Executive verdict
Preply, italki and Verbling sell access to individual Dutch teachers, but their payment systems distribute the cost of finding and retaining students differently. Preply keeps the entire new-student trial payment and takes 18% to 33% from subsequent lessons [1]. italki’s reported current schedule takes 21% on singles and 15% to 19% on packages, with no trial commission. We corroborated that schedule through secondary evidence, but could not retrieve the official policy directly [2]. Verbling publishes a 15% teacher commission and a separate 8% learner checkout fee [3][4].
The honest verdict is conditional. italki suits learners who want individual purchases and tutors who want paid trials. Preply suits a regular tutoring relationship when its subscription fits the learner’s schedule. Verbling offers a simpler teacher commission, but its advertised lesson price understates the learner’s payment when the checkout fee applies. Preply’s standard renewal interval is 28 days, rather than a calendar month [5].
Preply also appears to offer the largest Dutch selection in the evidence examined. However, the independent index and public search count different populations [6][7]. Neither establishes how many suitable teachers can accept your preferred time.
Choose by the regular lesson’s duration, final checkout amount, commitment and teaching fit. A lower commission alone does not establish better lessons, higher tutor income or a cheaper learning programme.
Preply vs italki Dutch: what fees actually reach the learner?
The advertised lesson price and the platform’s teacher commission are different quantities. Your final bill can also include payment fees and taxes, while your tutor receives less than the advertised lesson amount.
A useful comparison separates the lesson subtotal, learner checkout additions, teacher deductions and later withdrawal costs. Otherwise, a claim such as “the platform takes this percentage” can describe several different things.
Preply’s payment guidance says checkout includes the lesson purchase, a processing fee and applicable taxes. Processing fees and taxes appear together under “Taxes & Fees”. It does not provide a universal processing percentage on that page [8]. Consequently, we cannot responsibly publish one Preply surcharge for every Dutch learner.
italki’s developer has explained on its App Store listing that an additional payment fee goes to the third-party payment provider. That response is historical evidence about the fee’s recipient, not a current universal tariff [9]. Check the actual payment screen instead of applying a percentage reported by another learner in another country.
Verbling is more explicit: its published Trust and Support Fee is 8% of the final amount paid by card or PayPal. Credits and coupons can reduce the payment base to which it applies [4].
| Platform | Teacher-side regular commission | Learner-side addition | What requires checking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preply | 18% to 33%, depending on accumulated platform teaching hours [1] | Processing fee and applicable taxes [8] | Your checkout total and subscription allocation |
| italki | Reported 21% on singles, falling to 15% on qualifying larger packages [2][10] | Payment-provider fees are acknowledged by the developer [9] | Current payment method, package terms and final total |
| Verbling | 15% of the teacher rate [3] | Published 8% on the amount paid by card or PayPal [4] | Credits, coupons and any other checkout additions |
What does Verbling really take?
Consider a hypothetical USD 100 lesson subtotal paid entirely by card. Applying the published rates, the learner pays USD 108 and the teacher retains USD 85 before withdrawal costs. The commission and checkout fee together amount to USD 23, or approximately 21.3% of the learner’s payment. These are our calculations from [3][4], excluding any other charges.
That does not mean Verbling charges teachers a 23% commission. It means the transaction has deductions on both sides. Keeping the denominators visible prevents a misleading comparison with platforms whose learner additions remain variable.
For budgeting, record the checkout total. For tutor economics, record the lesson subtotal and deductions. For platform revenue analysis, exclude taxes and distinguish charges collected for payment providers from charges retained by the platform.
How much commission does Preply take, and does italki still take 15%?
Preply reduces regular commission as a tutor accumulates teaching hours. italki’s reported schedule reduces commission according to the purchase format, while Verbling publishes a flat teacher commission [1][2][3].
These are different incentives. Preply rewards accumulated activity on the platform. italki rewards larger student commitments. Neither mechanism establishes a teacher’s qualifications.
