VerblingReviews of verbling.com

The platform has a lot of bugs and UI/UX issues. My experience with scheduling classes was also a bit messy since most of the teachers (for Swedish) had schedules that were not fitting mine. But I guess this is less of the platform's problem.

This platform is "clunky" and hard to operate. I have an amazing teacher on verbling, which is the only reason I keep using it. On a tablet, the "join lesson" button is obscured by another button. To look at the resources that my teacher sends me to prepare for a lesson requires so many work-arounds it's incredible. I get an email saying "you have a message, click here to reply", but when I click the link, I cannot see the message. I have to pull out a laptop to read the message and follow the links my teacher sends, don't even try with a tablet. Also, I use the website on a laptop because it is impossible to use the app on my tablet. This means that I am using a less familiar device which is slower for me. Also, the connection is not always great, skype is lots better. I have used lots of language apps, this is not "easy to use" as advertised. When I book lessons, I have to scroll through the weeks to book several at a time. like, going back to the start for each one, even though I just paid for 5. There is an option for the same time every week, but that is not what I want to do. Overall, every time I use verbling, I wish I didn't.

The video call function is slow and buggy. It seems to use a lot more computer's processing power and internet bandwidth than any other web app or video calling platforms. The only reason I haven't changed the platform yet because I like the teacher. If you can't figure out how to solve the video call issue, you should allow people to use skype or google hangouts. Please note that most decent people understand the risk of making the payment outside the system. By the way, customer service support is slow.

Not a good interface at all. Terribly frustrating to use.

The teachers have been wonderful but too often there is a technical problem. Much too often!

The website does not support IOS and as a result is difficult/impossible to navigate. I have tried the Verbling audio site but it is inferior to Skype. The sound particularly is poor. Once, during a lesson when I could not get text on Skype I tried to log into the Verbling audio site to continue my lesson but it would not let me do so. I did download a plug but it seems that it only works once.

Great teachers!! Worst user interface ever. The only reason I use them is because it seems to be where the teachers are. Let me give you some examples of what I mean. 1. During the session, there are flash cards and a chat and the video and one a live worksheet where your teacher can correct what you're typing. Trying to flip through all the tabs to find the thing you want, during a lesson. It's a complete nightmare. 2. I dare you to try to find where your homework assignment is. 3. I dare you to try to figure out what to do when you've completed your homework in a way your teacher understands you've completed your homework. 4. I just bought 10 lessons, why after EVERY course are you asking me to buy more. I'm a paying customer, BACK THE #$@#$ OFF!!! 5. Scheduling sessions as well as the experience rescheduling is bad. My advice is, take a minute after you've done something. If you feel confused, spend some time to figure out what scheduling may have automatically happened and whether you have paid for, but unscheduled lessons, just floating out there. 6. If you're paying in Euros, Verbling hasn't done the work to set up accounting in other currencies. The root problem this causes is it forces teachers and students who use the same currency to play the money market game. The reason to use this service is because of the community of teachers who are there, not because its a good service. This company is low hanging fruit for someone outside of the San Francisco echo chamber to come in, copy it, and do something great.

I haven't even started my lessons and I am already very frustrated because your calendar is an absolute nightmare! At any point I cannot see my schedule clearly on a one sheet calendar. I cannot see my booked lessons and my teachers free time slots on one sheet/calendar. I would love to be able to click on that kind of calendar and keep on booking lessons. Booking classes/times is not easy/simple/intuitive at all, let allong transparent! I am wasting a huge amount of my time just to figure this out! And it takes a lot of time for the calendar to refresh and show the new/changed schedule. I am not at all happy with this platform in regards to booking times with my teacher! I hope this will change during the time I use it.