Manage Preply

How to cancel your preply subscription and keep your learning on track

Understanding preply and why you might want to cancel

Preply is an online marketplace that connects you with private tutors for language learning and academic subjects across the globe. You choose your tutor, set your lesson frequency, and pay a recurring subscription that renews every 28 days. The platform offers flexibility in scheduling and the option to book trial lessons before committing to a full package. For many learners in Ireland, Preply has delivered genuine progress in languages like Spanish, French, and Italian. However, the subscription model and automatic renewal cycle can catch you off guard if your circumstances change.

You might want to cancel for several reasons: your learning goals have shifted, tutoring costs no longer fit your budget, you have found an alternative learning method, or you are dissatisfied with tutor availability or lesson quality. Whatever your reason, Stopee is here to guide you through the cancellation process with clarity and confidence. Understanding your rights and the precise steps involved will help you avoid unnecessary charges and protect any unused credits you have paid for.

Common reasons to cancel preply

Life circumstances change. You may have committed to weekly Italian lessons but discovered your new job demands evening availability. You might have achieved your learning milestone and no longer need one-to-one instruction. Or you could be facing financial pressure and need to cut discretionary spending. Equally, some learners find that a tutor's teaching style no longer matches their needs, or they experience frustration with the platform's interface or billing transparency. Recognizing when cancellation is the right choice is the first step toward taking control of your subscription.

When cancellation might not be necessary

Before you cancel, consider whether pausing your subscription might serve you better. Preply allows you to postpone your renewal date under certain conditions, which preserves your account and tutor relationship without triggering charges. If you are facing a temporary cash flow issue or a short-term schedule conflict, postponement may be the smarter move. Stopee recommends exploring this option first, as it often avoids the friction of re-enrolling later.

Your consumer rights under irish law

Irish consumer protection law gives you significant safeguards when you cancel a digital service subscription like Preply.

Consumer rights act 2022 and automatic renewal

The Consumer Rights Act 2022 (which implemented the EU Consumer Rights Directive) places strict obligations on Preply as a service provider. Under this law, Preply must obtain your express, informed consent before charging you for any renewal. The Act explicitly prohibits negative option billing (auto-renewal) unless the company has received your clear, unconditional consent beforehand. Preply must also provide you with a simple mechanism to cancel your subscription with the same ease as you used to sign up. If Preply's cancellation process is harder than the signup process, that breaches the law. Additionally, you have the right to cancel within 14 calendar days of purchase without penalty and without giving a reason, provided Preply has not yet started delivering the service. If lessons have already begun, this cooling-off period no longer applies, but your statutory cancellation rights remain.

Your statutory right to cancel at any time

After the initial 14-day cooling-off period, you retain the statutory right to cancel your subscription at any time. Preply cannot impose a penalty for cancellation, nor can it demand a notice period longer than one month. The law is clear: you can end a digital subscription at will, and Preply must process your cancellation promptly. The Consumer Rights Act 2022 is enforced by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which is Ireland's primary consumer protection authority. If Preply refuses to cancel your subscription or disputes your refund entitlement, you can escalate your complaint to the CCPC.

Refund rights for unused lessons and credits

When you cancel a subscription to Preply, you are entitled to a refund for any lessons you have paid for but not yet received. This is a fundamental consumer protection principle. Preply cannot simply convert your unused credits into account vouchers for other tutors unless you explicitly agree to this alternative. If the company offers vouchers in place of a cash refund, you have the right to refuse and demand repayment to your original payment method. Stopee advises you to document this refusal in writing to Preply's support team, as this creates a clear record if you later need to escalate to the CCPC.

How to cancel your preply subscription

Cancelling Preply is straightforward if you follow these steps in order, but timing matters because the subscription renews every 28 days.

Cancellation via the preply app or website

1. Log in to your Preply account using your email and password.
   • Go to preply.com or open the Preply mobile app (iOS or Android).
   • Enter your login credentials.
2. Navigate to your account settings or subscription management page.
   • On the website, look for "My Account" or "Settings" in the top menu.
   • On the mobile app, tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
   • Select "Subscription" or "Billing" (the exact label may vary).
3. Find the "Cancel subscription" or "End subscription" button.
   • Read any warning messages Preply displays about remaining credits or upcoming charges.
   • Note the exact renewal date shown on your account; this tells you when your final charge will occur if you do not cancel before that date.
4. Click or tap to confirm your cancellation.
   • Preply may ask you why you are cancelling; you are not obliged to answer, but feedback sometimes triggers a retention offer.
   • You may be offered a discount to stay; decline this if cancellation is your firm choice.
5. Check for a confirmation message on screen and in your email inbox.
   • Preply should send you a cancellation confirmation email within minutes.
   • Save this email as proof of cancellation.
6. Verify that your subscription status has changed to "Cancelled" or "Active until [date]".
   • Return to your subscription settings to double-check that the system reflects your cancellation.
   • If the status still shows "Active", try logging out and back in to refresh the page.

