The internet is a wonderful thing. It has opened the door for people to earn a full-time income or side income from anywhere in the world. Teach English online, learn how to start a travel blog, become famous on social media, or be a brand ambassador for large companies. It’s all possible.
If you’re looking to teach English online, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve edited this post to include new schools that are hiring online English teachers!
Table of Contents
- Can I Teach English Online?
- Do I Need a TEFL Certificate to Teach English Online?
- How Much Does It Pay to Teach English Online?
- 12 Best Online English Teaching Platforms
- 1. Magic Ears
- 2. GoGoKid
- 3. VIPKID
- 4. Qkids
- 5. Cambly: tutoring online to worldwide students
- 6. Italki: teach English online (or any other language)
- 7. EnglishHunt: teach English online (or by phone) to Korean students
- 8. EF Education First: teach ESL online to Chinese children
- 9. PalFish
- 10. Learnlight: teach English and other languages
- 11. Skimatalk: no experience required
- 12. PrePly: teach English and other topics online
- 13. BookNook: teach reading comprehension and literacy
- How Much Money Can You Make Teaching English Online?
- Is Teaching English Online Worth It?
Update January, 2023: There are many great online companies you can work for. Teaching English online looks a little bit different these days. Even though China has changed its rules regarding foreign English teachers, and many of the online platforms that were once popular aren’t hiring at the moment, there are still some great jobs available.
We’ve left this article as is, and included updates throughout — many of the companies are trying to pivot into teaching students in other markets. We will update this post as we hear more.
Having said that, DON’T WORRY! There are still many companies that you can apply to, such as BookNook, Preply, Skooli, Cambly, iTalki, Outschool, Teachable, Ef Education First, Learnlight, Skimatalk and Profy.
In this post, I’m going to list the best online teaching English jobs, how you can find a job with them, and how much money you can expect to earn from teaching English online.
Ready to get straight into it? Click here to jump to the best online English teaching websites.
If you’ve been on this blog before, you’ll know that we volunteered to teach English in Myanmar and Laos, and we moved to China for a year while teaching English as a profession. All of those experiences teaching were incredible.
These days, we’re all about helping travellers find ways to earn money online so that they can turn travel into a lifestyle — without actually having to move abroad as we did.
We’ve been travelling since 2008 and thanks to the internet, we’ve been able to earn more money online than we ever did in our well-paying jobs in Canada.
We want to help you do the same thing. I’m happy to share these top companies to teach English online so that you too can make money from anywhere in the world.
Can I Teach English Online?
You can teach English online if you meet these requirements — almost all of the companies will require the following:
- Native English speaker, or near-native English speaker
- Solid internet connection, microphone, webcam, and quiet space for lessons
- You have a Bachelor’s degree or you are currently enrolled (in some cases this isn’t obligatory)
- A TEFL Certificate (in some cases this isn’t obligatory) — click here for a list of the top TEFL companies.
- You’re from Canada, the UK, or the United States (in some cases, all first-language English countries)
- You are enthusiastic, passionate, and positive
These are the basic requirements to teach English online, and I will list a few more specific requirements for each company below.
It makes sense that you must be able to speak English at a native level and that you have a solid internet connection (if you don’t, why would students sign up with you?), but I really don’t think having a university degree in any subject should be a requirement to teach English online, or in-country.
But hey, those are the rules.
Do I Need a TEFL Certificate to Teach English Online?
Yes, you do need a TEFL certificate to teach English online with higher-paying companies. We suggest MyTEFL as they are one of the cheapest, legitimate certificates. Click here to receive a 50% discount.
However, there are some great companies to consider if you don’t have your TEFL: BookNook (which teaches reading, rather than the English language), PrePly, Cambly, and Skimatalk don’t require a TEFL certificate. EF Education First only requires a 40-hour TEFL which you can easily (and affordably) obtain here.
In most cases, no previous experience is required, but it helps if you have worked with younger children in the past and have taken a TEFL course — which will give you a proper understanding of lesson plans and how to run a class.
Plus, if you have a TEFL certificate, are a native English speaker, have a good internet connection, and are enthusiastic, your odds of getting accepted for the job will be much higher.
Some of the companies below don’t require a university degree or a TEFL certificate.
There are a few TEFL companies that we recommend for various reasons. With a certificate from one of these companies, you’ll be able to teach English online in no time. Click here to learn about the top, most reputable companies.
Not only is teaching English online a great job for digital nomads and remote workers, but it’s also an excellent gig for stay-at-home parents and retirees who want to keep busy now that their careers are finished.
Update: See our latest posts about the things you’ll need to know before teaching English online, our list of 15 pros and cons of becoming an online English teacher, and the essential equipment you’ll need in order to teach online.
☞ SEE ALSO: Teaching English in Madrid – A Guide to TEFL Jobs
How Much Does It Pay to Teach English Online?
In general, teaching English online pays between $10 – $26 / hour.
While you might not become a millionaire when you teach English online, you will earn enough for a life of travel, or it could be a nice addition to your current income.
This is especially true if you’re basing yourself in a country with a low cost of living.
For most teachers, this job is coupled with another form of income (such as blogging), or at least supplemented with free accommodation through house sitting or some other sort of exchange.
While you’re teaching online, you could be taking care of a dog and living in a pool villa in the Caribbean! If you haven’t heard of house sitting & pet sitting, click here to learn how to receive free accommodation around the world while earning income from your online teaching jobs.
With Preply, you set your own pay rate. Most English teachers online charge between $15-$25 per hour depending on their qualifications.
