RankingRight
8.6 Tested Aug 21, 2026 by Team RankingRight

italki review 2026

One-to-one video lessons with tutors in 150+ languages, priced by the tutor — the fastest route to speaking

PriceFrom $10 · checked Sep 11, 2026
A1 test after 30 days85 %
Languages150+

Is the italki Worth It?

Best for live tutoring. Two italki lessons a week beat every app on the placement test, because talking to a person is how languages are learned. It is a marketplace rather than a course, and the price scales with use, which keeps it off the value collections.

italki Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Real conversation from lesson one
  • Highest A1 score in the test after 30 days of two lessons a week
  • Choose a tutor by accent, price and reviews
  • Community tutors from about $8 an hour
Cons
  • Pay per lesson; two a week costs more than any app
  • No structured self-study course
  • Quality depends on the tutor you pick

italki at a Glance

8.6 Editor Score
Teaching methodSpeaking practice, grammar explanation, spaced repetition and real dialogue — what the 30 days actually built.
28/30
Measured resultScore on the same A1 placement test after 30 days.
24/25
Languages & depthHow many languages, and how far the course goes (A1 only, or to B2 and beyond).
15/15
ValuePrice per month on the annual plan and whether a free tier is usable.
12/20
ExperienceApps, offline mode, speech recognition, live tutoring options.
7/10
Reader ratingNo reader ratings yet — not part of the score
Own one? Rate it:

Rubric v1: Teaching method 30 · Measured result 25 · Languages & depth 15 · Value 20 · Experience 10. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.

Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026

italki — $10

Best priceVisit Site

italki specifications

Languages150
PriceTutors set prices; typically $8–$30 per hour
Free tierNo (trial lessons discounted)
Live tutorsYes — the whole product
Speech recognitionHuman
Offline lessonsNo
Takes you toAny
PlatformsiOS, Android, web

Why it scored 8.6

Two italki lessons a week beat every app on the placement test, because talking to a person is how languages are learned. It is a marketplace rather than a course, and the price scales with use, which keeps it off the value collections.

Where it loses

Value and experience — no self-study course.

Still the right pick for

Anyone serious about speaking.

italki8.6 · $10
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