This article contains affiliate links. This means French Together may earn a commission for purchases made through these links. Read our full affiliate disclosure.

I’ve been hearing some pretty awesome things about iTalki lately, and it’s got me curious. You know how it goes—everyone can rave about something, but the real magic happens when you dive in and experience it yourself. I was thinking it might be worth a shot to see if it’s the ultimate spot for me to start learning French. So I decided to dive in and give it a try with different teachers for a week to find out if iTalki is my perfect match.
What is iTalki?
iTalki is an online language-learning platform that connects students with native and non-native-speaking teachers from around the world. It provides a range of language instruction options, from formal lessons with professional teachers to informal practice sessions with community tutors.
How does iTalki work?
Sign Up and Create a Profile
- Register: You can create an account on iTalki using your email or social media accounts.
- Profile Setup: Fill in your profile details, including the language you want to learn, your proficiency level, and your learning goals.
Search for a Tutor
- Browse Tutors: You can browse through a wide range of tutors, each with different skills, backgrounds, and pricing.
- Filter Options: Use filters to narrow down your search based on language, price, availability, and tutor type (community or professional).
- View Profiles: Check out tutor profiles to see their introduction videos, teaching styles, availability, and reviews from other students.
Book a Lesson
- Trial Lesson: Many tutors offer a discounted trial lesson, which is a great way to see if their teaching style suits you.
- Scheduling: Choose a time slot that works for you from the tutor’s available schedule.
- Payment: Pay for the lesson using the platform’s payment system called iTalki credits.
Take the Lesson
- Lesson Platform: Lessons can be conducted through iTalki’s built-in classroom, Zoom, or Skype.
- Lesson Structure: Depending on your agreement with the tutor, lessons can focus on conversation, grammar, vocabulary, or other areas you want to improve.
After the Lesson
- Feedback: After your lesson, you can leave feedback and a review for the tutor. This helps other students make informed decisions.
- Follow-Up: Continue booking lessons with the same tutor or explore others to diversify your learning experience.
The Good Stuff
- User-friendly
The platform is pretty easy to use and lets you set up your preferences to help find the right tutor. After signing up you can select the language you want to learn, if you’re an adult or child/teen, your language level, your interests, and your motivation for studying.

- Personalized Learning Experience
One of the coolest things about iTalki is how customizable it is. You get to pick from a bunch of teachers based on what they’re good at, how they teach, and even their personalities. So, whether you’re just starting out and need some solid structure or you’re already pretty advanced and want to chat more, there’s a tutor who’s got exactly what you need. I’d say finding a tutor is one of the fun parts, honestly. But it does help to have a clear idea of what you need and what your goals are. That way, picking the right tutor becomes way easier and quicker.

- Flexible Scheduling
Another awesome thing is how flexible it is. You can set up lessons whenever you want, which is great for my crazy schedule. The only downside is if the tutor you like isn’t free at your preferred time, you’ll have to either change your plans or pick someone else. But honestly, it may not be a big deal to some since there are tons of tutors to choose from. If you’re looking to learn French on your own terms, you might also want to check out other apps like French Together, which can be really effective too.
Some features I found useful during my lessons on iTalki
- There’s an internal messaging system that makes it really easy to chat with your tutor. You can message them before your session to discuss your goals and what you want to cover in your lesson. The system also keeps you updated with notifications and helpful tips.

- You get an email reminder a couple of hours before your lesson, which is a great heads-up so you don’t forget.
- The dashboard is handy because it gives you a quick look at all your upcoming lessons, iTalki balance, number of lessons completed, your learning plan and more.
- You have the flexibility to choose where you want to have the lesson—be it on Zoom, iTalki classroom, or Skype.