Cancellation by email or written notice

If you encounter technical problems or prefer a documented paper trail, you can cancel by sending a written notice to Preply's support team. This method creates a timestamped record of your cancellation request, which is valuable if disputes later arise.

1. Compose a cancellation email or letter.
   • Address it to support@preply.com or use the contact form on the Preply website.
   • Write clearly: "I request cancellation of my Preply subscription, effective immediately."
   • Include your full name, account email address, and user account number (if you have it).
   • State your cancellation date preference (for example, "Cancel with effect from today" or "Cancel before my next renewal on [specific date]").
2. Send the email using a method that provides a read receipt or delivery confirmation.
   • Gmail's read receipt feature or your email provider's delivery tracking will help you prove that Preply received your message.
   • Alternatively, use a registered letter or recorded delivery service if you prefer a physical paper record.
3. Retain a copy of your cancellation request for your records.
   • Screenshot the sent email or take a photo of the posted letter receipt.
   • File this alongside your confirmation email from Preply.
4. Wait for Preply's confirmation response within 5 to 10 business days.
   • Preply's support team should reply confirming that your subscription has been cancelled.
   • If you do not hear back within this timeframe, follow up with a second email marked "Follow-up: Cancellation Confirmation Required".
5. Check your account one week after receiving the confirmation to verify that your subscription status has changed.
   • Log back into your Preply account and navigate to your subscription settings.
   • Confirm that the active status has ended or that a cancellation date is now displayed.

Cancellation timing and billing cycles

Pro tip: Preply's 28-day billing cycle is the key to avoiding unnecessary charges. If your renewal date is 15 March and you want to avoid the next charge, you must cancel before that date. The moment your renewal date passes, Preply will charge your payment method for the next cycle. Stopping a charge after it has been processed takes longer and requires a refund request. Cancel as early as possible within the current billing cycle to prevent unwanted charges.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation is not instant; understanding the timeline helps you avoid surprises.

Immediate effects of cancellation

Once Preply processes your cancellation request, your account enters a "cancelled" or "grace" status. You may still be able to view your lesson history and account information, but you cannot book new lessons or purchase additional credits. Any lessons you have already scheduled will proceed as planned; cancelling your subscription does not automatically cancel individual lessons you have already paid for and booked. If you want to cancel specific upcoming lessons, you must do so separately in your lesson management panel, taking care to observe Preply's notice period (typically 4 to 12 hours before the scheduled lesson time, depending on tutor rules) to avoid forfeiture of the lesson fee.

Unused credits and refund processing

Stopee strongly recommends that you request a refund for any unused credits immediately after cancelling your subscription. Contact Preply support at support@preply.com and state clearly: "I have cancelled my subscription and have [number] unused lesson credits remaining. I request a refund of the corresponding amount to my original payment method by [date]." Specify the original payment method (credit card, debit card, or PayPal account) and provide the last four digits to help Preply process the refund correctly. Preply should process refunds within 14 to 30 calendar days, depending on your bank's processing speed. Some refunds appear within 3 to 5 business days; others take longer if the original payment method has expired or been closed. Monitor your bank statements during this window and follow up with Preply if the refund does not arrive within one month.

Account closure and data deletion

After cancellation, your account remains in your control. You can log in to view historical information about lessons you completed and tutors you worked with. You do not need to request account deletion unless you want Preply to erase your personal data entirely. If you wish to delete your account and all associated data, contact support@preply.com and request account deletion. Preply is obliged under Irish and EU data protection law (GDPR) to delete your personal data within 30 days of your request, with some limited exceptions for legal compliance.

Refunds and credit management

Understanding refund entitlements prevents frustration and ensures you recover the money you are entitled to.

Refund eligibility and timelines

You are eligible for a refund of unused lessons if you cancel your subscription while credits remain in your account. Preply's terms state that you own the credits and are entitled to refund value if you do not use them. The timeline works as follows: after you cancel, write to Preply's support team with details of your unused credits. Preply will process the refund to your original payment method within 14 to 30 calendar days. If your original payment method has expired (for example, your credit card was replaced), the refund may be delayed; update your payment information with Preply or provide an alternative account to receive the refund faster.

