51Talk
- Company typePublic
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersBeijing, China
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
51Talk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 51Talk
- Legal name
- 51Talk Online Education Group
- Website
- https://51talk.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
51Talk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online English Language Learning
- NAICS
- Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710), Language Schools (61163)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Tutoring, Conversation Exchange & Language Coaching Platforms (EDAFAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Live Online Language Tutoring & Small-Group Classes (EDAMAFAD), Virtual World Language & Electives Providers (K–12) (EDAJADAK), Classroom & Institutional Language Learning Platforms (Schools/Universities) (EDAFAOAI)
Keywords
Where 51Talk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beijing
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
51Talk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Course Package Sales: Parents purchase course packages (credits/units) to book 1-on-1 lessons with certified foreign teachers. Packages vary in size and pricing. Learning consultants assist with package selection. This is the primary revenue stream, functioning as a prepaid subscription model with usage-based consumption.
- Supplementary Course Sales: Additional revenue from specialized courses including IELTS Speaking preparation, international school transition programs, intensive speaking workshops, interview preparation, and grammar/reading/writing elective courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Core 1-on-1 lesson packages with certified foreign teachers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
51Talk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
51Talk delivers live, one-on-one online English lessons to children ages 3-18 through its proprietary learning platform, connecting students with certified foreign teachers. The service operates on a prepaid course package model and is supported by a self-developed CEFR-aligned curriculum, the Smart Learning System 2.0 AI infrastructure, and complementary desktop and mobile applications for booking, progress tracking, and lesson review.
Product overview
51Talk operates as a unified one-on-one online English learning platform for children aged 3-18, combining live interactive lessons with certified foreign teachers, a proprietary CEFR-aligned curriculum, and AI-powered learning tools. The core platform is supported by the Smart Learning System 2.0 (AI-enhanced learning infrastructure), the 51Talk Air Class desktop application, and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The product portfolio includes the main learning platform, the Toki learning companion mascot, and six elective courses (Grammar Series, Reading Series, Global Cultures, IELTS Speaking, English Writing, and Interactive Live Sessions). The GreenTalk program represents a complementary initiative connecting language learning with UN climate conferences. The company serves markets across Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, with operations spanning over 20 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 51Talk English Club: Physical learning center brand, with branches opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Toki
- 51Air Class
- GreenTalk
Products and services
- 51Talk Core Platform Global one-on-one online English learning platform for children aged 3-18, offering live interactive 25-minute lessons with certified foreign teachers, CEFR-aligned curriculum, Learn-Practice-Test-Support methodology, and parent tools for booking, progress tracking, and lesson reviews.
- 51Talk Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and Microsoft Store enabling parents to manage bookings, track progress, access lesson recordings, and schedule lessons flexibly.
- 51Talk Air Class Dedicated, child-safe, and ad-free desktop virtual classroom application designed specifically for secure online learning sessions, available on Mac with troubleshooting support.
- Smart Learning System 2.0 AI-enhanced next-generation learning platform that generates customized course plans based on pre-class proficiency evaluations, monitors teacher performance and student engagement, and provides student assessment including practice exercises, real-time pronunciation feedback, and progress tracking.
- Grammar Series Elective course building essential reading skills through phonics and high-frequency words, helping students read more confidently with stronger comprehension.
- Reading Series Elective course developing essential reading skills through phonics and high-frequency words, helping students read with confidence and better comprehension.
- Global Cultures Elective course exploring cultures and traditions from around the world in English, expanding horizons while strengthening vocabulary and listening skills.
- IELTS Speaking Elective course practicing IELTS-style speaking tasks to improve fluency, pronunciation, and confidence for success in international English exams.
- English Writing Elective course developing writing skills through structured guidance and practice, helping students organize ideas clearly, use grammar accurately, and express themselves with confidence.
- Interactive Live Sessions Live interactive sessions with engaging topics that make learning English fun, practical, and connected to the real world.
- Structured Online English Program for Young Learners (Ages 3-7) Structured online English program for young learners aged 3-7 across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, featuring 25-minute live 1-on-1 lessons with certified foreign teachers, age-grouped curriculum tracks, and CEFR/Cambridge YLE alignment.
- 51Talk English Club Physical flagship learning center brand in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, including the Park Avenue flagship and a second Riyadh branch opened in 2025, providing in-person learning environments to complement the online platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Active students grew 79.3% to approximately 170,300 in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use 51Talk
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
51Talk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
51Talk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and significant.
- Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), ThailandflagshipDCCE supported 51Talk's GreenTalk: Voices of Hope for a Greener Future program, a speech competition selecting Thai youth to present environmental visions at COP30. Dr. Chaipol Chantawong, Director of Environmental Youth Promotion Division at DCCE, endorsed the program as providing valuable platform for Thai youth to showcase environmental vision on global stage.
- GIZ Vietnam (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)minorGIZ Vietnam (represented by Ms. Bui Thi Linh) provided practical perspectives on environmental protection solutions to help student Le Bao Nhi build a more meaningful and persuasive speech for COP30 presentation.
- HuaweisignificantHuawei and 51Talk partnered with local entities to conduct back-to-school digital literacy events across UAE in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah, reaching over 900 students. Events familiarized students with Huawei tablets and learning tools, showcasing educational applications of digital devices. The partnership aimed to promote digital literacy and position 51Talk in the UAE education ecosystem.
- Government of Malaysiasignificant51Talk was the only private online education company invited to attend Youth Empowerment Forum Malaysia 2023, receiving appreciation from Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim for its distinctive teaching approach. Also noted by Selangor Crown Prince, Communications and Digital Minister, and other officials for alignment with Malaysia Madani core values.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
51Talk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- italki: italki is one of the largest online marketplaces for 1-on-1 language tutoring with professional and community teachers, offering affordable conversation practice that overlaps with 51Talk's value proposition.
- Lingoda: Lingoda delivers live online small-group and 1-on-1 language classes with certified teachers, including structured CEFR-aligned curricula comparable to 51Talk's curriculum design philosophy.
- Preply: Preply is an online marketplace for 1-on-1 language tutoring across many languages including English, serving adults and learners globally with a similar per-lesson subscription model.
- iTutorGroup (TutorABC / vipabc): iTutorGroup operates online 1-on-1 and small-group English tutoring platforms (TutorABC) targeting Asia and global markets, competing directly with 51Talk in online live English instruction.
- Cambly: Cambly provides 1-on-1 online English conversation lessons with native speakers, operating on a similar live video, teacher-matching model that competes with 51Talk in the conversation-focused English segment.
- Verbling: Verbling is an online platform offering 1-on-1 lessons with vetted language teachers across many languages, sharing 51Talk's direct-to-consumer online tutoring model.
- Magic Ears: Magic Ears provides 1-on-1 online English classes for Chinese children with North American teachers, an earlier direct competitor in the children's 1-on-1 online English segment targeting Asia.
- Engoo: Engoo provides low-cost, unlimited 1-on-1 online English conversation lessons with native teachers, targeting a similar price-sensitive consumer learner in Asia and emerging markets.
Broad incumbents
- Wall Street English: Wall Street English is a long-standing global English education brand operating centers across Asia, Latin America, and Europe with blended online and in-person instruction at a similar adult and young learner price tier.
- EF Education First: EF is a global language education incumbent offering online (EF Hello) and in-person English courses across schools, corporate training, and study abroad, serving as a broader established competitor in the English learning space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
51Talk social profiles
Digital presence51Talk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
51Talk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
51Talk subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
51Talk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
51Talk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 51Talk
What does 51Talk do?
51Talk delivers live, one-on-one online English lessons to children ages 3-18 through its proprietary learning platform, connecting students with certified foreign teachers. The service operates on a prepaid course package model and is supported by a self-developed CEFR-aligned curriculum, the Smart Learning System 2.0 AI infrastructure, and complementary desktop and mobile applications for booking, progress tracking, and lesson review.
Is 51Talk a public or private company?
51Talk is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was 51Talk founded?
51Talk was founded in 2011. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is 51Talk based?
51Talk is headquartered in Beijing, China, in the Asia region.
How does 51Talk make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Course Package Sales are the primary driver. The others are supplementary Course Sales.
Who are 51Talk's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are italki, Lingoda, Preply, iTutorGroup (TutorABC / vipabc), Cambly, Verbling, Magic Ears and Engoo. Broad incumbents are Wall Street English and EF Education First.
Does 51Talk have an API?
No public API is recorded for 51Talk.
What industry is 51Talk in?
51Talk's product category is Online English Language Learning. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAOAB, Online Tutoring, Conversation Exchange & Language Coaching Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAMAFAD, Live Online Language Tutoring & Small-Group Classes. Its NAICS code is 611630 and its SIC code is 8200.