The italki vs Verbling difference comes down to flexibility versus curation. italki includes community tutors without teaching experience. It has the widest variety of teachers and price points. Verbling only accepts instructors with teaching experience. Here is a quick summary of how they differ.
| Aspect | italki | Verbling |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace model | Open (anyone can teach) | Curated (teaching experience required) |
| Teacher types | Professional Teachers + Community Tutors | Professional teachers only |
| Languages | 150+ | 70+ |
| Average price | $8-30/hour | $20-30/hour (+8% fee) |
| Payment model | Pay per lesson | Lesson bundles encouraged |
| Refunds | Cash refunds available | Credit refunds only |
| Video platform | italki Classroom, Zoom, or Skype | Built-in classroom only |
| Built-in tools | Basic | Homework, flashcards, file sharing |
| Community features | Extensive (language exchange, forums, corrections) | Limited forums |
| Trial lessons | 3 free trials for new users | 1 free trial for new users |
1. italki vs Verbling teaching methods
3.1 Lesson structure
italki lessons are entirely customisable; teachers design their own curriculum and approach. You might find tutors who follow structured textbooks, those who prefer free conversation, or specialists focusing on exam preparation. The variety means you must research teachers carefully.
Verbling provides more structure. The platform offers curriculum templates and encourages teachers to create organised courses. Many teachers list specific courses on their profiles (introduction, exam preparation, business communication).
1.2 Lesson materials
On italki, teachers bring their own materials. Quality varies significantly; some provide comprehensive PDFs and homework, others simply chat. The platform itself does not provide standardised content.
Verbling provides tools for teachers to share materials directly within lessons. The built-in filing system keeps all shared materials organised in your account. Some teachers create dedicated courses with sequential lesson plans.
1.3 Video platform
italki lessons can occur on the italki Classroom (browser-based), Zoom, or Skype. Teachers choose their preferred platform, which means you may need accounts on multiple services.
Verbling requires all lessons to happen within its integrated classroom. External platforms like Skype are prohibited. The classroom includes video chat, shared notepad, screen sharing, and flashcard creation. This provides consistency but removes flexibility.
1.4 Homework and review tools
italki has no built-in homework system. Teachers assign work through messages or external tools. The platform does offer community features like writing corrections from other learners, but these are separate from paid lessons.
Verbling includes a dedicated Homework tab showing assignments from your teachers. You can create customisable flashcard decks for vocabulary review, complete with speech recognition for pronunciation practice.
2. Platform features
2.1 Tutor selection
Both platforms offer extensive filtering (price, availability, country, languages spoken). italki distinguishes between Professional Teachers and Community Tutors, giving you options for every budget. The sheer volume of teachers (often hundreds for popular languages) requires patience to find the right match.
Verbling's smaller, curated teacher pool makes browsing more manageable. All teachers have verified teaching experience. The platform highlights "Featured Teachers" and offers specialty filters like accent reduction or test preparation.
2.2 Trial lessons
italki gives new users three discounted trial lessons (under $5 each, typically 30 minutes). Teachers are not paid for these by italki, which sometimes affects trial quality.
Verbling teachers set their own trial prices (often half their regular rate). Teachers earn their set trial price, creating incentive for quality trials. New students get one free trial.
2.3 Booking and scheduling
italki operates on a pay-per-lesson model. Credits do not expire if you log in at least once per year. Complete flexibility with no packages required.
Verbling encourages purchasing lesson bundles (5, 10, or 20 lessons) for discounts. Some users report being required to purchase bundles rather than single lessons. Calendar sync with Google, Outlook, and Apple calendars is available.
2.4 Community features
italki offers extensive free community features: language exchange partnerships, discussion forums, Q&A sections, writing correction requests, and podcasts. You can practise for free with language partners.
Verbling's community is notably smaller. The platform focuses primarily on paid tutoring rather than free community interaction.
