italki, Preply and marketplace tutors or Français Prep?

Marketplaces like italki and Preply connect you with independent tutors who set their own rates and their own approach. The hourly price is usually lower than structured preparation. Whether that makes it cheaper depends entirely on how many hours you end up buying.

A marketplace sells you tutor hours. A preparation course sells you a plan, a syllabus, marked work and someone tracking whether you are on course for a date. Both are legitimate. They are not the same purchase.

Side by side

Marketplace tutors and Français Prep, compared honestly

Marketplace tutors and Français Prep, compared honestly: Marketplace tutors / Français Prep
What you are comparing	Marketplace tutors	Français Prep
What you buy	Individual lessons from an independent tutor you choose.	A structured plan built around your test date and target level.
Exam specialisation	Varies entirely by tutor. Some specialise in TCF or TEF, most do not.	Both exams, all four sections, in the exam's own format.
Who plans your work	You do, between lessons, unless the tutor takes it on.	Built from a diagnostic and revised as your practice results move.
Marked writing between sessions	Only if the tutor offers it, usually as extra paid time.	Included weekly in both live tiers.
Cost shape	Low per hour, unbounded in total, and easy to underestimate.	Fixed per block, published, with the total known before you start.
Continuity	Tutors change availability, raise rates or leave the platform.	The same teacher for the whole block.

Français Prep is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any organisation named on these pages. We describe them only in general terms that are publicly documented, and we do not quote their prices, because those are set independently and change. Verify anything that matters to your decision with the provider directly.

Scroll the table sideways to see both columns.

Choose Marketplace tutors if

You mainly need conversation hours and already know what to practise.
Your budget is tight and per-hour flexibility matters more than structure.
You want to try several teachers before committing to anyone.
You are strong across all four abilities and just need to stay warm before the exam.

Choose Français Prep if

You do not yet know which ability is costing you the most marks.
Your writing and speaking need marking against the exam's own criteria, not general correction.
You want the total cost known before you start rather than discovered later.
You have a date and need someone accountable for whether you are on track for it.

If that points to us

What preparation here costs

Prices are in Canadian dollars and the same wherever you are sitting the exam.

Self-paced
The full lesson library plus timed practice tests for all four sections, worked on your own schedule.
CA$149one-time
One payment, no subscription. Lifetime access to the library.
Start self-paced
- Lesson library for all four exam sections
- Timed full-length practice tests
- Model answers for every writing and speaking task
- NCLC score tracker
Most popular
Small-group live
Weekly live classes with Adèle, in groups small enough that everyone speaks, plus marked writing and speaking.
CA$449per 8-week block
Covers all eight weeks, about CA$56 a class.
Join a small group
- Everything in self-paced
- Weekly live class with Adèle
- Marked writing submissions every week
- Marked speaking recordings every week
One-to-one tutoring
Private sessions scheduled around your test date, with a study plan built from your diagnostic results.
CA$950per 10 sessions
CA$95 a session, booked around your test date.
Book one-to-one
- Everything in small-group live
- Private sessions scheduled around your test date
- Study plan built from your diagnostic test
- Unlimited marked writing and speaking during your block

Not sure which tier fits? Book a free 15-minute video call.

Prices are in Canadian dollars and include any tax that applies. Exam registration fees are paid directly to your test centre and are not included in any tier.

Questions

About Marketplace tutors

Are you affiliated with italki or Preply?

No. We do not resell their lessons, we are not partners, and nothing here is endorsed by them. We describe how those marketplaces work in general terms, which is publicly documented, and nothing about any individual tutor on them.

Is a marketplace tutor cheaper?

Per hour, usually yes. In total, it depends on how many hours you buy and whether they are the right hours. Twenty unstructured conversation lessons can cost more than a structured block and leave your writing exactly where it started. Compare total spend against the outcome, not hourly rates against each other.

Can I use a tutor for conversation and you for the exam work?

Yes, and some candidates do exactly that. Extra speaking hours are rarely wasted if your speaking is the weak ability. Just be careful not to pay twice for the same thing, and be honest with yourself about whether the extra hours are practice or procrastination.

How do I judge whether a tutor knows the exam?

Ask them to describe the marking criteria for expression écrite, and what separates a response at NCLC 7 from one at NCLC 8. A tutor who has prepared candidates will answer immediately and specifically. It is a fair question to ask us too.

The other options

NEXT STEP

Find out where your French actually stands

Book a short assessment with Adèle: one writing task, one speaking task, and an honest plan for the weeks you have left before the exam.

Book an assessment See the course tiers