An italki review for English teachers in 2026: how the tutor marketplace works, the 21%–15% commission structure, Professional Teacher vs Community Tutor requirements, payouts, and why English applications are often closed.
This italki review for English teachers explains how the platform works if you want to earn money teaching, not learning, a language. italki is a long-running tutor marketplace where you set your own lesson prices and hours, and it keeps a commission on each lesson. The catch in 2026 is that English teacher applications are frequently closed, and the commission on single lessons is now higher than the 15% many older reviews quote.
TL;DR
- Status (2026): italki is operating, with 20,000+ teachers and 150+ languages, but applications for English are often closed. italki updates the open/closed list every Monday, so check before you apply.
- Commission: italki’s help centre lists 21% on single lessons, 19% on 5-lesson packages, 17% on 10-lesson packages, 15% on 15–20-lesson packages, 30% on group classes and 0% on trial and instant lessons.
- Pay: you set your own rate. Minimums are $10 per lesson for Professional Teachers and $5 for Community Tutors, with a $120 maximum.
- Requirements: Professional Teachers upload teaching certificates and experience (a degree and a 120-hour TEFL are the usual route); Community Tutors need no formal qualification.
- Payment: withdraw in USD via PayPal, Hyperwallet, Payoneer or bank transfer through Payoneer; the minimum withdrawal is $30.
- Verdict: great for self-employed tutors who want to build a private student base, poor for anyone who needs guaranteed hours from day one.
Last updated: November 2026
Table of Contents
- What Is italki and Is It Still Hiring in 2026?
- Who Is italki Best For?
- italki Pay, Commission and Schedule
- italki Teacher Requirements
- How to Apply to Teach English on italki
- italki Pros and Cons for Teachers
- italki vs Preply, Verbling and AmazingTalker
- Related Guides
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is italki and Is It Still Hiring in 2026?
italki is an online language-learning marketplace founded in 2006 that connects students with independent teachers for one-to-one video lessons. It is not a school that employs you and it does not hand you a timetable. You build a teacher profile, set your prices and availability, and students choose and book you directly.
The platform is very much active in 2026. italki says it has more than 20,000 teachers, 150+ languages and millions of learners from over 190 countries. English is its largest language, which is both the opportunity and the problem: there are so many English tutors that italki regularly pauses new English applications.
italki publishes a weekly list of languages open for new teachers, refreshed every Monday. In mid-2026 English, Spanish, French, Chinese and several other major languages were marked closed for both Professional Teachers and Community Tutors, and italki states that a language can close at any time once enough applicants apply, with no set reopening date. If English is closed when you check, keep an eye on the list and line up other platforms in the meantime.
Who Is italki Best For?
italki suits teachers who want to run a small tutoring business rather than follow a company script. It works best if you can market yourself through a strong profile video and keep regular students coming back.
- Qualified, experienced ESL teachers who can charge Professional Teacher rates for exam preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge), business English or structured courses.
- Conversation tutors without a degree, who can apply as Community Tutors when English is open. Our guide to teaching English online without a degree covers other options.
- Teachers anywhere in the world. italki does not restrict teachers by nationality or location the way some company platforms do, but competition on price is intense.
- Bilingual teachers who can also offer a second language that is currently open for applications.
It is a weaker fit if you need steady income immediately. Because students find you, new profiles can take weeks or months to fill a calendar. If this is your first online teaching job, a platform that assigns students may be an easier start.
italki Pay, Commission and Schedule
On italki you choose your own hourly or 30/45/60-minute lesson rates within the platform’s limits, and italki deducts a commission when the lesson is completed. Your real earnings depend on your price, how many students buy packages and how many hours you can fill.
How much commission does italki take?
| Lesson type | italki commission (2026) | You keep on a $25 lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Trial lesson / Instant lesson | 0% | Full trial price |
| Single lesson | 21% | About $19.75 |
| 5-lesson package | 19% | About $20.25 |
| 10-lesson package | 17% | About $20.75 |
| 15- or 20-lesson package | 15% | About $21.25 |
| Group class | 30% | About $17.50 |
This is the most important correction to older italki reviews, which quote a flat 15%. Today 15% applies only to the largest packages, so encouraging regular students to buy packages makes a real difference to your income. Trial lessons carry no commission but are sold at a discounted price.
Rate limits and what English tutors charge
| Professional Teacher | Community Tutor | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum price per lesson | $10 | $5 |
| Maximum price per lesson | $120 | $120 |
| Typical focus | Structured lessons, materials, exam and business English | Conversation practice and informal help |
| Credentials shown on profile | Education, work experience, certificates | Work experience, certificates |
Because English is crowded, new English tutors usually start near the lower end of their category and raise prices once they have reviews and repeat students. Specialising, for example in IELTS speaking or English for software engineers, is the most reliable way to charge more.
