From Online Teaching Platform to Freedom

🚀 Start Your Online TEFL Career the Smart Way

Starting your career as an online English teacher can feel exciting—and overwhelming. With so many options and platforms out there, it’s easy to feel stuck before you’ve even begun.

Should you apply to a structured teaching platform? Build a freelance profile on a marketplace? Or go fully independent with your own online teaching business?

After more than 20 years in TEFL and delivering over 8,000 online lessons, I’ve walked every one of these paths. And here's what I know for sure: there’s no one-size-fits-all—but there is a path that’s right for you.

Let’s break them down.

🚪 1. Online Teaching Platforms (OTPs)

Perfect for: New teachers who want support and structure

Online Teaching Platforms like VIPKid, Skyeng, and EF operate like virtual schools. You’re hired, trained, and matched with students. You use their curriculum, follow their schedule, and get paid by the company.

✅ Pros:

• Training and onboarding provided

• Lessons and materials are ready-made

• Great for building experience fast

• Predictable schedule and pay

❌ Cons:

• Lower pay rates (often under $15/hour)

• Little flexibility in content or teaching style

• No ownership of students or client base

• Performance can be micromanaged

Think of OTPs as your “teaching internship”—a great starting point, but not a long-term home.

🎯 2. Online Teaching Marketplaces (OTMs)

Perfect for: Teachers who want more freedom, flexibility, and income potential

Marketplaces like Preply, iTalki, and AmazingTalker let you create a public teacher profile, set your rates, and connect with students who are actively searching.

✅ Pros:

• You control your hourly rate

• You choose your niche and style

• You build relationships with loyal students

• You can teach what (and how) you want

❌ Cons:

• Platform fees can be steep (15–33%)

• You need to stand out with a great profile/video

• Income can fluctuate if you don’t market consistently

• Still dependent on platform rules and rankings

OTMs are where you go from teacher to freelancer.

🚀 3. Your Own Online Teaching Business (OTB)

Perfect for: Teachers ready to become entrepreneurs

This is the freedom model. You design everything: your curriculum, offers, pricing, marketing, and schedule. Whether it’s 1:1 coaching, small groups, or digital products, you’re the one calling the shots—and keeping 100% of the income.

✅ Pros:

• No middleman—you own your business

• Unlimited income potential (lessons + products + courses)

• You create your brand and reputation

• Your students = your community = your clients

❌ Cons:

• You’ll wear many hats: teacher, marketer, tech support

• It takes time to build systems and visibility

• Requires entrepreneurial mindset and patience

OTB is where you go from freelancer to founder.

🌟 Final Thought

There’s no “best” path—only the one that matches where you are now.

✅ Start on a platform to gain experience 🎯 Move to a marketplace to build freedom 🚀 Grow your own business when you're ready to scale

And if you’re not sure where to start, I’ve got you covered.

📘 Ready to Explore All 3 Paths in Depth?

My eBook series walks you step-by-step through:

How to Get Hired by an OTP

How to Freelance on an OTM

How to Start Your Own OTB

👉 Explore the full trilogy here at Henry English Hub

© Henry English Hub | henryenglishhub.comYour TEFL journey. Your freedom. Your future.