Preply vs Memrise: Side by Side

Quick Verdict

Choose Preply if you need real speaking practice and personalised instruction. Nothing replaces the value of a live tutor who can hear your mistakes, adjust the lesson to your level, and push you to speak in real time. Preply is the better choice for learners who have some basic knowledge and want to become conversationally fluent.

Choose Memrise if your main goal is to build vocabulary efficiently. The spaced repetition system is scientifically proven to help you memorise words faster and retain them longer. Memrise is ideal as a daily supplement to other learning methods, especially for beginners who need a strong vocabulary foundation before investing in 1-on-1 tutoring.

What Is Preply?

Preply is an online tutoring marketplace founded in 2012. It connects learners with over 40,000 tutors who teach more than 50 languages. Tutors set their own rates, availability, and teaching style. You browse profiles, watch introduction videos, read reviews, and book lessons with the tutor who best matches your needs.

Each lesson takes place over video call using Preply's built-in classroom. The platform includes a shared whiteboard, lesson notes, and a messaging system for homework and communication between sessions. Tutors can track your progress over time and adjust their approach as you improve.

Preply offers a wide range of English tutors, from certified teachers with years of experience to native speakers who offer conversational practice at lower rates. You can filter by price, availability, country, specialisation, and student reviews. The platform also offers a trial lesson option at a reduced rate so you can test a tutor before committing.

What Is Memrise?

Memrise is a vocabulary learning app launched in 2010. It uses spaced repetition, a scientifically proven technique where words are shown at increasing intervals to move them from short-term to long-term memory. The app also uses mnemonics (memory tricks created by the community) and real native speaker video clips to help you remember words in context.

The core experience is simple. You choose a course, see a word or phrase, and practice recalling its meaning through multiple-choice questions, typing exercises, and listening tasks. The app tracks which words you know well and which need more practice, scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.

Memrise offers official courses in 22 languages, plus thousands of community-created courses for niche topics. The app also includes a section called Learn with Locals, featuring short video clips of native speakers using words and phrases in real situations. This helps you understand pronunciation, tone, and cultural context.

Pricing Compared: Pay Per Lesson vs Subscription

Preply uses a pay-per-lesson model. Tutors set their own rates, which range from around $5 per hour for tutors from lower-cost countries to $50+ per hour for certified specialists. The average price for a qualified English tutor is between $15 and $25 per hour. Preply also charges a platform fee on the first lesson with each new tutor.

Memrise uses a freemium subscription model. The free version includes basic features with ads and limited daily reviews. Memrise Pro costs $8.49 per month or $59.99 per year, unlocking unlimited reviews, offline mode, video clips, and grammar learning features. There is no lifetime option.

For cost efficiency, Memrise wins easily. A full year of Memrise Pro costs less than four hours of Preply tutoring. However, the value you get from each is different. Memrise gives you vocabulary efficiency. Preply gives you real communication skills that an app alone cannot provide. Smart learners often pair a cheap app like Memrise with occasional Preply sessions for speaking practice.

Learning Method: Live Tutoring vs Spaced Repetition

Preply's method is built around human interaction. Your tutor designs lessons based on your level, goals, and interests. If you struggle with a specific grammar point, the tutor can spend extra time on it. If you want to focus on business English, they can bring relevant materials. The lesson adapts to you in real time, something no app can match.

Memrise's method is algorithmic. The spaced repetition system determines exactly when you need to review each word based on your past performance. The app does not adapt to your specific interests or struggles beyond identifying which words you have not memorised yet. The method is highly efficient for vocabulary but cannot teach you to hold a conversation.

The methods are fundamentally different in what they achieve. Preply builds communication skills through real interaction. Memrise builds memory strength through optimal timing. Both are valuable, but they address different parts of the learning process.

Speaking and Conversation Practice

Preply is unmatched for speaking practice. Every lesson is a real conversation with a live person. Your tutor can correct your pronunciation, catch grammatical errors as they happen, and push you to express yourself more naturally. The pressure of speaking to a real person also builds confidence that no amount of app practice can replicate.

Memrise includes basic pronunciation practice through speech recognition, but it is not a substitute for real conversation. You repeat words and the app checks if your pronunciation is close enough. There is no back-and-forth dialogue, no follow-up questions, and no adaptation to your responses. Memrise helps with word-level pronunciation but not conversational fluency.

If speaking is your priority, Preply is the obvious choice. Memrise can prepare you with vocabulary, but you need Preply to practice using those words in real conversation.

Vocabulary Building: App Efficiency

Memrise excels at vocabulary building. The spaced repetition system is one of the best implementations available. The Learn with Locals videos show you how real people speak, which helps with natural pronunciation and colloquial usage. The mnemonics feature lets you create or use memory tricks contributed by the community, making difficult words easier to remember.

Preply can certainly help with vocabulary, but it is less efficient for pure memorisation. Your tutor can introduce new words and explain their usage, but the repetition required for long-term retention depends on your own review habits. Preply does not include any built-in spaced repetition or flashcard system.

For vocabulary, Memrise is more effective and efficient. You can learn and review 20 to 30 new words in a 10-minute session. However, vocabulary learned through Memrise needs to be activated through real use, which is where Preply comes in.

Grammar and Writing Skills

Preply is stronger for grammar because a tutor can explain rules, provide examples, correct your written sentences, and give you practice exercises tailored to your weak areas. If you are preparing for an exam like IELTS or TOEFL, a Preply tutor can focus specifically on the grammar structures that appear in the test.

Memrise has minimal grammar content. The Pro version includes some grammar-focused exercises, but these are limited to pattern recognition rather than explanation. Memrise is designed for vocabulary, not grammar. You will not learn verb conjugation rules or sentence structure from the app alone.

If grammar is important to you, Preply is the better choice. Memrise can help you memorise example sentences, but understanding the rules behind them requires human explanation or a dedicated grammar resource.

Flexibility and Scheduling

Memrise wins on flexibility. You can open the app anytime, anywhere, and study for as little as 2 minutes. There is no scheduling, no waiting, and no commitment. This makes it easy to build a daily habit with minimal friction.

Preply requires scheduling. You book lessons with your tutor in advance, commit to a specific time slot, and attend a full lesson (typically 30 to 60 minutes). This is less flexible but creates accountability. Having a scheduled lesson encourages you to show up and do the work.

The best approach uses both. Use Memrise for daily 5-minute vocabulary sessions. Use Preply for weekly 30-minute speaking lessons. This combination gives you the flexibility of daily practice with the accountability and depth of regular tutoring.

Final Verdict

Preply and Memrise are not direct competitors. They serve different stages and aspects of the learning journey. Preply is a speaking and communication tool that gives you real human feedback. Memrise is a memorisation tool that efficiently builds your vocabulary foundation.

The best strategy is to use both. Start with Memrise to build a core vocabulary of the 1,000 most common words. Once you have a basic foundation, add Preply sessions to practice speaking and receive personalised feedback. Continue using Memrise daily for vocabulary maintenance. This approach gives you the efficiency of an app with the effectiveness of live tutoring.

Related Comparisons

• Preply Review
• Memrise Review
• Preply vs iTalki
• Memrise vs EWA