EF Education First offers $20 USD / hour, is based in the USA, and is available for Americans and UK citizens. You must be living in the USA or the UK.
BookNook pays $18 per hour and is available to Citizens and permanent residents of the USA.
Some companies pay per minute, while others pay hourly. In some cases, you must commit to a certain amount of hours each week, while in others, you set the teaching schedule.
There’s also the opportunity to earn bonuses and referral pay. Plus, if a student cancels on you, you will receive compensation. Some companies pay via PayPal or Payoneer, while others do a direct deposit to your bank account.
12 Best Online English Teaching Platforms
Wondering what is the best company to teach English online? It depends on your qualifications, but right now the best options are BookNook for American citizens and permanent residents, Preply, Cambly, and Italki because you can work remotely and you set the pay rate.
There are lots of online teaching jobs out there, but if you want to teach English online, you need to make sure you’re going with a reputable company.
Update 2023: All of the online English teaching websites that are based in China are now closed to foreign teachers. Right now, the best websites to teach English online are BookNook, Preply, Cambly, Italki, EF Education First, Outschool, and Profy.
My best piece of advice when applying to teach English online is to submit your application to more than one company on this list. The more places you apply, the greater your odds of getting hired.
1. Magic Ears
(teach English online to Chinese students – Update 2023: not hiring)
Magic Ears is currently the top choice for ESL teachers from the USA and Canada. Founded in 2017, this company is a great option for English teachers.
The platform connects teachers with Chinese students aged 4 – 12. Lesson planning, marking homework, and speaking with the student’s parents are all dealt with by Magic Ears — you’re simply there to teach!
Classes are 25 minutes long, and you can earn up to $26 per hour. Have a look at this honest Magic Ears review for more details.
Pros to Teach English Online With Magic Ears:
- It’s a high-paying position at up to $26 per hour
- Offers positions to applicants from USA, Canada, UK, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia
- You can work remotely from anywhere in the world
- Magic Ears offers a TEFL for just $20 (may not transfer to other online English teaching jobs)
- Set your own schedule
- Don’t have to commit to a certain amount of teaching hours
- Classes are 4-on-1 which is easier to manage than a larger group
- Magic Ears creates the lesson plans for you
- Application and interview procedure is easy
- Use their teaching platform — no need to download any apps or programs
- You don’t need to speak Mandarin or Cantonese
- Salaries are paid via PayPal
- There’s an engaging community on Facebook and assistance is available
Cons to Teaching English Online With Magic Ears:
- Time change issues if you aren’t living in Asia
- Bachelor’s Degree or active enrollment in a Bachelor’s Degree program is required
- Classes can change up to 24 hours before
2. GoGoKid
(teach English to Chinese students – Update 2023: Not hiring)
GoGoKid is a great option for teachers from Canada and the United States. This relatively new company has been around since 2018 but has been quickly making a name for itself.
The platform connects English teachers with Chinese children aged 3-12. You won’t have to worry about creating lesson plans, marking homework, or speaking with the parents, GoGoKid takes care of that and you get to focus on teaching ESL.
Classes are 25 minutes long each, and you can earn up to $7-10 dollars per class. However, there are incentives for an additional $2.50 per class bringing the potential total to $12.50 per class, or $25 USD per hour.
Pros to Teach English Online With GoGoKid:
- It’s high-paying at up to $12.50 per class ($25 per hour)
- Work remotely from anywhere in the world
- Set your own schedule (but open at least 30 “peak hour” slots within your first 30 days)
- Classes are 1-on-1 which is easier to manage than a larger group
- GoGoKid creates the lesson plans for you
- Application and interview procedure is easy
- Use their teaching platform — no need to download any apps or programs
- You don’t need to speak Mandarin or Cantonese
- Salaries are paid via PayPal or wire transfer
- There’s an engaging community on Facebook and assistance is available
- GoGoKid offers online academy training and live workshops
Cons to Teaching English Online With GoGoKid:
- Only Canadians and Americans can apply
- You must hold a Bachelor’s Degree (in any subject)
- You need to have a TEFL Certificate (which isn’t a con really, as it will help you be a better teacher)
- Time change issues if you aren’t living in Asia
- The interview process is a bit confusing
- The payment and bonus system is also confusing
3. VIPKID
(teach English online to Chinese students – Update 2023: Not Hiring)
VIPKID is an excellent option for North Americans who want to teach English online to children in China. This company came onto the scene in 2013 and has been exploding ever since.
The platform connects Chinese students with teachers and they deal with the lesson planning, marking of tests, and speaking with the parents of the children you teach. When I taught English in China, those were things I had to do on my own, which was definitely a downside!
Classes are 25-30 minutes each, with a potential earning of $22 / hour. Learn more about working with this company in our honest review of VIPKID.
Pros To Teach English Online With VIPKID:
- Work remotely from anywhere in the world
- VIPKID creates the lesson plans for you
- VIPKID is a recognized and professional company
- Set your own schedule to work as many or as few hours as you like
- It’s high-paying (up to $22 / hour)
- The students are adorable and well-behaved
- All classes are 1-on-1
- Helpful community of teachers and staff of VIPKID
- You don’t need to speak Mandarin or Cantonese
- Holiday and seasonal incentive (ie: paid extra for working Christmas)
- $50-$60 referral bonus
Cons To Teach English Online With VIPKID:
- It’s only for North American teachers
- You must have a University degree (in any subject)
- Only teaching children in China (as opposed to different ages, in different countries)
- Time change issues if you aren’t in Asia
- If your internet cuts out for more than 3 minutes, you will be charged with cancellation of a class
4. Qkids
(teach Chinese students – Update 2023: Not Hiring)
This program is actually very similar to VIPKID, but there are a few differences.
