Preply Review South Africa
Earning potential
R1500–12000/month
Min payout
R0
Payout speed
Funds released after each lesson; withdraw anytime to PayPal/Payoneer/Wise
Pays via
PayPal, Payoneer, Wise
Direct link — no affiliate relationship
What is Preply?
Preply is a global online tutoring marketplace where you teach one-on-one video lessons and set your own hourly rate. South Africans are accepted as tutors, and you are not limited to English — Afrikaans, maths, sciences, music, and business skills all have demand. The catch is the commission structure: Preply keeps 100% of what you earn on your FIRST lesson with each new student (the trial lesson), then takes a sliding commission that starts at 33% and only drops toward 18% once you have taught hundreds of hours. Earnings are paid in USD and withdrawn via PayPal, Payoneer or Wise.
How It Works
Sign up at preply.com as a tutor, build your profile, record a short intro video, and set your hourly rate and availability. Once approved, students find and book you. Your first lesson with any new student is a trial — Preply keeps 100% of it, so you earn R0 on that booking. From the second lesson onward you earn your rate minus Preply's commission (starting around 33% for new tutors, decreasing as your total taught hours grow). Money accumulates in your Preply balance; withdraw it to PayPal, Payoneer or Wise, then convert USD to ZAR.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ South Africans are accepted, and you can teach far more than English — Afrikaans, maths, sciences, music, business
- ✓ You set your own hourly rate (commonly $5–$25/hr)
- ✓ Large global student base means more booking potential than smaller tutoring apps
- ✓ Payouts via PayPal, Payoneer or Wise — pick the cheapest USD-to-ZAR route
- ✓ Fully flexible hours; a roster of repeat students turns into steady income
Cons
- ✗ Preply keeps 100% commission on your FIRST lesson with each new student — you earn R0 on every trial
- ✗ After the trial, commission starts around 33% and only falls toward 18% after hundreds of taught hours
- ✗ Very competitive; a brand-new tutor with no reviews can wait weeks for the first booking
- ✗ Income is unpredictable until you build a base of regular students
- ✗ USD payouts mean PayPal/Wise fees plus ZAR conversion costs (~3–5%)
Rating Breakdown
Requirements
Direct link — no affiliate relationship
Is Preply a Scam?
Scam Risk: None ✅ — Preply is a legitimate platform. We've verified 0 payouts from South African users.
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