What is the Difference Between Teaching English on a Platform vs. Freelancing?

 As an English teacher, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to teach through an online platform or pursue freelancing. Both routes have their advantages, challenges, and unique opportunities, but understanding the key differences between teaching on a platform and freelancing can help you decide which path is best for you.

In this blog, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each approach, explore how they differ in terms of teaching flexibility, pay structure, job security, and the level of autonomy you have. We’ll also discuss what you can expect from both options so that you can make a well-informed decision based on your goals and preferences as an online English teacher.

What Does It Mean to Teach on a Platform?

When we refer to teaching on a platform, we are talking about using a third-party service or marketplace to find students, deliver lessons, and often receive payments. These platforms act as intermediaries, handling most of the administrative work for you. Popular examples of teaching platforms include VIPKid, Cambly, Preply, Italki, and TeachAway.

Here are some of the key characteristics of teaching on a platform:

Structured Lessons

Most platforms offer structured lessons, which means the curriculum and teaching materials are typically provided to you. You may not have the flexibility to create your own lesson plans or teaching content, but this can be a great option if you prefer having a clear framework to follow.

Set Payment System

Platforms generally set the pay rate for their teachers, and you’ll receive payment according to their schedule (typically weekly or monthly). Some platforms also take a percentage of your earnings as a fee. Payment is often predictable, and you don’t have to worry about chasing payments or invoicing students.

Student Pool

The platform connects you to a pool of students. While you still have some flexibility in choosing the students you want to work with, the platform’s algorithm often helps you find matches based on your profile. Many platforms provide exposure to a large base of international students.

Support and Tools

Online teaching platforms provide additional support to their teachers, including teaching resources, marketing, student management tools, and technical support. These platforms often have a customer service team that helps you with any problems that arise, whether related to scheduling, payments, or platform issues.

Platform Rules and Restrictions

One of the trade-offs of teaching on a platform is that you are typically bound by the platform's rules and guidelines. These can include the pay rate, the types of classes you can teach, the teaching hours, and other regulations. While this can simplify the process, it may limit your ability to customize your teaching style or schedule.

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What Does Freelancing as an English Teacher Mean?

Freelancing as an English teacher means working independently, without a third-party platform to manage your student connections or lesson materials. In this case, you are responsible for finding your own students, setting your own rates, choosing your teaching materials, and handling all aspects of your business. Freelancers are often considered "self-employed" or "independent contractors."

Here are some of the key characteristics of freelancing as an English teacher:

Autonomy and Flexibility

As a freelancer, you have complete control over how you teach, when you teach, and how much you charge. You are free to choose your own working hours, develop your curriculum, and decide which tools and methods you want to use in your classes. This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of freelancing, as you can tailor everything to your own preferences.

Finding Your Own Students

Unlike teaching on a platform, freelancing requires you to market yourself and find your own students. You might use social media, create your own website, or join freelance marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr to find students. Building a client base from scratch can take time, but once you establish yourself, you may develop loyal students who return for ongoing lessons.

Payment and Rates

As a freelancer, you set your own rates. This means you have more control over how much you earn, and you can adjust your prices based on the market or your experience. However, you’ll need to manage payment collections on your own. This might include using payment systems like PayPal, bank transfers, or other platforms to ensure you get paid.

Freelancers have the opportunity to earn more, especially if they have a niche or specialize in particular types of English teaching (e.g., business English or exam preparation). However, you also bear the responsibility of negotiating rates with students and ensuring timely payments.

Marketing and Branding

Freelancers must invest time and effort in marketing themselves. This could include creating an online presence, building a personal brand, and promoting your services. You may need to network, advertise, and build relationships with students who will recommend you to others. This level of self-promotion can take time and effort but is ultimately rewarding in helping you grow your business.

No Support or Tools Provided

As a freelancer, you are responsible for your own teaching resources, scheduling, and technical issues. You don’t have the built-in support that a platform provides, so you will need to have tools and systems in place for video conferencing, lesson planning, and managing students. Freelancing also means you will be responsible for your own taxes, invoicing, and administrative work, which requires some additional organizational skills.

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Comparing Teaching on a Platform vs. Freelancing:

Let’s compare the two options across several important criteria:

Criteria	Teaching on a Platform	Freelancing
Autonomy	Limited (based on platform guidelines)	High (complete control over lessons, rates, and schedule)
Payment Structure	Fixed pay rate or commission-based (platform takes a cut)	Set your own rates (and manage payments independently)
Support & Resources	Full support (lesson plans, marketing, technical support)	No built-in support (you manage your own resources and tools)
Student Acquisition	Students are provided by the platform	You need to find your own students (through marketing, networking, etc.)
Marketing Efforts	Minimal (platform markets for you)	High (you must promote yourself and your services)
Job Security	Generally stable, with consistent work and student pool	Less stability, but potential for higher earnings with a loyal student base
Workload Flexibility	Limited to platform hours, but flexible within that schedule	Fully flexible (you choose when to work)

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Pros and Cons of Teaching on a Platform:

Pros:

1. Stable Income: Many platforms offer regular hours and a predictable income, which can be appealing if you’re looking for stability.

2. Support and Resources: Teaching platforms provide tools, lesson plans, and student management tools that make the teaching process easier and more structured.

3. Easy Student Access: Platforms connect you with students quickly, so you don’t need to spend time marketing yourself.

4. Technical Support: Issues related to software or lesson scheduling are handled by the platform, leaving you free to focus on teaching.

Cons:

1. Lower Earnings Potential: Since platforms take a percentage of your pay, you often earn less per lesson compared to freelancing.

2. Less Autonomy: You have to follow platform guidelines, including working hours, curriculum structure, and teaching methods.

3. Limited Student Interaction: Although the platform connects you to students, you may not have as much flexibility in selecting your students or deciding the pace of the lessons.

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Pros and Cons of Freelancing:

Pros:

1. Higher Earnings Potential: You have the opportunity to set your own rates, which can lead to higher earnings, especially if you specialize in a niche.

2. Complete Flexibility: You can choose your hours, lesson content, and teaching methods, offering you full autonomy.

3. Diverse Student Base: Freelancing allows you to teach students from all over the world, catering to both children and adults, and offering various specialties.

Cons:

1. Irregular Income: It may take time to build up a consistent student base, and without a guaranteed flow of students, your income can fluctuate.

2. Marketing and Administration: You are responsible for advertising, managing your own calendar, dealing with payments, and handling taxes and invoices.

3. No Built-In Support: Freelancers need to solve their own technical issues and are responsible for creating all teaching materials and resources.

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Which Option Is Right for You?

The decision between teaching on a platform versus freelancing depends largely on your preferences, teaching style, and career goals. If you want more stability, support, and less administrative work, teaching on a platform might be the best choice. On the other hand, if you’re entrepreneurial, enjoy having full control over your teaching practice, and are willing to put in the effort to market yourself, freelancing can offer more rewards in terms of autonomy and pay.

In either case, both paths offer opportunities for growth, and many teachers choose to pursue a combination of both—starting on a platform to build experience and then branching out into freelancing as their reputation and student base grow.

Ultimately, whether you teach on a platform or freelance, the key to success lies in your passion for teaching, your ability to connect with students, and your dedication to continual learning and improvement.