Learning how to change tutors on Preply? Start by deciding what your next tutor needs to do differently. Then review your available lessons, upcoming bookings and the confirmation screen before moving anything. This guide combines a short official-process overview with our practical checklist for making a better second choice.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission through Preply links, at no extra cost to you.
Research note: Official Preply documentation checked November 5, 2026. We have not personally tested a tutor transfer. Checklists and examples are editorial guidance. Images are AI-generated illustrations.
Choose the next tutor with a clear brief
Write down your goal, two realistic time slots and a comfortable ongoing budget. Compare profiles against those three requirements before you make another commitment.
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How to change tutors on Preply: the short process
Open Balance → More actions → Switch to a new tutor (on the app, open Schedule first). Pick an eligible tutor, decide whether to replace your tutor or keep both (requires an active existing subscription), review scheduled lessons, choose a plan and inspect the summary before confirming.
Preply lists tutors with an existing trial or subscription connection. For someone new, use No match? Find a new tutor. Booking a trial alone does not finish the switch. Return to the switching flow afterward.
Source: Preply’s lesson-transfer instructions. Use the current account screen for your exact options.
What happens to your remaining lessons?
Preply converts remaining lesson value into Credits and applies them to the new plan at the receiving tutor’s current rate. You may receive a different lesson count, owe a difference, or retain unused Credits. Credits are not cash withdrawals. Moved lessons follow the receiving tutor’s cycle. Bookings within 12 hours stay with the original tutor.
Before confirming, note the displayed Credit amount, plan cost, payment due and next relevant date. If any figure differs from what you expected, resolve that question first. A familiar lesson count can hide a different overall commitment.
Should you switch, adjust the plan or take a break?
A teaching mismatch and a busy month call for different conversations. First identify the problem you want to solve; then select the account action that matches it.
| Your situation | A useful next step | Question to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Explanations are hard to follow | Discuss the teaching approach; compare another tutor if needed | What explanation style helps me learn? |
| Your work schedule changed | Look for sustainable recurring availability | Which two weekly windows can I protect? |
| The workload feels too heavy | Review the lesson plan before changing teachers | How much practice can I actually complete? |
| You need a different skill | Prepare a specific brief for a new tutor | What should I be able to do after practice? |
Preply’s subscription-management overview lists plan adjustments, pauses, cancellation and tutor changes as separate options. Each tutor subscription is managed independently. If your main concern is spending, read our Preply subscription cost guide before choosing another plan.
Five checks before choosing the next tutor
- Teaching fit: ask how the tutor would practise the situation you find difficult. Look for a concrete activity rather than a broad promise.
- Feedback style: decide whether you prefer immediate corrections, notes afterward or a mixture. Explain that preference before booking.
- Availability: compare regular openings against your actual calendar, including work deadlines and family commitments.
- Budget: consider the routine you can sustain, rather than judging the choice by one introductory price.
- Preparation: choose a tutor whose suggested homework fits the time you have between meetings.
For example, a freelancer who struggles with client updates can ask for a short project-status role-play. Someone preparing for an interview can bring an invented job description and two difficult questions. These are discussion prompts, not promises about what every tutor offers.
Our business English tutor selection guide goes deeper into comparing profiles and evaluating a first conversation.
Send a focused message before you commit
A clear message helps both people decide whether the match makes sense. Adapt this example to your own situation:
“Hi, I want to practise explaining project updates and answering follow-up questions. I can usually study on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. I learn best with short role-plays and written corrections. How would you approach this goal, and do you have suitable recurring availability?”
Compare the response against your brief. Does it address the actual task, explain a practical approach and acknowledge your availability? A reply that answers those points gives you more to assess than a general assurance that your English will improve.
Keep the message short and leave out confidential client documents. An invented example can demonstrate the skill you need without disclosing private information.
Make the trial answer a specific question
Before a first meeting, write one question you want answered: “Can I understand this tutor’s explanations?” or “Does this correction style help me notice mistakes?” Bring a short activity that relates to that question.
Afterward, record one useful correction, one thing you found difficult and the suggested next step. If you cannot describe the proposed learning routine, ask for clarification before moving on. A pleasant conversation can be valuable, but you still need a realistic plan.
See our Preply trial lesson guide for preparation ideas and booking considerations.
Check the calendar after changing tutors
Preply’s scheduling guide says regular bookings require an active tutor subscription, available lesson balance and an open slot. Confirm your profile time zone. A single booking reserves one meeting; weekly scheduling reserves a recurring time.
- Review the upcoming lessons list and identify which tutor belongs to each booking.
- Check the time zone against your own calendar.
- Read the subscription summary and note the next payment date.
- Save the confirmation for your records.
- If something looks incomplete, contact support before repeating a payment or moving more lessons.
Allow a little time to organise the new routine. Keep a short learning note with your current goal, useful vocabulary and recurring difficulties so the next tutor can understand where you are starting.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Better preparation |
|---|---|
| Choosing only by headline price | Compare the ongoing plan, teaching approach and usable availability. |
| Making several account changes at once | Review one confirmation and its effect before taking the next action. |
| Keeping no record of the old routine | Write down what helped and what needs to change. |
| Expecting a switch to guarantee progress | Agree on a practical routine and review whether it works for you. |
If a cancellation or refund question is driving your decision, read our Preply cancellation policy guide. A tutor change should not be treated as a promise that a previous payment will be returned.
Questions to ask before you confirm
How do I know whether a new tutor is a better fit?
Compare the tutor’s approach with the difficulty you wrote down before searching. Look for understandable explanations, useful feedback and a schedule you can maintain. One meeting cannot establish long-term progress, so use it to judge the proposed working relationship.
Should I tell my current tutor what is not working?
If you feel comfortable, a short and specific explanation can help. For example, ask for more speaking practice or a different correction style. Decide afterward whether the revised approach meets your needs.
Does an affiliate link guarantee a discount?
No discount is claimed here. Review any available offer and its eligibility on Preply. Our affiliate relationship is separate from the price or plan displayed to you.
Ready to compare your next tutor?
Start with one learning goal, a realistic calendar and a sustainable budget. Shortlist a few profiles, ask a focused question and review the account summary before confirming a change.
Paid lessons · Current prices appear on Preply · No learning or career outcome is guaranteed.
