Published on April 10th, 2023
This is a list of online ESL teaching companies that teach with apps. This offers more flexibility to teachers and students as you can work with just your smartphone or tablet. Most of these apps are available on both Android and iOS. For the moment I have not included any of the companies teaching only Chinese kids. This is because of China’s new laws relating to online English teaching. Please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
Language Master or Kouyuxia <—- (Click here to Apply) is a Chinese app that connects teachers to English adult learners in China. It’s available on Apple and Android. They pay around $10 to 20 USD per hour (80-150 RMB). Click here for the Language Master app review page.
Babbel <—- (Click here to Apply) one of the largest language learning apps is now also giving classes. They started in Berlin, Germany and they are based there and in New York. Classes are taught with iOS or Android. They teach many languages including English, Spanish, French and German. They have their own teaching materials and scheduling is flexible. The pay a minimum of $12USD per hour and a maximum of $35 with bonuses. Click here for the Babbel teacher review page.
LiveXP <—- (Click here to Apply) is based in beautiful Cyprus. Nonnative speakers can apply and a degree is not necessary either. They teach many languages including English, Spanish, German, Chinese, French and Russian. Teachers must upload an introduction video and the lessons can be 30, 45 or 60 minutes long. Lesson prices are determined by subscription plans, not by tutors, according to their website. They guarantee $3.48USD for a trial lesson of 30 minutes and if a student buys a subscription 30 days after the trial lesson you get 2 XP points and an extra $10. For one 60-minute lesson, you can earn from $10 to $15 depending on your tutor level. Click here to leave a review of LiveXP.
Bansho <—- (Click here to Apply) is an English learning app based in New York. They offer a flexible way of learning English with videos, games and 1 to 1 video classes. Their students are all children, but it looks like the kids are from all over the world. A university degree is not required but they want teachers with at least 3 years of teaching experience with some of that being virtual. Scheduling is flexible. We are not sure how much they pay at this moment. Click here for the Bansho review page.
Tandem <—- (Click here to Apply) is based in Germany. They offer language tutoring services but only through an app with iOS and Android. That means you have to use a smartphone to teach. Teachers set their own pay rate. Another interesting feature they have for students is the ability to find other students and chat with them online. They teach multiple languages including Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian. Click here for the Tandem review page.
Cambly <—– (Click here to Apply) seems to be based in San Francisco and they teach business English and English to children in 1 to 1 classes. They have students from all over the world (Korea, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, Poland, etc.). Teachers have flexible schedules and They are looking for native speakers including South Africans. Cambly pays $0.17 cents per minute or $10.20 USD per hour, although you can earn up to $12 USD per hour with Cambly Kids. They pay once every week with Paypal. Click here for the Cambly review page.
Skooli <—- (Click here to Apply) is based in Toronto, Canada. They are a type of create-a-profile type company but they always pay a flat rate of $25 USD per hour. They teach English and a wide range of other subjects. Teachers should be native speakers and they must have one of the following 3 qualifications: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a related field, a government issued teaching license or a specialized instructor qualification (e.g. TEFL or Mathematics certifications). Teacher set their own schedule and they are paid with Paypal. Click here for the Skooli review page.
Eigooo <—- (Click here to Apply) is based in Japan. They are an interesting company offering “chat type English learning” service. They use an app that allows students to basically text and chat with teachers. It is unknown how much they pay. Click here for the Eigooo! review page.
Ziktalk <—- (Click here to Apply) is an English learning app from South Korea. They hire both native and non-native English teachers. A TEFL certificate is not required but because students choose their teachers it is a plus. Classes are 1 to 1. Teachers can make videos and upload them to attract more students on the app. They pay with PayPal or bank wire transfer and teachers are paid between $10 to $15 USD per hour. Ziktalk is available on Android and iOS app stores. Click here for the Ziktalk review page.
Tutoring (Tutoringgo) <—- (Click here to Apply) wants teachers with a university degree (or enrolled) with 2 years of teaching experience. They teach Korean children and adults. They have an app that students use to learn and take classes from anywhere. It looks like they also accept non-native teachers as there are many Filipino teachers working with the company. They make $200 PHP or $4 USD per hour with Paypal. They pay 3 times per month. Click here for the Tutoringgo review page.
Hallo <—- (Click here to Apply) is based in Provo, Utah, USA. They have an app, and use it for some types of classes but not all. Potential teachers must install the Hallo app and create a student account. Then they have to make a 1 minute introduction video and submit an application through their website. The students are mostly 18-30 years old English learners from many countries, the most common ones are Indonesia, India, Turkey, Egypt and Brazil. They have two types of teachers. For the basic level, teachers must speak English with a native or bilingual fluency and have at least 1 year of experience. For the more advanced level (Hallo courses) teachers must be legally eligible to work in Canada of the USA, have two years of teaching experience and have either a bachelor’s degree in any major related to English or a TEFL certificate. They pay different rates for their different types of classes. It seems like thy pay a minimum of $7.5 USD per hour for 1-to-1 classes but usually more. Their group classes pay like this: 4 students: $30/hour, 3 students: $22.25/hour and 2 students: $15/hour (though teachers are required to spend 30 minutes before each group class preparing). They pay with Stripe and PayPal. Click here for the Hallo review page.
Rype <—- (Click here to Apply) is based in the US and is designed for students on the go, so they have an app. The teach many languages and students get to choose their teacher. They pay from $9-$11 USD per hour. Click here for the comments and the Rype review page.
The TalkList <—- (Click here to Apply) is an American create-a-profile company, but it is also an Android app. Classes are one on one with mostly adults. No experience or degree is required and non-native English teachers are welcome to sign up. They also offer classes in other languages like Spanish. Teachers can set their own pay, but the average is about $10 per hour. Click here for the TheTalkList review page.
Palfish <—- (Click here to Apply) is an app and a create-a-profile type company but they have recently launched a course for children. In the create-a-profile version teachers set their own rate, typically between $10-$20 USD per hour. For the children’s course they are looking for native speakers who have a ESL certificate and experience teaching children. They also want teachers to commit to at least 10 hours per week between 6pm-9pm Beijing time. (It looks like South Africans are welcome to apply but that they prefer other native speakers for some reason.) The base rate is 50 RMB ($8USD) per 25 minute class, but they offer some bonuses and incentives like 5 RMB for every lesson the teacher attends on time. They also offer a bonus if you teach over 150 classes per month you get 60 RMB per lesson or 210 classes you get 65 RMB per lesson and you can earn another of 200 RMB if you can get your student to purchase a lesson package after your trial lesson. Click here for the Palfish review page.
Boxfish <—- (Click here to Apply) is looking for native English speakers to teach groups and individual Chinese children and teenagers conversational English with their app. They pay $20 an hour and they use Paypal. Click here for the comments and the Boxfish review page.
NiceTalk <—- (Click here to Apply) is an app that allows Chinese students to reach English speakers. Students choose you based on your rating. They prefer native speaking teachers with a TEFL certificate and experience teaching TOEFL and IELTS tests. Nicetalk pays $10 an hour with a $10 bonus for signing up. They also have a referral bonus system. Click here for the comments and the NiceTalk review page.