- When you view a tutor’s profile, they get notified and can reach out to you directly. I’ve had a couple of tutors message me to see if I had any questions about their availability, their teaching style, or if I was interested in their tutoring services.
- With iTalki, you can make your own learning plan and get AI-driven suggestions. Not a lot of language apps use AI like this. Another great app I use is the French Together app, which has a cool AI pronunciation checker that rates how you say words and gives you tips on how to improve. If you’re just starting out like I am, the AI feature on language learning apps is super useful and makes things a lot easier in your learning journey. I love having a tutor to guide me, but I also enjoy practicing on my own, so having another language-learning app that I can use anytime, anywhere is such a big help. It’s like having a personal tutor right on my phone.
What’s Not So Good
1. Inconsistent quality
On the flip side, one of the things that bugs me about iTalki is how hit-or-miss the quality can be. There are a lot of great tutors there, but the level of skill and professionalism can really vary.
I’ve booked lessons with a bunch of different tutors, and each has their own teaching style and suggestions. Some are awesome and super friendly, but I did run into one teacher who didn’t seem very professional. In our first session, we didn’t even dive into a real lesson; we just chatted about my goals and what she thought I should do. It felt like a bit of a waste as I was expecting to learn a few basic words, which I already mentioned to her.

We also ran an issue with their iTalki classroom—the tutor kept getting disconnected, which was such a hassle and a waste of time. We ended up switching to Skype to keep the lesson going.
The quality of the lessons also really depends on having a good internet connection. If your tutor has issues with their connection, don’t expect the class to finish on time. Some tutors are cool about it and will extend the lesson, but others stick strictly to the schedule, even if the class gets interrupted.
It might take a while to find the perfect fit, and some tutors just aren’t as prepared or engaging as you’d hope. So, my suggestion is to try a few different ones before you find the one that clicks with you. If you’re as busy as I am and don’t have a lot of spare time, it might be a bit of a challenge. You really have to invest some time into finding the perfect tutor who aligns with your learning goals and personality, which isn’t always easy when you’re juggling a hectic schedule.
2. Cost Variability
Some tutors on iTalki charge quite a bit, especially the really qualified ones. There are even some tutors who aren’t that great but still have high rates. It can be a real struggle trying to find the right balance between what you’re willing to pay and the quality of the tutor.
3. Platform Interface
As I said, the user interface is pretty easy to use, but I found that the iTalki classroom isn’t the most reliable. It feels like it needs high-speed internet compared to other video platforms. And not every tutor offers the option to do lessons on Zoom or Skype. So, if you’re looking to have the lesson outside of the iTalki classroom, it’s a good idea to check with the tutor ahead of time.
How much does each lesson cost?

One of the great things about iTalki is that there are no contracts tying you down—no monthly or yearly plans that auto-renew. It’s a pay-as-you-go setup, which I really like because it’s flexible and you only pay when you’re ready for a lesson. The platform itself is free to use, and the rates for each lesson vary based on the tutor’s pricing. This means you can take your time finding a tutor who fits both your learning style and your budget.
I’ve noticed that the cheapest lessons with a community tutor start at $4, while the lowest price for a professional tutor is around $10. What’s nice is that you can set your own price range from $4 – $80, which makes it much easier to find tutors who fit your budget. That way, you can compare options without breaking the bank.
Tutors also offer discounts if you buy lessons in a package, which is great if you’re planning to stick with a tutor long-term. It’s a good way to save some money, especially if you know you’ll need several lessons to get where you want to be. Plus, it gives you the chance to build a better rapport with your tutor.
Can I record my classes in iTalki?
If you’re curious, like I was, about whether you can record your lessons to review later, the answer is yes, but there’s a catch. You need your tutor’s permission, and both you and the tutor have to give iTalki permission to record. This setup is all about protecting both students and tutors. Once both parties have the permissions switched on, the button to record will show. After the lessons, the recordings are automatically saved to your computer, making it super easy to go back and review.