Pros To Teach English Online With Qkids:
- You don’t need to have a degree, BUT you must be currently enrolled in University
- High-paying – up to $20 / hour
- All materials and lessons are provided
- Training is included
- Flexible schedule
- You don’t need to speak Mandarin or Cantonese
- Very engaged community
Cons To Teach English Online With Qkids:
- You must actually be living in Canada or the United States
- No holiday or seasonal pay incentive (ie: no extra pay if you work during Christmas)
- It’s only for North American teachers
- You’ll only teach Chinese children (rather than students from around the world, and of all ages)
- Time change issues since you aren’t living in Asia
- You must commit to a minimum of 6 hours per week
- 4 students maximum per class (could be either a pro or a con depending on what you prefer)
Both VIPKID and Qkids are great companies and they both pay their teachers well, but each has its own style. Maybe apply for both of them (or all of them in this article), so that you have a better chance at being hired, and making more money!
5. Cambly: tutoring online to worldwide students
Cambly is a much more informal teaching setting than other companies.
The people who you’ll be talking with already speak English at some level and for the most part, they are just wanting to practice their conversational skills.
This is a platform where students sign up and pay a fee, and log in via an app to chat with tutors who are online. Teachers (tutors) can log in at random, or you can book a shift.
Although there are students from all around the world, most of them hail from Saudi Arabia. Recently, however, there has been a boom in South Korean and Turkish students. Here are the pros & cons of online tutoring with Cambly.
Pros Of Teaching English Online With Cambly:
- Work online from anywhere in the world
- No experience necessary
- No university degree or TEFL certificate required
- Set your own hours
- Meet people of all ages from all over the world
- Can have repeat students who you really get to know
- Informal setting where you just chat with students about casual topics
- Lessons and materials are available with Cambly if needed
- Easy sign-up
- No contract needed
- Safety protocols in place (ie: ban students immediately for inappropriate behavior)
Cons of Teaching English Online With Cambly:
- The pay isn’t very high ($0.17/minute, which is $10.20 / hour)
- No guaranteed hours
- It can be tedious to “chit-chat” all of the time
- There’s a free trial available for new students meaning you may have to deal with a few who aren’t serious about practicing their English
- There’s the potential for inappropriate students, especially if you are a female tutor (hit that “ban” button!)
- You will need to be sensitive to the cultures of many countries, and be aware of what is acceptable to talk about / not talk about
*Note: It was suggested by a female Cambly teacher to not use your real identity when signing up as a tutor. I thought this was a great idea because you’ll avoid having people potentially searching for you on social media. One downside of the internet!
Click here to read our review of Cambly and click here to apply.
6. Italki: teach English online (or any other language)
Italki is completely different from the companies and programs I listed above. With Italki, you set the pay rate that you will be charging your students.
If there’s a language that you are fluent in (English, Japanese, German, Russian, etc.), then you can apply to become a teacher of that language. You will be in charge of the lesson and the platform it is taught on (Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts).
The rates you should charge are based on your previous experience, your credentials, your student feedback, and what others are charging to teach online.
From what I can see, the professional teachers are charging around $25 / hour, while the community tutors are charging around $12 / hour. Basically, if you price yourself out of the market, you won’t have any students.
You must be a native speaker of the language you are choosing to teach.
Pros Of Teaching Online With Italki:
- You are in charge and set your own fee and your own schedule
- You decide what you teach
- Classes are 1-on-1
- Teach English Online and Work from anywhere in the world
- There are 2 types of profiles – professional teacher or community tutor. You must show certifications to be considered a professional
- The platform deals with payments and assists with student issues
Cons To Teaching English Online With Italki:
- They take a 15% commission on your completed lessons
- You need to come up with the lesson plans yourself (check out our guide to online English lesson planning)
7. EnglishHunt: teach English online (or by phone) to Korean students
Update 2023: This company isn’t currently hiring, but it will be again in a few months. Please check back soon.
The online teaching jobs available with this company vary, but right now they are looking for native English speakers who are from the USA to teach Korean business students.
You’ll be speaking by phone, but via softphone technology downloaded to your computer. Another option is to actually move and find a job teaching English in South Korea.
Pros To Teach English Online With EnglishHunt:
- It pays $2 per 10 minutes
- You will be teaching adults
- The curriculum is provided
- 2 shifts to choose from: Mon-Fri 6am to 9am, or 6pm to midnight Korean time (you don’t need to be available for the entire shift)
- You can teach English online or by phone and work from anywhere in the world
Cons To Teach English Online With EnglishHunt:
- For United States residents only (but can be living abroad)
- Must have an American bank account for salary deposits
- Their software isn’t compatible with Apple products
- You must have 48 hours of college credits or a TEFL/ESL certificate
8. EF Education First: teach ESL online to Chinese children
This is a highly recognized English school with classrooms around the world. But, they also offer English teaching jobs online for both citizens of the UK and the USA.
EF Education First is the longest-running online English teaching company (50 years!) and is highly reputable as well.
If you’re living in the USA or the UK, EF Education First Online is your top choice when it comes to online ESL jobs. To read our review of EF Teach Online, click here.
