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Prices for Yorùbá lessons are hard to compare because every option sells something different: an app subscription, a term of lessons, an hour of a tutor's time, a place in a group. This guide lays out what each option typically costs, what you actually get for the money, and the costs people forget to count.
Prices below were checked in October 2026. They change, so confirm on each provider's site before you pay.
Yorùbá class costs at a glance
| Option | Typical cost | What you get | Speaking practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free resources: YouTube, BBC News Yorùbá, the FSI course | Free | Listening, vocabulary, structured self-study | Little or none |
| Language apps | Free versions; paid upgrades vary by app | Vocabulary and phrases in short daily sessions | Little; some apps offer AI chat |
| Private tutors (for example on Preply) | About $9 an hour on average; from $3 to $30 | One-to-one lessons at times you choose | High, if the tutor focuses on conversation |
| University and school courses | Per course or per term; check each provider | Structured lessons, often including reading and writing. SOAS, for example, offers 15 hours of online teaching over 10 weeks | Moderate, shared across the class |
| Soro group classes | ₦15,000 a month (4 classes) or ₦40,000 a quarter (12 classes) | Live one-hour conversation in a group of three, with a fluent guide | High: up to about 20 minutes each per hour |
| Soro Tọ́kọ Tàyà (couples) | ₦40,000 a month for two people (4 classes) | A private group for you and your partner | High, shared between two |
What you're really paying for
The price on the page is only half the story. What matters is what each naira or dollar buys you in actual speaking.
Cost per class
Here's what Soro's plans work out to per one-hour class:
| Soro plan | Price | Classes | Cost per class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Try Soro | ₦5,000 | 1 | ₦5,000 |
| Monthly | ₦15,000 | 4 | ₦3,750 |
| Quarterly | ₦40,000 | 12 | about ₦3,333 |
| Tọ́kọ Tàyà (two people) | ₦40,000 | 4 | ₦10,000 per couple, ₦5,000 each |
Group classes usually cost less per hour than one-to-one lessons, because the guide's time is shared. The trade-off is that you share the speaking time too, which is why group size matters so much.
Speaking time per hour
In a one-hour class of fifteen, each learner gets at most four minutes to talk. In a group of three, it's up to twenty. A cheap class where you barely speak can cost more per minute of practice than a pricier one where you talk for a third of the hour.
The things a price tag doesn't show
- Accountability. A group that expects you every week keeps you going. It's easy to keep paying for an app you've stopped opening.
- Level match. Paying for a beginner course when you already understand Yorùbá wastes money on lessons you don't need.
- Confidence. For heritage speakers, a safe space to make mistakes is often the thing that's been missing all along.
Costs people forget to count
Before you pay for any Yorùbá class, check these:
- Missed classes. Many programmes, Soro included, don't make up classes you miss. Pick a time you can keep.
- Minimum commitments. Is it pay-as-you-go, monthly, or a full term up front?
- Currency and card fees. If you're abroad and the price is in naira, your bank may add a foreign transaction fee. If it's in dollars or pounds and you're in Nigeria, the reverse applies.
- Time zones. A cheap class at 3am your time is no bargain.
- Books and materials. Some courses expect you to buy a textbook.
- The cost of quitting. The most expensive option is the one you stop after two weeks. Choose the format you'll actually stick with.
Which option fits your budget?
If your budget is zero: Combine free YouTube lessons, the free FSI Yorùbá course, Yorùbá films and music, BBC News Yorùbá and regular conversations with family. Your challenge will be finding people to practise speaking with regularly.
If you can spend a little each month: Add one paid thing that gets you speaking every week. For adults who already understand Yorùbá, a small conversation group usually gives the most speaking per naira.
If you want one-to-one attention: A private tutor gives you the most individual time, at a higher cost per hour. Read Group class or private tutor? to see which suits you.
If you're learning as a couple: A couples plan gives the two of you a private group, so you can learn at your own pace together, and you'll have a practice partner at home.
Where Soro fits
Soro is built to give adults who already understand Yorùbá as much speaking practice as possible for the price: a live hour every week, in a group of three, with a fluent guide.
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Try Soro | ₦5,000 | Trying one class first. Refundable if you email within 24 hours of the class |
| Monthly | ₦15,000 | Paying month by month |
| Quarterly (recommended) | ₦40,000 | The lowest cost per class, plus a quarterly assessment and community hangouts |
| Tọ́kọ Tàyà | ₦40,000 a month | Couples learning together in a private group |
Prices are in naira. You can pay by card online or by bank transfer.
Questions people ask
How much do Yorùbá lessons cost?
From free (YouTube, free courses) to hourly fees for private tutors. On Preply, Yorùbá tutors charge about $9 an hour on average. Soro's group speaking classes cost ₦15,000 for four classes a month.
How much does a Yorùbá tutor cost per hour?
On Preply, rates for Yorùbá tutors range from $3 to $30 an hour, with an average of about $9 (October 2026). Local tutors set their own rates.
Are there free Yorùbá classes?
There are free resources, such as YouTube lessons and the FSI Yorùbá course, and some schools run free practice sessions. Free options rarely include regular speaking practice with feedback.
Are group classes cheaper than private lessons?
Usually, yes, per hour, because the teacher's time is shared. In a small group you still get plenty of speaking time.
Is Soro worth it if I already understand Yorùbá?
That's who Soro is built for. If understanding isn't your problem and speaking is, you're paying for exactly the practice you need, not for lessons you'd find too basic.
Can I pay for Soro from outside Nigeria?
Soro's prices are in naira, and you can pay online by card. Check with your bank about foreign transaction fees.
Ready to start speaking?
One live class with two others at your level, led by an Atọ́nísọ̀nà.