What’s the difference between iTalki’s Professional Tutors and Community Tutors?
At first, I didn’t even realize there were two types of tutors on iTalki, so I just booked lessons with whoever had a good vibe and ratings, not thinking about their qualifications or what they could offer. Then, I chatted with one of the community tutors, and she explained the difference to me. She even suggested that if I wanted to start from the basics, like a school setting, I should try a professional tutor. That’s when it hit me why some tutors charge more than others.
The main difference between iTalki Professional Tutors and Community Tutors boils down to their qualifications and how they teach. Professional Tutors are usually certified language teachers with formal training, like degrees in education or linguistics, and often have certifications such as TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA. They bring years of experience to the table, which helps them offer structured lessons tailored to specific goals. They focus on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other key language skills, and they can also help with exam prep and specialized academic or business language needs. Because of their expertise, they tend to charge more.
Community Tutors, on the flip side, are native or fluent speakers who might not have formal teaching credentials or professional experience. They’re all about creating an immersive, conversational learning experience. This makes them perfect for those who want to improve their speaking and listening skills through relaxed, real-life conversations. Their lessons are usually less structured, which is great if you’re looking to boost your fluency and confidence in everyday use of the language. Plus, they’re generally more budget-friendly, making them a cost-effective choice for many. In the end, whether you go for a Professional Tutor or a Community Tutor depends on what you’re looking to achieve, how much you’re willing to spend, and your preferred way of learning.

Is iTalki worth it? Here’s why I might suggest iTalki and why I might not:
I’d definitely tell people about iTalki if they want a flexible, personalized way to learn a language. It’s awesome because you can pick from tons of tutors with different teaching styles, so there’s something for everyone, no matter what your learning goals or schedule are. You can choose between professional tutors and community tutors, which is great whether you want a more structured lesson or just casual conversation practice.

But, if you’re someone who likes the feel of a traditional classroom or needs a set curriculum, iTalki might not be the best fit. The lesson quality can really depend on the tutor you choose, and it might take some time to find the right one. Also, if you’re on a tight budget, professional tutors can be a bit pricey compared to other language learning platforms.
I wouldn’t also recommend iTalki to beginners because it can be a bit overwhelming to navigate the platform and find the right tutor. As a newbie, it’s easy to get confused with so many choices and end up with a tutor who might not match your learning style. Also, the variability in teaching quality can be a bit of a gamble, especially if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for. It’s like jumping into the deep end without a clear sense of direction. If you’re just starting out, it might be better to go for a more structured program that lays out a clear learning path before diving into something like iTalki.
Overall, iTalki is a great tool. While iTalki offers valuable resources and flexibility, it may not suit everyone’s learning style, budget, or level.
If you’re someone who’s short on time and feels overwhelmed by one-on-one classes, iTalki might not be the best fit for you. In this case, self-paced apps might be a better choice, as they let you learn at your own speed and fit lessons into your schedule without the pressure of live classes.
If you’re looking for self-paced apps to learn French, there are some great choices out there:
- French Together: This one’s pretty awesome because it lets you learn French at your own pace and has an AI pronunciation checker that gives you real-time feedback to help you get your pronunciation right. It’s super handy if you want to make sure your speaking skills are sharp. The lessons are straightforward and fit well into your daily routine, making it ideal for flexible, self-guided learning.
- Duolingo: If you want something fun and engaging, Duolingo is a solid pick. It uses a game-like approach to make learning French enjoyable, with bite-sized lessons that you can easily slot into your day.
- Babbel: Babbel offers more structured lessons focused on practical conversation skills. It’s great for building a strong foundation with interactive exercises and real-life scenarios.
Personally, I prefer French Together because of its combination of practical lessons and the AI pronunciation checker, which is a unique feature not found in many other apps. It’s designed to make your learning experience smooth and effective, providing tools that help you practice and perfect your pronunciation, making it easier to speak French confidently.
If you’ve already picked a language-learning app and want to add French Together to your routine, it could help you learn more quickly. You can give it a try here! The first week is free!