According to Technavio, the private tutoring market in Canada is expanding rapidly and is expected to grow by USD 5.36 billion between 2024 and 2029. 1 Among the subjects of private tutoring, the demand for language skills has been steadily increasing - with more learners embracing multilingualism across the globe. This has led many to turn to prominent online tutoring platforms such as Superprof and Preply for a dynamic and flexible learning experience.

If you're thinking of mastering a new language online this year, this article is for you. Through a detailed comparison, you'll get to explore both platforms and decide which aligns best with your learning needs and preferences.

The best tutors available
Moe
5
5 (44 reviews)
Moe
$50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Alejandra
5
5 (20 reviews)
Alejandra
$36
/h
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1st lesson is free!
Oceana
5
5 (74 reviews)
Oceana
$130
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Hana
4.9
4.9 (7 reviews)
Hana
$30
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Moe
5
5 (44 reviews)
Moe
$50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Alejandra
5
5 (20 reviews)
Alejandra
$36
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Oceana
5
5 (74 reviews)
Oceana
$130
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Hana
4.9
4.9 (7 reviews)
Hana
$30
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Let's go

🎯 Platform Overview

Let's take a brief overview of what these two online tutoring platforms entail before delving deeper into their key features later.

Key Insights:
Platform structure:
Global tutoring marketplace covering a wide array of subjects beyond language
Tutoring focus:
A wide range of subjects from academics, music, arts, and sports.
Global reach:
Operates in over 50 countries with a network of over 31 million tutors
Best known for:
in-person and online personal tutoring options, with massive learning resources.

Superprof is a tutoring platform that connects students to find the perfect tutor in every field. Our mission is to make you love learning where you learn, experiment, and discover over 2000 subjects from any cities of the world.

Key Insights:
Platform structure:
Connects students with tutors for personalized lessons
Tutoring focus:
100% online learning, covering mostly languages
Global reach:
Tutors from over 180 countries
Best known for:
Built-in virtual classroom and AI-powered tools for progress tracking.

Preply is a language-focused platform. The platform helps language learners to navigate multilingualism like a pro with experienced language tutors to make progress towards their goals, whether it's gaining confidence speaking and writing in a second or third language.

A person in a striped sweater sits at a desk, typing on a laptop with a lamp, trophy, and figurine nearby against a blue wall.
You can easily access both tutoring platforms on your mobile devices. Photo by Karola G

📌 Major Features Comparison

For our key features comparison, we'll be exploring these four areas: subject offerings, tutor selection process, lesson pricing, and the overall user learning experience.

⭐ Subject Offerings

Superprof

  • Superprof offers a broader and wider subject range from academic, hobbies, arts, and sports for leisure and professional purposes.
  • Examples include: Mathematics, swimming, guitar, chess, Japanese, and many more.

Preply

  • While the tutoring platform mainly offers online language tutoring, it also offers computer science and writing lessons.
  • Examples include: English, Spanish, German, French, and Japanese.

Feel free to review the differences between Varsity Tutors and Superprof.

⭐ Tutor Selection and Booking Process

Superprof

  • Students choose their tutors based on subject, type of lessons (physical or virtual lessons), learning levels, maximum budget, and online reviews of past students.
  • They can contact their desired tutor through a messaging feature and book their first lesson (usually free).

Preply

  • Students can select tutors based on detailed filtering factors, such as subject, lesson price, availability (including times and days), and introductory video.
  • They can either send a message to inquire further or book a trial lesson straight away via the tutor's profile.

⭐ Pricing and Fees

Superprof

  • Students have to subscribe to the Student Pass (e.g., $49) to contact all the tutors, in addition to the tutor's rate. (pre-set hourly rates).
  • Student Pass will only be activated if your tutor accepts your request.
  • In terms of lesson rate, many tutors offer package deals or discounts for booking multiple sessions in advance. 

Preply

  • The pricing will be indicated on the tutors' profile where they will set their hourly rates.
  • The tutoring lessons are charged based on a 28-day subscription plan with a tutor
  • Learners with an active student university email address are entitled to a 15% discount for the first payment of their monthly subscription for one-to-one live lessons.

Here's a tip to have an affordable tutoring session on Superprof:

attach_money
Average price of tutoring lessons

On Superprof Canada, students get to view and compare the average price of tutoring sessions in different cities through the tutoring homepage before setting their maximum budget.

For example, the average price of piano lessons is around $42/h in Ottawa, while the average price of piano lessons is around $47/h in Toronto. Based on these figures, you'll have an idea of how to allocate the maximum budget for your tutoring by filtering the rates of tutors who offer their lessons within your preferred range.

⭐ Learning Experience and Technology

Superprof

  • Whether it's physical or online lessons, the overall learning experience depends on the tutor.
  • The platform does not provide a standardized virtual classroom, and the lessons follow what the tutor has planned or discussed with the students on Zoom or Google Meet through video calls.

Preply

  • The overall learning experience balances personalized online tutoring and what the platform offers.
  • The platform features a built-in virtual classroom with interactive tools, AI-powered progress tracking, and dedicated mobile apps for easy access. 2

Check out the key differences between Superprof and TutorOcean.

