I Tried Preply for a Month to Learn French: My Review (2026)

This post is sponsored by Preply. All opinions are my own.

Another step in my move to Paris: French lessons with Preply. I took French many, many, many years ago, but I don’t use it beyond basic greetings, navigating a menu, and shopping. (True story. Besides greetings, I make sure I can ask for my size in shoes and clothes, and whether something comes in another color. Don’t judge me.) But with the move getting closer, I’m getting serious about learning.

I was probably at an A0 level, which means I knew slightly more than nothing. I could understand a lot on a menu, handle greetings, count to 20 or 30, and use the important verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire), though my conjugation was hit or miss. My pronunciation was (and is) terrible. Beyond that, nothing.

Then I spent a month in Paris and took a two-week intensive French course, three hours a day. Four weeks of living there, where every errand was practice, put me on the right track. I’ve also been reinforcing with a gamified language app, though I’m not sure when I’ll ever work “Ma tante est très méchante” (my aunt is very mean) into a conversation.

So I had a decent base from the course, a lot of useless sentences from the language app, and, you know, a concept of a plan. After Paris and all those questionable sentences, I can confidently say I’m now an A0+. Progress is progress.

What I needed was someone to actually talk to. Enter Preply.

What Is Preply?

Preply is an online platform that connects you with private tutors for one-on-one lessons in more than 90 languages. Alongside the live lessons, it has AI-powered study tools for practice between sessions. You choose a tutor based on your goals, budget, and availability, and book lessons at times that fit your schedule.

Finding the Right Preply Tutor Is Crucial

Anyone can sign up to teach on Preply, so tutor quality varies, and trial lessons are how you figure out who’s a good fit. I took trial lessons with four tutors before choosing one. I liked all of them, and each teaching style worked for me. What tipped the scales was that the tutor I chose incorporates history and culture into her lessons, including Black history, which is close to my heart and something I seek out wherever I travel. (I’ve written about Black history tours in Europe.)

How Preply Works in Practice

You can book Preply lessons one at a time or reserve a set weekly slot with your tutor. During my trial month I booked as I went, which worked because my calendar was already full and I needed the flexibility. But I think a set schedule is the better way to go. The subscription model is built around regular lessons, and showing up at the same time every week is what keeps the momentum going.

Scheduling is easy and fairly flexible, but check the notice period. When I tried to reschedule, the app told me I needed to give 24 hours’ notice or I’d lose the lesson. Your tutor can still move it if you both agree on a new time.

Payment works a little differently than you might expect: you buy a set number of lessons to use within four weeks, and the plan renews automatically. If you don’t want that, turn off auto-renewal in your Preply profile.

What a Month of Preply Got Me

A month of private lessons on Preply gave me more practical conversation, real feedback on my pronunciation, and, because it was one-on-one, none of the embarrassment of mangling French in front of a room full of classmates.

My biggest lightbulb moment was learning to pronounce the French “R.” My tutor described it as almost a roar coming from the back of your throat, and it clicked, because it’s close to the guttural “G” in Dutch. All these years in the Netherlands finally paid off in French class.

Another came from a more casual moment: I used “oh là là” the American way, for something exciting or a little cheeky. My tutor explained that in French it’s usually closer to “oh no,” expressing disappointment, frustration, or that something’s gone wrong.

What I’d do differently: commit to a set schedule, as I mentioned, and make more use of the AI study tools between lessons. I’d also ask my tutor for more structure, including more homework. I need that kind of accountability.

It was a good next step after the intensive course in Paris, with its structure, classmates, and a whole city to practice in, and a gamified language app, which is more passive but good for vocabulary and keeping the habit alive. (Protecting the streak is great dopamine.)

Is Preply Worth It? My Verdict

Preply isn’t a replacement for everything, and a month didn’t turn me into a fluent French speaker. What it did was help me understand French in a way the classroom and a language app didn’t, especially pronunciation. Having someone correct me in real time, one-on-one, made a difference.

Preply tutors set their own rates, so there’s a wide range. If you want casual conversation practice, you can find someone affordable. If you want structure or are preparing for an exam, expect to pay more for an experienced tutor. Either way, use the trial lessons. That’s where you find out who’s worth it.

It may not suit you if you need a classroom to impose structure on you. On Preply, you and your tutor decide how lessons go, so you have to ask for what you need. (In my case, more homework.)

If you’re in my position, here’s the combination I’d recommend: Preply for pronunciation and personalized feedback, Duolingo to keep the daily habit going, and a conversation café or language meetup to practice speaking in person and get comfortable with the awkwardness. I’m still working on that last one.

Try Preply Yourself

If you want to try it, here’s my link for a discount on your first trial lesson. I earn a small commission when you subscribe.