51Talk

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

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

• Online english learning
• One-on-one tutoring
• Live english lessons
• Children english education
• CEFR-aligned curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and significant.

• Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), ThailandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025DCCE 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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025GIZ 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.
• HuaweisignificantGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2025Huawei 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 MalaysiasignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 202351Talk 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/51TalkPH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@51TalkEnglishStudio
• Facebookfacebook.com/51TalkAR
• Instagraminstagram.com/51talkksa
• TikToktiktok.com/@51talk?_r=1&_t=ZS-93OLFXhsi5F
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/51talk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 51Talk