{"id":14714,"date":"2021-07-21T08:08:17","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T14:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=14714"},"modified":"2026-01-15T05:29:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T12:29:56","slug":"best-company-for-teaching-english-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/best-company-for-teaching-english-online\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose the Best Company for Teaching English Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><p>Are you on a job hunt for <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/jobs\/online-teaching-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online ESL teaching jobs<\/a>? With plenty of virtual English companies promising the flexibility of working from your couch and making your own hours, it may be tricky to choose which employer you should apply with. If you find yourself with this dilemma, here are the most important things to consider when picking the best company for <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-from-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teaching English online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>1. What are the requirements to teach English online with the company?<\/h2>\n<p>The hiring requirements for each online tutoring company will vary, so a big part of choosing where to apply is making sure you have the right qualifications. Here are the most common requirements for jobs teaching English online.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wcb-button cb-common check-button\">\n<li><strong>TEFL\/TESOL certification.<\/strong> Employers usually ask for a teaching certification with at least 120 hours of study time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Teaching experience.<\/strong> While a lot of online ESL jobs require at least a year of teaching experience, a number of companies welcome newbies. <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-with-no-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about teaching online with no experience.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Technical equipment.<\/strong> Aside from having a working computer, a headset with a microphone, and a webcam, you may have to comply with the Internet speed required by the online company.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/strong> You may need a university degree (or to at least be enrolled in a degree program) to be qualified for jobs with most online teaching companies, though there are some that accept applicants without a degree.<\/li>\n<li><strong>High level of English proficiency.<\/strong> Although some employers only hire teachers from native English-speaking countries, you can also find many companies that only require you a high level of English proficiency. So, if you\u2019re a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-not-native-speaker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">non-native English speaker<\/a>, don\u2019t let this requirement deter you!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wcb-button cb-common idea-button\">\n<li><em>Pro Tip:<\/em> Especially if you haven\u2019t gained much online English teaching experience yet, stand out from the sea of applicants by earning a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/teaching-english-online\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/requirements-to-teach-english-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Here&#8217;s a comprehensive breakdown of the requirements to become an online ESL teacher.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>2. What age group does the English tutoring company work with?<\/h2>\n<p>With your qualifications in hand, another consideration is the age group you\u2019d like to teach.\u00a0As an online English teacher, you can opt to teach with a company that caters to young learners, adults, or both age groups.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wcb-button cb-common arrow-button\">\n<li>The majority of online English schools, especially the bigger ones, cater to kids or teens. Teaching these youngsters will require you to be brimming with energy and have fun, engaging activities up your sleeve!<\/li>\n<li>Companies that offer English classes to adults mostly cater to working professionals or university students who study English after school or work hours. Lessons for this age group may need to be a bit more structured and relevant to their career or personal goals. If you think <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-to-adults\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teaching adults English<\/a> is your forte, consider applying to companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/jobs\/job\/17270\/--Online+English+Teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iTutorGroup<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To decide which you prefer, take into account your preferences, your teaching experience, and even your personality!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_12399\" style=\"width: 442px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2021-01-17-at-23.15.39.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12399\" class=\"wp-image-12399\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2021-01-17-at-23.15.39.jpeg\" alt=\"Elaine, from Singapore, gives online ESL classes to students in Chile\" width=\"432\" height=\"576\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-12399\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/elaine-from-singapore-teaching-english-online-in-chile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elaine, from Singapore,<\/a> gives online ESL classes to students in Chile<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h2>3. What\u2019s the schedule for online English teachers with the company?<\/h2>\n<p>Online English companies usually have established teaching schedules and peak hours, or the times when the demand for teachers is at its highest (which could mean more bookings for you!). Within these teaching hours, you can choose to open slots so that learners can book lessons with you. The company can also assign students to you, depending on your availability.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also important to check the minimum number of hours the company requires. For instance, some companies expect tutors to commit to at least five hours per week. Most online ESL companies, however, don\u2019t have a minimum hour requirement.<\/p>\n<p>If you live in a region that is different from your students\u2019, you\u2019ll also have to consider your time zones and organize your teaching schedule well. For instance, if you like in the U.S. and your learners are based in China, you may need to work in the wee hours of the morning or late at night.<\/p>\n<h2>4. What\u2019s the company&#8217;s pay rate and bonus structure?<\/h2>\n<p>Depending on the company and your qualifications, your hourly rate as an online English teacher can range from around $12 to $26. Your income can also increase through the performance bonuses and referral incentives that many online companies offer.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tefl-salary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Check out typical salaries for teaching English online or abroad.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, when you work on <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/marketplace-teaching-english-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online tutoring marketplaces<\/a> like Preply and iTalki, you can set your own teaching rates. The majority of marketplace English tutors charge between $20 to $25 per hour, and those who have special niches like technical English or language exam proficiency prep usually have higher rates. Take note, however, that these marketplaces take a commission fee for the lessons you give on their platform.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/how-to-make-the-most-money-as-online-english-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Make the most of your income as an online ESL teacher with these tips.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>5. Are there future opportunities for growth with the company?<\/h2>\n<p>For many online English teachers, having the opportunity for advancement is a factor in choosing which company to work with. Some companies offer the possibility to move up to become a teacher trainer, coach, or curriculum developer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/online-esl-teacher-kristie-working-with-gogokid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GOGOKID teacher Kristie Hunter<\/a>, for instance, has advanced into other roles at the company since she started three years ago. \u201cIn addition to my student classes, I coach workshops per week, admin our official Facebook groups, and help create video-based learning materials for our teachers,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_14708\" style=\"width: 531px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Kristie-Hunter-Blog-Interview-Image-.