Choosing Your Platform: Freelance vs. Company
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1/10Two paths, very different trade-offs
You have two main options when starting out: work for a platform or company (like Cambly, iTalki as a community tutor, or an online school), or go fully freelance and find your own students. Company route: steady bookings, less admin, lower pay per hour, less control. Freelance route: higher earning potential, full control, but you handle marketing, scheduling, and payments yourself.
On Cambly, you earn about $10-12/hour but students come to you.
Low barrier, low pay.
Freelance teachers on italki's professional tier often charge $25-50/hour.
Higher pay, but you build your own reputation.
Tip
Many successful teachers start on a platform to build experience, then transition to freelance once they have a client base.