Disputes over refund value

Warning: Preply may argue that you have forfeited credits if you missed a scheduled lesson or if the lesson was cancelled within the tutor's minimum notice period. You should dispute this aggressively. Consumer law in Ireland does not permit a service provider to forfeit your money simply because you did not use a lesson within a certain timeframe. If Preply refuses to refund unused credits, escalate the dispute to the CCPC (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) by submitting a formal complaint at ccpc.ie. Stopee advises you to include copies of your cancellation confirmation email, screenshots of your account showing remaining credits, and Preply's refusal message in your CCPC complaint.

Alternative dispute resolution

If Preply refuses to refund your credits and the CCPC investigation does not resolve the matter to your satisfaction, you can pursue alternative dispute resolution (ADR) through an independent ombudsman or arbitration service. Preply's terms of service should identify its ADR provider. You also retain the right to take Preply to the Small Claims Court in Ireland if the disputed amount falls within the court's jurisdiction (typically up to EUR 6,000 for claims between individuals and traders). Stopee recommends attempting internal resolution with Preply first, escalating to the CCPC, and then pursuing court action only if earlier steps fail.

Pricing and subscription structure

Knowing what you are paying for helps you assess whether cancellation is the right decision.

Preply does not charge cancellation fees, exit penalties, or lock-in contracts. You can cancel at any time without financial penalty beyond the loss of unused credits (which you can recover as a refund). Compare the cost of your subscription against your usage: if you are paying EUR 160 for 8 lessons but booking only 3, you are losing money each month. Cancellation prevents further losses.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancellation can feel daunting, and small oversights can trigger unnecessary charges or lost refunds. You are not alone if you have felt stressed by subscription management, so take these precautions to protect yourself.

Mistake 1: cancelling a lesson instead of your subscription

Preply's interface offers two separate cancellation options: you can cancel individual lessons, or you can cancel your entire subscription. Many users accidentally click "Cancel lesson" when they intended to cancel their subscription. Cancelling a single lesson does not stop your recurring charges; your subscription will continue to renew every 28 days and bill your payment method. To permanently stop charges, you must navigate to your subscription settings (not the lesson booking panel) and select "Cancel subscription". Stopee recommends taking a screenshot of your subscription page before you click cancel, so you have proof of the action you intended.

Mistake 2: missing the renewal date

Preply renews your subscription automatically at midnight (in your local time zone or UTC, depending on the account settings) on your renewal date. If your renewal date is 20 March and you cancel on 21 March, the charge has already gone through. You then have to request a refund, which takes 14 to 30 days instead of simply avoiding the charge. Mark your renewal date in your phone calendar and cancel at least 3 days before. This buffer ensures that Preply has time to process your cancellation before the automated billing trigger fires.

Mistake 3: not requesting a refund for unused credits

Warning: Cancelling your subscription and having unused credits are two separate issues. Preply will not automatically refund your credits when you cancel; you must request the refund explicitly in writing to support@preply.com. If you cancel and do not chase the refund within 30 days, you may lose leverage if Preply later argues that your request is stale or that you have forfeited the credits. Request your refund the same day you cancel your subscription. This creates a clear timestamp and shows that you acted promptly.

Mistake 4: ignoring payment confirmation or billing notifications

After you cancel, Preply will stop charging you going forward. However, if your cancellation was processed after your renewal date, one final charge may still appear in your bank statement. This is normal and reflects the charge that was authorised before your cancellation took effect. You can request a refund for this final charge if you cancelled before the renewal date. If you cancelled after the renewal date, the charge has already been earned by Preply for the subscription period that began on your renewal date. You are entitled to a refund only for the days or lessons remaining in that cycle if you cancel mid-cycle. Stopee advises you to read every billing email carefully and identify whether the charge represents a pre-cancellation billing run or a post-cancellation error.

Mistake 5: not keeping cancellation proof

If Preply later charges you after you cancel, or if the company disputes the fact of your cancellation, you will need proof. Save every email from Preply that mentions your cancellation, refund, or subscription status. Take screenshots of your account settings page showing "Cancelled" status. Store these documents in a dedicated folder, backed up to cloud storage. If you escalate to the CCPC or to court, these records are your evidence. Without them, Preply can deny receiving your cancellation request and argue that you abandoned your account instead of formally ending your subscription.

Checklist for cancelling preply

Use this checklist to ensure you complete every step correctly and protect yourself from unwanted charges or lost refunds.

Reviews and real experiences from preply users in ireland

Preply has a solid reputation among language learners in Ireland, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars across independent review platforms. Most users praise the platform's tutor quality, scheduling flexibility, and lesson effectiveness. However, cancellation and refund experiences are more mixed.