Preply’s commission tiers
Preply’s English help article confirms the starting rate, the first reduction and the lowest rate. Its French version supplies the complete table, allowing a second official-language check [1][11].
| Completed teaching hours, using Preply’s published bands | Regular commission | Tutor retains before other deductions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 20 | 33% [11] | 67%, our calculation from [11] |
| 21 to 50 | 28% [11] | 72%, our calculation from [11] |
| 51 to 200 | 25% [11] | 75%, our calculation from [11] |
| 201 to 400 | 22% [11] | 78%, our calculation from [11] |
| More than 400 | 18% [11] | 82%, our calculation from [11] |
The accumulated hours belong to the tutor’s platform history, rather than a separate history with each student. Trial lessons also count towards that history [1]. An established teacher therefore does not return to the starting regular commission when a new learner arrives, although the new-student trial remains subject to the trial rule.
The table reproduces the platform’s terminology. It should not be used to convert dashboard hours into clock time without checking how Preply accounts for lesson units.
italki’s reported package schedule
The blanket statement that italki takes 15% is incomplete. A detailed reconstruction checked against linked platform documents reports the following schedule [2]. A learner discussion reproduces the same official help-table wording, providing a separate historical cross-check [12].
| italki purchase format | Reported commission |
|---|---|
| Trial and Instant Lesson trial | 0% [12] |
| Single lesson | 21% [12] |
| Five-lesson package | 19% [12] |
| Ten-lesson package | 17% [12] |
| Fifteen-lesson package | 15% [12] |
| Twenty-lesson package | 15% [12] |
| Group class | 30% [12] |
We treat this as a corroborated reported schedule, not a directly inspected current official page. The reconstruction also notes that the sizes in the commission table do not necessarily match every package available to students [2].
For tutors, the practical implication is that seniority alone does not secure the lowest italki rate. For learners, the tutor’s incentive to sell a package can reflect both continuity and the commission difference. Ask about the total commitment before interpreting a package recommendation as purely educational advice.
Are trial lessons free, and do Dutch tutors get paid?
Preply trials are paid by the learner but generate no lesson payment for the tutor. italki trials are reported as commission-free, while Verbling distinguishes a free first trial from subsequent paid trials [1][12][15].
The word “trial” describes an introductory booking. It does not tell you who pays, who receives the money or how much teaching the session contains.
Preply offers a choice of 25 or 50 minutes and describes introductions, a level check, a sample activity and a proposed learning plan [13]. Its tutor guidance recommends spending no more than 10 minutes actually teaching during the trial, with the remaining purpose being assessment and planning [1]. A learner expecting a full regular lesson can therefore encounter a different product from the one imagined.
Verbling’s student help page describes a discounted 30-minute session and limits learners to one trial with each teacher [14]. Its teacher article describes a free first platform trial and subsequent trials at a flat USD 6 [15]. The public Dutch page also advertises a free 30-minute trial [16]. We could not verify the teacher’s exact payment for either Verbling trial category.
| Platform | Learner’s introductory booking | Tutor economics |
|---|---|---|
| Preply | Paid trial, 25 or 50 minutes [13] | Entire trial payment retained by Preply [1] |
| italki | A separately priced trial where offered; inspect the selected duration | Reported 0% commission [12] |
| Verbling | First platform trial advertised as free; teacher guidance describes subsequent USD 6 trials [15][16] | Exact trial payout could not be verified |
The acquisition cost hidden inside regular commission
A Preply tutor’s effective deduction across a student relationship exceeds the regular percentage when an unpaid trial is included.
Our illustrative calculation assumes one trial followed by four regular lessons, all carrying the same lesson subtotal. Holding regular commission constant at 33%, the tutor retains 53.6% of the combined lesson subtotals: an effective deduction of 46.4%. At a constant 18% regular commission, the effective deduction is 34.4%. These are scenario calculations from [1], not observed Dutch tutor averages.
If the same trial leads to twenty regular lessons, those effective deductions fall to approximately 36.2% and 21.9%, respectively. This calculation again holds the commission constant and assumes equal trial and regular subtotals [1].
This suggests that retention matters greatly to Preply tutor earnings. It does not establish that the platform produces better retention than its competitors. We found no comparable Dutch-specific conversion data.
