iTalki Review: 11 Things You Need To Know (2023)

This is the definitive iTalki review for 2023.

I’ve spent 300+ hours studying Thai with iTalki so if you want to know:

• What iTalki is and how it works
• How much it costs
• What the biggest cons are
• If iTalki is your best option

Then you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s start with a quick overview.

The Best Online Language Course?

In the vast landscape of online language courses, iTalki stands out as the top

I’m on a mission to review all the top online language courses.

Having extensively researched numerous online language learning platforms, I can confidently say that iTalki surpasses its competitors and emerges as the leading choice for language enthusiasts.

What Is iTalki?

iTalki is a website (and app) where language learners can take 1-on-1 lessons with certified and experienced teachers to become fluent in any language.

iTalki was founded in 2007 and has now grown to 150+ languages, 20,000+ teachers and 5 million+ students.

You can learn more about what iTalki is via their official promo video:

Is iTalki Legit?

Yes, iTalki is a 100% safe and legit language learning platform trusted by students and teachers from around the world.

They have an impressive 4.7-star review rating on TrustPilot:

And the iTalki app scores 4.5-stars on Google Play after 10.1K reviews and over 1 million downloads:

How Is iTalki Different?

iTalki stands head and shoulders above the rest in four ways: you get a personalised lesson plan; you can study virtually any language you can think of, wherever and whenever you want and at a fraction of the cost of any of its competitiors.

I’m reviewing iTalki right after reviewing Duolingo and the difference is night and day.

Here are 4 things which I believe set iTalki apart from any other online language learning platform out there:

1. Tailor-Made Lessons

Say goodbye to cookie-cutter courses because iTalki takes language learning to new heights by offering a truly personalised experience.

Unlike language courses like Rocket Languages and British Council, with iTalki you can choose from 1,000s of teachers based on your:

• Specific goals
• Learning style
• Budget
• Schedule

With one-on-one interaction, tailored lesson plans and individualised attention, you’ll achieve fluency quicker.

2. Any Language You Can Think Of

Whether you’re interested in learning an obscure language like Gaelic, Latin or Xhosa or want to learn a language in a niche dialect, iTalki’s got it all.

3. Super Flexible

There’s no subscription or rigid schedule. Learn when you want, as much as you want.

You can book lessons whenever works best for you no matter what timezone you’re in making the convenient way to learn a language.

4. Incredibly Affordable

iTalki believes that anyone should be able to learn a new language, regardless of their budget.

And with lessons starting from $4 an hour, iTalki is a compelling choice for those seeking high-quality yet cost-effective language tutoring.

All combined, it’s no wonder iTalki students have so many positive things to say:

How Does iTalki Work?

iTalki acts as a matchmaker, connecting language learners like you with your ideal language teachers.

Whether you’re a total beginner eager to grasp the basics or an advanced learner striving for fluency, iTalki makes the process a breeze with just 3 simple steps:

1. Choose Your Target Language

Whether you have a burning desire to unravel the secrets of Spanish, crack the code of Japanese, or indulge in the charms of French, iTalki’s got you covered.

Go to Italki and select your target language, set your current language efficiency level and your purpose for studying.

2. Find A Teacher

Next you can browse the whole list of teachers to see their intro video, student reviews, availability and prices.

iTalki has 2 types of teachers:

• Professional teacher
• Community tutor

Professional teachers on iTalki have the training and experience as educators to provide students with structured lesson plans, resources, and prepared materials.

Community tutors, on the other hand, offer conversation practice and friendly support to help students improve their language skills and tend to cost less.

You can filter your results to show either Professional teachers or Community tutors or show native speakers only when looking for teachers.

3. Book A Trial Lesson

95% of tutors I’ve seen offer trial lessons at a discounted rate and I’d recommend you do this to make sure the teacher is a right fit.

All lessons are online and you can choose to study via iTalki classroom, Skyle, Google Hangouts or WeChat.

If the idea of studying one-on-one is a little intimidating or you want to lower your costs, you can always go for a group class.

There are an impressive 50 group classes happening each day on iTalki, though they seem to only be able available for English, Spanish and Japanese for now.

Who Is iTalki For?

iTalki is designed for anyone who wants to learn a foreign language or achieve fluency.

iTalki says it’s an ideal language platform for all levels from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language:

And because all lessons are custom-made, you can tell your teacher your purpose in learning your target language and whether you want to focus on reading, writing, speaking or listening.

