Do you need a TEFL to teach English online? What Preply, Cambly and italki ask for
What the main online teaching platforms require, where a 120-hour TEFL is needed, and where it simply helps you stand out and teach better.
- Published
- Updated
- Reading time5 min read
- About the team
- Editorial policy
You don’t need a TEFL to start on Preply or Cambly, but you do need a 120-hour accredited TEFL to become a Professional Teacher on italki. On every platform, a TEFL gives you a credential for your profile and the lesson-planning skills that help you keep students after the trial lesson.
Here is what each platform asks for, what it pays, and where a TEFL makes the difference.
We run simpleTEFL, which sells a 120-hour TEFL course. Platform rules come from each platform’s own pages, checked on 7 November 2026 (Preply’s help articles in June 2026). They change, so check before you apply.
What do the main platforms ask for?
| Platform | What it asks for, and pay |
|---|---|
| Preply | No certificate or experience required; 18+; profile approval. You set your rate: English tutors charge about US$15–25 an hour, and Preply takes a commission that starts at 33%. |
| Cambly | No certificate, degree or experience needed, but native English speakers only. Pays US$10.20 an hour (US$12 on Cambly Kids). New tutor sign-ups have been limited at times. |
| italki | Professional Teacher tier: a teaching qualification, such as an accredited TEFL or TESOL of at least 120 hours. Community Tutor tier: no certificate. You set your own prices; 15% commission. |
| Engoo | No degree or certificate shown; non-native speakers can apply; a headset and webcam are needed. Tutors report low pay per lesson. |
Sources: Preply, Cambly, italki and Engoo. Our route finder compares these platforms in more detail.
Where does a TEFL make a difference?
- It’s required for italki’s Professional Teacher tier. italki accepts an accredited TEFL or TESOL of at least 120 hours. Professional Teachers can offer more lesson types than Community Tutors.
- It strengthens your profile. On marketplaces like Preply and italki, students choose between tutors. A teaching certificate on your profile is one of the things they compare.
- It helps you keep students. Platforms pay you for lessons, not sign-ups. Knowing how to plan a lesson, correct mistakes and keep a student talking is what turns a trial lesson into a regular student.
- It opens other routes later. Many jobs abroad and online schools that hire directly ask for a 120-hour TEFL.
How do you get your first students?
Being accepted is the easy part. On marketplaces like Preply and italki, students choose you, so the first few weeks are about being found and turning trial lessons into regular students.
-
Build a profile students trust
Add a clear photo, a short introduction video and your certificate. italki requires an introduction video, and on both platforms your profile is what students compare. Say who you teach best, such as beginners, business English or exam preparation.
-
Price for your first reviews
italki’s guide for new English teachers suggests starting lower and raising your rate as reviews come in. On Preply, the platform keeps 100% of each trial lesson and 33% of later lessons at first, falling to 28% after 20 hours of teaching and to 18% as your hours grow.
-
Treat the trial lesson as the sale
Find out what the student needs, give them a short success in that lesson, and finish with a plan for the next few lessons. This is where lesson planning from a TEFL pays off.
-
Keep your calendar open
New tutors get more bookings when they offer plenty of times, especially evenings and weekends in the time zones their students live in.
Sources: Preply commission model, italki introduction video requirements and italki’s handbook for new English teachers.
Does a cheap TEFL work for teaching online?
Yes, for these platforms. None of them asks how much your course cost. italki’s requirement is about hours and accreditation: at least 120 hours, from an accredited institution. Preply and Cambly don’t require a certificate at all.
What to check before you buy:
A TEFL that works for online teaching
- At least 120 hours, to meet italki’s Professional Teacher requirement
- Accreditation you can show, with the accreditor named on the certificate or the provider’s website
- A digital certificate you can upload to your profile
- Practical content on planning lessons and teaching one-to-one, not just theory
For the full price range, from free to CELTA, see how much a TEFL course costs.
How simpleTEFL fits
simpleTEFL’s 120-hour course is US$29, one time, and ACCREDITAT-accredited. It includes a digital certificate you can upload to your profile and that employers can verify online, tutor and job support by email, and lifetime access. It meets the 120-hour, accredited standard italki asks for. As with any course, the platform decides whether to approve your application. If you’re in South Africa or the UK, see our guides to cheap TEFL for South Africans and cheap TEFL in the UK.
The course has a 30-day money-back guarantee for eligible purchases; the refund policy explains the conditions.
Sources and references
Platform pages were checked on 7 November 2026, except Preply's registration help (June 2026).
- Preply — register to teach
Used to check: no certificate required; profile approval.
- Preply — commission model
Used to check: trial lessons 100%; 33% falling to 18%.
- Preply — teach
Used to check: English tutors charge about US$15–25 an hour.
- Cambly — tutors
Used to check: no certificate needed; US$10.20 an hour.
- italki — Professional Teacher requirements
Used to check: accredited TEFL/TESOL of 120+ hours accepted.
- italki — introduction video guidelines
Used to check: introduction video required.
- Engoo — teach
Used to check: equipment and application requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a TEFL to teach on Preply?
No. Preply doesn't require a specific certificate or teaching experience, but you can add certificates to your profile. A TEFL helps your profile stand out and prepares you for trial lessons.
Do I need a TEFL to teach on Cambly?
No. Cambly says no teaching certificate, degree or experience is needed, but it does ask for native English speakers. It pays US$10.20 an hour, or US$12 on Cambly Kids.
Does italki accept a 120-hour TEFL?
Yes, for its Professional Teacher tier. italki accepts a TEFL or TESOL of at least 120 hours from an accredited institution as proof of teaching qualification. Without one, you can apply as a Community Tutor.
Is a cheap TEFL good enough for teaching online?
For most online platforms, yes. What matters is that it's 120 hours and accredited, and that you can show it on your profile. Price doesn't appear on the certificate.
Keep reading
Cheap TEFL course for South Africans: what US$29 (about R500) gets you
What simpleTEFL's US$29 course costs in rand, what it includes, and what South Africans need beyond a TEFL to teach online or abroad.
Cheap TEFL courses in the UK: what about £22 to £229 gets you in 2026
What cheap TEFL courses cost in the UK, what Ofqual regulation and accreditation mean, and what you need to teach in the UK, online or abroad.
Cheap TEFL courses with tutor support: what US$29–US$49 really gets you
What 'tutor support' means on budget TEFL courses, which ones include it at which price, and when it's worth paying more for marked work.