Platform Comparison · Updated July 2026
italki vs Unox (2026)
Both connect you with online language teachers, but they are at completely different stages. italki is a large, mature marketplace. Unox is new, small, and currently teaches Chinese and nothing else.
See Unox teachers →The Short Version
Unox may suit you if:
You are learning Chinese, you would rather look at a handful of teachers than scroll a huge catalogue, and you want lesson notes and homework kept in the same place as the bookings.
italki is the better fit if:
You want any language other than Chinese, you want a wide choice of teachers, price points and time slots, or you want a group-class timetable and a phone app you can install today. Unox has none of those right now.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | italki | Unox |
|---|---|---|
| Languages available | 150+ languages | Chinese (Mandarin) only — no other language has a teacher on Unox today |
| Size | Long-established, very large teacher community | New platform with a short teacher list |
| How teachers join | Two listing types: Community Tutors and Professional Teachers | One application form, reviewed before the profile goes live |
| Credential checks | See italki's own teacher policy | Teachers list their own credentials on their profile; Unox does not currently run independent credential or background checks |
| Lesson pricing | Set by each teacher | Set by each teacher |
| Trial lessons | Trial price set by each teacher | A teacher may set a discounted trial price; it is optional, so some teachers have none |
| Automated tutors | See italki for its current add-ons | None. Lessons are with a person, always |
| Group classes | Yes — group sessions available | Supported by the platform, but there are none on the timetable at the moment |
| Apps | iOS and Android apps | Use the site in a browser today; an iOS and Android app is in development |
italki details are summarised from italki's public site as of July 2026 and may change — check italki for current terms.
How Teachers Join Each Platform
italki lists teachers in two categories: "Community Tutors" and "Professional Teachers". The distinction is about what a teacher offers and what they have submitted, and italki publishes its own requirements for each — worth reading directly on italki before you book.
On Unox there is a single route in: a teacher fills in an application, and the application is reviewed before their profile appears on the site. To be straight about the limits of that — teachers list their own qualifications on their profile, and Unox does not currently run independent credential verification or background checks. Read the profile, watch any intro video, and ask the teacher directly.
On either platform the practical advice is the same: judge a teacher by a real lesson, not by a badge.
How Trial Lessons Work
italki: trial price set by the teacher
Each italki teacher sets their own trial price, so the cost of a first lesson varies from teacher to teacher. Check the teacher's own profile for the current figure.
With a catalogue that size, trials are the normal way to narrow a shortlist — budget for trying more than one.
Unox: optional discounted trial, also set by the teacher
A Unox teacher can set a reduced price for a first lesson with a new student. It is optional, so not every teacher has one — the price, when there is one, shows on that teacher's profile before you book.
A trial is a normal booking, priced lower — same teacher, same platform, same notes and homework afterwards. Nothing about it is a demo.
Who Should Choose italki
- →You are learning anything other than Chinese — Unox has no teacher for it, italki has 150+ languages
- →You want a large pool to choose from, across a wide range of prices
- →You want group conversation classes that are already running, as well as 1-on-1 lessons
- →You want to book from a phone app you can install today rather than a browser
- →You want lots of time-slot options across time zones
Who Should Choose Unox
- ✓You are learning Chinese — that is the only language taught here
- ✓A short list of teachers is a feature to you, not a problem
- ✓You want written notes and homework kept with your lessons rather than in a separate document
- ✓You are comfortable being an early user of a new platform, with the rough edges that implies
Have a look at the teachers first
Read the profiles, check the times they are free, and decide from there. No subscription is required to browse.
Browse Teachers →