How to Cancel Preply: Complete Guide

What is Preply

Preply is an online tutoring marketplace that connects learners with independent tutors across languages and other subjects for one-on-one lessons. Students choose tutors, book lessons, and often subscribe to a regular lesson cadence; tutors set their own hourly rates and offer trial lessons and package or subscription options. The platform operates on a 28-day billing cycle for recurring subscriptions and supports a broad price range because tutors determine pricing experience, qualifications, and subject. , Preply’s model ties recurring payments to scheduled lesson credits, which makes subscription management an important part of personal budget optimization for frequent users.

Subscription model at a glance

many decisions about continuing or ending a service are driven by cash flow and perceived value, it helps to know how Preply structures recurring plans. Subscriptions are billed every 28 days, lessons are added to the student balance when payment clears, and students can choose frequencies such as 1–5 lessons per week with durations and tutor rates set individually. Payment methods accepted typically include major credit cards. These core facts shape the timing and financial consequences of any cancellation decision.

Pricing comparison table

Why people cancel Preply

, cancellation decisions cluster around a few measurable drivers: direct cost, marginal value per lesson, substitute availability, and unexpected billing. Students report canceling when the per-hour price rises beyond their budget, when study goals shift, and when lower-cost or better-fit alternatives become available. Many learners also pause or stop subscriptions to control cash flow—, replacing a $25 per hour monthly cadence with ad hoc single lessons can reduce steady monthly outflows. Consider a case: a student paying $20/hour for 2 lessons per week faces a recurring outlay of roughly $320 every 28 days for two 1-hour lessons per week (4 lessons × $20 × 4 weeks). Over a six-month horizon, this becomes $1,920. If usage drops, that commitment becomes inefficient. This arithmetic explains why some students standardly re-evaluate subscriptions after 1–3 months. The analysis below weighs costs against alternatives and the contractual realities of prepaid lesson balances and renewal timing.

Common financial reasons

• Budget pressure: fixed recurring charge versus variable cash flow.
• Better alternatives: cheaper tutors, package deals, or local options with lower per-hour cost.
• Underutilization: prepaid lesson credits that go unused before cycle end.
• Perceived low marginal return: slower progress than expected for the price paid.

Customer experiences with cancellation

real user reports are often the strongest guide to operational friction, I reviewed customer feedback from multiple public platforms focused on the United States market and international students who use Preply from US payment methods. Overall, reviews are mixed: many users praise tutors and platform flexibility, while a significant subset report confusion or frustration around refunds, unused credits, and notifications relating to subscription cancellation. Below I synthesize the common themes, supported by cited examples and paraphrased comments drawn from public reviews and discussion threads.

What works well (user-reported)

• High tutor quality and flexible scheduling often cited as positives in long-form reviews. Users frequently praise one-on-one teaching and tutor responsiveness.
• Subscription flexibility in theory: platform documentation indicates the ability to adjust lesson frequency and to pause subscriptions, which students sometimes use to preserve value when availability changes.

What typically causes friction

• Refund and unused credit disputes: several complaints report difficulty obtaining cash refunds for unused lessons after cancellation or tutor unavailability, and some users describe being required to apply credits to other tutors rather than receiving a refund. These are real themes in complaint forums.
• Notifications and communication gaps: tutors and students have reported inconsistent cancellation notifications and confusing messaging when a subscription status changes, which can leave both parties uncertain about next steps.
• Dispute timing and automatic renewals: users sometimes report being billed when they expected a cancellation to be effective immediately; disputes often hinge on timing around the 28-day billing boundary.

Representative user feedback

Paraphrasing representative posts and reviews: one reviewer described a frustrating refusal of a cash refund after canceling mid-cycle and urged better clarity on refund rules; another tutor commented that cancellation notifications felt impersonal and left scheduled lessons intact but unclarified in status. Multiple community threads advise documenting interactions and tracking balances carefully. These user narratives emphasize documentation as the central control factor in resolving disputes.