Pros Of Online English Teaching Jobs With EF Education First:
- Easy to sign up
- You get to work from home
- Create your own flexible schedule
- Earn up to $19 / £12.50 an hour (UPDATE: Teachers for EF can now be paid up to $20 / hour)
- $30 payment for the introduction/training of EF classes (for US teachers)
- Salaries are deposited into your bank account
- Teach the same students each class
- 1 on 1 classes
- Lesson materials are available for you
- Work on EF’s user-friendly platform
- No props or toys are needed
- 24/7 troubleshooting support
- You don’t need to be able to speak Mandarin or Cantonese to teach English online with EF
- Make a difference in a child’s life
Cons Of Online English Teaching Jobs With EF Education First:
- You must be from the UK or the USA
- You must be actually living in the UK or the USA
- You must hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in any subject
- You must have a 40-hour minimum TEFL certificate
- The time change can be a bit difficult if you’re not a morning person, or if you prefer to not work at night
9. PalFish
Update 2023: Not hiring
This is a relatively new company with many teaching English online jobs available.
Founded in 2015, this is another company connecting English teachers with Chinese students.
And actually, Palfish says that even if you’re a non-native English speaker, but you have a very neutral accent, you are welcome to apply as well.
Another bonus of teaching English online with Palfish? You don’t need a university degree to teach. But, you do need a TEFL Certificate which you can easily get here.
You can sign up to be an “official” teacher, or as a “free talk” teacher.
Pros of Teaching English Online With PalFish
- You can work from anywhere in the world
- Choose your own hours
- Earn upwards of $30/hour (depending on which type of teacher you choose to become)
- Receive teaching bonuses
- Can be a non-native English speaker
- Don’t need a University degree (but you do need a TEFL Certificate)
Cons of Teaching English Online With PalFish
- You must have a Payoneer account or a bank account in China
- You need to do your own marketing to attract students
- The time change is difficult for teachers
- You must have a TEFL Certificate
- You aren’t paid for lesson planning, checking homework and evaluating students
- The app can be glitchy
- Not much assistance from the company
Read our review article, here.
10. Learnlight: teach English and other languages
Learnlight is a great platform for teaching English online to business professionals from over 100 different countries in a wide variety of sectors.
They offer teachers an extensive library of materials to ensure you’re offering the best classes possible to your students. There are programs for Virtual Groups, One-to-One sessions, Specialized Skills Courses and Level Assessments.
You’ll need a TEFL certificate, 2 years of experience, proficiency in the English language, 10Mbps internet connection, a laptop or desktop computer, a headset, and a webcam for this position.
The great thing about Learnlight is that you can get jobs teaching English online, as well as Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
11. Skimatalk: no experience required
This platform specifically focuses on teaching English online and doesn’t offer any other language classes. They connect eager learners with teachers from all around the world.
You’ll only have to teach English online for a maximum of 25-minute classes with Skimatalk and you can choose to teach as many or as few classes as you wish.
For this platform, no previous teaching experience or a Tefl Certificate is required, making it one of the best platforms for new online English teachers to get their foot in the door.
You must be a native speaker from able to speak American, British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and/or Irish English fluently.
All classes are done over Skype. One downside to this platform is that you’ll have to complete three 25-minute classes at first for free, and then your fee will automatically be set to $8 per 25-minute session.
After you have some classes under your belt, you can choose your own rates, making this a great platform for earning more money. Click here to read our review of Skimatalk.
12. PrePly: teach English and other topics online
PrePly is an online English teaching platform that helps students to prepare for the professional world by teaching them how to speak confidently in public and understand the written word.
The platform helps students connect with tutors and online English teachers who can help them achieve their learning goals. Students come from all over the world and ages range from young learners to seniors.
With PrePly, you won’t need a TEFL certificate or previous experience, though if you have both it will help you to attract more students.
If the student likes you, they can choose to hire you as their online English teacher to teach English online to them for 5, 10, 15, or 20 hours (purchased in packages from the website or app).
Your earnings will depend on the hourly rate you set in your profile. PrePly takes 100% fee for your first lesson, and then around 18%-33% after that. The more you teach English online with PrePly, the lower their commission rate will be.
Preply helps students prepare to speak confidently with professional tutors from around the world. Language learners can easily find a tutor who matches their learning goals and begin taking lessons within minutes.
Students are from every corner of the world and the age of students will vary from young to old. You can also teach other topics such as school and university subjects, arts, hobbies, and other languages.
Read our review of Preply here.
13. BookNook: teach reading comprehension and literacy
BookNook is a tutoring company for American students and teachers. Rather than teaching English online, you’ll be focused on helping young kids with their reading comprehension and literacy. During these reading classes, you’ll engage with your students and help them build their confidence!
You’ll be with groups of 1-4 students from the United States, and with the same ones each week. This is great as you can really get to know your students and create a relationship that supports their learning. This position pays $18 per hour.
Qualifications to tutor online with BookNook
- All tutors must be a current US Citizen or Permanent Resident
- 3+ years teaching or tutoring OR 1-year teaching or tutoring and at least a bachelor’s degree OR 1-year teaching or tutoring and current enrollment in a teaching credential program
- You’re enthusiastic and passionate about teaching
- You’re tech-savvy
Click here to learn about BookNook and sign up as a tutor.
How Much Money Can You Make Teaching English Online?
Typically, you can make between $10 – $26 USD per hour as an online English teacher. With companies like Preply, you set your own rate. BookNook pays $18 per hour.
Is Teaching English Online Worth It?
Yes! Teaching English online is worth it.
You can make good money, and in many cases, you can teach English online from anywhere in the world.
