Best Ways To Get Paid To Teach English On Skype

If you’re looking for legit ways to get paid to teach English on Skype, then you’re in the right place.

Lucky for you, there are several options available for people who have a passion for teaching and want to make some extra money by teaching English in a virtual classroom.

However, you might be wondering:

“Can I teach English online without a degree?”

The answer is yes, you can teach English online without a degree. And if you do have a college degree, then even better because you can charge higher hourly rates!

Now, the next thing that could be on your mind right now is:

“How much can you make teaching English online?”

Well, you will be happy to know that teaching English online is one of the most profitable side hustles today.

In fact, you can turn teaching English into a full-time job!

According to the recent data from ZipRecruiter, you can earn an average of  $21 per hour teaching English online

With that said, below are the 10 best sites where you can teach English online via Skype and get paid.

English Teaching Platforms	Average Rates (before commissions)	Pay Frequency	Payment Mode
SkimaTalk	$USD 16-30 per hour	Monthly	PayPal
Qkids	$USD 16-20 per hour	Monthly	Direct Bank Transfer
Preply	$USD 15-25 per hour	Weekly, Bi-weekly, or Monthly	Payoneer, PayPal, Skrill
VIPKID	$USD 14-18 per hour	After Every Transaction	PayPal, Direct Bank Transfer
Palfish	$USD 12-17 per hour	Meet Required Minimum Withdrawal Threshold	Payoneer, Direct Bank Transfer
Cambly	$USD 10.20 per hour	Weekly	PayPal
Open English	$USD 10-15 per hour	Bi-monthly	Direct Bank Transfer
Lingoda	~$USD 8-13 per hour	Monthly	PayPal, Direct Bank Transfer
Tutlo	$USD 5-11 per hour	Monthly	PayPal
iTalki	Starts at $USD 5 per hour	Bi-monthly	PayPal, Hyperwallet, Payoneer, Bank Transfer (via Payoneer)

How to Teach English via Skype and Get Paid

1. SkimaTalk

• Average rates: $16-30 per hour (SkimaTalk keeps 20% as commission)
• Qualification requirements: None
• Teaching time commitment: None

SkimaTalk is a legit site that allows native English speakers to make money teaching English online.

Online classes in SkimaTalk are conducted through Skype video chats and can be conducted any time of the week.

You are also free to teach as many or as few sessions as you choose.

So, if you have a full-time job and you want to make extra money with a side job from home, teaching English lessons on SkimaTalk is perfect for you.

How much can you earn?

You can set your own rates when teaching English at SkimaTalk. 

However, most teachers charge between $8-15 per session, each session lasting for 25 minutes.

SkimaTalk ESL teachers will be paid once a month via PayPal.

How to get started?

Besides not having strict requirements when hiring online English teachers, joining SkimaTalk is also 100% free!

Simply visit SkimaTalk and apply to become a teacher.

2. Qkids

• Average rates: $16-20 per hour
• Qualification requirements: Bachelor’s degree, teaching license, or English teaching certificate (TESOL, TEFL, etc) 
• Teaching time commitment: 6 hours per week

Qkids is a leading online platform that allows residents of the United States and Canada to make extra money online.

With Qkids, anyone with a college degree and an English teaching certification can start a side hustle or a work from home job by teaching English to Chinese students and other non-English speaking people.

You can teach English on Qkids on a part-time basis or you can make it your full-time job.

How much can you earn?

The base pay rate for teaching English on Qkids is $8 for every lesson, each lesson takes 30 mins.

Hence, you can potentially make $16 an hour (plus bonuses).

Qkids English teachers will be paid monthly via direct bank transfer to your U.S. or Canada bank accounts.

How to get started?

Visit Qkids and apply to become an English teacher.

3. Preply

• Average rates: $15-25 per hour (minus 18-33% as commissions)
• Qualification requirements: None
• Teaching time commitment: None

Preply is one of the best companies to make money using your teaching skills without a university degree.

With this online teaching platform, you can apply for a teaching position for free, choose your own hourly rates, and change it anytime. 

You can also decide when and how many hours you want to teach. There is no minimum time commitment to hold classes and there are no fixed schedules; you can become your own boss!

Another perk of teaching English with Preply is that you can get paid whenever you like it. Just click on your earnings and select “Withdraw money”. 

How much can you earn?

You are free to set your own hourly rates with Preply.

But on average, English tutors in Preply charge anywhere between $15 up to 25 per hour.

Just keep in mind that Preply will keep up to 33% of your earnings as commissions. 

Below is the Preply commission structure based on the number of hours you’ve taught in their platform:

• 0–20 hours taught = 33% commission
• 21–50 hours taught = 28% commission
• 51–200 hours taught = 25% commission
• 201–400 hours taught = 22% commission
• 400+ hours taught = 18% commission

As you can see above, the more tutoring you do in Preply, the less commission you pay to them.

