If you're a creator with expertise to share, three platforms dominate the "get paid to teach" landscape: Skillshare for pre-recorded courses, Outschool for live classes with K-18 learners, and Preply for 1:1 and group tutoring. They share the same surface-level pitch but pay very differently.
Here's how each one actually works in 2026 — with verified payout models, real access requirements, and who each platform suits best.
Skillshare: royalty pool, passive income, global audience
Skillshare pays teachers from a monthly royalty pool — a portion of total subscription revenue distributed based on each teacher's share of total paid minutes watched.
How payout works:
- Your earnings = (your paid minutes watched) ÷ (total Skillshare paid minutes watched) × monthly royalty pool
- Geography and subscription type affect the weight of your minutes
- A $100 engagement bonus is available to active Top Teacher / Rising Teacher program members who earn at least two new positive student reviews in a month
Access requirements (as of July 16, 2026 updates):
- At least 50 Skillshare followers at the end of the month
- AND at least 75 minutes watched by paid members (baseline)
- AND ONE of: published a new quality class within the last 18 months AND exceeded 400 paid minutes, OR no new class in 18 months but exceeded 650 total paid minutes
- Classes must include a hands-on project for students
Who earns well on Skillshare: Creators in design, illustration, photography, business, and productivity who can build a back-catalog of classes. Top-earning teachers report $100,000+/year, but the median is much lower. The royalty pool model rewards volume and consistency over individual class pricing.
Payout: Worldwide availability. PayPal (minimum $10 threshold).
Outschool: 70% of every enrollment, live classes for K-18 learners
Outschool is structured simply: you keep 70% of every class enrollment. No royalty pool, no algorithmic complexity — students enroll, the class runs, you get paid 70%.
How payout works:
- You set the per-learner price and the number of participants per class
- Outschool takes a 30% service fee from each enrollment
- You receive payment via PayPal after the class begins
Access requirements:
- No formal teaching credentials required
- Must pass a criminal background check before your first class (you're teaching learners up to age 18)
- Must reside in one of 8 eligible countries: US, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, or United Kingdom
- Teach on subjects you're experienced with — classes range from academics to creative hobbies
Earnings potential: Popular Outschool teachers reportedly earn up to $550/week, though income varies widely based on class pricing, frequency, and enrollment rates. You control your schedule, class size (typically capped at 6–18 learners for live sessions), and whether to offer recurring vs. one-time classes.
Payout: PayPal, after class begins.
Preply: 1:1 tutoring, declining commission, highest per-hour ceiling
Preply is the only tutoring-first platform of the three, built for live 1:1 or small-group language and academic tutoring. The commission structure is unique: it starts high and decreases as you teach more.
How payout works:
- Trial lesson with a new student: Preply takes 100% (you earn $0 on the first lesson)
- Subsequent lessons: Preply takes 33%, you keep 67%
- As you accumulate hours and strong student retention, Preply's commission decreases — eventually reaching 18%, where you keep 82% of your hourly rate
- You set your own hourly rate and can change it anytime
Access requirements:
- Fill out a profile, upload a headshot, record a short 2-minute video introduction
- Describe your strengths as a tutor
- No specific certifications required
- Profile reviewed by Preply's Tutor Success team within 5 business days
- Teach students from over 180 countries
Earnings potential: Most popular Preply tutors earn up to $550/week according to Preply's published figures. Earnings depend on your rate, number of lessons, and student retention. English tutors at mid-tier rates ($15–$25/hour) with strong retention can realistically reach $500–$1,000/month.
Payout: PayPal, Payoneer, bank transfer, or Wise.
Side-by-side comparison
| Skillshare | Outschool | Preply | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Pre-recorded | Live classes | Live 1:1 / group tutoring |
| Your cut | Pool-based (varies) | 70% flat | 67–82% (after declining commission) |
| Platform fee | Pool share | 30% | 33% → 18% |
| Trial commission | N/A | N/A | 100% (first lesson = $0 to you) |
| Credentials | None | None | None |
| Background check | No | Yes | No |
| Audience | Global adult learners | K-18 learners | Students 180+ countries |
| Geographic limit (teacher) | Worldwide | 8 countries | Worldwide |
| Payout method | PayPal | PayPal | PayPal, Payoneer, bank, Wise |
| Minimum followers | 50 Skillshare followers | None | None |
Which platform should you start with?
