Cambly ($250 hire bonus)
Pay: $10.20 per hour
Certificate: Not required
Degree: Not Required
Cambly Overview
Cambly Overview
Work from Home with Cambly
ESL Tutors can work from home, as little or as much as they like. They require tutors to work from a computer/laptop. You will be unable to complete your application or tutor from a tablet or smartphone.
What is the Job with Cambly?
ESL Tutors are all native English speakers and get paid to have casual conversations with English learners from all over the world via video chat, thereby helping students practice English.
Cambly Requirements
- Native English speaker
- Computer/laptop with good webcam and audio capabilities
No degree, teaching certificate or experience required.
How Much Does Cambly Pay?
It can be a great way for you to talk to people from all over and learn about their cultures! They pay $0.17 per minute ($10.20 per hour). It's not huge, but it's a really fun way to earn a little extra and learn about other parts of the world at the same time. No experience is required.
To receive a payment from Cambly, you must have at least $20 of credit in your account. If not, you must wait until the next pay cycle to collect.”
How Does Cambly Pay Teachers?
“Cambly tutors are paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly through PayPal, eCheck, direct deposit, wire transfer, or a prepaid debit card.
Try using Wise as the best way to receive freelance payments through wire transfer. Here's an instruction video on how to set it up:
Cambly Schedule
When Is the Cambly Platform the Busiest?
Many teachers want to know about the “peak time” on Cambly to grab teaching work. The fact is that, because Cambly is an internationally-oriented service, learners log on steadily 24/7 from various parts of the world. Accordingly, you can always expect to find teaching work when you are looking for it.
Cambly Application Process
What Is the Application Process to Join Cambly?
Cambly tries to make the application process as straightforward as possible. If you think that you might be a good fit with Cambly, follow these steps to complete your application:
- Fill out the information form provided
- Upload a 2-minute intro video to the site
- Receive approval to join
- Create your profile
Cambly Reviews
How Do Teachers Who Have Worked for Cambly Rate the Company and Its Services?
Whenever considering a new company to go into business with, it's worth taking a look at the reviews that it has gotten from past employees.
Here are the scores on the biggest review sites that former Cambly teachers have given:
- TrustPilot: 2.4/5 stars
- Glassdoor: 3.6/5 stars
- Indeed: 3.4/5 stars
The positive reviews generally emphasize the flexible nature of the work and the ease of the application process. On the other hand, the negative reviews focus on the relatively low pay compared to other online English instruction sites and the lack of upward mobility in terms of increasing the money that you can earn on the site.
Cambly have gotten lots of positive reviews on blogs and lots of positive press in general. It has also been reviewed as a low-stress job after retirement, as well as a job for digital nomads to do in between hikes. Here's a review from a teacher:
Why Charlie Tutors for Cambly
Charlie's Written Cambly Review:
I’ve been a Cambly tutor for a year now since I completed my TEFL training (although you don't need a TEFL for Cambly).
Here’s my rundown on what it’s like to sign up with Cambly, and the positives and negatives of doing so which I wish I’d been prepared for before I started.
It’s quick and easy to sign up with Cambly, there’s no interview, and you don't need a teaching qualification or degree.
It could even be a great online job for teens or students because of no experience being required.
Your biggest asset is that you’re a native speaker of English and can hold a conversation. The downside of an easy application process means a lot of applications! I was lucky and got recruited within a couple of weeks, it seems Cambly up their recruitment drive in springtime so now might be a good time to apply.
Cambly pays you weekly on Mondays via PayPal.
Although pay is convenient, it isn't much at $10.20 an hour, or 17 cents a minute. This converts to about £7.30 an hour in the UK, but Cambly really promotes itself as more of a conversational site than a teaching site and so the low-stress levels of the job balance out the lower pay.
You can open your schedule for reservations when you want, and as far in advance as you want and you can backup your schedule with Priority Hours.
Signing up for priority hours means you promise to be online and available to take calls within the hour.
These will be your main source of income when you start Cambly until you’ve gained a rating and start to get bookings.