Preply pays its tutors via Payoneer, PayPal, and Skrill.

How to get started?

Anyone with a passion for teaching English online can apply in Preply as there is no degree or teaching experience requirements.

However, excellent skills in English grammar, writing, and speaking skills is a must.

4. VIPKID

• Average rates: $14-18 per hour (plus incentives)
• Qualification requirements: Bachelor’s Degree, at least two years of prior teaching experience
• Teaching time commitment: None

Update: VIPKID is still hiring, though they have fewer students after the company decided to cease providing tutoring to children in China as a result of Chinese government reforms in 2021.

Another popular learning platform where you can get paid to teach English on Skype is through VIPKID. 

Like the other options on this list, you can teach English with VIPKID from the comfort of your home and set your own hours.

However, you do need to be a native English speaker and have a bachelor’s degree to qualify as a teacher in VIPKID.

How much can you earn?

You can get paid anywhere between $14-18 per hour with VIPKID, plus incentives.

Your base pay will depend on various factors, including experience, your qualifications, and the demo lesson you present.

Payments will be made via PayPal or transferred directly to your bank account and you may choose to be paid weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. 

How to get started?

To teach on VIPKid platform, you must have:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• At least two years of teaching experience
• Legally eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada

If you meet these requirements, you can apply directly at VIPKID.

5. Palfish

• Average rates: $12-17 per hour
• Qualification requirements: None
• Teaching time commitment: None

Palfish is an online ESL (English as a Second Language) platform that hires native English speakers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, or the United States as online teachers.

And similar to its top competitors Qkids and VIPKIDS, Palfish requires applicants to have teaching certificates like CELTA, TESOL and TEFL.

On the bright side, Palfish is one of the few ESL companies that doesn’t require applicants to have a college degree to teach on their platform.

How much can you earn?

You can set your own rates while teaching English on Palfish. However, most English teachers on this platform earn anywhere between $12 to $17 per hour.

You can withdraw your earnings as soon as you meet the required payment threshold, which is currently set at $USD 30.

For people living in China, Palfish pays directly into a Chinese bank account. Otherwise, Palfish will pay you through Payoneer.

How to get started?

Check out the Palfish application checklist to get started.

6. Cambly

• Average rates: $10.20 per hour
• Qualification requirements: None
• Teaching time commitment: None

Cambly is a great place for people who want to get paid to help others learn the English language.

And guess what? Becoming an online English teacher in Cambly is very easy as there is no experience necessary and no degree or teaching certificate requirements.

The only thing that matters is that you must be a native English speaker.

How much can you earn?

With Cambly, you can earn for every minute you spend chatting with your students.

You can make $10.20 per hour teaching English on Cambly and get paid via PayPal every Monday.

How to get started?

Cambly has a very easy application process. They also don’t require a college degree or a teaching certification for you to become an online English teacher.

Just visit Cambly and apply to become an English tutor.

7. Open English

• Average rates: $10-15 per hour
• Qualification requirements: Teaching experience and ESL certification
• Teaching time commitment: 10 hours per week

If you have at least 10 hours of availability every week, you can consider becoming an ESL teacher on Open English.

Open English (OE) claims to be the leader of online English language learning in Latin America since 2007 and one of the most popular online ESL companies where you can get paid to teach English on Skype.

With Open English, you can:

• Work from home or your travel location
• Enjoy flexible hours of work 
• Earn extra money teaching English online

However, Open English is a lot more strict when hiring online English teachers.

For starters, you must be an EFL (English as a foreign language) professional and have education/training in TEFL, TESOL, or related field.

You must also be able to commit a minimum of 10 hours per week teaching on its platform.

How much can you earn?

Open English didn’t publicly provide any information regarding their pay rates.

However, based on different Open English reviews, it seems that you can earn anywhere between $10-15 as a teacher in Open English. 

You can also withdraw your earnings twice a month paid directly to your bank account.

How to get started?

Open English is always looking for more EFL professionals and if you want, you can visit their site and apply to become one.

8. Lingoda

• Average rates: €7-11 per hour (~$USD 8-13)
• Qualification requirements: English C2 Proficiency, English teaching certificate
• Teaching time commitment: None

If you have a C2 Proficiency in English and experience in teaching, then Lingoda might be the best place you can get paid to teach English on Skype or Zoom.

Lingoda English classes are available 24/7, and you can create a schedule that works for you; you can teach as much as you want or as little as you want.

Having total control of when you want to conduct classes is a great option especially for people with full-time jobs who are looking for side hustles.

How much can you earn?

Your salary rate as an online English teacher in Lingoda will depend on your experience, qualification, and location.

But the average rate is around $USD 8-13 per hour, depending on the exchange rate.

One particular thing we like about Lingoda though is that teachers still get paid 50% of their rate if students cancel or don’t show up in class.

Lingoda pays teachers on the 11th of each month via Paypal or bank transfer.

