italki is a paid French website for beginner to advanced learners (A1–C2). The cheapest way to speak French every week, if you choose the tutor well.
Checked October 2026 on the official site ·
About italki
italki is a marketplace of French tutors for one-to-one video lessons, from professional teachers to community tutors for conversation practice. Each tutor sets their own price, and many offer discounted trial lessons; italki says no tutor gives fully free lessons. It suits a learner who needs to speak with a real person every week. Quality depends entirely on the tutor you pick, and a lesson without a plan quickly turns into small talk.
How it compares
| App | Price | Levels | Real-speed French | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| italki | Set by each tutor; see site | A1–C2 | Yes | The cheapest way to speak French every week, if you choose the tutor well. |
| Preply | About €2 to €36+ per 50-minute lesson | A1–C2 | Yes | A huge choice of tutors at every price; pick carefully. |
| Lingoda | From €184.99 per 4 weeks (5 group classes) | A1–C1 | Yes | Real classes on a timetable; costly per minute of speaking. |
| Tandem | Free to join; extras: see site | A2–C2 | Yes | Free conversation partners, screened at sign-up; unstructured by nature. |
| French with AmélieRuns this site | Free weekly lesson; Premium $24/mo or $240/yr | B1–C1 | Yes, with a slow version and a transcript | Real-speed dialogues by email and a private podcast. Not an app. Visit |