Selecting the shorter Preply trial reduces the tutor’s unpaid attendance time from 50 to 25 minutes [13]. It can be appropriate when you mainly need to discuss goals and test communication. Use a longer introduction when the additional assessment would help you decide, and clarify expectations beforehand.
How much do Dutch tutors keep after platform commission?
At an equal regular lesson subtotal per unit of teaching time, Verbling and larger italki packages leave the highest amounts under the published or reported base schedules. Actual take-home also depends on trials, preparation, withdrawals, currency conversion and taxes.
The essential normalization is duration. Preply’s Dutch cards price a 50-minute lesson [7]. Verbling describes ordinary private lessons as approximately an hour, allowing a short interval before the next lesson [17]. An italki comparison must use the selected regular lesson duration, rather than the trial card or the cheapest course option.
An equal-duration illustration
The following is our controlled example, not a survey of asking prices. We assume USD 30 per 60 minutes of regular teaching: USD 25 for a Preply 50-minute lesson, and USD 30 for a nominal hour elsewhere. Results apply the commission schedules in [1][3][12]. They exclude trials, package discounts, rounding, checkout additions, withdrawal charges and taxes.
| Platform and format | Assumed lesson subtotal | Tutor retains per sold lesson | Equivalent retained per 60 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preply, starting commission | USD 25 per 50 minutes [7] | USD 16.75, our calculation from [1] | USD 20.10, our calculation from [1][7] |
| Preply, lowest commission | USD 25 per 50 minutes [7] | USD 20.50, our calculation from [1] | USD 24.60, our calculation from [1][7] |
| italki, single | Assumed USD 30 per 60 minutes | USD 23.70, our calculation from [12] | USD 23.70, our calculation from [12] |
| italki, five-lesson package | Assumed USD 30 per 60 minutes | USD 24.30, our calculation from [12] | USD 24.30, our calculation from [12] |
| italki, ten-lesson package | Assumed USD 30 per 60 minutes | USD 24.90, our calculation from [12] | USD 24.90, our calculation from [12] |
| italki, fifteen or twenty lessons | Assumed USD 30 per 60 minutes | USD 25.50, our calculation from [12] | USD 25.50, our calculation from [12] |
| Verbling, regular lesson | Assumed USD 30 per nominal hour [17] | USD 25.50, our calculation from [3] | USD 25.50 per nominal hour, our calculation from [3][17] |
This reveals an easily missed result: an established Preply tutor can retain more from an equal-duration regular subtotal than an italki tutor selling singles. Trials can reverse that advantage across the whole relationship.
It also explains why equal-looking card prices are misleading. Paying USD 30 for 50 minutes corresponds to USD 36 per 60 minutes, our duration calculation from [7]. The additional amount reflects the unit comparison before considering any checkout fee.
Retained revenue is not an hourly wage
Suppose a hypothetical tutor receives USD 25.50 for a nominal teaching hour but spends another 20 minutes preparing and administering it. Revenue per working hour becomes approximately USD 19.13, our calculation using the Verbling retention rate in [3] and our stated workload assumption.
That is not evidence that Dutch tutors typically prepare for that duration. It illustrates why a public profile cannot reveal an hourly wage. Reusable material, specialist marking, messages, empty booking gaps and student acquisition all change the denominator.
Preply’s withdrawal guidance lists an EU bank-transfer fixed fee of USD 0.56 and a 0.29% conversion fee for EUR, subject to the displayed withdrawal conditions [18]. Verbling lists transfer charges of USD 1 for US PayPal, USD 2 for international PayPal, and USD 3 for Payoneer or Wise, applying to teachers who joined after 9 August 2017. Provider costs may also apply [19].
These examples show why the amount deposited can be lower than the wallet balance. A tutor should compare payout routes and record actual working time. A learner should understand that the listed price funds more than the minutes visible on a video call.
Preply subscriptions vs italki packages: when does commitment cost more?
Preply’s standard model creates a recurring scheduling obligation. italki and Verbling offer individual lesson purchases alongside packages, which can reduce the recurring-payment commitment but still require scrutiny of package conditions [5][9][3].
