italki and Preply are the better choice for most learners: one-to-one lessons with a tutor you pick, at a price the tutor sets. Lingoda is the one to choose if you need scheduled classes with certified teachers and a curriculum that keeps you showing up.
Checked October 2026 · Preply price: Set by each tutor; from $3, average $21 per lesson (checked 2026-10-09 (preply.com/en/online/french-tutors))
Quick answers
| italki | Set by each tutor, $4 to $60 an hour (checked 9 October 2026). Best for choosing tutor and price. |
|---|---|
| Lingoda | From €184.99 per four weeks for 5 group classes (checked 6 October 2026). Best for scheduled classes. |
| Preply | Set by each tutor, from $3 a lesson (checked 9 October 2026). Best for trying several tutors. |
| Cheapest | Usually Preply or italki, depending on the tutor. Lingoda is the most expensive per hour of speaking. |
| Furthest level | italki and Preply, A1 to C2, since tutors teach every level. Lingoda runs A1 to C1. |
Price
italki: each tutor sets their price; its tutor listing gave $4 to $60 an hour, checked 9 October 2026. Many tutors offer discounted trial lessons, none fully free.
Preply: each tutor sets their price; its tutor listing said from $3, average $21 a lesson, checked 9 October 2026. If the first tutor is not a match, you can try two more free.
Lingoda: from €184.99 per four weeks for 5 group classes, checked 6 October 2026, on a plan that renews every four weeks. There is a 7-day free trial of 3 group classes or 1 private class.
Method
italki and Preply are marketplaces for one-to-one video lessons. italki separates professional teachers from community tutors for conversation practice; Preply nudges you towards weekly subscriptions with one tutor. On both, structure depends on the tutor.
Lingoda sells live classes with certified teachers: 60-minute group classes of 3 to 5 students, or private classes, following a curriculum on a timetable. In a group class each person gets only a few minutes of speaking.
How far each takes you
A good tutor on italki or Preply can teach any level from A1 to C2. Lingoda's classes run from A1 to C1. On all three, how far you get depends more on how often you go and how you prepare.
Which should you choose?
If you want the whole hour to speak at the lowest price, choose italki or Preply.
If you expect to try several tutors before settling, choose Preply, which gives you two free replacements if the first is not a match.
If you want to choose between professional teachers and cheaper conversation tutors, choose italki.
If you need a timetable, a curriculum and a teacher to turn up for, choose Lingoda, and accept the higher cost per minute of speaking.
What none of them does
None of them gives you native speakers at real speed outside the lesson; teachers slow down for learners. On the marketplaces, a lesson without a plan quickly turns into small talk. Bring a topic, a text or mistakes to fix to each lesson, and keep listening between lessons. The two-way pages go deeper: italki vs Lingoda, italki vs Preply and Lingoda vs Preply. For one language in detail, see italki for French and Preply for French.
Who it's for
italki and Preply: learners who want one-to-one speaking every week at a price they choose. Lingoda: learners who need scheduled classes and a curriculum to stay on track.
Who it's not for
Learners who will not prepare for lessons, anyone on a tight budget looking at Lingoda, and complete beginners who want a self-paced app before talking to anyone.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed audio | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preply | Set by each tutor; from $3, average $21 per lessonchecked 2026-10-09 (preply.com/en/online/french-tutors) | A1–C2 | Yes | A huge choice of tutors at every price; pick carefully. |
| italki | Set by each tutor; italki says $4 to $60 an hour for Frenchchecked 2026-10-09 (italki.com/en/teachers/french) | A1–C2 | Yes | The cheapest way to speak the language every week, if you choose the tutor well. |
| Lingoda | From €184.99 per 4 weeks (5 group classes) | A1–C1 | Yes | Real classes on a timetable; costly per minute of speaking. |
Prices as shown on the official site on the date given; they vary by country and change often.
Questions
Which is best: italki, Lingoda or Preply?
italki or Preply for one-to-one speaking at your own price; Lingoda for scheduled group classes with certified teachers and a curriculum.
Which is cheapest?
Usually Preply or italki, because tutors set their own prices: from $3 a lesson on Preply and from $4 an hour on italki (checked 9 October 2026). Lingoda started at €184.99 per four weeks for 5 classes.
Can I try them before paying?
Lingoda has a 7-day free trial of 3 group classes or 1 private class. Preply lets you try two more tutors free if the first is not a match. italki tutors offer discounted, not free, trial lessons.
More on Preply
The full listing: Preply: price, levels and who it suits.