Manage Preply

How to cancel preply and get your refund in south africa

What is preply and why you might want to cancel

Preply is an online tutoring marketplace that connects you with private tutors across languages and academic subjects. You book individual lessons or subscribe to lesson credits at rates your chosen tutor sets. The platform handles scheduling, messaging and payments, making it straightforward to learn on your own schedule.

But tutoring subscriptions do not work out for everyone. Perhaps your tutor is not the right fit, your schedule has changed, or the cost has become unsustainable. Whatever your reason, Stopee is here to guide you through cancelling Preply efficiently and understanding your rights as a South African consumer.

When cancellation makes sense

You may want to cancel Preply if you have unused lesson credits, if you are not making progress with your current tutor, or if the subscription no longer fits your budget. South African consumer law protects you in ways many people do not know about, and Stopee helps you navigate those protections.

What you need to know before you start

Cancelling your Preply subscription depends on how you bought it. If you subscribed directly through Preply's website, you cancel one way. If you purchased through Apple's App Store or Google Play, you must cancel through those platforms instead. Getting this right the first time saves you frustration and prevents unwanted charges.

Cancellation methods for preply in south africa

Preply offers different cancellation routes depending on where you made your purchase and what device you use.

Cancel directly on the preply website

If you subscribed through Preply's website on desktop or mobile web, cancelling takes just a few minutes.

1. Log in to your Preply account at preply.com using your email and password.
2. Navigate to your account settings, then select Billing or Account followed by Subscriptions.
3. Locate your active subscription in the list and select Cancel Subscription.
4. Confirm your cancellation when prompted. You will receive an email confirmation within minutes.
5. Check your email inbox (and spam folder) for the cancellation confirmation from Preply.

Pro tip: Screenshot your cancellation confirmation before you close the page. This evidence protects you if Preply charges you again by mistake.

Cancel an apple app store subscription

If you purchased Preply credits through Apple's App Store on your iPhone or iPad, you must cancel through Apple's billing system, not through Preply itself.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen, then select Subscriptions.
3. Find and tap Preply in your active subscriptions list.
4. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm your choice.
5. Apple will send you a cancellation confirmation email immediately.

If you use macOS, the path is slightly different: open System Preferences, tap your Apple ID, select Media and Purchases, then click Manage next to Subscriptions, and cancel Preply from there.

Warning: Cancelling Preply's website subscription does not cancel your App Store subscription, and vice versa. If you subscribed in both places, you must cancel both.

Cancel a google play subscription

Android users who purchased Preply through Google Play must cancel via Google's system.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
3. Select Subscriptions from the menu.
4. Find Preply in your list of active subscriptions and tap it.
5. Tap Cancel Subscription and follow the prompts to confirm.
6. Google will send you a confirmation email within hours.

Pro tip: Google Play often offers a discount or trial extension to keep you subscribed. Decline these offers and proceed with cancellation if you are certain you want to stop.

What happens to your account after you cancel

Understanding what you lose and what you keep after cancelling reduces anxiety and helps you plan your next steps.

Your lessons and lesson credits

Once you cancel, your subscription will not renew on the next billing date. Any unused lesson credits you have paid for typically remain available for a set period, depending on your subscription terms. Read your original subscription agreement to confirm how long your credits stay active after cancellation.

Your account itself usually stays open. You keep access to your message history with tutors, your past lesson recordings (if available), and your learner profile. You can still contact tutors or book individual lessons at their standard rates if you change your mind later.

Your payments and billing

Cancelling stops all future automatic charges at your next renewal date. If you cancel on 15 March and your renewal was due 20 March, Preply will not charge you again. However, cancellation does not automatically trigger a refund for the current billing period you have already paid for.

Warning: If you purchased through Apple or Google Play, cancelling only your Preply web subscription leaves your app store subscription active. Check all three places (web, Apple, Google) to ensure you have stopped every renewal.

Preply pricing and subscription costs in south africa

Unlike many tutoring platforms, Preply does not set fixed prices. Instead, each tutor decides their own hourly rate, which means costs vary widely depending on the subject, tutor experience, and location.

What you typically pay

These figures are based on tutor listings and rates reported during 2024-2025. Your actual cost depends entirely on which tutor you choose. Always ask your tutor for their rate before booking your first lesson.

Refunds and your right to reclaim money

Refunds are where many Preply cancellations become complicated, and where Stopee recommends you know your rights as a South African consumer before you act.

What preply's refund policy says

Preply publishes a refund policy, but it does not offer an automatic 14-day cooling-off period for South African customers. Instead, Preply decides refunds on a case-by-case basis. Refunds are more likely if you have not yet used any lessons or if there is a clear problem with the tutor or service.

However, South African consumer law may protect you beyond what Preply's own policy states. This is where understanding your legal rights becomes powerful.

How to request a refund from preply

If you believe you deserve a refund, send a formal request to Preply's support team with clear details of your situation.

1. Email support@preply.com with the subject line "Refund Request for [Your Username]".
2. Include the date and time of your lesson (if applicable), your tutor's full name, and the reason you want a refund.
3. Explain why the service did not meet your expectations or why you believe you qualify for a refund under South African consumer law.
4. Attach screenshots of your booking confirmation and any relevant messages with your tutor.
5. Send the email and wait for a response. Preply typically replies within 5 to 7 business days.

