My Honest Experience with Cambly: Is It Worth It?

If you're someone who's interested in teaching English online, you've probably heard about Cambly. I first applied to Cambly back in 2018, and although I never really followed through at the time, I’ve recently decided to take another look at the platform. In this article, I’ll share my honest opinion based on what I know and what I’ve experienced.

What is Cambly?

Cambly is a platform that connects English learners from all over the world with fluent English speakers. It’s more of a conversation-based teaching setup, where you engage in one-on-one video calls to help learners improve their English fluency. It doesn’t require formal teaching qualifications or TEFL certificates, which makes it a great starting point for anyone with decent English skills and a passion for helping others.

The idea is simple—you just talk. Cambly emphasizes natural conversation, so you’re not expected to prepare detailed lessons or follow a strict curriculum. This makes it especially appealing for beginners or those looking to earn a side income with flexible hours.

My Application Experience

I submitted my application back in 2018. At that time, I didn’t really follow up when my status remained pending, so I just assumed they weren't accepting new tutors or maybe my profile wasn’t strong enough. Recently, I decided to revisit Cambly and submitted a full profile with an updated intro video. I’ve also started following up to understand what’s going on with my application.

From what I know, Cambly is supposed to respond within two weeks of your application. If they don’t, it’s probably a good idea to send them a message—something I didn’t do the first time, but made sure to do this time around.

Teaching Without a "Perfect" Accent

One of my early concerns was whether my accent would be a problem. I'm not a native English speaker and I don't have an American or British accent, which some platforms tend to prioritize. But after browsing through some tutor profiles on Cambly, I noticed that they feature people from all over the world, including South Africa and other non-native countries. That was reassuring. It turns out what really matters is your personality, your patience, and your ability to communicate clearly.

Who Are the Learners?

Most of the learners I’ve seen or heard about on Cambly are from non-English-speaking countries like China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. They’re looking for relaxed, friendly conversations to improve their fluency. Some are preparing for interviews, others for travel or academic goals. Cambly also allows tutors to offer specialized lessons in things like business English, pronunciation, or exam prep.

Pros and Cons Based on My Observation

Pros:

• Very flexible—you can log in and teach whenever you want.

• No teaching certification required.

• Great way to meet people from different cultures.

• Paid weekly via PayPal.

• Simple and intuitive interface.

Cons:

• Getting approved can take time (or may not happen at all if you don’t follow up).

• Rates are relatively low compared to other teaching platforms.

• Students choose you, so it may take time to get regular bookings.

• Internet stability and decent equipment are a must.

Final Thoughts

Cambly is not perfect, but it’s a good place to start if you’re trying to get into online teaching. It allows you to teach English without all the paperwork or rigid requirements many other platforms demand. From my experience, it’s important to actively follow up on your application and make sure your profile stands out—with a strong video introduction and clear, friendly communication style.

If you're someone who enjoys chatting, helping others learn, and working from home, then Cambly is definitely worth checking out. Just don’t make the mistake I did by submitting an application and forgetting about it. Follow up and give it a fair shot.