Cambly Reviews 257

The company takes at least two thirds of what the student pays. Practically zero support from higherups. Marketed to students as a place to meet with professional teachers, marketed to teachers as a place to get paid for conversation like a sex worker, and the difference teachers learn in trial by fire, four-star ratings ruining your profile. If you are a woman, men students will certainly expose themselves, and support most likely will do nothing. They have blocked teachers from certain states whose minimum wage is more than what they pay, because as minimum wage has risen literally everywhere, for Cambly a raise will never happen. I've worked in some of the crumbiest environments there are in the world, and cambly is by far the worst.

Blatant disregard for the very core of their business. $$$ before education.

I've dedicated over 4 years to Cambly, and the only thing keeping me going is my wonderful regular students.

Well, my students and the fact that burnout is a REAL problem. I'm always too tired and unmotivated to move on. It's a horrible vicious circle.

But let me tell you, this company is a disgrace.

Pathetic Compensation
Cambly pays a pittance at $10.20 per hour, it's a slap in the face. And that's $10.20 only IF you teach for 60 minutes. They compensate by the minute which is currently $0.17. A little more for teaching kids classes.

Tutors are left with a meagre $1.70 to $2 for no-shows and late cancellations. We get no benefits—no healthcare, no pension, no sick pay, nothing. This is exploitation, pure and simple.

Outrageous Terms of Agreement
Their new Terms of Agreement are downright criminal. We have to allow them to use our lessons for development and improvements. Basically, we're agreeing to them using us to train AI tutors that will make us jobless. Dystopia at its finest!

They’re squeezing every last penny out of their students while treating tutors like disposable slaves.

This is a scummy company that treats its tutors like dirt. Burnout is real and it's affecting so many online tutors, especially with the way we have to do things here at Cambly.

Gig work, online side hustle, whatever you want to call it, this is a twisted, messed up way to go about modern-day work.

If you value your mental health and your time, find something else. It is easy to get stuck working for Cambly because you'll be too tired and burned out to learn a new skill or find another job. PLEASE, DO NOT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY.

Cambly doesn't pay their tutors a decent wage. The rating system is horrible and God forbid you have a life and have to cancel a lesson, you're punished for that. They expect you to create these personal lesson plans for students on your free time, with little pay? I'm returning back to my other platform to teach. Cambly sucks! Don't work here! They also overcharge their students and Cambly Inc is a $250 Million dollar company! They can affored a raise increase for their tutors. Many who are certified!

Like many tutors have mentioned and the most important thing - the pay is LOW. We are getting paid way below minimum wage, they do “bonus” schemes which really don’t benefit us, we have to work many many hours before we can even receive a decent bonus. It’s not a bonus it’s an incentive and a way to keep students coming back for more and paying the company money. Oh Cambly like to increase their prices for students but where does that money go?? Definitely not towards increasing tutors’ pay. It’s so disheartening and disrespectful because this could be a good job where tutors would be happy which would enrich the students’ experience… however, it’s the most mentally exhausting job especially knowing the company cares so little about you.

Disappointed and Undervalued as a Tutor

I've been working with this site for over three years now, and unfortunately, I feel compelled to share my disappointment and frustration. While initially, the platform seemed promising, it's become increasingly clear that they view their tutors more like disposable assets than valued human beings.

Lack of Compensation Adjustments:
For over three years, the company has not adjusted our wages, despite using our images and words for their marketing purposes. This is disheartening, especially in a world where living costs continue to rise. It's frustrating to see our efforts and contributions being used to promote the site while we remain stuck at the same pay.

Unreliable Group Lessons:
When group lessons were introduced, we were assured of guaranteed payments, which offered a sense of security. However, this guarantee was removed over five months ago. Now, I find myself working without knowing whether I'll be paid, creating unnecessary stress and instability. This uncertainty is not just a minor inconvenience; it's a major disruption to our financial planning and livelihood.

Lack of Empathy and Respect:
It's disappointing to see a company that doesn't seem to value the very individuals who keep it running. We are not robots; we are people with needs, families, and responsibilities. Many of us rely on this income to support our families, yet the company operates as though these human aspects don't matter.

Forced to Accept Unfair Terms:
The company often imposes new terms and conditions that seem exploitative, knowing that many of us have no choice but to comply to sustain our families. It's disheartening to feel trapped and undervalued by a company that should be fostering an environment of mutual respect and growth.