The best tutors available
Moe
5
5 (44 reviews)
Moe
$50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Alejandra
5
5 (20 reviews)
Alejandra
$36
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Oceana
5
5 (74 reviews)
Oceana
$130
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Hana
4.9
4.9 (7 reviews)
Hana
$30
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Moe
5
5 (44 reviews)
Moe
$50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Alejandra
5
5 (20 reviews)
Alejandra
$36
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Oceana
5
5 (74 reviews)
Oceana
$130
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Hana
4.9
4.9 (7 reviews)
Hana
$30
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson is free!
Let's go

📊 Pros and Cons of Superprof and Preply

Now, let's weigh in the pros and cons of these two tutoring platforms. Here's a checklist that you can review before you make the final decision.

🔍 Superprof

Offers a wider and broader range of subjects and tutors
Flexibility to choose between in-person and online tutoring
More autonomy in arranging lessons directly with tutors (time arrangement/payment details)
Requires a subscription to a Student Pass to contact tutors before the lessons
Learning experience can vary based on individual tutors

🔍 Preply

Structured language learning environment with progress tracking
Wide selection of specialized language tutors
Integrated virtual classroom and mobile apps
Primarily caters to language learners, limiting subject variety
Requires commitment to a subscription plan

Meanwhile, check out the comparison between Mathnasium and Superprof.

👥 User Reviews and Testimonials

Tutor quality and satisfaction are undeniably one of the key deciding factors before signing for a tutoring session, regardless of the subject and learning mode (face-to-face or online sessions).

A person is attending a video call on a laptop while studying at a wooden desk, surrounded by books, pens, and a plate of fruit.
A good tutor will enable students to have an effective and engaging learning experience, whether it's physical or online lessons. Photo by Annushka Ahuja

Tutors of Preply and Superprof are highly rated by their students and users in terms of teaching quality, as shown in the reviews and testimonials below.

At Superprof, over one million students gave a 5 star reviews to their tutor, with some leaving direct recommendations on their tutors' profiles. 3

When we started our sessions, I felt that my French skills were quite beginner. By the end of our sessions, after all of the practice we did, I felt much more confident in my French abilities. Definitely recommend!

Kamesha's recommendation of her French tutor, Émilie (based in Montreal)

Here's an example of Preply's user review:

I’ve been using Preply for 3 months. I’m really satisfied by the lessons and my teacher. To me, this is the right way to improve my English, getting more fluent and confident.

Patrick Lebrat 5 star (Jan 17, 2024)

Discover the distinctions between Superprof and Tutorax.

💡 Conclusion

The main key differences between Superprof and Preply lie in these two elements:

Subject offering: Superprof caters to a wide selection of subjects, while Preply mostly caters to languages

Tutoring mode: Superprof offers both in-person and online tutoring options, while Preply only offers live online lessons

A stack of language learning and dictionary books on a table, with a library background in soft focus.
You can take language tutoring on Superprof and Preply, but only Superprof offers the option for physical lessons. Source: Public Domain Media

Both tutoring platforms are reliable and student-friendly, offering various learning benefits to students regardless of their age or learning purpose.

To make the final decision, you should ask yourself these questions:

What are your specific learning goals?
Are you learning something for a professional purpose, or are you learning something as a hobby? Is there a specific timeline to achieve your learning goals?

What are your subject interests?
Are you solely focused on learning languages, or are you exploring other non-language subjects?

What is your preferred learning format, or which learning mode works best for you?
Do you prefer a structured online learning experience at your own home, or do you prefer taking face-to-face lessons to have direct feedback and a hands-on learning experience?

At the end of the day, it boils down to your learning needs as well as how much and how long you can commit to your learning goals.

A woman teaches a girl to play the cello while referring to sheet music during a music lesson at home.
At Superprof, you can enjoy in-person and online music lessons. Photo by Yan Krukau

Finding a tutor for yourself as a working adult vs finding a tutor for your child can be different; it also depends on the subjects you're learning.

For example, you might opt for online tutoring to have a more relaxing and flexible Spanish learning experience after work.

On the other hand, you might prefer to have face-to-face music lessons for your child at your home for better supervision and direct feedback, so be sure to weigh in these factors.

In both of these contexts, Superprof can cater to your learning needs and subject!

References

  1. https ://www.technavio.com, T. (n.d.). Canada - Private Tutoring Market Size, Share & Trends [2023 Report]. Www.technavio.com. https://www.technavio.com/report/canada-private-tutoring-market-analysis
  2. Kleinman, A. (2025, September 4). Preply is building the world’s best AI for language learning, powered by real tutors. Axios. https://www.axios.com/sponsored/preply-is-building-the-worlds-best-ai-for-language-learning-powered-by-real-tutors
  3. Superprof - The Tutoring Community. (n.d.). Superprof. https://www.superprof.ca/

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Joycelyn Ong

An avid reader and writer, Joycelyn loves the art of communication and is passionate about all kinds of media.