Start with Skillshare if: You want passive income and can build a library of pre-recorded classes. Your content works for adult learners in creative or business subjects. You're patient with income that takes time to compound.
Start with Outschool if: You enjoy live teaching, you're comfortable working with children and teens, and you want a predictable payout structure (70% every time). You can build a recurring student base.
Start with Preply if: You're an experienced tutor in language, academics, or professional subjects, and you want the highest per-hour rate ceiling. You can sustain student retention past the costly trial lesson to where the commission drops.
Many education creators teach on more than one — Skillshare for passive course income, Outschool for live group classes, and Preply for private tutoring.
- Best for
- creators who want to build a pre-recorded course library and earn passively
- Pay model
- Royalty pool based on paid minutes watched; top teachers earn $100K+/year
- Access
- Worldwide; 50 followers + 75 paid minutes minimum
Skillshare's royalty model is harder to predict but offers real passive income potential. Best for creators who can produce multiple quality classes and are patient enough to let a catalog build over time.
- Best for
- live teachers who want a simple, predictable 70/30 payout split
- Pay model
- 70% of every enrollment (30% Outschool service fee); PayPal after class
- Access
- 8 countries; background check required; no credentials
Outschool is the most transparent model here — you know exactly what you keep (70%) before you start. The background check and geographic restriction are the two real gatekeepers. Best for educators who enjoy live, small-group teaching.
- Best for
- experienced tutors who can retain students past the trial lesson to where commission drops
- Pay model
- 67–82% of hourly rate (your set rate); 100% trial commission; up to $550/week
- Access
- Worldwide; no credentials needed; profile review 5 business days
Preply offers the highest per-hour ceiling at scale but starts expensive (losing 100% of the trial lesson). Best for tutors with strong credentials or a niche subject who can convert trial students into long-term bookings.
See the full breakdown for each platform
Frequently asked questions
Which education platform pays teachers the most in 2026?
It depends on your subject and format. Preply pays tutors the highest effective rates for experienced teachers — once your commission drops to 18% after 500+ hours, you keep 82% of your hourly rate. Outschool pays 70% of every enrollment (30% service fee) with no hours-based decline, making it predictable for class-based teachers. Skillshare's royalty pool is harder to predict but top-earning teachers report $100,000+ per year. Preply wins on per-hour income for tutors with strong retention; Outschool wins on simplicity; Skillshare wins on passive-income potential once you have a library of classes.
Do you need teaching credentials to earn on these platforms?
No formal credentials are required on any of the three platforms. Skillshare requires no credentials — you teach based on expertise. Outschool requires no formal teaching background but does require a background check for all teachers, since you're teaching learners up to age 18. Preply requires no specific certifications; their Tutor Success team reviews your profile, video intro, and strengths within 5 business days.
Can you teach on multiple platforms at once?
Yes. None of these platforms require exclusivity. Many creators teach group courses on both Skillshare and Outschool while doing 1:1 tutoring on Preply. The main consideration is scheduling — Outschool and Preply involve live real-time sessions with students, while Skillshare is fully pre-recorded and asynchronous. Combining all three is a common strategy for education-focused creators.
How does Preply's commission structure work?
Preply charges 100% commission on your very first trial lesson with each new student. After that, you keep 67% (Preply takes 33%) of lesson revenue. As you teach more hours, Preply's commission decreases: it drops to 29% after a certain threshold, and eventually to 18% for experienced tutors with strong student retention. You set your own hourly rate, and Preply pays out via PayPal, Payoneer, bank transfer, or Wise.
What is Skillshare's new payout threshold for July 2026?
Effective July 16, 2026, Skillshare updated its earnings thresholds. To qualify for royalty payments, you need at least 50 followers on Skillshare and must meet ONE of: (a) published at least one new quality class in the last 18 months AND exceeded 400 minutes watched by paid members, OR (b) no new class in 18 months but exceeded 650 total minutes watched. A baseline of 75 paid minutes watched is still required for any payout.
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