Frequently Asked Questions

Account and Setup

How do I switch between a tutor and student account? You can use the platform both as a student and as a tutor with the same account. To switch between modes, use the “Switch to tutor/student profile” option in the header.

Can I change my email address? Contact support to change your email address.

How do I delete my account? Go to Settings → Account and select Delete Account. This action is permanent and removes all your data.

For Tutors

Do I need a paid plan to start teaching? No. Every new tutor gets a 30-day free trial with up to 200 free Bot or No Recorder sessions and up to 80 free Voilà Classroom sessions. You can also list on the Tutor Directory for free without a trial. See Subscription & Billing.

Does Voila take a commission on my lesson payments? No. Voila takes zero commission on 1:1 Stripe Connect payments. The only deductions are standard Stripe processing fees. Group lessons have a 15% platform fee per seat. Voila charges a separate per-lesson fee for recording and AI tools (typically $1.99 for 50 minutes). See Subscription & Billing.

Can I use multiple video platforms? Yes. Each 1:1 lesson can use Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, or Voilà Classroom. Group lessons run on Google Meet, Zoom, or Teams only — not Voilà Classroom. Set the platform when creating a lesson.

How do I record my lessons? Choose a default in Settings → Subscription (Bot or No Recorder). The Bot joins your external video call to record. Voilà Classroom records natively for 1:1 in-app lessons. Choose No Recorder if you don't need a recording — only the $1.50 base session fee applies. See In-Session Tools.

What if the recording bot does not join my call? Make sure you admit the bot from the meeting lobby. If it does not appear, check that the meeting link is correct and the lesson has recording enabled. You can retry from the lesson detail page.

How do I get paid by students? Connect Stripe in Settings → Payments. Students pay at booking time, and funds go to your bank on the standard Stripe payout schedule. See Stripe Connect Setup. PayPal is coming soon — you can use Stripe or PayPal, never both. You can also receive payments externally by arranging them directly with your students.

What if a student disputes a payment? You are the merchant of record for Stripe Connect payments. Disputes appear in your Stripe Dashboard, and you must respond before the deadline. Voilà emails you an evidence pack and shows a banner on Admin. See Disputes & Chargebacks.

Can I teach without using Stripe? Yes. Set the payment mode for a student relationship to External (for bank transfers, cash, etc.)

How do I refer other tutors? Share your referral code from Settings → Referral. When another tutor signs up with your code, you earn free meetings and potentially free months. See Referral Programme.

For Students

Is Voila free for students? The core platform is free for students — there is no platform fee to join, message tutors, or attend lessons. Students only pay the tutor's lesson rates (via Stripe or external payment as arranged with the tutor). Students can optionally subscribe to Premium AI Insights for $19.99/month after a 7-day free trial, which unlocks an AI chat powered by Gemini based on their lesson history and includes chat practice on Telegram or WhatsApp. Students who are actively taking lessons with a Voilà tutor usually get that practice included at no cost.

How do I find the right tutor? Browse the Tutor Directory and filter by language, price, rating, etc. Or use the AI Matchmaker for personalized recommendations based on your learning style.

What is Premium AI Insights and how much does it cost? Premium AI Insights is an optional student subscription that unlocks an AI chat (powered by Gemini) trained on your full lesson history. It gives you personalized vocabulary analysis, grammar patterns, sentence examples, roleplay practice, 24/7 learning prompts, and chat practice on Telegram or WhatsApp. It includes a 7-day free trial, then costs $19.99/month (plus applicable tax, calculated at checkout via FastSpring). You can manage or cancel at any time from Settings → Subscription.

What is the difference between Exploring and Active relationships? Exploring lets students message, book trial sessions, and view profiles. A student must assign a primary tutor for a single foreign language. Voila limits students and tutors to one primary active relationship per language. Active relationship unlocks session packages, recurring lessons, and full features. See Booking & Payments.

Can I have multiple tutors? Yes. You can have relationships with multiple tutors, each for different languages or purposes.

Where do I find my lesson summaries? After each recorded lesson, the AI summary is sent to your email and is available on the lesson details page. Tutors can also find summaries on My Students and Lesson planning.

How do I take notes during a lesson? Use Private notes (visible only to you) during a session. During a Voilà Classroom lesson, your tutor may also use the Board for collaborative writing. See Getting Started for Students.

What is Voilà on Telegram? An AI practice partner in Telegram — chat, short scheduled micro-lessons, and an account screen that opens inside the app. It is usually included while you are taking lessons with a Voilà tutor. See Telegram for Students and Telegram for Tutors.

What is Voilà on WhatsApp? The same practice partner on WhatsApp. See WhatsApp for Students and WhatsApp for Tutors. You practise on one app or the other, not both — connecting one disconnects the other, and nothing is lost in the switch.

Scheduling and Calendar

Can I sync my calendar with Voila? Yes. Connect Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook in Settings → Integrations. Lessons sync both ways. See Calendar Integration.

How far in advance can I book? Students can book up to 30 days in advance, within the tutor's defined availability hours.

What happens if I cancel a lesson? Cancellation rules depend on the tutor's policy. If your tutor has Stripe connected and you cancel within the required notice period, you are refunded automatically. If you cancel outside the policy, the tutor keeps the payment. If your tutor does not have Stripe connected, there is still a cancellation policy that must be followed. However, Voilà does not interfere in the transaction process, as everything is arranged directly between the tutor and the student. See Booking & Payments.

Payments

When am I charged for a booking? Your payment method is authorized (held) when you submit a booking request. The charge is captured only when the tutor confirms. If they decline or the request expires, you are not charged.

What payment methods are supported? Payments can be processed through Stripe (credit cards, debit cards, and other methods depending on your country). PayPal is coming soon as an alternative for tutors who cannot use Stripe. If your tutor does not have Stripe or PayPal connected, everything is arranged directly between the tutor and the student.

Can I get a refund? Refunds are automatic when a tutor cancels or declines a booking, or when you cancel within the tutor's cancellation policy. For other cases, contact hello@voila.fun.

Technical

Which browsers are supported? Voila works best on Google Chrome. Other Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave) may work but are not officially supported.

I am not receiving email notifications. Check your spam/junk folder. Verify your email address in Settings → Personal Info. Ensure email notifications are enabled in Settings → Notifications.

My calendar stopped syncing. Your authentication token may have expired. Go to Settings → Integrations and reconnect your calendar. See Calendar Integration.