Head-to-head comparison
OBRI vs Cambly (2026) — Tutoring Business vs Platform Job
Cambly pays per minute on its app. OBRI is the CRM for English tutors who run their own students — your rates, homework, zero platform cut.
Best for: English tutors building their own client list, not working Cambly shifts.
In short
OBRI is the best Cambly alternative for tutors who want their own students. Cambly is a job platform; OBRI is the CRM for your independent practice.
OBRI
Free up to 3 students. Paid from $6.99/mo. You keep 100% of direct payments.
Cambly
Cambly sets rates and pays tutors per minute — no flat CRM fee.
Why tutors switch from Cambly to OBRI
- You want to earn your full hourly rate, not Cambly per-minute pay.
- You teach curriculum and homework, not only conversation practice.
- You work with school-age students whose parents need visibility.
- You are building a business, not a side gig shift.
The bottom line
Cambly is an on-demand English platform where tutors are paid by the minute on the company's terms. There is little control over rate, schedule, or the student relationship — it is closer to gig work than running your own practice.
OBRI is for tutors who want to own that practice: set your rate, build recurring relationships, and keep everything you charge. If you want flexible casual hours with zero admin, Cambly fits. If you want to build a real tutoring business, OBRI is the system behind it.
How to switch from Cambly in 4 steps
- 1Decide which of your learners want regular private lessons with you directly.
- 2Open a free OBRI account and add them as students.
- 3Set a recurring schedule and your own per-lesson rate.
- 4Move payments and homework into OBRI and use Cambly only for casual fill-in hours.
Who should choose what
Choose OBRI if
Tutors building an independent practice with their own rates and recurring students.
Stick with Cambly if
Tutors who want casual, on-demand English conversation hours without managing their own business.
Quick answers
- Is OBRI a Cambly alternative?
- OBRI is the best Cambly alternative for tutors who want their own students. Cambly is a job platform; OBRI is the CRM for your independent practice.
- Can OBRI replace Cambly income?
- OBRI does not assign students. It helps you run a profitable practice once you have clients via referrals, ads, or other marketplaces.
- Is there a free plan?
- Yes — up to 3 students forever, no credit card.
- Can I move Cambly students to my own practice?
- If you build direct relationships allowed under the platform terms, yes — add them in OBRI and run lessons, homework, and payments yourself.
- Does OBRI pay per minute like Cambly?
- No. OBRI is your own system — you set the rate and keep 100%. It does not employ you or pay you; it helps you run your own tutoring.
Other comparisons
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