Whether you’re a curious beginner taking your first steps in a new language or a seasoned learner striving for mastery, iTalki can definitely help.

How Much Does iTalki Cost?

Prices typically range from $4 to $80 per lesson, with lessons lasting anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes.

iTalki adopts a pay-per-lesson approach without any sign-up or subscription fees. This flexible pricing model allows you to have full control over your learning journey and pay only for the lessons you take.

The cost of lessons on iTalki varies depending on the teacher and the duration of the session.

It’s important to note that teachers have the autonomy to set their own prices based on their experience, qualifications, and teaching style.

Many iTalki teachers will offer trial lessons at a discounted rate, usually within the $4 to $8 range so you can get a taste of the teacher’s style before committing to regular lessons.

Use this link to book your first trial lesson and get $10 iTalki credits.

Book A Trial Lesson

iTalki Discount

While doing research for this review, I noticed many people search for:

• iTalki promo code
• iTalki discount
• iTalki coupon
• iTalki coupon code

Is there a discount or coupon code for iTalki?

There is a box for entering a promo code at checkout…

…so I searched high and low but wasn’t able to find a valid coupon 🙁

The good news is every teacher I’ve seen offers some kind of discount when you book a package of multiple lessons.

For example, you might receive a 15% or 20% discount when you book a package of 10 lessons.

iTalki Refund

As a general rule, iTalki don’t give cash refunds. You can however get credits refunded back into your iTalki Student Wallet if you’re not happy with a trial lesson for any reason.

This is because all trial lessons are covered by their 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Here’s what they explain it on their refund policy page:

Is iTalki Worth The Money?

Yes, iTalki is 100% worth it if you’re a language learner looking for a personalised, flexible and affordable language learning experience with access qualified and experienced teachers and a supportive community.

I signed up to iTalki as a student in May of 2020 right after the lockdowns because I wanted to get more fluent in Thai.

I live in Thailand but I wanted to be more intentianal about taking my language skills to the enxt level.

Since then I’ve studied for over 300 hours with half a dozen different teachers (both Professional teachers and Community tutors).

And I’ve got to say, while I’m still making mistakes (it’s all part of the process!), my conversational speaking has improved and I’m now a lot more confident.

Overall, iTalki has been well worth the money, and my Thai friends are commenting on the noticeable progress I’ve made.

Can You Become Fluent Through iTalki?

Yes, absolutely. iTalki is your ticket to language fluency because you get to talk with native speakers and practicing conversation is the best way to master a new language.

With video chat lessons led by expert language tutors, you’ll dive into real-life discussions, perfect your pronunciation, level up your listening skills, and rock that language with confidence.

But let’s keep it real. Rome wasn’t built in a day and you won’t get fluent overnight…

According to the U.S. Foreign Service Institute, it takes a solid 600 to 1100 hours of study to master a new language.

Let’s crunch the numbers, shall we?

Imagine committing to 3 hours of iTalki sessions each week.

In one year, you’ll clock in a total of 156 language-learning hours.

Fast forward to the 4-year mark, and voila! You’ll be basking in the glory of fluency, proudly flaunting your linguistic skills.

So, buckle up, embrace the journey, and remember that with iTalki as your trusty sidekick, language fluency is just a conversation (or a few) away.

5 iTalki Pros

1. Learn Any Language on Your Terms

With iTalki, everything is flexible. You can choose:

• What kind of teacher you want
• When you want to study
• How long you want to study for
• How much you want to pay
• What you want to focus on

But it doesn’t stop there:

You can also ask your teacher to record the lessons, give you the lesson outline and even take notes and give you feedback after the lesson.

If you want homework assignments, that can be arranged too.

2. Become Bilingual Without Breaking The Bank

Forget those pricey language schools and their monthly payment plans.

iTalki doesn’t require a monthly subscription like British Council or Lingoda and their lessons are considerably cheaper.

Why?

Because essentially, iTalki is a marketplace where language teachers go head-to-head in an epic battle to get new students.

Picture it:

Teachers locked in a fierce competition, slashing prices, and offering unbeatable deals. It’s a price war and you’re the winner!