On top of earning a good wage, as a teacher, you’ll be able to make connections with your students. It’s rewarding to know that you’re making a difference in their lives.
I hope that this article inspired you to teach English online, either as a full-time job or as a side hustle.
Becoming an English teacher is an enriching profession. The year I spent teaching English in China is still one of my fondest memories, I had such a wonderful experience with my students.
But, these days you don’t actually have to travel to China (or abroad) to teach, it can all be done virtually! Check out the teaching English online jobs above and get started today.
Great information here, so thanks for that.
A little disappointed with the requirement to be from either Canada or US for some of them, particularly as a native English speaker from England (it’s amazing how many people don’t realise England English) but hey ho!
I teach with VIPKID, and I love the company! It was interesting reading about the different opportunities. I’ve heard a lot about Q-kids and Cambly, as a lot of our teachers use these companies to fill their schedule when they first start out. Many prefer VIPKID for the pay and one on one classes in the end, but my sources might be biased!
Don’t get discouraged! I work for VIPKID, and I wish we hired a more diverse group of staff members. I know that there are a lot of other companies out there, so there are definitely good opportunities to be found, keep searching.
Because I’m hearing impaired, teaching verbally isn’t an option due to my strong accent and poor lipreading skills. I was wondering if you (or anyone else) have seen any demand for ASL teachers online?
Thanks!
This is such a super article. I have taught English abroad before but never considered taking this online. Definitely a great way to supplement the digital nomad lifestyle though, will definitely be looking into a few of these companies!
hello i need a job for teaching child math,eng,or chemistry
I taught English in China for 2 years (pre-k, kindergarten, and then at an extra curricular school on the weekends). I loved it and am interested in teaching online. Since you work for VIP Kids (you collective for those who have mentioned working for/with them) what is the true time commitment like? What do you dis/like? I’m very interested.
Thank you for all the info you provided. I went through the process with VIPkids ( long and time consuming , buying educational aids and props) regrettably even though I was told I did very well on the interviews and mocks I was not hired. I strongly felt it was because I was black , sad but true. Thanks again
Hi, I work for VIPKID and I started May 2018. It started off very well for me since some teachers had no classes the first month. March 2018 I made 575 USD, April 2018 May 2018 I made $1182 USD = $1500 CAD, May 2018 $1894 USD and June, I’m hitting close to $ 1700 USD which is great because I’m Canadian…eh! It’s gone so well for me I recommend it.
I would like to work online from home.
French tutor It is possible to definitely visit experience while in the work you are writing. This segment wants all the more passionate freelance writers such as you who aren’t afraid to cover where did they believe that. Continuously go after your heart.
I hold a teaching certificate in Georgia in social studies, special needs and learning disabled. I specialize in teaching special disable and special needs children at all levels. I would love to contact you to see our if our goals can be compatible to in moving forward to help children reach their full academic potential.
Thank you for writing about this lifestyle! I am definitely interested in following in you guys’ footsteps and pursuing this way of living. I do have a question. I realize having quiet, undisturbed teaching times might be difficult. What internet service/system is best to have while on the road?
I have just graduated as a TEFL teacher and want to work from home online. I live in South Africa. Please let me know if you have any jobs available.
Thank you kindly
Debbie Worth
Hi Debbie,
We are not a company that hires online teachers, you’ll need to reach out directly to the schools that I listed in the article. Thanks.
Very interesting! Thnx
I was also told that I did very well on the interview and that they liked my credentials (high GPA double major), but I was declined.
I think it’s also because I have a darker skin tone.
As an IMPORTANT note for anyone looking into English Hunt, I just looked into them and they say that Apple/Mac computers are NOT compatible with their programs. So, if you only have a Mac like I do, you won’t be able to work with English Hunt.
Thank you for this…it is very informative and relevant. I’m gearing up to apply to teach online so this is great. It reaffirmed that VIPKID is still a leader in this fast moving field of teaching English online.
your accents are way too thick to for non-Native speakers. Hence, American and Candian–they have neutral accents for the most part. (except deep south and northern Canada)
Thanks for the information.
Although, English teachers from England don’t have much to work with using this list.
Are there not more inclusive suggestions?
Verbling or DaDaABC to discuss?
Yes, I know, it would be great if it were inclusive of ALL native English speakers. You could check out Italki and Cambly
That’s great to hear!
interesting..I was wondering if the company would discriminate against people of darker skin. As asian are known for discrimination for that reasonThank you for sharing your experience.
Hi Dariece,
This is a very helpful article! Thanks very much! Has a lot of information I was looking for. Unfortunately, i could be branded as not a native english speaker “technically”, since I hail from India.
Will still give it a try at one of the companies that do not require us to from Canada/U.S.
Thanks again
Thank you! This is great information.
Thank you so much for the thorough and well summarized article!
Thank you for reading and commenting
Actually everyone has an accent and think their own voice is neutral
!
Thank you. I have been looking for this information. But l need more of your help.
Greetings from Sri Lanka!
I would need a piece of advice if you don’t mind. I am a Romanian citizen, however I have been teaching English at mostly all levels for all my life, namely ever since graduating from an English intensive study high school. I have a University degree in communication and a masters in public relations, none being of much help, I guess, when it comes to teaching. I have also taught Italian, Spanish and French all languages I am fluent in. I am interested in teaching mostly English and Italian, however of what i read here, most of these companies would require native speakers. I believe they should consider the level of English and experience rather than being a native speaker. With all due respect to everyone, I had an English native speaker teacher from USA in high school, brought especially for conversation, whose grammar was incorrect, vocabulary poor and knowledge scarce. Besides, speaking and teaching are two very different things. Being a native speaker of any language does not make anyone a good teacher. This being said, I would really appreciate some advice as to which companies I could apply for online teaching jobs. Thank you in advance!