How to get started?

To teach English in Lingoda, you need:

• C2 or above level of the English proficiency
• A certificate to teach English (eg, TEFL, TESL or TESOL)
• At least 2-3 years of teaching experience 

Visit Lingoda and apply to become an English teacher.

9. Tutlo

• Average rates: $5-11 per hour
• Qualification requirements: 6 months of English teaching experience, English teaching certificate
• Teaching time commitment: None

Tutlo is one of the world’s best-paying platforms for online English teachers.

It also offers a flexible working schedule, making it a great option for people who have a full-time job but are looking for ways to earn money teaching English from home.

At the moment, Tutlo hires native English speakers who are at least 18 years of age.

Other requirements of becoming an English teacher in Tutlo includes the following:

• A native English speaker from: the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa
• Minimum of 6 months of English teaching experiences
• A TEFL certification

How much can you earn?

The pay rate in Tutlo ranges from $5 to $11 per hour. Tutlo English tutors will be paid monthly via Paypal.

How to get started?

To apply and become an English teacher in Tutlo, just fill out a form and record a short video introducing yourself.

10. iTalki

• Average rates: Minimum of $5 per hour  (iTalki takes 15%)
• Qualification requirements: English teaching certification for Professional Teachers, none for Community Tutors 
• Teaching time commitment: None

iTalki is a global online marketplace where online freelance teachers can offer their services.

At the moment, iTalki has millions of students and over 10,000 home-based teachers teaching more than 130 languages, including English.

And since English is one of the most in-demand languages, iTalki is always looking for more English teachers. 

There are two ways to teach English in iTalki, as a Community Tutor or as a Professional Teacher.

What is the difference between a Professional Teacher and Community Tutor on iTalki?

The Professional Teacher position in iTalki is for people that have training as educators and/or extensive professional teaching experience. 

Furthermore, a TEFL, TESL, or TESOL certification is a requirement if you want to become a Professional Teacher.

Meanwhile, becoming a Community Tutor is open to all online freelancers who want to get paid to teach English on Skype, regardless of qualifications, as long as you are fluent in English and have a passion for teaching.

How much can you earn?

Teachers in iTalki can set their own hourly rates and class schedules.

However, the lowest price per lesson Professional Teachers can charge is $10 (USD), and $5 for Community Tutors.

iTalki pays teachers twice a month via PayPal, Hyperwallet, Payoneer, Bank Transfer (via Payoneer).

How to get started?

Visit iTalki and apply to teach English.

Is Teaching English a Good Side Hustle?

Teaching English online is one of the best-paying side hustles today.

It also provides a lot of perks, such as the ability to make money from home, and working on your own schedule.

However, there are also some drawbacks to teaching English online.

For instance, there may be students who cancel lessons or don’t show up for appointments.

You might also encounter technical issues such as unscheduled power interruptions or Internet problems which can reflect badly on your image.

Is Getting Paid to Teach English for You?

Before you start teaching English online, there are a few things you need to consider first so you won’t end up wasting your time and effort.

For starters, you must possess the necessary skills to be an effective English teacher, one of which is fluency in the English language.

You must also be patient and have great conversational skills.

Another thing you need to consider is quality tools and equipment such as a decent working computer, a stable and reliable Internet connection, noise-canceling headphones, and a HD webcam.

Can you teach English Online without a TEFL, TESL, or TESOL?

Yes, there are some ESL teaching platforms that will hire you without a TEFL, TESL, or TESL certification.

However, we highly suggest that you get an English teaching certificate through a college course or through online courses for a couple of reasons.

First, a TEFL certification can provide you with all the training and skills that you need to become an effective online English teacher.

Second, a TEFL certificate will give you a cutting edge over your competitors. Think about it:

If you are someone who wants to learn English, would you rather have a certified English teacher or someone who doesn’t?

What is the difference between TEFL, TESL, and TESOL?

The TEFL, TESL, and TESOL are all training courses for English language teachers. 

However, they are designed for different types of teaching environments:

• TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) – Suited for teaching English in non-native English speaking countries to non-English speaking people.
• TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) – For teaching English in native English speaking countries to non-English speakers.
• TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) – For teaching English in both non-native and native English speaking countries to non-English speaking people.

Is getting a TEFL, TESL, or TESOL certificate worth it?

Definitely, yes! 

These certifications will equip you with the skills you need to become an amazing English teacher your students will love. 

It will also give you an advantage over your competitors and a teaching certification will give you the right to set higher hourly rate for your services.

The Bottom Line

As we just shared in this article, there’s a lot of great sites where you can get paid to teach English on Skype.

And while there are some things you must consider before getting started with this gig (as we discussed above), overall, teaching English online is a great way to make extra money while getting acquainted with wonderful people from different parts of the world.

So if you’re looking for an online teaching gig, teaching English via Skype is definitely worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions about Getting Paid To Teach English on Skype