Positive cancellation experiences

Users who report smooth cancellations typically completed these steps: they planned their lesson schedules well in advance, booked lessons strategically to use all credits before renewal, and gave clear written notice of cancellation at least one week before their renewal date. These users also emphasised the importance of communicating directly with their assigned tutor before cancelling, as some tutors are willing to work out alternative arrangements (such as scheduling lessons outside the subscription model on a pay-per-lesson basis) if advance notice is given. Stopee notes that proactive communication reduces friction and often results in better outcomes for both learners and tutors.

Negative cancellation experiences

Users who reported difficulties commonly described scenarios in which they clicked "Cancel lesson" instead of "Cancel subscription", missed their renewal date by a few days, or did not receive a refund for unused credits because they did not submit a formal refund request. Several users also reported that Preply's support team responded slowly to cancellation and refund inquiries (taking 7 to 14 days to respond to emails). A minority of users reported that Preply initially refused to refund unused credits, claiming that the credits had "expired" or that the user had forfeited them by missing scheduled lessons. In most of these cases, users who escalated to the CCPC or submitted a formal complaint eventually received their refund, suggesting that Preply's initial refusal was a soft deterrent rather than a legitimate contractual position.

Lessons from community feedback

Irish users consistently recommend: (1) cancelling at least 3 to 7 days before your renewal date, (2) submitting your refund request in writing on the same day you cancel, (3) keeping copies of all correspondence with Preply, and (4) escalating to the CCPC if Preply refuses to refund unused credits. Stopee endorses all of these steps as best practice for protecting yourself.

Preply cancellation address and contact information

If you need to send a formal written cancellation notice to Preply by post, or if you wish to lodge a complaint, use the following contact details:

Email support: support@preply.com

Online contact form: Visit preply.com and look for "Help" or "Contact us" in the footer menu.

Complaint escalation: If Preply does not respond to your cancellation or refund request within 10 business days, or if you believe Preply has breached consumer protection law, contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC):

CCPC contact: www.ccpc.ie or telephone +353 1 402 5555

Address: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Bloom House, Railway Street, Dublin 1, D01 C576, Ireland

You can submit a complaint to the CCPC online, by post, or by phone. The CCPC will investigate for free and can compel Preply to refund your credits or cancel your subscription if the company has breached the Consumer Rights Act 2022.

Should you cancel or look for alternatives

Before you commit to cancellation, consider whether an alternative solution might better suit your needs.

When to cancel

Cancel Preply if you have genuinely lost interest in learning, if your budget no longer permits subscription costs, or if you have found a learning method that works better for you. Do not stay subscribed out of guilt or because you are uncertain; the longer you delay cancellation, the more charges accumulate. Cancel as soon as you are certain that Preply no longer serves your goals.

When to pause instead

If you are facing a temporary obstacle (such as a busy work period or short-term financial strain), pause your subscription instead. Preply allows you to postpone your renewal date, which halts billing without closing your account. When your circumstances improve, you can resume lessons with the same tutor and account intact. This avoids the friction of having to re-enrol and re-establish tutor relationships.

Alternative platforms

If you are cancelling because you are unhappy with Preply's cost or tutor quality, compare alternatives such as Verbling, iTalki, Lingoda, or traditional in-person tutoring services in your area. Many alternatives offer introductory discounts or trial lessons, allowing you to test before committing. Stopee recommends trying a trial lesson on a competing platform before you cancel Preply, so you do not lose momentum in your learning journey.

Final summary and next steps

Cancelling your Preply subscription is straightforward if you follow the steps outlined in this guide. You have statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 that protect you from unwanted charges and entitle you to refunds for unused credits. To cancel successfully: log into your account, navigate to your subscription settings, click "Cancel subscription" at least 3 days before your renewal date, and immediately request a refund for any unused credits in writing to support@preply.com. Keep copies of all cancellation and refund correspondence. If Preply refuses to honour your refund, escalate to the CCPC, which has the authority to compel the company to comply with the law.

Stopping unwanted subscriptions has helped thousands of consumers across Ireland reclaim control of their finances and avoid unexpected charges. Stopee has guided learners through this process for years, and our approach is simple: transparency, clear documentation, and knowledge of your legal rights. Your consumer rights are not negotiable. Preply cannot charge you without consent, force you to keep a subscription, or withhold refunds for services you have paid for but not used. If you follow this guide and encounter resistance from Preply, you have the CCPC and the courts on your side. Start your cancellation today, and Stopee will be with you every step of the way.