Preply’s current subscription guidance specifies a minimum of four lessons per 28-day cycle. Unscheduled lessons expire at renewal, while already scheduled lessons remain protected and can occur afterwards [5]. This distinction matters more than a vague statement that lessons “expire monthly”.
If a hypothetical learner buys four equal-price lessons but loses one unscheduled lesson, the lesson subtotal per completed session rises by approximately 33.3%. That is our calculation from the expiry mechanism in [5], assuming three lessons taken and no recovery or refund.
Scheduling can be more valuable than a lower sticker price
Before subscribing, inspect the teacher’s calendar across the coming weeks. A suitable teacher whose available slots repeatedly clash with work is a costly choice even at an attractive rate.
Preply’s pause guidance allows renewal to move by up to 20 days within a billing cycle. Lessons remain available until the adjusted renewal date, but renewal then resumes automatically [20]. A pause therefore buys scheduling flexibility; it does not permanently stop billing.
Cancellation and refund are separate actions. Preply says a refund may be available when no lessons from the billing cycle have been used and the request arrives within 28 days of the charge. Requests are reviewed individually [21]. Do not budget on the assumption that cancellation automatically returns the latest payment.
A lower package commission may accompany a lower lesson price
italki’s larger-package commission benefits the teacher only after allowing for any package discount. In a hypothetical example, a USD 30 single lesson at 21% commission leaves USD 23.70. Discounting that lesson by 10% and applying 15% commission leaves USD 22.95. These are our calculations from the reported schedule in [12].
This suggests that selling packages can improve continuity without improving revenue per taught lesson. The outcome depends on the teacher’s prices and whether the learner completes the purchase as planned.
Verbling’s rate guidance publishes package discounts of 3% for five lessons, 6% for ten and 9% for twenty [22]. Applying the largest discount to our hypothetical USD 30 rate gives a USD 27.30 lesson subtotal. The tutor retains approximately USD 23.21, and an entirely card-funded purchase becomes approximately USD 29.48 per lesson after the checkout fee. These are our calculations from [4][22].
The rate guidance is older, so inspect the package actually offered. It also distinguishes platform-funded promotions from ordinary package pricing: a promotional discount paid by Verbling can leave the teacher’s usual payment intact [22].
How many Dutch tutors are on Preply, italki and Verbling?
Preply has the largest Dutch profile pool in the evidence examined. Exact comparable counts of active, bookable teachers could not be established.
The Dutch Directory’s latest index describes public profiles collected on 11 October 2026 [6]. Preply’s own unfiltered Dutch search displayed a smaller total [7].
| Platform | Dutch Directory indexed profiles | Platform listing evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Preply | 668 [6] | Public search displayed 474 teachers [7] |
| italki | 203 [6] | Direct listing could not be retrieved |
| Verbling | 23 [6] | Retrieved page mixed a zero-results heading with a Dutch teacher card [16] |
These are different measurement frames. Indexed profiles can include people outside the population returned by a particular search. Filter state, cached content, acceptance of new students and listing rules are possible explanations, but we could not isolate their contributions.
The Verbling response is particularly instructive. Its zero-results message appeared alongside a Dutch-speaking teacher card [16]. Treating that heading as evidence that the platform has no Dutch teachers would be an extraction error.
Likewise, subtracting the Preply search total from the index cannot produce an inactivity rate. It would require matching profile identifiers and testing availability under consistent conditions.
The supply that matters is available teaching capacity
A learner needs a suitable appointment, not merely a profile. A tutor needs student demand, not merely a marketplace with many colleagues. Neither side can infer those outcomes from the count alone.
A better search keeps budget, time zone, teaching language and goal constant, then checks the calendars of plausible candidates. Record whether each teacher accepts new students and offers the intended course. Repeating that check provides a more useful view than comparing broad marketing totals.
For Flanders, examine experience with the variety of Dutch you want to use and the setting in which you will use it. For an irregular overseas schedule, calendar compatibility can matter more than the platform’s apparent size.
Our State of Dutch tutoring data report provides the index context. Use it to explore profiles, then verify current offers on the platform.