Legal and practical implications of cancelling subscriptions

, cancellation is not simply a user preference—it's a contractual act with financial consequences. Preply’s subscription model charges in 28-day cycles; unused lessons typically expire at the end of the cycle unless a transfer or exception is permitted. In disputed scenarios, the merchant’s records and any evidence you can produce of cancellation attempts and delivery of that notice become decisive in chargeback or consumer-protection claims. US and card-network guidance emphasize written proof of cancellation when timing is contested. Registered postal delivery with return receipt is widely accepted as strong evidence of notice and receipt in disputes with merchants and payment processors.

Regulatory and payment network context

• Federal rules and enforcement attention on negative-option billing require clear pre-purchase disclosures and straightforward cancellation paths; evidence that you attempted to cancel is valuable if a charge occurs after your attempt. Legal commentary on ROSCA and FTC guidance underscores the need for conspicuous disclosure and simple cancellation avenues.
• Card association reason codes include categories for “cancelled recurring transaction”; issuers expect documenting the cancellation and providing proof that the merchant processed it in a timely manner. Evidence of delivery of a cancellation notice materially strengthens a disputed-charge claim.

Recommended cancellation approach: registered postal notice

From a financial and dispute-avoidance perspective, the safest and most defensible method to effect a cancellation is to send a registered postal notice by certified or registered delivery with return receipt to the company’s corporate address. This method creates a formal, dated chain of custody and produces documentation that you sent notice and when it was received. Registered delivery is particularly valuable when the merchant’s own systems or communications are inconsistent or when a cash refund for unused credits is disputed. In legal or bank chargeback processes, a signed return receipt is typically accepted as persuasive evidence that the merchant received your cancellation request.

Use this corporate address for registered mail: Preply Inc. 1309 Beacon Street, Suite 300 Brookline, Massachusetts 02446 United States

What to include in your registered notice (principles, not templates)

Considering legal clarity and bank dispute requirements, include identifying details sufficient for the company to find your account (full name, registered account identifier or username where known, last payment date or transaction reference, and the exact billing cycle you want stopped). State your clear intent to terminate the recurring subscription and request written confirmation of cancellation and any steps concerning remaining lesson balance or refunds. Keep your language unequivocal and dated. Do not rely on informal messages alone; preserve all receipts and the postal proof of delivery for later disputes. These are principles to guide the content without providing a templated sample.

Timing considerations and recommended lead times

, timing is critical. Because Preply bills every 28 days, aim to ensure your notice is demonstrably received before the renewal date for the billing cycle you intend to stop. Allow time for postal transit and processing; plan conservatively so that delivery and a returned receipt fall clearly on or before the billing cut-off. If you are near the billing window, registered delivery gives you the best chance to establish the date of receipt. Document the renewal date you intend to avoid and retain all records for at least six months after cancellation in case disputes arise.

Practical considerations and common objections

Users sometimes object that postal cancellation sounds slow or old-fashioned. From a financial-advisor viewpoint, accept the short delay as insurance: the legal leverage provided by a signed registered receipt often outweighs the temporary inconvenience, especially when the monetary stakes are repeated recurring charges. Another objection is ignorance of refund policies; users report getting credited lessons rather than refunds. If you prefer not to convert unused lessons, postal evidence of a cancellation request strengthens negotiations with the merchant or with the card issuer during a dispute.

Anticipate follow-up questions from the merchant about unused lesson credits and be prepared to request a clear accounting in writing. If a refund is materially important to you, mention that in your notice and ask for a written response specifying how remaining credits will be handled. Again, keep copies of everything. Card networks and payment processors will expect documentation if you later challenge a charge.

When a registered postal notice is most useful

• There is a measurable dispute about the exact date you notified the merchant.
• You are contesting charges billed after you believe the subscription stopped.
• You want a formal paper trail for legal or bank-chargeback processes.
• The merchant’s electronic confirmations or communications are inconsistent or absent.

Simplifying the registered mail process

To make the process easier, consider services that handle printing and sending registered or certified letters on your behalf when you lack access to a printer or prefer not to visit a postal counter. Postclic is one such solution: a 100% online service to send registered or simple letters, without a printer. You don't need to move: Postclic prints, stamps and sends your letter. Dozens of ready-to-use templates for cancellations: telecommunications, insurance, energy, various subscriptions… Secure sending with return receipt and legal value equivalent to physical sending. Use such services to maintain the legal benefits of registered delivery while saving time, especially when you value precise dates and documented proof for disputes or bookkeeping.