Overall Experience:
While the platform's concept is excellent, the execution in terms of tutor support and compensation leaves much to be desired. It's time for the company to recognize the importance of its tutors and treat them with the respect and fairness they deserve.

In conclusion, I hope the company takes these concerns seriously and begins to make changes that reflect a genuine appreciation for its hardworking tutors. Until then, I cannot recommend this site to fellow educators looking for a supportive and reliable working environment.

I've been working for Cambly for over 5 years. The only good thing about this Company is my regular students.

The pay is disgraceful
The material for Cambly Kids is a shambles
Their new TERM OF AGREEMENT is criminal.

This is a shameless company that bleeds their student's bank accounts dry and wants teachers as slaves. If you value yourself and your time DO NOT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY

Let's start with the biggest problem. The pay. It's unbelievable how low it is! Especially with the current conditions we are living in. Cambly also takes on average 2/3 of what the students pay. Which compared to other teaching platforms, this is outrageous!
It hires on a basis that you just need to be a native English speaker, which is great, but it advertises to students that all the teachers are experienced and qualified.
Leading to the second problem - the rating system. I think when many students are expecting to improve their English dramatically in half an hour as promised, they feel frustrated and rate teachers unfairly. And once my rating drops below 4.82 (which I think is still quite high) I lose access to the amount of priority hours I can do, which is where I made my money. I find this so unfair when I am relying on the site to pay my rent and bills! It's too unstable to pursue and do full time.

I started a few years ago and the money wasn't so bad before 2020 but since then there has been no pay rise and things have only gotten more expensive. It's advertised as $10 per hour. But with students taking only half an hour or fifteen minute lessons most of the time it works out around $5 an hour.

$10 an hour, never been given a pay rise. This is about £8 an hour in the uk which is far below minimum wage. If you think you will feel better working remotely, find someone who pays more

Cambly has been around since 2012. They paid tutors $10/hr back then. Here we are, 12 years later, and we still get paid $10/hr. Their main office is in San Fran yet they pay below the legal minimum wage in most countries.

I am a "supertutor" which means I have a very high rating given to me by students, yet after 3 plus years on the platform I have never been given a pay raise. No tutor has been given a pay raise in 12 years. No incentives whatsoever working for this company. It's literally a dead end job!

They constantly raise the cost of student subscriptions, yet don't increase the wages of the tutors. The company is extremely unethical and most likely breaking several US labor laws. They should be investigated by the United States government.

I highly recommend teachers stay away from this company!

Amazing app to improve your business English that helps in your career growth

My friends and I subscribed to this company a while back to try it out, as we'd heard really good reviews at first.
Then we realised what con merchants they really were. As per other genuine reviews here, the company pockets the money when students wish to unsubscribe for perfectly legitimate reasons.
The tutors, who are often underqualified or have no qualifications, are treated unfairly. They are paid significantly less than a decent minimum wage and are often dismissed without any apparent reason, leaving them with no job security.
This company is only out to make money and has absolutely no respect for its tutors or students.
Nil points from me and my student mates, who remain dejected and upset to this day.
Even 1 star is too much, in my humble opinion.

Signed up one week ago, Cambly charged my credit card already but never can take a class. Called them but only get a machine answer no personal service, emailed them only got an automated response with Ticket #3193453 for 3 days without answer. They getting customer money then just disappear with no anyway could contact them.
I use ckche@y to signed up the account

Dreadful company! My mother was dying. I asked the support team if I could cancel my classes , as I had to immediately fly home. They said that`s ok and promptly sacked me. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

The teacher do the same lessons every day.

It's great idea to allow every kind of student to grow up the level of English

Cambly platform is great! Thanks to the well prepared and nice tutors students learn English having fun. As well their different accent and nationality give students the possibility to choose their favouriteaccent and to have a lesson whenever they want.

I ve been using cambly for a while, it s a good platform to improve English

Cambly help me to be more comfortable when I travel, read or listening to something in English. I also appreciate more the humor when I watch a film in the mother tongue

Good concept. But they use students and tutors when they want, then discard and delete with zero notice when their woke, rich San Francisco office decides. They didn't listen, they don't care. There is no appeal. They tell you that in the email. "The decision is final and we will not reply to any more emails about this matter. Thank you".

Employing a few more support staff would cut into their California profits. Even the replies on trustpilot are empty of compassion. I really hope this company change.