Preply alternatives · 2026
Best Preply Alternatives in 2026 — For Tutors With Their Own Clients
Preply alternatives for language tutors who want to keep more of their earnings. OBRI CRM: scheduling, homework, payments — no 18–33% marketplace cut.
In short
The best Preply alternative for tutors with their own students is OBRI — a language-tutor CRM with scheduling, homework, payment tracking, and a student portal. Preply is a marketplace taking 18–33% commission; OBRI charges a flat monthly fee (~$7–15/mo) with no per-lesson cut on self-sourced students.
What is Preply?
Preply is a global language-tutoring marketplace. Tutors create profiles, Preply sources students, handles billing, and takes a commission (typically 18–33% depending on lesson history).
Best Preply alternatives ranked
| Tool | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| OBRI★ top pick | Tutor CRM | Own language students, zero commission |
| italki | Marketplace | Finding language students globally |
| TutorBird | Tutor CRM | General tutor admin after marketplace |
| Preply | Marketplace | New tutors needing student leads |
When to switch from Preply
- You found students on Preply but want to teach them off-platform legally and ethically.
- You are tired of commission shrinking as your hourly rate grows.
- You need homework assignments and progress notes for long-term students.
- You want parents to see lesson history, not just chat threads.
The bottom line
Preply's commission is the usual reason tutors look elsewhere. The strongest Preply alternative depends on your goal: if you need new students, another marketplace competes directly; if you have students and want your margin back, OBRI is the better answer.
OBRI lets established tutors run recurring lessons, homework, and payments commission-free. Many keep a marketplace for discovery and move committed students into OBRI.
How to switch from Preply in 4 steps
- 1Pick Preply students you can continue with independently.
- 2Open a free OBRI account and add them as students.
- 3Recreate the recurring schedule at your full off-platform rate.
- 4Track homework and payments in OBRI, using Preply for acquisition only.
Who should choose what
Choose OBRI if
Established tutors who want to keep their full rate and own the student relationship.
Stick with Preply if
Tutors who still depend on Preply's marketplace to find new learners.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best Preply alternative for language tutors?
- OBRI is the best Preply alternative for managing your own language students: CEFR-level tracking, homework portal, recurring schedule, and no marketplace commission on direct payments.
- Can I use OBRI if I still teach on Preply?
- Yes. Many tutors keep Preply for new leads and use OBRI for students they manage independently. OBRI does not replace Preply discovery — it replaces spreadsheet chaos after you have clients.
- Does OBRI work for online English tutors?
- Yes. See the online English tutors use case: lesson notes, IELTS prep tracking, homework, and parent visibility are built in.
- Is OBRI free to start?
- Yes. Free forever for up to 3 students, no credit card. Upgrade only when you outgrow the limit.
- How do I avoid Preply commission?
- Once a student is managed in OBRI, there is no commission — you collect your rate directly. Preply commission applies to its marketplace bookings, not to OBRI.
Deep dive: Preply alternative — full article · Best CRM for tutors · What is a tutor CRM?
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