3. Languages offered
| Category | italki | Verbling |
|---|---|---|
| Total languages | 150+ | 70+ |
| Regional languages | Basque, Galician, Irish Gaelic, Welsh, Catalan, many more | Limited availability |
| Rare languages | Zulu, Yoruba, Khmer, Azerbaijani, others with active teachers | Listed but often no active teachers |
If you are learning a rare or regional language, italki is almost certainly your better option. Verbling lists many languages but may have few or no teachers for less common ones.
4. Pricing and costs
| Cost element | italki | Verbling |
|---|---|---|
| Community Tutors | $4-25/hour (typical $8-15) | Not available |
| Professional Teachers | $10-80+/hour (typical $15-30) | $6-75+/hour (typical $20-30) |
| Platform fee | None for students | 8% Trust & Support fee |
| Bundle discounts | Not applicable | 3-9% off for 5-20 lessons |
italki is generally 30-50% cheaper than Verbling for equivalent lesson quality. Some teachers are active on both platforms but charge higher rates on Verbling.
5. Payment and refund policies
| Policy | italki | Verbling |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase model | Buy any amount of credits | Bundles encouraged (5, 10, 20 lessons) |
| Credit expiry | Never (if you log in yearly) | N/A |
| Refund type | Cash refunds to original payment | Credit refunds only (no cash) |
| Cancellation notice | Typically 24 hours (varies by teacher) | 12 hours standard (can be 24-48) |
| Bundle cancellation | N/A | Charged full rate for completed lessons |
| Tutor commission | 15% | 15% |
Verbling's credit-only refund policy frustrates many users who feel locked into continuing with a teacher they dislike or losing money.
6. Device compatibility
| Platform | italki | Verbling |
|---|---|---|
| iOS app | ✓ | ✓ (3.8/5 rating) |
| Android app | ✓ | Delisted from Play Store |
| Web browser | All browsers | Chrome required for lessons |
| Video flexibility | italki Classroom, Zoom, or Skype | Built-in classroom only |
Verbling's Android app has reportedly been delisted from the Google Play Store as of late 2024. Multiple reviews mention the mobile app is buggy with connection drops and missing features.
7. User reviews
| Platform | Trustpilot | Sitejabber | App Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| italki | 4.7/5 (14,000+ reviews) | 3.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Verbling | 4.1/5 (780+ reviews) | 2.1/5 | 3.8/5 |
italki reviewers praise affordable pricing, vast teacher selection, and flexible pay-as-you-go model. Common complaints include occasional connectivity issues and inconsistent tutor quality.
Verbling's negative reviews focus heavily on the bundle purchase requirement, credit-only refunds, and frustration with the mobile app. Several reviewers mention feeling "locked in" when they want to switch teachers.
8. Which platform suits you?
- Want the lowest possible prices
- Need flexibility to pay per lesson without bundles
- Are learning a rare or less common language
- Want access to both professional teachers and affordable conversation partners
- Value free community features (language exchange, writing corrections)
- Prefer using Zoom or Skype
- Want the largest selection of teachers
- Need cash refunds rather than just credits
- Want guaranteed teaching experience from all tutors
- Prefer an all-in-one platform without external tools
- Value built-in homework, flashcards, and review tools
- Want more structured lessons and organised courses
- Are willing to commit to lesson bundles for discounts
- Need business English or specialised professional instruction
9. Final verdict
| Category | italki | Verbling |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Teacher variety | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Platform features | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Language options | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Flexibility | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Overall | 8.8/10 | 6.7/10 |
italki emerges as the stronger choice for most language learners. Its advantages in pricing, flexibility, and language variety are substantial. With community tutors starting at $4/hour and no bundle requirements, italki removes financial barriers to consistent language practice.
Verbling's integrated classroom, built-in learning tools, and guaranteed teaching experience create a more polished environment. However, the credit-only refund policy, higher prices, and uncertainty about ongoing development are significant drawbacks.