Cambly vs. Preply: Best Platform for Speaking Practice

Want to improve your English-speaking skills but don’t know where to start?

Choosing the right platform can make all the difference!

Learning to speak a new language, especially English can feel overwhelming.

You might worry about making mistakes, sounding awkward, or not finding the right words.

That’s where online language platforms like Cambly and Preply come in—they connect you with tutors who can help you practice speaking in a comfortable, flexible way.

Both platforms are popular, but they’re not the same.

If your goal is to boost your speaking confidence, which one is better for you?

In this post, we’ll compare Cambly and Preply side by side, looking at how they work, their strengths and weaknesses, and which one might be the best fit for your speaking practice needs.

By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which platform suits you best.

This topic is part of our English Learning for English learners.

What Are Cambly and Preply?

Before diving into the comparison, let’s quickly explain what these platforms are.

Cambly is an online platform focused on conversational English practice.

It connects you with native English speakers from countries like the United States, Canada, and the UK. You can jump into a lesson anytime, without scheduling, making it super flexible.

Cambly is all about casual, real-time chats to help you feel more comfortable speaking English.

Preply, on the other hand, is a broader tutoring platform.

It offers lessons in many languages (including English) and even other subjects like math or science.

Preply lets you choose tutors based on their qualifications, price, and availability. Lessons are usually more structured, with a focus on personalized plans to meet your goals.

Both platforms aim to help you speak better, but they approach it differently.

Let’s break it down by looking at key factors: ease of use, tutor quality, lesson style, cost, flexibility, and overall effectiveness for speaking practice.

Ease of Use: Getting Started

When you’re learning a language, you don’t want a complicated platform slowing you down. Both Cambly and Preply are user-friendly, but they feel different to navigate.

Cambly is incredibly simple. You sign up, choose a subscription plan, and you’re ready to start talking.

There’s no need to book lessons in advance—you just log in, click “connect,” and you’re matched with an available tutor.

This makes it great if you want to practice speaking on a whim, like during a lunch break or late at night.

The interface is clean, with a video chat window and a few basic tools like a chatbox for typing corrections or questions.

Preply takes a bit more effort to get started. After signing up, you browse tutors by filtering for things like price, availability, or expertise (e.g., conversational English or exam prep).

You can watch tutor intro videos to get a feel for their style, which is helpful but takes time.

Once you pick a tutor, you book a lesson slot and often start with a trial session.

The platform has more features, like lesson materials and progress tracking, but it can feel overwhelming if you just want to jump into speaking.

Verdict: Cambly wins for ease of use if you want to start talking right away with minimal setup. Preply is better if you’re willing to spend a little time choosing a tutor for a tailored experience.

Tutor Quality: Who’s Teaching You?

The quality of your tutor can make or break your speaking practice. Both platforms have thousands of tutors, but their backgrounds and teaching styles differ.

Cambly focuses on native English speakers. Many tutors are friendly and approachable, but not all are professional teachers.

Some are just regular people who enjoy chatting and helping others practice English. This can be great for casual conversation—you’ll feel like you’re talking to a friend.

However, if you want structured lessons or grammar explanations, you might need to search for tutors with teaching certifications, which Cambly does offer but doesn’t always highlight.

Preply has a wider range of tutors, including native speakers and non-native speakers who are fluent in English.

Many Preply tutors are professional teachers with qualifications like TEFL or CELTA, and they often specialize in areas like business English, pronunciation, or test prep.

You can see detailed tutor profiles, including their experience, ratings, and student reviews, which helps you pick someone who matches your needs.

However, tutor quality can vary, and you might need to try a few to find the perfect fit.

Verdict: Cambly is ideal if you want to chat with native speakers for natural, everyday conversation. Preply is better if you prefer a qualified teacher who can give you structured feedback on your speaking.

Lesson Style: How Do You Practice Speaking?

Since your goal is speaking practice, the type of lessons each platform offers is super important.

Cambly is all about conversation. Lessons feel like relaxed chats, and you can talk about anything—your day, a movie you watched, or even your favorite food.