Am very much interested in teaching English online.
i am a retired social worker. i have masters in management. English is my only language. i am from Johannesburg in South Africa.
interested in online teaching
It is somewhat of a shame that a University degree is required for a couple of these programs. My wife has been a teacher’s aid in a Private School for the past 13 years. She does not have college training. Primarily she has had the duty to teach preschoolers (3 and 4 years old) to read. I am proud to say that by the end of each of those school years at least 95% of these children smile ear to ear as they realize that they have for the first time formed words into sentences and have “read” what was set before them.
Yes, it is a shame since the degree doesn’t need to be in the field of education or something similar. But, it’s the law in China to have a university degree, and in many countries.
Warm regards,
Dariece
Ihave been English teacher ESL in canada for over 15 years
I have bachelor in English from vcc Canadian Coleg.
I recently applied for iTalki, and was rejected. There wasn’t a lot of useful info in the email I received:
“Unfortunately, your application was declined for one or more of the reasons below:
Due to the large volume of teaching applications we receive, we are not able to accept every application, and regret that we must decline your application at this time. We will contact you if we would like to review your application again in the future.”
Should I try to reapply? Are there best practices for being accepted into these programs, or what each of them consider when making a decision on a teacher? I don’t have any experience teaching, but have Bachelor’s degrees in both Psychology and Economics. Would getting my TEFL certificate be overkill, just to start teaching online?
Hi Danny,
Sorry to hear that you got rejected. Here are some ways to make sure you pass: https://support.italki.com/hc/en-us/articles/206352018-Why-was-my-application-to-teach-on-italki-declined-
Yes, getting your TEFL would help for sure. Which passport do you hold?
I need a job to earn money can please help by teaching English on
I currently teach English and additional English for students in the 11th and 12th grade in my own state. It’s the most interesting age group as they are able to think outside the box. And most times they converse in english which also helps them to write good and proper english. Introduving such websites for us teachers to help others learn better English is a great opportunity. But I’m abit disappointed that teachers from our country are not applicable to teach here . I’m an Indian. But if we are do let me know…I would like to join and share my knowledge.
Sadly this was only of use if you are from North America.
Hi Les, you can sign up for Cambly or Italki if you are from other parts of the world. But yes, sadly for the top 2 companies, they want North Americans.
Great Blog..!!
As we know there are lots of website are there for teach us English online but your site is really very helpful for us to improve our English or improve our skills. this is also very helpful for our business also. Thank You for sharing this information with us.
Hi Dariece,
I’m planning to apply to VipKid – could you be kind and share your experience with their interview and demo class please? Any tips? Questions they ask?
Many thanks,
Nadia
Hi Nadia,
That’s great that you’re applying Please have a look at our post here for tips and advice about the interview:
https://www.goatsontheroad.com/become-vipkid-teacher/
That is too funny for words! Americans and Canadians have neutral accents? Only to yourselves!
Rubbish sites, 4 out of 5 geared towards Americans.
Try Skyeng.
I tried applying and was rejected out of the gate due to not having any classroom experience. I have a degree in English and my tech requirements are all there. It seems circuitous to need experience but can’t get experience because I don’t have enough. So… getting a TEFL and teaching abroad seems the easiest route. Please correct me if I’m wrong or missing something.
Hi Leigh,
Which company were you trying to apply for? Thanks.
Good article but this comment could have been watered down a bit {you’ll avoid having dodgy men from around the world stalking your personal social media profiles}
Very impressive.
I’d appreciate if anyone could recommend a company or companies that accepts tutors from Trinidad and Tobago.
My daughter went through the application process for VIP kids and has an education degree, teosl certificate and experience, and she was turned down. This is even after they said she did well. She is not black, so I wouldn’t assume that is the reason people are getting turned down. We were both baffled why she was.
Yea they just want the North American accent. England has a ton of different accents where Canada and America are more standard. Case in point, I worked with a guy from Liverpool and I literally could not understand him
Yes, this is true. For a non-English speaker, North American accents are easier to understand.
I am 68 male in Pakistan. Mostly, as a kid I was tutored by native English speakers. Do you think I stand a chance.
Actually, I’m one of the few people here who doesn’t have an accent!!! LOL
i love to teach subject like accounting and mathematics
Great article, however, there are other companies out there that pay better and are open to all Native English accents. I currently teach online to subsidise my full-time TEFL job and the 2 companies I work for pay between $11 and $12 for 30 minutes. They provide good materials and good teaching platforms! But thanks for the article, this is something that many English speakers don’t seriously consider, but there is some good money and flexibility to be earned.
…And what are the 2 companies you work with, Donald?
Great article! I have certificates from a trade school (Heald Business College). Are those applicable?
Thanks!
Hi, I would like to teach English online I have CELTA certificate and Masters in theatre. It would be lovely to hear from you.
