Preply Review: My Experience With This Online Language Platform

Traveling through the Caribbean has introduced me to different cultures, cuisines, traditions, and languages. While English is widely spoken across many destinations, French and Spanish have been the primary languages in several places I’ve visited, including Martinique, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.

Growing up in NYC, I studied Spanish in both Middle School and High School. However, it’s been a while since I’ve used the language regularly, and outside the basics, much of what I learned back then is a little rusty. I want to refresh my knowledge and feel more comfortable speaking Spanish, especially when traveling.

As someone who specializes in Caribbean travel, I see learning a language as a way to prepare for trips and connect with the people in the various destinations I visit. That is what led me to Preply, an online tutoring platform that offers personalized language lessons.

In this Preply review, I’ll cover how the platform works, its pricing, and how it can help travelers learn or brush up on a new language before their next vacation.

What Is Preply?

Preply is an online tutoring platform that connects students with tutors for one-on-one lessons. The platform offers instruction in more than 90 languages, including Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English.

Unlike self-guided language learning apps that rely mainly on vocabulary exercises and quizzes, Preply lets students practice with a tutor. Lessons are virtual, so you can learn from home or anywhere with a reliable internet connection.

Students can look at tutor profiles and compare teaching experience, hourly rates, availability, and reviews before choosing someone who fits their needs and budget.

Although Preply is useful for people learning a new language, it can also work for those who want to refresh skills they learned years ago. You can focus on conversation practice, grammar, or vocabulary based on your skills and goals.

For travelers, this flexibility helps. You may want to learn basic phrases before visiting a destination, practice ordering food at restaurants, or feel confident asking for directions. Having a tutor allows you to focus on situations that are relevant to your upcoming trip

Who Is Preply Good For?

Preply can be a useful tool for people with different learning goals and experiences. Because lessons are personalized, you can focus on the skills you want to develop rather than following a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

Spanish is not the primary language everywhere in the Caribbean. In fact, English, French, Dutch, and various Creole languages are spoken throughout the region. Consider the language used in the destination when deciding what to study.

Here are the types of learners that may benefit from using Preply.

Travelers

Preply helps travelers feel more prepared before visiting a destination where you don’t speak the primary language. If you’re planning a trip abroad, working with a tutor can help you practice phrases for shopping, ordering food, asking for help, and interacting with locals.

People Refreshing an Old Skill

If you studied a language in school, but haven’t used it in a while, Preply can help you revisit what you learned.

Beginners Learning a New Language

If you’re starting from scratch, a tutor can guide you through basic vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and daily conversations.

Expats Living Abroad

Moving to another country often means navigating unfamiliar languages in everyday situations. Whether you’re communicating with neighbors, handling errands, making appointments, or building friendships, personalized lessons can help you develop the language skills you need to settle into your new home.

Students

Whether you’re preparing for a move abroad, developing professional language skills or working toward greater fluency, you can look for a tutor whose teaching experience aligns with your objectives.

Ultimately, Preply may be a good fit if you prefer personalized instruction and opportunities to practice with another person. If you prefer learning entirely on your own or aren’t ready to commit to paid lessons, a free language-learning app may be a better starting point.

Why I Used Preply to Refresh My Spanish

As someone who specializes in Caribbean travel, I want to experience destinations beyond their beaches and resorts. Food, history, music, and conversations with local people are all part of what makes exploring the region interesting.

I’ve traveled to Spanish-speaking destinations in and out of the Caribbean, like Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, and more. While you can enjoy these destinations without being fluent, knowing the language can make travel easier.

Since I already learned Spanish in school, I wasn’t starting from zero. I used Preply to revisit what I learned and be more comfortable putting sentences together in a conversation. There’s a difference between remembering vocabulary from a classroom and speaking naturally with someone while traveling.

I wanted a tutor who could help me practice speaking, work on areas I needed to improve, and make learning relevant to my travels.

I also liked the option of fitting lessons around my schedule. As someone who balances work, travel, and other commitments, an online option lets me learn without commuting to a language class.

How Does Preply Work?

Getting started with Preply is relatively straightforward. Here’s how the process works:

Choose your language: Start by selecting the language you want to learn. In my case, that was Spanish. You can then browse available tutors and look at their profiles.
Find a tutor who fits your goals: Tutor profiles include their teaching experience, lesson prices, availability, and student reviews. Some tutors specialize in particular areas such as conversation practice, beginner instruction, or professional language skills. If your goal is travel, look for someone who can help you practice conversations.
Book a trial lesson: Preply offers trial lessons, allowing you to meet a tutor, discuss your goals, and get a feel for their teaching style. This gives you the opportunity to explain why you’re learning a new language and what you hope to accomplish.
Build a routine: Once you find a tutor that suits your needs, you can create a lesson schedule. Consistent practice gives you more opportunities to work on pronunciation, listening comprehension, and speaking confidence.

How Much Does Preply Cost?

Tutors set their own lesson rates, so the cost of learning a new language depends on the tutor you choose. Your budget, preferred lesson frequency, and learning goals influence how much you want to spend.

Preply uses a subscription model for ongoing lessons. After a trial, students can choose a plan tied to their tutor with recurring payments every 28 days. The minimum subscription includes four lessons each cycle. Plans can be adjusted, paused, or canceled depending on the platform’s terms.

Before subscribing, check the tutor’s rate, lesson availability, cancellation policies, and consider how often you can realistically study. If you’re preparing for a trip, start early enough to practice consistently rather than trying to learn everything a week before you leave.

Is Preply Worth It for Travelers?

If you want to improve your language for travel, Preply is worth considering. Practicing with a tutor can be helpful if you’re nervous about speaking or want lessons tailored to real-life situations.

Preply is not a substitute for practicing independently. Watching movies and TV shows and using what you’ve learned outside of your lessons helps improve your skills. You also shouldn’t expect fluency after a few sessions. Combining tutoring with regular practice helps build a strong foundation before your next trip.

For me, relearning Spanish is part of making my Caribbean travels more meaningful, especially when traveling solo. I want to feel more comfortable navigating destinations, eating in local food scenes, and engaging with the people and cultures that make each destination unique.

If you’re planning a trip to a destination where you don’t speak the primary language, consider adding Preply language lessons to your travel prep.