Overall I think the benefits outweigh the negatives on Cambly, especially as a secondary supplement to your income because it’s so flexible – you might even make some international friends along the way too!
It's easy to apply and try it out for one hour, just to see if it's something you'd want to pursue!
Cambly FAQ
What Is the Format of Cambly Classes?
All Cambly classes are personal, one-on-one digital sessions between students and users that take the form of video chats. Classes run day and night, 24/7, so there is always work available on the site.
How Can Teachers Connect With Students on Cambly?
When you join Cambly, you will be given access credentials to log into the site whenever you are available and ready to deliver instruction. Students, likewise, can log into Cambly whenever they please.
Once on the site, Cambly matches teachers with students for one-on-one teaching sessions.
How Long Do Classes Last on the Cambly Platform?
When students book their class with Cambly, they have one of three options: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or a full hour. You will receive this information upfront before the class begins so you can manage your time appropriately.
As a tutor, also, you can set your availability so that the class you get fits into your desired schedule. The goal of Cambly is to make the process of connecting with students for one-on-one learning as smooth as possible.
How Does the Cambly Platform Accommodate the Communication Barrier With Non-Native Speakers?
Cambly uses an automatic translation feature. Using this, students can type their queries into the chat box in their native tongue. Software then translates the content into English.
What Type of English Do Cambly Instructors Teach?
Different learners have varying interests in terms of what they hope to learn from their time using Cambly. The areas that you can expect to cover as a teacher on the platform include:
- Business English
- “Survival English” for tourists and new arrivals to English-speaking countries
- Job interview prep
- Basic conversation
- Exam prep
So the emphasis here is on the English language, unlike a platform like Allschool, where you can teach any subject you are passionate about, from music to science.
Must Instructors on Cambly Be Professional Teachers?
No. The beauty of working for Cambly is that anyone can do it – provided that they have a working internet connection and are a native English speaker.
In fact, the majority of instructors that use Cambly do so as a side project. In their “everyday jobs,” Cambly instructors are cooks, doctors, entrepreneurs, and other working professionals.
Is Cambly Open to Non-Native English Speakers?
No. While many other online English-teaching platforms require teachers to hold degrees and advanced teaching certificates, Cambly is open to anyone who speaks English as their mother tongue.
The states considered to be “native” English-speaking countries include:
- United States
- Canada
- UK
- Ireland
- South Africa
- Australia
- New Zealand
To find other companies that you do meet the requirements for, use DigiNo JobMatch below:
Does Cambly Record Lessons?
Yes. Cambly records all instruction sessions so that students can go back later whenever they need to review the content discussed in the lesson.
What are some PROs and CONs of Cambly?
Pro #1 – Flexibility
Cambly is much more flexible in many ways than other teach from home jobs. First and foremost, Cambly is a login-and-talk style company, which literally means you can log in any time you want and start making money.
In theory, this means you can work as much as you want, when you want – but there is a catch.
Cambly's priority hours system allows teachers who book their teaching slots in advance to feature higher on the teacher list than those who have just logged in, meaning that they will receive more calls.
These priority hours can only be cancelled up to 12 hours in advance, meaning that if you want to have the best chance of receiving calls, you need to commit to a set schedule.
This is still much more flexible than other alternatives, though, as you can decide whether or not you want to book priority hours each day and aren’t locked-in to doing this every week.
Another point worth mentioning in regards to flexibility is the fact that Cambly is a 24-hour platform. This means you can log in for as many hours as you want (24 hours straight, if you can manage it) which makes it about as flexible as it’s possible to be.
Con #1 – Classes Aren’t Guaranteed
The flipside of not having a set schedule means that Cambly aren’t obligated to guarantee you any classes during the times you do choose to log on.
According to most Cambly reviews, new tutors on the platform should expect to receive calls for about 50% of the time they’re logged on.
This can vary, though, and sometimes you can be online for an hour or more with no calls coming through. Other times, you might have back-to-back calls for hours.
This can be frustrating as you never really know how much money you can earn through Cambly from week to week.