Tutors are trained to keep the conversation flowing and correct your mistakes gently. You can ask for specific topics or role-plays (like practicing a job interview), but there’s no formal curriculum.

This makes Cambly perfect for building confidence and fluency, especially if you’re shy or new to speaking English.

However, if you want a clear plan to improve specific skills (like pronunciation or vocabulary), you might need to guide the lesson yourself.

Preply offers more structure. Tutors often create personalized lesson plans based on your goals, which might include speaking exercises, vocabulary drills, or pronunciation practice.

For example, a tutor might have you practice telling a story, then give you feedback on your grammar and word choice.

Many tutors use slides, worksheets, or videos to make lessons engaging.

This can be great for focused speaking practice, but some tutors might lean too heavily on written exercises, which could take time away from talking.

You’ll need to communicate your preference for speaking-focused lessons when booking.

Verdict: Cambly shines for casual, low-pressure conversation that mimics real-life speaking. Preply is better if you want targeted speaking practice with clear feedback and structure.

Cost: What’s the Price Tag?

Budget matters when choosing a platform. Both Cambly and Preply have flexible pricing, but they work differently.

Cambly uses a subscription model. Plans start at around $19 per month for 30 minutes a week and go up to $179 or more for daily lessons.

The price depends on how often you want to practice and whether you choose group classes or one-on-one sessions.

You pay upfront, and unused minutes don’t roll over, which can feel limiting.

Cambly sometimes offers discounts, but it’s generally pricier if you want frequent lessons.

For casual learners, though, the lower-tier plans are affordable.

Preply lets tutors set their own rates, so prices vary widely—anywhere from $5 to $50 per hour. English lessons typically cost $15–$25 per hour, with native speakers charging more.

You pay per lesson or buy a package, and many tutors offer a discounted trial lesson (around $5–$10).

This pay-as-you-go model gives you control over spending, but costs can add up if you book multiple lessons a week. Preply also takes a commission from tutors, which might affect their rates.

Verdict: Cambly’s subscriptions are simpler but less flexible, making them better for consistent, casual practice. Preply’s pay-per-lesson model is more budget-friendly if you want to control部分

Verdict: Preply offers better value if you’re strategic about choosing affordable tutors, while Cambly’s fixed pricing suits those who prefer predictability.

Flexibility: Fitting Into Your Schedule

Language learning works best when it fits your life. Both platforms are designed for flexibility, but they cater to different schedules.

Cambly is the king of spontaneity. You can log in and start a lesson whenever you have 10 minutes or an hour to spare—no planning required.

This is perfect if you have a busy or unpredictable schedule, like a student or working professional.

You can practice from anywhere with an internet connection, whether you’re at home or traveling.

Preply requires scheduling lessons in advance, which can be a hassle if your availability changes often.

Tutors set their own hours, so you’ll need to find someone whose schedule matches yours. This can be tricky if you’re in a different time zone or want last-minute practice.

However, once you book a regular slot (like every Tuesday at 7 p.m.), it’s easy to build a routine.

Verdict: Cambly wins for ultimate flexibility with its no-scheduling-needed approach. Preply is better if you prefer a consistent schedule with the same tutor.

Effectiveness for Speaking Practice

Now, the big question: which platform helps you speak better?

Both Cambly and Preply can improve your speaking skills, but their effectiveness depends on your goals.

Cambly excels at building fluency and confidence. Its casual, chat-based lessons mimic real-world conversations, helping you think on your feet and speak naturally.

Regular practice with native speakers exposes you to different accents, slang, and cultural nuances, which is invaluable for everyday communication.

However, without structure, you might plateau if you don’t actively work on specific weaknesses, like pronunciation or grammar.

Preply is great for targeted improvement. A good tutor can pinpoint your speaking challenges—say, overusing certain words or mumbling—and give you exercises to fix them.

Structured lessons can help you expand your vocabulary, refine your accent, or prepare for specific situations (like giving a presentation).

