Verbling Merged

Verbling is an online language-learning marketplace that connects learners with professional, pre-vetted tutors for live one-on-one video lessons. Founded in San Francisco in 2011 by two Swedish co-founders who met at Stanford, it operates a marketplace model where teachers set their own rates and schedules while Verbling provides the booking, video classroom, and payments. It was acquired by Busuu in 2020, and Busuu was later acquired by Chegg, so Verbling today sits under Chegg via Busuu.

Lessons are booked directly with individual teachers: learners filter tutors by language, price, availability, and location, then schedule live video classes, after which teachers typically provide feedback and study plans. Verbling vets its teachers, accepting only those with prior experience and/or certifications, and had a marketplace of over 10,000 pre-vetted teachers. It offers a very wide range of languages, including major and less common ones, with each teacher designing their own approach.

Tutors set their own hourly rates, typically about $14-$30 per hour, with per-lesson or bundled purchases; most teachers offer a free or discounted ~30-minute trial. Verbling takes a 15% commission. It suits learners who want a vetted, native-speaking tutor for flexible one-on-one instruction and are comfortable choosing and managing their own teacher.