Whether you’re craving Spanish, French, or even Klingon (because why not?), iTalki’s pricing makes learning a langauge financially feasable for everyone

3. No Pressure

Before I started learning with iTalki I was a bit worried about teachers being a bit pushy when it comes to booking another lesson but that hasn’t been my experience at all.

Thankfully, there’s no high-pressure tactics or hard-selling whatsoever.

You simply book a lesson, take the lesson. if you want to continue you book another in your own time. That’s it.

Want to take a break?

No problem.

Want to try another teacher?

It’s all good.

4. The iTalki Community

iTalki has a free community where you can ask questions and get feedback from teachers and members, take exercises and quizzes and listen to podcasts in your target language.

It looks like this:

And it’s always pretty active…

5. iTalki Is Highly Rated By Students

You can see a bunch student reviews on the iTalki homepage like these:

And these iTalki success stories from YouTube show that it takes consistency to achieve fluency in a new language:

I’ve seen enough testimonials to believe that the success rate of iTalki students is equal to or better than every otherlanguage learning platform.

4 iTalki Cons

While I have a few criticisms of iTalki, none of them are dealbreakers by any means.

But in the spirit of providing a fair and balanced review, here are the biggest iTalki cons…

1. It Might Take Trial & Error To Find The Right Fit

It can take some trial and error to find a teacher who matches your learning style and preferences.

And sometimes it just comes down to personality…

So take advantage of the trial lesson option and don’t be afraid to try a few teachers out before buying a lesson package. It’s all aprt of the process!

2. Surcharge For Buying Credits

One thing I didn’t know bwhen i signed up to iTalki was that there’s a surcharge for buying credits – credits you need to book lessons.

It’s usually aorund $5 regardless of how many lessons you’re buying or hyour method of payment.

I think this is because iTalki is based in Hong Kong and have to pay some ind of payment processing fees.

Just something worth knowing when planning your budget for language learning.

3. Sign-Up Could Be Easier

The sign-up process on iTalki can be a bit of a hassle…

You’ve got to:

• Choosing the language
• Set a price range
• Find a teacher
• Book a trial lesson
• Confirm what type of lesson
• Choose a pyment method
• Schedule the lesson

But at least you’ve only got to do this once.

4. Additional Costs

Somethign else to think about is any additional costs you could incur when you start learning with iTalki.

Depending on your setup, you might need to invest in equipment like a camera, microphone and headphones to ensure a smooth learning experience.

Oh, and a good internet signal is essential!

Ready To Start Learning With iTalki?

If so, I highly recommend you start your language learning journey by booking a trial lesson.

Do yourself a favor and click here to claim your $10 iTalki credits.

It’s a sweet deal that will give you a strong head start on your language learning adventure.

Book A Trial Lesson

iTalki Alternatives

I’m on a mission to review all the top online language courses.

Here’s my progress so far:

Is iTalki The Best Language Site For YOU?

💰 If You’re On A Tight Budget…

Go with iTalki »

With lessons as low as $4 an hour, you really can’t go wrong.

👨‍🎓 If You Prefer Studying By Yourself…

Go with Rocket Languages »

Learning 1-on-1 isn’t for everyone.

If you’re the kind of person who prefers going through a structured step-by-step course then Rocket Languages might be a better fit.

Read my SUPER in-depth Rocket Languages review here.

👪 If You Prefer Group Classes

Go with iTalki »

They’ve got interactive group classes of 2-6 students where you can practice your speaking and listening with students from around the globe.

✍️ If You Want To Focus On Reading & Writing…

Go with Mondly »

Mondly have a ton of language courses that focus more on mastering reading and writing in your target language.

Here’s my full Mondly review.

🌍 If You’re Studying A More Niche Language…

Go with iTalki »

There are 7,117 languages spoken in the world and there’s not a course out there for all of them.

You can bet your bottom dollar that they’ll be a native speaker of that language on iTalki though 😉

🤔 If You’re Still Not Sure…

Go with iTalki »

Trial lessons are there to help you decide and remember, they’re covered by iTalki’s 100% Satisfaction guarantee.

Your iTalki Review

• Have you taken lesson on iTalki yourself?

Share your experience – good or bad – so others can see if it’s worthwhile.

• Got any questions about iTalki?

Let me know below and I’ll do my best to find the answer.