Most of us have bills to pay, and the security of knowing that you’ll get some minimum amount on your monthly paycheck is important. This means that Cambly is potentially more useful as a side-income to supplement your regular, guaranteed income than it is as a sole source of income.
It is a great job to do alongside other teaching side hustles from home, such as:
Pro #2 – You’ll be Working With Adults
A lot of people out there like working with children, and if you do, good for you! That means you’ll have no problem finding a rewarding online teaching role, as most companies work with young learners.
But for others (like me), working with children can feel a little draining, which makes the fact that Cambly is a platform with mostly adult students a huge bonus.
With adults, you can have real genuine conversations about topics you’re both interested in. You don’t need to worry about your student running off to play with their toys if your class gets too boring, and you can focus more on actual conversation practice and less on behaviour management.
However, there are some disadvantages that come with working with adults, which brings us on to our next point.
Con #2 – Inappropriate Student Interactions
Most of the students on Cambly are great and are just looking to practice English with a native speaker.
There are, however, a select few who choose to use the platform less like a learning environment and more like a dating app.
It’s not uncommon for students to strike up inappropriate conversations.
Fortunately, Cambly are aware of this issue and have taken steps to improve the situation for teachers, which we’ll talk about more in the next point.
Pro #3 – Teachers Have More Control
In typical ESL classrooms, the student is king. This leads to a situation where the teacher can sometimes feel like they’re jumping through hoops to impress the parents or teaching staff against their better judgement.
Fortunately, this isn’t the case with Cambly.
On Cambly, the teacher can drop any call that they feel uncomfortable with continuing. They can also refuse to speak about any topic they feel is inappropriate or that they’re just not happy talking about.
As long as you do it professionally, you are free to manage your students in the way that you see fit. It’s much more of a two-way street than with other ESL companies.
You can even ban students at the touch of a button if they misuse the platform or do something really inappropriate.
Con #3 – Low pay
Our final con is perhaps the biggest downside to working with Cambly – the pay.
Unfortunately, the low barrier to entry and great job perks means that Cambly pays its teachers significantly less than the industry standard.
Cambly pays $0.17 per minute of tutoring, which works out at just over $10 per hour that you’re on a call. As you’re unlikely to fill your schedule completely, you’ll probably earn around $5-8 per hour instead.
This isn’t great by western standards, but the silver lining is that you really don’t have to work very hard for that money. Calls are mainly just conversation practice – it’s just talking, and there’s little teaching or planning required.
Working with Cambly can be a great way to make a little extra cash and can fit in perfectly as a side hustle alongside a scheduled online ESL teaching job.
How Does Cambly Compare to Similar Companies? (Cambly vs Palfish)
Cambly and Palfish are very similar in a lot of ways and offer superior levels of flexibility compared to a lot of other teaching companies. In terms of pay, Palfish is a much better option but requires slightly more commitment than Cambly. All in all, both offer a great option if you’re looking for something flexible that you can do on the go.
PalFish
Pay: $8 – $11 per hour
Certificate: Required
Degree: Not required
PalFish Overview
Cambly ($250 hire bonus)
Pay: $10.20 per hour
Certificate: Not required
Degree: Not Required
Cambly Overview
How is Cambly Different to Other Companies? (Cambly vs DaDa)
Cambly is a log-in-and-talk platform, whereas DaDa is a platform which works on set schedules.
Other differences:
- DaDa teachers primarily teach children; Cambly teachers primarily teach adults (apart from on Cambly Kids).
- DaDa is a platform exclusively for Chinese students; Cambly is worldwide.
- DaDa has in-built classroom materials and set lessons; Cambly doesn’t.
- DaDa focuses on actual tutoring; Cambly is free-talk conversation practice.
- DaDa lessons take place during Beijing peak times, Cambly is a 24-hour platform.
- DaDa teachers have a set schedule and must work a minimum number of hours each week; Cambly is completely flexible.
DaDa
This platform is not currently hiring through DigiNo. Please click the button below to see alternative online teaching jobs…
Cambly ($250 hire bonus)
Pay: $10.20 per hour
Certificate: Not required
Degree: Not Required
Cambly Overview
How Old Are the Students on Cambly?