The downside? If your tutor focuses too much on written tasks or grammar, you might not get enough actual speaking time.

To test their effectiveness, I tried both platforms for a week, focusing on speaking practice. On Cambly, I had three 15-minute sessions with different tutors.

The conversations were fun and relaxed—I talked about my hobbies, travel plans, and even practiced ordering food in English.

The tutors corrected my mistakes gently, like when I said “I have went” instead of “I have gone.” I felt more confident speaking, but I wasn’t sure how to measure my progress.

On Preply, I booked two 60-minute lessons with a tutor who specialized in conversational English. She had me describe pictures, role-play a job interview, and practice storytelling.

After each task, she gave me specific feedback, like “Slow down when you’re excited—you’re hard to understand.” I recorded one lesson and noticed improvement in my clarity by the second session.

However, scheduling the lessons took effort, and I had to remind her to focus on speaking rather than worksheets.

Verdict: Cambly is better for building fluency and confidence through frequent, low-stakes practice. Preply is more effective for measurable improvement in specific speaking skills, provided you choose a speaking-focused tutor.

Extra Features: What Else Do They Offer?

Beyond speaking practice, both platforms have tools to enhance your learning.

Cambly offers recorded lessons, so you can rewatch your sessions and hear how you sound. It also has a basic translation tool and a chatbox for tutors to share links or vocabulary.

Some tutors use “Cambly Classroom,” a feature with pre-made conversation prompts, but it’s not as robust as Preply’s resources.

Cambly also has group classes for cheaper practice, though they’re less personalized.

Preply provides more learning materials. Tutors often share slides, articles, or audio clips to spark discussion.

The platform has a free level test for English, Spanish, French, or German, which helps you start at the right level.

Preply’s progress tracker lets you see how many lessons you’ve taken and what skills you’ve worked on, which is motivating.

Some tutors even assign homework, like recording a short speech for feedback.

Verdict: Preply offers more tools and resources for a well-rounded learning experience. Cambly’s extras are simpler but still useful for casual practice.

Community and Support

Learning a language can feel lonely, so community and support matter.

Cambly has a friendly vibe, with tutors who act like conversation partners. There’s no formal community forum, but you can connect with tutors via chat during lessons.

Customer support is responsive, with live chat and email options if you run into issues, like billing errors or tech glitches.

Preply fosters a sense of connection through tutor profiles and reviews, which make you feel part of a global learning community.

You can message tutors directly to ask questions or customize lessons. Preply’s support team is helpful, though response times can be slower than Cambly’s, especially for refund requests.

Verdict: Cambly feels more personal during lessons, while Preply’s tutor network creates a broader sense of community.

Which Platform Is Right for You?

Choosing between Cambly and Preply depends on your speaking goals, budget, and lifestyle.

Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

Choose Cambly if:

• • You want to practice speaking English casually, without planning.
  • You love chatting with native speakers about everyday topics.
  • You have a busy schedule and need flexibility.
  • You’re a beginner or intermediate learner who wants to build confidence.

Choose Preply if:

• • You want structured lessons to improve specific speaking skills.
  • You’re okay with scheduling lessons and browsing tutors.
  • You’re on a budget and want to control costs by choosing affordable tutors.
  • You’re an intermediate or advanced learner aiming for polished communication.

Final Thoughts

Both Cambly and Preply are fantastic for speaking practice, but they cater to different needs.

Cambly makes speaking English feel easy and fun, like catching up with a friend.

It’s perfect if you want to dive into conversations without overthinking.

Preply, though, gives you a roadmap to get better, with tutors who can fine-tune your skills.

It’s ideal if you’re ready to put in a bit more effort for clear results.

If you’re still unsure, why not try both?

Cambly offers a free 10-minute trial, and many Preply tutors have low-cost trial lessons.

Test them out, see which vibe you like, and start speaking with confidence.

Whichever you choose, the key is to keep practicing—every conversation brings you closer to fluency.

So, what’s your next step?

Will you jump into a casual chat on Cambly or book a focused lesson on Preply?

Let me know in the comments!