Schedule and payment
There are no minimum hours. You open time slots in your calendar, block holidays when you like, and decide whether to accept instant lessons. Earnings are held as italki credits in USD, and you can withdraw once you have at least $30 via PayPal, Hyperwallet, Payoneer or bank transfer through Payoneer. italki does not charge a withdrawal fee, but the payment provider may, and withdrawals are processed in batches rather than instantly. Full figures are in our italki requirements and salary guide.
italki Teacher Requirements
Every applicant chooses one teacher type, and that choice applies to all languages on the account. You can start as a Community Tutor and upgrade later.
| Requirement | Professional Teacher | Community Tutor |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18+ | 18+ |
| English level | Native speaker or proven C2-level proficiency | Native speaker or proven C2-level proficiency |
| Degree | Commonly expected (any subject; English, linguistics or education preferred) | Not required |
| Teaching certificate | Yes: upload proof of teacher training (a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL, CELTA or teaching licence) | Not required |
| Teaching experience | Expected and documented | Not required |
| Video introduction | Yes | Yes |
| Equipment | Computer, webcam, headset, stable internet | Computer, webcam, headset, stable internet |
If you plan to apply as a Professional Teacher and do not yet hold a qualification, a 120-hour TEFL course is the standard minimum most online platforms recognise. For a wider view of what employers expect across the industry, see our pillar guide to the requirements to teach English online.
How to Apply to Teach English on italki
- Check the open-language list. Confirm English (or another language you teach) is open this week on italki’s help centre.
- Apply at teach.italki.com on a computer. The application cannot be submitted from the mobile app.
- Choose your teacher type and upload certificates if you are applying as a Professional Teacher.
- Record a 1–3 minute introduction video in good light with clear audio, speaking mostly in English at a level learners can follow.
- Wait for a decision. italki says applicants hear back within 10 business days.
- Complete onboarding within 15 days of pre-approval: ID verification, Teacher Success tutorial videos, account setup tutorials and quizzes.
- Set prices and open your calendar. Offer trial lessons, respond quickly to messages and ask satisfied students for reviews.
Applications are mostly declined for incomplete profiles or documents that do not meet the standard, so check every field before you submit. You cannot edit an application once it is sent without contacting support.
italki Pros and Cons for Teachers
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You set your own prices, up to $120 per lesson | English applications are often closed |
| Fully flexible schedule with no minimum hours | Single-lesson commission is 21%, not the 15% older reviews quote |
| Community Tutor route open to non-graduates | Heavy price competition among English tutors |
| 0% commission on trial lessons | No guaranteed students; income can be slow to build |
| Global student base across 190+ countries | Cancellations and inactive students mean lost income |
| Regular USD payouts via PayPal or Payoneer | Group classes carry a 30% commission |
italki vs Preply, Verbling and AmazingTalker
italki belongs to the tutor-marketplace segment: you market yourself and set your prices. If English is closed on italki, the closest alternatives work the same way.
| Platform | Model | How you are paid | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| italki | Marketplace, set your own rate | 21% on single lessons, sliding to 15% on large packages | Building long-term private students |
| Preply | Marketplace, set your own rate | Preply keeps the first lesson with each new student, then a sliding commission | High student volume and visibility |
| Verbling | Marketplace, set your own rate | Commission per lesson | Qualified teachers wanting a smaller, curated platform |
| AmazingTalker | Marketplace, set your own rate | Commission per lesson | Reaching learners in Taiwan, Japan and the wider Asia market |
Many tutors keep profiles on two or three marketplaces so that a slow month on one is balanced by bookings elsewhere. Read our Preply review for teachers and Verbling review to compare commissions and requirements before you commit your time to profile building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is italki legit for English teachers?
Yes. italki has operated since 2006, lists more than 20,000 teachers and pays teachers in USD through PayPal, Hyperwallet and Payoneer. It is a genuine marketplace, not a scam. The main limits are that English applications are often closed and that you must find and keep your own students, so income is not guaranteed.
How much commission does italki take in 2026?
italki’s help centre lists 21% on single lessons, 19% on 5-lesson packages, 17% on 10-lesson packages and 15% on 15- or 20-lesson packages. Group classes carry 30%, and trial and instant lessons carry 0%. Selling packages to regular students is the simplest way to keep more of your lesson price.
Is italki accepting English teachers right now?
Often not. italki publishes a list of open and closed teaching languages that updates every Monday, and English was closed for both Professional Teachers and Community Tutors in mid-2026. Closures have no set end date, so check the list regularly and apply to other tutor marketplaces in the meantime.
What is the difference between a Professional Teacher and a Community Tutor on italki?
Professional Teachers provide structured lessons and materials and must upload teaching certificates and experience; they can charge from $10 per lesson. Community Tutors offer conversation practice, need no formal qualification and can charge from $5. You choose one type for all languages but can upgrade from Community Tutor later.
Do I need a degree or TEFL to teach on italki?
Not as a Community Tutor, which only requires native or C2-level English, a video introduction and suitable equipment. To apply as a Professional Teacher you need documented teacher training and experience, and a degree plus a 120-hour TEFL certificate is the most common way to meet that standard.
How do italki teachers get paid?
Your earnings are held as italki credits in USD after each completed lesson. Once you have at least $30 you can withdraw via PayPal, Hyperwallet, Payoneer or bank transfer through Payoneer. italki does not charge a withdrawal fee, but the payment provider may deduct its own fee depending on your country.
Conclusion
italki remains one of the best places to build a private English tutoring business, provided you can get through the door while English applications are open and you price with the 21% single-lesson commission in mind. Check this week’s open-language list, prepare your certificates and video, and compare it with other options in our guide to the requirements to teach English online.