This is one of the most common questions that potential teachers have before joining the platform. The main Cambly English teaching program is accessible to all ages, from the youngest learners to degreed working professionals, much like an alternative teaching platform like Amazing Talker.
However, there is a Cambly Kids program that is dedicated entirely to teaching minors.
What Personal Information Is Visible on the Cambly Site?
In the digital age, we are all more aware of the data that we share with online entities and how it is used. When you create your public profile on the site, the following information is displayed for prospective students to take a look at before booking a class with you:
- 2-minute intro video
- Spoken languages
- Home country
- Specializations in ESL (if any)
- Work experience
- Education
- Available times to teach
How Does Cambly's Pay Structure Compare to Other Online English Instruction Platforms?
Teachers who work for Cambly generally earn less than the industry average for online English teaching. In general, individuals with degrees and/or TEFL certification can expect to earn at least $15/hour online. Teachers who sign up with Cambly, by comparison, earn $10.20/hour.
However, it's worth keeping in mind that Cambly's lower pay rate results from the low barrier to entry – anyone can join Cambly's network of teachers if they are fluent in English and have an internet connection.
How Long Do Applicants Wait Before Hearing Back From Cambly?
Everyone likes to get quick replies to their applications. Unfortunately, due to the enormous number of applications that the company receives, Cambly makes teachers wait a few weeks before hearing back about the success of their applications and acceptance into the program.
Cambly does not respond to candidates who do not meet its requirements.
Also, the company recommends re-applying from a different email address in cases where a teacher doesn't hear back.
Does Cambly Require a Minimum Time Commitment From Teachers?
Because many of the instructors who teach on the Cambly platform have “9-to-5” jobs, one of the most common questions about working for the site pertains to time commitment: is there a minimum number of hours that teachers are required to teach to keep their account on the site open?
There is no minimum time commitment – teachers on Cambly are free to work as much or as little as they please.
Do Teachers on Cambly Need to Prepare Lessons?
As anyone who has taught English professionally will attest to, planning lessons can be extremely time-consuming and mentally taxing. Oftentimes, in fact, planning a lesson takes nearly as much time as actually delivering it in the classroom.
When you teach at Cambly, all the lesson planning is already taken care of – all you need to do is show up with your best foot forward and dive into the teaching.
When you teach at Cambly, all the lesson planning is already taken care of – all you need to do is show up with your best foot forward and dive into the teaching.
Can Cambly Teachers Use Smartphones to Deliver Instruction?
No. Applicants to Cambly will be barred from using smartphones to apply. Teachers are required to have a laptop with a speedy internet connection to make the learning experience as optimal as possible for the learner and as enjoyable as possible for both teacher and student.
How Long Has Cambly Been in Business?
Cambly was founded in 2012 by co-founder Kevin Law and Sameer Shariff, two San Francisco-based entrepreneurs who previously worked with Google. Since then, with seeding from investors, Cambly has grown into one of the most recognizable names in the ESL industry.
What Countries Do Cambly Students Come From?
Cambly, operating on its business model of providing high-quality English education across borders, attracts students from every corner of the globe – East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, the Pacific, Africa, etc. According to the company, it has users from over 130 countries.
For whatever reason, Cambly is particularly popular with clients from the Middle East, with Saudis representing a disproportionate percentage of Cambly users.
What Expectations For Teachers Are Laid Out in Cambly's ‘Code of Conduct'?
Like any employer, Cambly has requirements that teachers must adhere to while working on the platform. Many of these are common-sense proposals that are required in everyday work life at “regular jobs,” such as:
- “Treat everyone with respect.” That means “any discrimination based on race, culture, religion, physical appearance, or sexual orientation.” This standard applies to both teachers and students on the site; violators are kicked off the platform.
- “Appropriate dress.” You don't need to wear a business suit to teach with Cambly, but you must be fully and appropriately clothed. The standard that Cambly uses is “dress like you are going to a university class.”
- Avoid discussion of religion or politics
- No substance use during class
- No sharing outside contact info with students
- No solicitation of services outside of Cambly
