EF English Live vs Preply: School or Tutors?
EF English Live is one of the largest online English schools in the world: a structured program with 24/7 group classes, private lessons, and a fixed CEFR curriculum taught by native-level certified teachers. Preply is the opposite: an open marketplace of thousands of independent tutors where you pick who you want, pay per lesson, and set your own pace.
We compared EF English Live and Preply side by side, based on our published reviews. For the full story, see our EF English Live review and Preply review.
On This Page
Our Verdict
Preply for flexible tutoring, EF English Live for structure
Best for
Preply: budget flexibility and teacher choice
Best for
EF English Live: structured 24/7 classes
Preply earns 8.5 out of 10 in our review, and EF English Live earns 8.2 out of 10, both on a ten-point scale. Preply wins for flexibility and value: you pick a tutor who fits your goals, pay from about $5 per lesson, and change tutors anytime. EF English Live wins for structure: a real curriculum, 24/7 group classes, and certified teachers, ideal if you want a school-like program. Start with Preply if you want control and low cost. Pick EF English Live if you want a guided path.
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Side-by-Side Comparison Table
The short version first. Full details follow below.
| Feature | EF English Live | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.2/10 (ten-point scale) | 8.5/10 (ten-point scale) |
| Pricing model | Monthly subscription by plan | Pay per lesson, plus a service fee |
| Typical price | About $45 to $300+ per month | Tutors from about $5, most $10 to $40 per hour |
| Lesson format | Group classes + private lessons + self-study | 1-on-1 lessons with your chosen tutor |
| Availability | Group classes start every 30 minutes, 24/7 | Depends on your tutor's schedule |
| Teachers | Native-level, CELTA/TEFL/TESOL certified | Independent tutors, quality varies |
| Curriculum | Fixed CEFR levels A1 to C2 | No fixed curriculum, tutor-led |
| Speaking practice | Live group conversation + private lessons | 1-on-1 conversation with your tutor |
| Certificate | Certificate per completed level | None |
| Trial | Free trial available | Discounted trial lessons with most tutors |
| Best for | Learners who want a guided school program | Learners who want flexible, affordable 1-on-1 lessons |
Pricing Compared
EF English Live uses a monthly subscription. Basic access starts at around $45 per month and covers group classes plus self-study materials. Higher tiers add more private lessons and run up to $300+ per month for the most intensive plans. There is a free trial, and a certificate of completion is issued at the end of each CEFR level. It is a flat monthly bill, so the price is the same whether you take one class or twenty.
Preply is pay-as-you-go. English tutors set their own rates, starting as low as about $5 per lesson, with most charging between $10 and $40 per hour. Preply adds a service fee to every lesson: about 33% for lessons 2 to 20, around 25% for lessons 21 to 50, and about 18% from lesson 51 on. Trial lessons carry a service fee of 100%, which is why most tutors price them low. You only pay for the lessons you book, so light users can keep costs very low.
Which is cheaper depends on how much you study. One or two Preply lessons a week at $10 to $20 each is usually less than an EF English Live subscription. But if you want daily access to live classes, EF English Live's flat monthly price can work out cheaper than paying per lesson every day. Calculate your weekly lesson count, then compare.
Teachers and Class Quality
EF English Live guarantees a consistent standard. All teachers are native-level English speakers with certifications such as CELTA, TEFL, or TESOL, based in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and other English-speaking countries. Group classes are open to learners at the same CEFR level, and private lessons give you focused 1-on-1 time with a teacher you book directly.
Preply gives you choice instead of guarantees. Anyone can list as a tutor, so quality varies, but the platform helps you filter: verified reviews from real students, introduction videos, trial lessons, and certificates such as CELTA or TESOL on tutor profiles. You can interview a tutor in a trial lesson before committing. For learners who know what they want, that control is a big advantage. For learners who want to be told exactly what to do, EF English Live's consistency wins.
Flexibility and Scheduling
EF English Live is available around the clock. Group classes start every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which matters if you travel, work shifts, or live in a time zone far from native speakers. Private lessons are booked with individual teachers based on their availability. The structure is fixed: you follow the curriculum in order, level by level.
Preply is flexible in a different way. You choose the tutor, the time, and the topic. You can switch tutors anytime if one does not fit, pause for weeks without paying, and focus each lesson on exactly what you need: interview prep today, grammar tomorrow. The trade-off is that you build your own structure, and quality depends on the tutor you pick. If you like being in charge, that is a feature. If you prefer a school to manage your progress, it is a gap.
Who Should Pick Which
Choose Preply if:
- You want 1-on-1 lessons with a tutor you personally select
- You study a few hours a week and want to keep costs low
- You like changing tutors or topics as your goals change
- You want business English coaching from a tutor in your industry
Choose EF English Live if:
- You want a structured curriculum with clear CEFR levels
- You need classes at unusual hours, including night or early morning
- You want certified native teachers guaranteed in every class
- You want a certificate of completion at the end of each level
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EF English Live or Preply better for learning English?
It depends on what you need. EF English Live is a structured online school with 24/7 group classes, private lessons, and a fixed CEFR curriculum, and it scored 8.2 out of 10 in our review. Preply is a tutor marketplace where you pick your own teacher and pay per lesson, with lessons from about $5, and it scored 8.5 out of 10. Choose EF English Live for a clear learning path and round-the-clock availability. Choose Preply for flexibility, teacher choice, and lower per-lesson prices.
How do EF English Live and Preply pricing compare?
EF English Live pricing starts at around $45 per month for basic access and goes up to $300+ per month for intensive plans with more private lessons. Preply charges per lesson: English tutors start as low as about $5 and most charge between $10 and $40 per hour, plus a service fee on each lesson (about 33% for lessons 2 to 20, around 25% for lessons 21 to 50, and about 18% from lesson 51 on, with trial lessons carrying a 100% fee). Light users often pay less on Preply; heavy users may find EF English Live's flat monthly price cheaper.
Are EF English Live teachers qualified?
Yes. EF English Live states that all teachers are native-level English speakers who hold teaching certifications such as CELTA, TEFL, or TESOL. Teachers are based in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and other English-speaking countries. On Preply, teacher quality varies because anyone can list themselves, though verified reviews, introduction videos, and specialized teaching certificates help you filter for quality.
Can I really take classes 24 hours a day on EF English Live?
Yes. EF English Live offers group classes that start every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can take a class at any time that suits your schedule, regardless of your time zone. Private lessons can be scheduled with individual teachers based on their availability. Preply works differently: you book a specific tutor at a time they offer, which is flexible but depends on that tutor's schedule.
Is Preply cheaper than EF English Live?
For light usage, yes. Preply lessons start at about $5 and most tutors charge $10 to $40 per hour, and you only pay for the lessons you book. EF English Live starts at about $45 per month, which covers a set amount of classes and self-study. If you want one or two lessons a week, Preply is usually cheaper. If you want daily access to group classes, EF English Live's flat monthly price can be better value.
Which is better for business English, EF English Live or Preply?
Both work well. Preply lets you filter tutors who specialize in business English and choose one who fits your industry, which is great for personalized coaching at flexible times. EF English Live offers a structured curriculum with business-focused content, clear CEFR progression, and a certificate of completion per level, which suits learners who want a formal program. Choose Preply for personalized business coaching, and EF English Live for a structured business curriculum.
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