Considering cost-benefit, the modest fee for a courier or a letter-sending service can be justified against a single unwanted renewal charge of several hundred dollars. Use the returned delivery evidence as your primary record when following up with the merchant or your card issuer. Postclic-type offerings bridge convenience and legal robustness, which is useful for high-frequency subscription users or those managing multiple vendor cancellations. (This paragraph is a practical pointer, not a template or procedural checklist.)

Handling post-mail scenarios and disputes

, plan the next steps after sending registered notice: track the returned receipt and the date of delivery, then wait a reasonable short interval for the company to acknowledge receipt and act on the cancellation. If the merchant continues to bill, your registered mail documentation becomes central to a chargeback or refund request to your card issuer. Card networks expect clear evidence of cancellation timing when deciding disputes under reason codes such as “cancelled recurring transaction.” Prepare a concise packet for the issuer: your payment statements showing the disputed charge, your registered-mail receipt showing delivery date, and any correspondence from the merchant acknowledging or denying the request. This evidence materially increases the probability of a successful outcome.

What to expect after delivery

• Merchant acknowledgement: a timely written confirmation is reasonable to request; if you do not receive it, keep the postal evidence and escalate if necessary.
• Possible credit vs. refund outcomes: expect different handling for unused credits; document and question any offsetting policy that preserves credits instead of issuing refunds.
• Bank/issuer involvement: if charges continue, the issuer will want clear proof you cancelled before the charge posted; registered delivery helps meet that standard.

Risk management and financial optimization tips

Considering subscription economics, treat recurring educational services like any ongoing fixed-cost item in a household budget. Regularly evaluate marginal cost per lesson against alternative learning strategies (short intensive packages, self-study materials, lower-cost tutors). When a subscription shows persistent underutilization, use registered postal notice to terminate the recurring expense with documented proof so you can halt future automatic outflows. Retain all evidence of lesson bookings you did use to support the merchant’s claim that some lessons were consumed in the final cycle; this clarifies the net disputed amount if a chargeback is necessary. Keep a simple ledger of payments, lesson usage, and dates. Over multiple subscriptions, small monthly savings compound. , avoiding just one $50 automatic renewal per month equals $600 per year—money that could be reallocated to higher-impact learning tools or emergency savings.

What to do if the merchant disputes your cancellation

If the company claims it did not receive notice in time, your registered document and return-receipt are the most direct counter-evidence. Present a clear timeline to your card issuer showing the renewal date, the delivery date recorded on the returned receipt, and the disputed charge date. Card-network rules give the merchant a window to respond; your written proof shifts the burden toward the merchant to demonstrate timely cancellation processing. If the dispute persists and the sum at stake is material, you may consider consulting a consumer-protection advisor or an attorney who specializes in subscription disputes. Keep in mind that many payment processors and banks have fast deadlines for submitting dispute evidence; act promptly.

What to Do After Cancelling Preply

From an action-oriented, financially prudent stance: after you send registered notice and confirm delivery, do three things to protect your finances. First, monitor your bank and card statements for at least two billing cycles to ensure no unexpected renewals post-cancellation. Second, request written confirmation from Preply about unused lesson credits and any refund policy; if they refuse cash refunds, document their offer to apply credits and evaluate whether converting credits to another tutor or taking a partial refund is worth the residual value. Third, if an improper charge posts, prepare a dispute packet for your card issuer consisting of transaction details, the registered-mail receipt showing delivery date, and any merchant correspondence. Acting quickly preserves dispute windows and limits potential financial leakage. Keep copies of all records in your financial files for 12–18 months.

Next steps if you still use tutoring services

, reallocate the monthly budget you freed by cancelling to a targeted learning plan: choose a tutor with clearly published hourly rates that fit your revised budget, or purchase short packages aligned to measurable milestones. Regularly compare per-hour progress to cost and adjust the cadence accordingly. Use the lessons learned from cancellation—evidence retention and timing—to improve future vendor relationships and avoid surprise renewals. Keep a cancellation checklist in your budgeting tool so automatic renewals do not reappear unintentionally. This proactive approach turns a cancellation event into a financial optimization opportunity.