Thanks
Hi Mirjana, please apply for one of the companies listed in the article. Thank you
If I may be so bold, I think it just a little discriminatory that they require you to be from a specific country, and be a native speaker. My Belgian wife speaks English as a 3rd language, yet she is fluent in it compared to a lot of native English speakers. In my case, I have such a neutral accent, no one, and I mean no one has ever been able to guess where I’m from. When I say South Africa, I am treated to many a blank stare. Either way, I know I’l find something 🙂
Hi there, thanks for this roundup! I’d like to include my experience working with EF in case it’s useful for anyone. I worked for EF for 3 years. There was a lot I liked about the company, but in my third year I started having problems with getting passed up for pay raises. They have a complicated system for raises that includes student reviews and booked hours. If I worked a class session and 4 students gave me a 5 star rating but the 5th left one star, I was out of the running. If I put in 30 hours of availability but the school only booked me for 3 (yes, that happened! More than once!), I was out of the running and told it was my fault for not putting in enough availability. Students can no-show last minute and the teacher only gets a quarter hour pay. Eventually, my hours became so unreliable I had to quit.
I am interested in this job
Give it a try and see if they accept you
It would be great if some of these places were accepting teachers from other English speaking countries, but still very useful and educational. Thank you sof sharing 🙂
I agree, but sadly, I don’t make the rules! Thanks for reading
I went through a few of your posts and I was attracted towards them because of the Tag lines as “Get Paid To Travel: 11 Jobs That Pay You to Explore” and ” Teach English Online: Get Paid With These Top 5 Companies.”
I must tell you that the content of these posts isn’t as helpful as they sound to be. I am an Indian. There is nothing in your blogs which was helpful for me. Teaching English had requirements, hence everything was in vain. Do you have anything for Indians? Also, have you been to India? I recommend you to visit Manali, Dharamshala, Amritsar, and Jaipur.
This only indicates US and Canadian citizens along with a few other countries, can teach English. I am English, have a neutral educated accent, the same as princess Diana, yet England, where English originates, is excluded on here. Our language has been adopted by other nations, yet we, the primary nation are not considered good enough to teach English.This is insulting to the English nation.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for your email. I don’t make the rules for these companies, they do, and they mostly want North American teachers / accents (for whatever reason). Education First is on this list, which is a great company for UK citizens. Check them out
Hi,
I am a South African citizen currently residing in Thailand.
I am fluent in English & teach English on a part time basis at schools & to groups in Thailand.
I have no university degree.
I am interested in teaching online.
Please advise.
Regards
Narendra
hi trying to register with cambly now they are asking for Referral Code, what code am suppose to give them
thanks
hi trying to register with cambly now they are asking for Referral Code, what code am suppose to give them
thanks
We don’t have a code for you to enter. Thanks.
thanks for such things I really happy thanks
In the English Hunt pro column it list $2 per 10 minutes??Perhaps a number is missing??
Thanks for the good information. I was so excited about the opportunities of teaching on-line until I found out about the age discrimination that exists in some countries. I am an active United Statessenior with life experiences, education, teaching credential and love to teach.
Can you offer some leads on who hires seniors to work as an online TEFL teacher? I am open to teaching
all levels including adults.
Thanks
Carolyn
Hi, can I have your email address? I want to AK you some questions. Thanks
Hi, I’m from RSA and am very keen to teach English online. I am a qualified teacher. I have been teaching for +/-20 years on and off. As I am 52 years of age, I find it very difficult to get a full time or part time teaching job.
Thanks for this helpful information. I am from UK and have been looking at PalFish and doing a TEFL course and teaching children. Do you have any experience of this? Otherwise Cambly, I have no degree but an NVQ in Childcare & Education, but am bit nervous about abusive/time-wasters calling…..
Hello
I am very keen on teaching English or any other subject, online
I have a four year Bachelor of Technology – Information Technology Degree
I have been lecturing Computer Science subjects to University students from 1997 till the end of 2019.
I lectured at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa.
I am a South African citizen and live in Durban, South Africa.
I would really appreciate any assistance that you may offer.
Thanks
I’m suprised you don’t address the most important factor In selecting an ESL online job which is whether or not the company assigns the students or you have to hustle and make a good impression so parents pick you. The biggest con of VIPKID is people with amazing reviews have schedules half full and wate a lot of time. QKIDS assigns the students, all you do is select your blocks of time and away you go. Seems like a no brainer
I work for VIPKID. Yes, everyone has an accent that gives away where they lived most of their life. China just happens to be looking for the North American accent. But not only that, think about your(everyones) phrases. My husband was born and lived his first few years in England. When he came to the states and started school they held him out another year to “learn the language”. Things like biscuit vs. cookie. He was very upset when he asked nicely for a biscuit and his American(southern) grandma gave him one left over from breakfast! The phrase you used also, “hey ho”. We get the gist because of context. But Chinese children will not. Not a thing wrong with the way any of us speak. its just what the parents, who are paying for the lessons, are looking for.
Thanks for the comment, Melanie. For us, the biggest (most important) difference between VIPKID and Qkids isn’t that you have the students chosen for you, but rather, with VIPKID, you can work from ANYWHERE in the world, and with Qkids, you must live in Canada or the USA. Being able to work from anywhere, while traveling the world is a huge pro 🙂
Hi Chris,
Since you don’t have a University Degree, teaching with PalFish or Cambly would be good options. You’ll need a TEFL though for PalFish. Have a look at the top 6 reputable companies here: https://www.goatsontheroad.com/tefl-course-online/
I love VIPKD! You are a free contractor. There is no time commitment. You do want to pick a schedule and try to stick to is so that you are consistent for your students. You are not guaranteed students just because you open a slot. You have to build your student base. There are also times, Like January and February, that it is really slow due to the celebration of Chinese New Year, and in the summer when they are out of school and vacationing. They are no longer hiring anyone from California due to a law passed that they choose not to deal with.
