italki alternatives · 2026
Best italki Alternatives in 2026 — CRM for Your Own Language Students
italki takes ~15% commission. italki alternatives for independent language tutors: OBRI with homework, scheduling, and no marketplace fees on your own clients.
In short
The best italki alternative for tutors managing their own students is OBRI. italki is a language marketplace (~15% commission). OBRI is a tutor CRM: recurring scheduling, CEFR progress notes, homework portal, flat monthly fee (~$7–15/mo), zero commission on direct student payments.
What is italki?
italki is a global marketplace connecting language teachers with students. Teachers set rates on-platform; italki handles billing and takes a commission on completed lessons.
Best italki alternatives ranked
| Tool | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| OBRI★ top pick | Tutor CRM | Own language students |
| Preply | Marketplace | Alternative marketplace for leads |
| italki | Marketplace | Finding new language students |
| TutorBird | Tutor CRM | General tutor operations |
When to switch from italki
- You have repeat students and pay commission on every italki lesson.
- You need structured homework between conversational sessions.
- You want lesson notes parents or adult students can review anytime.
- You teach Ukrainian/English bilingual students needing UA UI.
The bottom line
italki is a language marketplace, so the best alternative again splits by need. For finding learners, another marketplace competes; for managing the learners you have, OBRI is the commission-free home — vocabulary homework, lesson notes, and payment tracking.
Language tutors with a steady roster usually gain most from moving committed students into OBRI while keeping a marketplace for discovery.
How to switch from italki in 4 steps
- 1Choose italki students you can continue with directly.
- 2Create a free OBRI account and add them, grouped by language or level.
- 3Set up recurring lessons and assign vocabulary or grammar homework.
- 4Collect payments your own way and track them in OBRI.
Who should choose what
Choose OBRI if
Language tutors with recurring students who want commission-free payments and homework.
Stick with italki if
Language tutors who depend on italki to find new learners regularly.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best italki alternative for language tutors?
- OBRI is the best italki alternative for managing your own book: homework portal, CEFR tracking, scheduling, and no commission on payments you collect directly.
- Can I keep teaching on italki and use OBRI?
- Yes. Use italki for discovery and OBRI for students you manage off-platform or for operational tracking of your full roster.
- Does OBRI work for Spanish, French, or other languages?
- Yes. The CRM is language-agnostic. See /use-cases/language-tutors for CEFR workflows.
- Is there a free plan?
- Yes — up to 3 students forever, no credit card required.
- Is OBRI suitable for language tutors leaving italki?
- Yes. The homework portal suits vocabulary and grammar work, and there is no commission on what your students pay.
Deep dive: italki alternative — full article · Best CRM for tutors · What is a tutor CRM?
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Free plan forever for up to 3 students. Scheduling, homework, payments — no credit card.
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