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14708\" class=\"wp-image-14708\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Kristie-Hunter-Blog-Interview-Image-.png\" alt=\"Kristie Hunter GoGoKid teacher\" width=\"521\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Kristie-Hunter-Blog-Interview-Image-.png 521w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Kristie-Hunter-Blog-Interview-Image--480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 521px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-14708\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Kristie Hunter is a GOGOKID teacher and coach<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h2>6. What support does the online English company offer new and experienced teachers?<\/h2>\n<p>The good news about teaching ESL with online companies is that almost all of them provide tutors with the curriculum, materials, and training needed for their classes, so class preparation is minimal. Aside from these, a company may assign tutors a mentor to help them improve their craft, as well as professional development opportunities to step up their career game.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/support-online-english-tutoring-companies-provide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find out more about the types of support online tutoring companies provide new teachers.<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>What are some of the best online English teaching companies?<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you know what questions to ask when choosing an online tutoring company to apply with, check out this rundown of some of the best online English teaching websites and platforms:<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hallo.tv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hallo<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>A social app and learning platform in one, Hallo is a tutoring marketplace that lets online English teachers give private classes or stream their lessons live. By getting more class bookings and subscribers, your prospects of earning more can increase.<\/p>\n<p>Before you can live stream on Hallo, you have to submit a self-introduction video and live stream it within a week after getting accepted. Meanwhile, if you want to teach private lessons, you should possess at least one year of teaching experience.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/jobs\/company\/43457\/Israel-Mazkeret+Batya-SpeakingEnglish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SpeakingEnglish<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>An online ESL company that caters to Israeli kids, teens, and adults, SpeakingEnglish promises tutors a supportive work culture, career growth opportunities, and even free Hebrew courses.<\/p>\n<p>SpeakingEnglish requires teachers to be native English speakers with at least one year of online teaching experience. You\u2019ll also have to commit to teaching at least 20 hours per week, from Sunday to Friday.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_14528\" style=\"width: 529px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Suchismita.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14528\" class=\"wp-image-14528\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Suchismita.jpg\" alt=\"online English teacher\" width=\"519\" height=\"344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Suchismita-980x649.jpg 980w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Suchismita-480x318.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-14528\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/suchismita-from-india-freelance-online-esl-teacher-france\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suchismita, from India,<\/a> teaches English on the Preply platform<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/jobs\/job\/59687\/--Certified+English+Teacher+-remote+work-\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Preply<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>A tutoring marketplace that welcomes online English teachers from any part of the world, Preply lets teachers choose their own hourly rates and schedule. When you work on this platform, chances are you\u2019ll find learners from varying backgrounds and English learning needs. So, if you thrive on teaching a niche like Business English, this marketplace is the best place to advertise your specialized classes!<\/p>\n<p>While Preply is open to native and non-native English speakers alike, it will require applicants to submit a self-intro video and a professional photo. Also, you should be able to provide your own teaching materials and assessment tools.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ef.edu\/teachonline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EF Education First<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>One of the top online companies that cater to adults, EF has students from around the world, so you won\u2019t have problems finding learners at any time of the day. You can teach individual students or groups, and the company takes care of the lesson plans and online materials that you\u2019ll need.<\/p>\n<p>To be qualified to teach with EF, you\u2019ll have to be legally allowed to work in the U.S. and have a bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11872\" style=\"width: 528px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Jonathan-online-teacher-in-Brazil.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11872\" class=\" wp-image-11872\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Jonathan-online-teacher-in-Brazil.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"389\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-11872\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/jonathan-from-argentina-business-english-trainer-and-materials-developer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jonathan, from Argentina<\/a>, teaches ESL to adults with Learnlight.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h4><a href=\"http:\/\/careers.learnlight.com\/careers-2\/teaching-positions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learnlight<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>Offering online English classes from around the world, Learnlight is a great fit for teachers who prefer to teach adults. When you teach for this company, you\u2019ll have a chance to teach specialized programs and act as mentors to their students.<\/p>\n<p>To become a Learnlight English trainer, you should have high proficiency in English and be able to teach a minimum of 10 hours per week. They also prefer teachers who have a business background and an advanced level in a second language.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t need to sift through a long list of job offers and make difficult decisions on where to send your applications. By knowing what to look for in a company and choosing potential employers that match your qualifications, preferences, and professional goals, you can make an informed decision on which companies are best for you.<\/p>\n<h4><em>Narrow down your job search by checking out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/companies-seeking-online-english-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">these companies currently looking for online English teachers<\/a>.<\/em><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With plenty of virtual English companies promising the flexibility of working from your couch and making your own hours, it may be tricky to choose which employer you should apply with. Here are the most important things to consider when picking the best company for teaching English online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":14720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,14],"tags":[],"post-language":[],"popular_posts":[],"class_list":["post-14714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-resources","category-teaching-english-online"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Mari-Breedlove-Online-English-Teacher-.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Krzl Light Nu\u00f1es","author_link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/author\/krzlnunesgmail-com\/"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14714"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41392,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14714\/revisions\/41392"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14714"},{"taxonomy":"post-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-language?post=14714"},{"taxonomy":"popular_posts","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/popular_posts?post=14714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}