Pro tip: Keep your email brief, professional and specific. Generic requests like "I changed my mind" carry less weight than "The tutor cancelled three lessons without notice, disrupting my exam preparation."

Timeline and realistic expectations

Preply may take up to 30 calendar days to make a refund decision. In practice, decisions often come faster, but do not expect an answer within 48 hours. Refunds for unused subscriptions (no lessons booked yet) are more likely than refunds for subscriptions where you have already completed lessons.

Warning: Preply sometimes denies refund requests or offers partial credits instead of cash refunds. If this happens to you, Stopee recommends you escalate to South Africa's consumer protection authority.

Your consumer rights under south african law

Stopee believes you deserve to know the legal protection you have as a consumer in South Africa, especially when platforms like Preply are not transparent about their terms.

The consumer protection act and your protections

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA) gives you several rights that apply regardless of what Preply's own terms say. You have the right to receive goods or services that are of good quality, fit for purpose, and as described. If Preply's service fails to meet these standards, you can demand corrective action.

You also have the right to cancel within a reasonable period if a distance transaction (like an online purchase) goes wrong, or if the supplier breaches their obligations. If Preply fails to deliver the tutoring service you paid for, the CPA is on your side.

When to escalate beyond preply

If Preply refuses your refund request and you believe the company has broken South African consumer law, you can lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The NCC investigates complaints about unfair business practices, misleading terms, and non-compliance with the CPA.

Filing a complaint costs nothing and can result in Preply being ordered to refund you. Visit the NCC website (ncc.org.za) to submit your complaint online. Include all emails between you and Preply, screenshots of your subscription terms, and a clear explanation of why you believe the company violated your rights.

Small claims and escalation routes

For larger refund amounts, you can take Preply to the Small Claims Court in South Africa. You do not need a lawyer for claims under R12,000, and the process is straightforward. Your local magistrate's court can advise you on the exact procedure for your province.

Common mistakes that cost you money

Cancelling Preply can feel stressful, especially if you have paid for lessons you did not use. Many South Africans make preventable errors that delay refunds or cost them money.

Forgetting to cancel all subscriptions

The most common mistake is cancelling your Preply web subscription but leaving your Apple or Google Play subscription active. These run separately, and Preply cannot force Apple or Google to cancel on your behalf. You must manually cancel each one. Check your billing settings across all three platforms before you consider yourself fully cancelled.

Not documenting your cancellation

Cancelling without saving proof leaves you vulnerable to disputes. Screenshot your cancellation confirmation from Preply, and save the confirmation emails from Apple, Google, or Preply itself. If the company charges you again, this evidence forces them to refund the erroneous charge quickly.

Missing the refund request window

Preply is more likely to grant refunds for unused subscriptions if you request them within 28 days of purchase. If you wait three months, your chances of success drop dramatically. File your refund request as soon as you decide the service is not working for you.

Not mentioning consumer law in your refund request

When you email support@preply.com, reference your rights under South Africa's Consumer Protection Act. Mention that the service did not meet the quality or fitness standards you reasonably expected. This signals that you understand your legal position and takes your request seriously.

What to do after you cancel preply

Cancelling is only the first step. What happens next matters for your peace of mind and your wallet.

Monitor your bank account for 30 days

Watch your bank statements and credit card transactions closely for the next month. If Preply charges you again after your cancellation, contact your bank immediately and request a chargeback. South African banks take subscription billing disputes seriously and will reverse the charge if you have proof of cancellation.

Keep all documentation safely stored

Create a folder (digital or physical) with your cancellation confirmation, refund request emails, and any correspondence with Preply. Label it clearly with the date and service name. If a dispute arises months later, this organisation saves you time and strengthens your case.

Leave an honest review

If your experience with Preply was poor, consider leaving a review on TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or other platforms. Other South Africans depend on honest feedback to make informed decisions. Stopee believes transparency helps the entire consumer community.

Key steps to remember before you cancel

Use this checklist to ensure you cancel correctly and protect yourself.

Contact preply and escalation addresses in south africa

If you need to contact Preply directly or pursue a formal complaint, use these official channels.

Preply support and cancellation contact

Email your cancellation or refund request to support@preply.com. This is Preply's official support channel and generates a ticket you can track. Include your username, account email, and the reason for your request. Responses typically arrive within 5 to 7 business days.

For formal written cancellation requests, Preply provides mailing addresses in their terms. However, email is faster and creates a digital record. Use email as your first option.

South african consumer escalation

If Preply ignores your refund request or breaches consumer law, file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission at ncc.org.za or contact them at 0860 000 881. The NCC investigates complaints about unfair contract terms, misleading advertising, and failure to provide promised services. Your complaint costs nothing and can result in a refund order.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers navigate cancellations and claim refunds they thought were lost. Whether your issue is a forgotten subscription, a refusal to refund unused lessons, or unclear cancellation terms, Stopee (stopee.com) provides clear, step-by-step guidance tailored to South African consumer law. Visit Stopee today to access templates, checklists, and expert advice that puts your rights first.