Field notes · 19 Sep 2026 · 5 min read

Figure freshness: pay terms below are point-in-time source records. Open the linked pay page for the source date and unit before using a number in a plan.

ESL platform pay records for 2026: fees, units, and unknowns

Why this page is not a wage league table

A listed price, a platform fee and a teacher’s eventual earnings answer different questions. A marketplace can show what tutors ask while leaving bookings unknown. A school can advertise a lesson rate without promising a weekly schedule.

Current source-backed terms, checked in September 2026
PlatformSource-backed termWhat it does not establish
PreplyEnglish tutors charge USD 15 to USD 25 per hour on average as an asking price. Regular commission runs from 33% down to 18%; Preply keeps 100% of each new-student trial.A wage or a take-home average.
italkiTutors set their lesson prices. Fees are 0% for trials, 21% for single lessons, 19% for 5 lesson packages, 17% for 10 lesson packages, 15% for 15 and 20 lesson packages and 30% for group classes.A universal fee or a verified typical hourly band.
CamblyThe adult rate is USD 0.17 per active chat minute. Cambly Kids is a separate product at USD 0.20 per minute. Intake is currently limited.An hourly wage. Standby time is not active chat.
OutschoolTeachers set a class price. The official Teacher Fee is 30%, so the teacher keeps 70% of the class-price payment.A typical wage or a filled class.
GoStudent UKThe UK payout FAQ lists GBP 13 for a regular 50 minute English lesson. Bonuses can change the lesson rate.An hourly rate, monthly earnings, or a rate for every country.
WyzantTutors set prices. This directory has no published Wyzant wage. The documented platform fee is 25%.A Wyzant wage or typical take-home.
AmazingTalkerTutors set prices within teacher-level limits. Service fees vary by teacher level.A numeric pay range or a universal fee.
EF, Lingoda, Novakid, and Varsity TutorsThe linked source records do not publish an hourly wage.Any older planning estimate presented as current pay.

Use the unit before doing the arithmetic

For a marketplace, start with the listed price, then apply the fee that matches the lesson type. For a lesson-rate role, keep the lesson length beside the amount. For per-minute Cambly work, count only active chat minutes. These distinctions prevent a per-lesson or per-minute figure from becoming an unsupported hourly promise.

If a tutor lists a regular Preply lesson at USD 25, the regular lesson amount after a 33% commission would be USD 16.75, and after an 18% commission it would be USD 20.50. This is hypothetical arithmetic on a listed price. It says nothing about bookings or monthly income.

Check the source before choosing a platform

  1. Open the company pay page and read the source date.
  2. Write down the unit: minute, lesson, class price, or asking price.
  3. Record the fee and whether it changes by lesson type, package, teacher level, or payment route.
  4. Check eligibility and current intake separately from the pay statement.
  5. Use the live jobs board for vacancies instead of treating a comparison article as a hiring notice.

Source pages

Read the detailed records for Preply, italki, Cambly, Outschool, GoStudent UK, and Wyzant before setting a rate or applying. Terms can change, and a source that does not publish a wage should remain marked as unknown.