforms like Preply, which take higher cuts for new teachers and offer zero pay for trial lessons.
italki does not require free trial lessons. You can offer a discounted first lesson if you like, but it's optional.
Payments are processed twice per month, and teachers can withdraw their earnings using various international methods including:
Once you request a payout, funds usually arrive between the 16th–26th of the month, depending on the withdrawal date.
Whether you're teaching part-time or going full-time, italki’s payment system is built to scale as you grow.
Success on italki isn’t just about showing up—it’s about crafting a profile that sells your strengths and earns trust.
Your profile’s search ranking is influenced by:
italki rewards reliability and engagement, not just credentials.
When students search for teachers, they filter by:
Choose lesson tags that match your real strengths and interests—it helps the right students find you faster.
There are thousands of tutors on italki, so how do you stand out?
You don’t need 100 students—you need 10–20 loyal ones who keep coming back.
On italki, your success grows exponentially as you build reputation and rapport.
One of the biggest perks of teaching on italki is the total freedom to design your work life around your lifestyle—not the other way around.
There are no fixed shifts, minimum hours, or teaching quotas. You decide:
This makes italki perfect for digital nomads, part-timers, or anyone balancing other commitments like studies, family, or freelance work.
Because you only need a laptop, webcam, and decent internet, italki fits seamlessly into remote work life. Many teachers travel full-time while keeping a reliable student base.
Just remember to:
While students come from over 180 countries, the most active learner bases tend to be in:
If you're targeting a certain region, tailor your schedule to match when those students are typically online.
italki handles time zone conversions automatically, but it helps to:
With good calendar habits, it’s easy to balance teaching across global time zones while maintaining flexibility and freedom.
Even though italki operates on a marketplace model, it still offers plenty of support to help you thrive as a teacher.
Most teachers use italki Classroom, the platform’s built-in video tool with:
Teachers can also use external tools like Zoom or Skype if preferred—just make sure to update your lesson settings accordingly.
italki provides:
These tools are especially helpful if you're new to online teaching or want to level up your bookings and retention.
Even though you’re teaching independently, italki makes sure you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
No online teaching platform is perfect—but italki comes pretty close for those who value flexibility and autonomy. Here's a clear look at the upsides and trade-offs.
Total Schedule and Pricing Control
Set your availability, choose your own rates, and update them anytime. You’re in charge.
Lower Commission Than Many Competitors
italki charges a flat 15% commission on paid lessons—far less than platforms like Preply, which charge up to 33%.
Massive Global Student Pool
With 10 million+ learners and over 150 languages, there’s always demand—especially for English tutors.
No Trial Class Requirement
Unlike Preply, you don’t lose time or money teaching unpaid “trial” lessons. Every class you teach is a paid class.
Reliable Tech and Payment Infrastructure
Smooth video platform, predictable payouts twice a month, and a solid support team to back you up.
High Competition for New Teachers
Especially if you're not offering a niche or don’t have a standout profile, it can take time to build momentum.
No Ready-Made Curriculum
You’ll need to prepare your own materials or customize each session, which adds time—especially for newer teachers.
Income Fluctuations
Since you only earn when students book, income can vary week to week, particularly in the beginning or during holiday seasons.
Steep Learning Curve at First
Creating a polished intro video, writing a strong bio, and understanding how to optimize your profile takes effort—but pays off long-term.
Experienced Teachers or TEFL-Certified Tutors
If you’ve taught before and want more autonomy—especially around pricing and scheduling—italki gives you the tools to build a rewarding remote teaching career.
Remote Workers and Digital Nomads
If you’re traveling or living abroad, italki can provide a steady (and portable) income stream with total location freedom.
Fluent Non-Native Speakers
If you speak English at a C2 level and can demonstrate strong communication and teaching skills, you can thrive—even without native status.
Casual Conversational Tutors
Not every learner wants grammar drills. If you enjoy talking, guiding, and helping people build confidence, conversational tutoring is in high demand.
Those Needing Guaranteed Hours or Income
italki is performance-based. If you need a fixed salary or consistent schedule from day one, it may not be the best fit.
Teachers Who Dislike Marketing Themselves
Your intro video, profile, and student communication are all part of your brand. If self-promotion feels like a chore, italki can be frustrating.
People Who Prefer Structured Curricula
There’s no central teaching plan here—you’ll either bring your own resources or build lessons from scratch. If you’d rather follow a set curriculum, other platforms may suit you better.
The online teaching world is full of choices, and each platform has its quirks. Here’s how italki stacks up against a few major players.
Cambly is one of the easiest platforms to join—no degree, no TEFL, no teaching experience required. It’s ideal for casual conversation practice, especially with students in the Middle East and Latin America. The trade-off? Lower pay, often around $10–$12/hour, and minimal lesson control.
Best for: Total beginners looking to dip their toes into online teaching
Downside: Low hourly rate, less student retention, no lesson structure
Preply and italki are quite similar in that both let you build a profile, set your own rates, and attract students. However, Preply charges a much steeper commission—up to 33% for new tutors—and requires free trial lessons. It does offer more internal tools and curriculum support, which some teachers appreciate.
Best for: Teachers who want some built-in structure and don’t mind platform fees
Downside: Higher commission, unpaid trial classes, slower payout growth
Want a side-by-side comparison of features, earnings, tutor support, and long-term growth potential? We break it all down in our dedicated comparison guide:
italki is one of the most versatile and empowering platforms for English teachers who want full control over their time, rates, and style. Whether you’re building a long-term remote career or just testing the waters with part-time tutoring, it offers the tools and flexibility to succeed.
If you’re proactive, patient, and ready to shape your own success, italki rewards consistency and good communication. From young TEFL grads to experienced travelers earning on the road, there’s room to grow.
A few final tips:
👉 Ready to get started?
Apply to teach on italki
🌐 Visit the official site:
italki.com
🌐 Explore more opportunities:
Teach English Online: Full Guide
Helping teachers find jobs they will love.