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Preply tutorial

Pass the Preply tutor application

You will have submitted a complete Preply tutor application with a photo, description, intro video, certificates, calendar and rate that follow Preply's rules.

9steps
120minutes, about
Beginnerlevel

Updated · Built from the official sources listed at the end · How we research

What you’ll need

  • A desktop or laptop computer
  • A webcam or phone camera and a quiet room
  • A clear headshot photo
  • Scans of any teaching certificates or degrees
  • About 2 hours

120 minutes, about. Your progress saves in this browser, so you can stop and come back.

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Drag to turn the desk. Tap a numbered item to learn why it matters.

Preply facts, live from our listing

Fees
18-33% commission after the trial. Each new student's trial lesson is 100%
Minimum payout
PayPal none, Wise or bank $10, Payoneer $20-$23
Payout speed
On demand once balance clears
Ways to get paid
PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill, Wise (bank transfer)

Listing updated Oct 2026. Full Preply profile

Step 1 of 9

Check you can apply

You must be at least 18 years old to tutor on Preply, as of 2026. You also need a desktop or laptop. Preply only lets you register as a tutor from the desktop version of the site.

Preply may reject applications for a few reasons:

  • The profile does not meet its requirements.
  • The subject has low demand among learners.
  • You live in a place Preply cannot accept because of US regulations. The help page lists Iran, Sudan, Cuba, Syria, North Korea and Crimea.

Rules can change and some depend on your country, so read the help page before you start.

Watch out: Choosing a subject with very low demand is a common reason for rejection. Pick a subject learners actively look for.
Checklist
Step 2 of 9

Register and start the application

Go to preply.com and click Become a tutor. Sign up with your email and a password, or with a Google or Facebook account.

  1. 1Photo
  2. 2Certificates
  3. 3Description
  4. 4Video
  5. 5Calendar
  6. 6Rate

The application has several sections. Preply's help page lists the profile photo, certifications, education, profile description, intro video, calendar and rate. Following the guidelines in each one helps Preply process your application faster.

Checklist
Step 3 of 9

Upload a photo that meets the rules

Preply checks every photo before approval. A photo that breaks the rules is rejected and slows down your registration.

What Preply wants:

  • Your face and eyes fully visible, looking at the camera.
  • Head and shoulders centred and upright.
  • A sharp, colour, high-resolution photo with no filters.
  • Bright, even light and a plain background.

What Preply does not allow: logos, contact details, watermarks, other people, pets, black-and-white photos, sunglasses, hats, face masks, heavy edits, cropped selfies, and full-body or head-to-waist shots. Religious exceptions apply for face coverings.

Tip: Sit facing a window during the day and stand against a plain wall. A gentle smile works better than a passport-style pose.
Checklist
Quick checkWhich of these photos would Preply reject?
Show the answer

A black-and-white photo of you with your dog. Preply lists black-and-white photos and pets among the things not allowed in profile photos. (Preply Help)

Step 4 of 9

Add your subject, certificates and education

Choose the subject you will teach. Then upload any certificates in the Certifications section and add degrees or diplomas in the Education section. Preply says certificates help build learner trust.

Only upload documents that are really yours.

Tip: Scan certificates in good light so every word is readable.
Checklist
Step 5 of 9

Write your headline and description

Start with your headline. Preply suggests 50 to 75 characters that cover your specialty, why learners can trust you, and what makes you different. Avoid vague headlines like "English teacher" or "Native speaker".

Then write your description in the first person ("I help..."), in one language. Tell learners who you are, how you teach and who you help. End with a call to action, such as inviting them to book a trial lesson.

Preply asks you not to include:

  • Your surname.
  • Contact details, personal websites or social media links.
  • Reviews. These appear in their own section.
  • Offers of a free lesson. Trial lessons are not free for students.
  • Text copied from your CV.
Example: Certified IELTS speaking coach for adults, calm and practical lessons
Checklist
Try itWrite your headline
  • Between 35 and 70 characters
  • Says who you help (for example “for small shops”)
  • Includes a number or result, if you have one (years, projects, a metric)
  • Skips filler words like “hardworking” or “guru”
  • No ALL CAPS or symbol spam

Rule-of-thumb checks that run in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Step 6 of 9

Record your intro video

Preply requires an intro video. It must be 30 seconds to 2 minutes long and filmed horizontally. Vertical videos are not allowed.

Preply suggests this plan:

  1. Introduce yourself for 15 to 20 seconds.
  2. Talk about your skills and teaching style for 30 to 50 seconds.
  3. Close with a welcoming message for 15 to 25 seconds.

Film at eye level on a steady surface, close to the camera, in daylight or with a lamp behind the camera. Use a tidy background and a quiet room.

Use only your first name. Do not show your surname or contact details. Do not include other people, slideshows, demo lessons, frames, filters, logos or links.

You can record in Preply's Video section with your webcam, or upload to YouTube or Vimeo and paste the link. On YouTube, set it to Unlisted and allow embedding. On Vimeo, choose Anyone or People with the private link. Private videos are rejected.

Watch out: Do not put the word "Preply" in your YouTube or Vimeo channel name.
Checklist
Quick checkYour YouTube intro video is set to Private. What happens?
Show the answer

It will be rejected because Preply cannot view it. Preply says private videos are rejected and YouTube videos should be Unlisted with embedding allowed. (Preply Help)

Step 7 of 9

Set your calendar and rate

Set your availability and time zone. You can change both later.

Preply fee: 18-33% commission after the trial. Each new student's trial lesson is 100%
This fee is not a simple percentage, so we don't draw it. See the details on the Preply page.

Then choose your hourly rate. You can adjust it later as you gain experience and reviews. Before you pick a number, understand Preply's commission, as of 2026:

  • Preply keeps 100% of every trial lesson with a new student.
  • On regular lessons, Preply keeps 18% to 33% of your rate. New tutors start at 33%, and the rate drops as your total teaching hours grow.

So at a 10 USD rate, a new tutor receives 6.70 USD for a regular lesson.

Tip: Only open hours you can reliably keep. Missed lessons hurt your reputation more than a small schedule.
Checklist
Step 8 of 9

Submit and wait for review

Submit your application. Preply reviews applications within 5 business days, as of 2026, and emails you with the result.

If you are rejected, read the reason carefully. Most fixes are about the photo, the video or the description. Correct the issue and try again.

Tip: While you wait, plan your first trial lesson so you are ready when approved.
Checklist
Step 9 of 9

Next step

Once approved, learn how to win your first students. Read the guide on how to get students on Preply and the tutorial on how to write a profile headline and bio.

Checklist

Sources

Checked in October 2026. Platforms change their rules often, so follow the links for the latest version.

  1. Preply Help: Register to teach on Preply help.preply.com
  2. Preply Help: Choosing a good profile photo help.preply.com
  3. Preply Help: Profile headline and description guidelines help.preply.com
  4. Preply Help: Video introduction guidelines help.preply.com
  5. Preply Help: Preply commission model help.preply.com

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