I never thought of that before, (as I’m British, where English came from, for those who didn’t know.) Yes! There are many English accents, some of which I also have difficulty understanding! Americans also generally speak more slowly and don’t join words together.
Hey guys,
What about teachers from the rest of the world?
What’s so special about North American teachers only??!
Hi Peter, well, it’s not up to us as to who is hired. These are the qualifications required by the online teaching companies themselves. Not all of the companies on the list require North American teachers. But, the reason why many companies prefer the Canadian/American accent is that it’s more neutral and easier for a non-native English speaker to understand. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you so much for the great information. Do you know if these companies are still hiring even though we all are dealing with the corona virus currently?
This information is NOT right. I contacted VIP Kid recently and they require all 3 things:
1) University Degree
2) Based in U.S. / Canada
3) 2 years teaching expereience.
Hi Mark,
I just checked with my contact at VIPKID, and here are their responses to what you’ve said:
1. Yes, they do require a University degree. They always have, and we state that in the article.
2. NO, you don’t need to be based in the USA or Canada, you can work from anywhere in the world. BUT, you must be eligible to work in the USA or Canada (ie: be a resident or citizen).
3. NO, 2 years of teaching experience isn’t required. You need to have 1 year or more experience in a learning environment, including traditional classrooms, homeschooling, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, volunteering, etc. It can be a mix of these things, just needs to accumulate to 1 year.
I hope this helps.
Thanks!
I would not recommend VIPKid any longer. Both my husband and I have been working for them since January 1. We hardly get any bookings at all even though we open 30 to 40 prime time slots each week. We both have great profiles and experience. VIPKid has hired too many teachers and they don’t have as many students as they used to. Right now this has been a waste of our time.
Hello I am a trained primary school teacher based in the UK. Can I register to be an online tutor with you?
Good day
I live in South Africa. I am a native English speaker. ( I only speak English , no other language) I have just completed the TEFL course. I am now retired. I have checked the different websites offering jobs teaching English on line but unfortunately I can’t seem to find any that offer work to people living outside the USA, Canada or the UK. I do not have one of these passports either so the situation seems very bleak at the moment. I would love to be able to teach English as I have a great love for the language and am passionate about the possibility of teaching on line to students who are not proficient in the language. Hopefully you may have a suggestion for me
Thank you
Regards
Hi Penny,
Thanks for your comment. That’s great that you’ve completed your TEFL as it will help you get hired. If you don’t qualify for the companies in this article, then please check out our latest post here: https://www.goatsontheroad.com/teaching-english-online-without-a-degree/ . Good luck to you!
Cambly customer service is just about the worst customer service I have ever experienced. Somehow, my tutor account was totally deleted. I’m not even sure if I was fired or what, if anything, I did wrong. This month was my 3-year anniversary on Cambly. I had logged over 18,000 chats earning more than $47,000. As far as I knew everything was fine. I had about 3 weeks of Priority Hours booked and many reservations scheduled. I had a small and loyal following of regular students, many of whom I had known for years. It would have been nice to at least say goodbye. I guess I’ll never get that chance.
I have an interest to teach English
Hello. Thank you for this information. Has anyone heard of GoTeach-Online? I can’t seem to find any reviews of this company.
Thanks so much.
Hi Mandy, sorry, we haven’t heard of it.
Hello Dariece,
Many thanks for the article. I am a black woman from Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. I trained as a lawyer, speak and write English very well. I want to find out if you know of online sites that won’t discriminate on the basis of my skin color (I saw some comments regarding this in the comment section) and where I stand a chance to teach English ( I actually prefer the communication bit more).I would appreciate a response from you. Thank you.
Hi Wanda,
Thank you for your comment. I can’t really speak on the subject of discrimination based on skin colour in the English teaching world as I haven’t experienced it and I’m not a person of color myself. However, when I was living as an English teacher in China, we had a teacher who was Latino from Colombia, and we received teacher training in Shanghai from an African-American man. I do know a black colleague who works for VIPKID as well, and I’m told that there is no discrimination from the companies on this list.
You simply must be qualified and meet all of the requirements (hold a bachelor’s degree in most cases, have a TEFL certificate, be from a certain country, speak English at a native level, etc.)
Have a look at each of the requirements in this article and if you don’t meet those qualifications, you can try PrePly (https://www.goatsontheroad.com/preply/) or Cambly (https://www.goatsontheroad.com/cambly/) as they have easier requirements to meet.
Also, check out this post and see if you are qualified for the schools: https://www.goatsontheroad.com/teaching-english-online-without-a-degree/
Wishing you all the best!
Dariece
Great article! I also highly recommend Profy . They have mostly Latin American students and have provided me with a lot of students. They have very fast payouts compared to other platforms.
Thank you for all the great info…but I can’t seem to find anything about a company that would accept a resident of Ireland as an online English Teacher. I am a retired American living in Ireland and I’m seeking a part-time online job. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.
Informative post! This is a great share thank you
Useful post! I really need this type of article.. this is very useful for me.
Nice information!
Take your blog post down lol. Almost all are not hiring.
Thanks for the comment. Half of the companies listed are currently hiring. We keep our posts up so that when companies are hiring again, we can update it as needed.
This is a platform only for Americans n Britishers not helpful for an Asian English teacher no matter how professional he or she may be.
Yes, this is mainly for native English speakers as that is who most teaching companies are looking for. You may have some luck with Cambly, or on Preply as well! https://www.goatsontheroad.com/cambly/ and https://www.goatsontheroad.com/preply/. Good luck to you 🙂