Is a highly rated Dutch teacher worth the platform premium?
Commission, ratings and lesson volume answer different questions. None alone establishes whether a tutor can teach your specific Dutch objective.
Preply’s terms describe it as an intermediary rather than a language school and tell students to check tutors’ self-reported credentials, education, experience and reviews [23]. That contractual distinction helps explain why a platform purchase should not be interpreted as enrolment in a standardized Dutch course.
The Dutch Directory’s Verified Pro threshold is 3,000 lessons and a rating of at least 4.9. Its report shows that the rating requirement excludes relatively few high-volume profiles, making the label principally a lesson-volume filter [6]. It can help establish a visible track record, but cannot establish specialist training.
What learners actually ask
A Dutch-learning Reddit account describes trying different italki teachers before finding a comfortable match with structured material and speaking practice [24]. This is an individual account, not representative evidence about teacher quality. Its value is the question it exposes: can this teacher turn the learner’s current knowledge into the practice they need?
A Dutch-language Tweakers discussion asks about progressing from conversational ability towards stronger grammar and writing, after using both italki and Preply [25]. It similarly shows why platform choice and course design should be assessed separately.
For Nederlands als tweede taal (Dutch as a second language), ask how the tutor diagnoses gaps, selects material and checks progress. For inburgering (civic integration), ask which exam tasks the preparation addresses. For workplace Dutch, request an example relevant to your actual meetings, correspondence or customer conversations.
A useful trial should establish how corrections happen, what preparation is expected and whether written work receives feedback. It should also make the regular price and duration explicit. If the teacher offers several course types, confirm which one you would buy.
This suggests a practical division of labour: use the marketplace to find candidates and handle bookings, then evaluate the teacher’s educational proposition directly. Our online Dutch tutor comparison and NT2 preparation guide can help organize that search.
What this means for learners
Choose the payment structure your routine can sustain, then choose the teacher whose lessons address your goal. The lowest card price is useful only after you know what it purchases.
For regular weekly study, Preply can fit well when the teacher has compatible availability and you actively manage renewal. For occasional practice or an uncertain schedule, individual purchases on italki or Verbling can make the initial commitment easier to control [5][9][3].
Before buying, collect the same information for each candidate: regular course price, duration, checkout total, purchase commitment, expiry terms and intended lesson content. Keep the introductory price in a separate column.
If tutor compensation matters to you, remember that a Preply trial produces no lesson payment for the teacher, while italki trials are reported as commission-free [1][12]. You can make an informed introductory booking without assuming that the learner’s payment reaches the person teaching it.
After the introduction, assess whether you received useful correction and a credible plan. A teacher who helps you practise the language you actually need can be worth a higher subtotal. A teacher whose calendar or method repeatedly fails to fit your needs can be expensive at any rate.
For tutors, compare retained revenue per total working hour and the likelihood of filling your schedule. A favourable commission on an empty calendar generates no income. Track preparation and acquisition time alongside lesson payments before deciding which marketplace works best for your practice.
What we could not verify
We could not directly retrieve italki’s current commission, payment or teacher-policy pages. Its reported schedule is supported by a recent reconstruction, another teaching-sector summary and a historical reproduction of the official table [2][10][12]. We therefore label it reported, and do not claim a verified effective date for the change or a complete current account of rewards and rounding.
We could not establish a universal Preply learner processing percentage, an equivalent current italki payment-fee table, or complete country-specific tax treatment. The published Preply explanation directs learners to checkout [8]. No logged-in purchases were made.
We could not verify Verbling’s exact trial payments to teachers. Its public listing and help pages support the introductory duration and distinction between free and paid trials, but do not establish the corresponding tutor payout [14][15][16].
We could not reconcile the tutor counts into a common active-teacher population, remove cross-platform duplicates or measure open teaching capacity. Nor could we verify whether every platform teaching-hour counter corresponds to elapsed clock time.
Finally, we found no comparable Dutch-specific data on trial conversion, student retention, filled tutor schedules, total working time or net earnings after tax. The income tables and retention examples are calculations under stated assumptions, not measured wages or predictions.