TEFL Online Pro vs. The TEFL Academy
Trusted TEFL Reviews has been made aware, for some time now, that some online TEFL certification course programs have been actively engaged in negative marketing campaigns.
This typically takes the form of anonymous users writing fake reviews about competing programs on complaints and review platforms. A typical post will read something like, “TEFL program ‘A’ is a scam!”
More recently, it has been reported that TTA The TEFL Academy has gone one step further by purchasing a competing program’s course for one of its affiliate marketers, who, after completing the course, proceeded to spread misinformation about the course and its program – the reason for this is likely because it is difficult to argue that an individual is spreading misinformation when they are technically a graduate of the course.
For reasons of transparency, we can provide the following TEFL Online Pro website link where the company calls out this behavior:
https://teflonlinepro.com/tefl-online-pro-clarifications/
Trusted TEFL Reviews is an unbiased online TEFL certification course reviews website, and we actively call out misinformation when we feel it is necessary.
TEFL Online Pro, established in 2019, has won the Teachers’ Choice award for the past seven consecutive years and is currently the highest-rated program on Trusted TEFL Reviews – TEFL students and graduates determine this rating.
TTA The TEFL Academy, under new management since 2021, has repeatedly been called out for misleading its customers with regard to false accreditation claims and fake reviews. It is one of the lowest-rated programs on Trusted TEFL Reviews – TEFL students and graduates determine this rating.
TEFL Online Pro
Website: https://teflonlinepro.com/
Fully accredited? Yes.
Internationally recognized? Yes.
TTA The TEFL Academy
Website: https://www.theteflacademy.com/
Fully accredited? No.
Internationally recognized? Unavailable.
TEFL Online Pro Reviews
TEFL Online Pro regularly receives verified four and five-star reviews.
Students and graduates particularly like its course structure, customer service, and international job guidance services.
We contacted TEFL Online Pro anonymously and they replied within three hours with a personalized email.
It’s extremely important to ensure that the TEFL company you choose responds quickly as you will likely be requiring fast feedback and help while studying on an online TEFL certification course.
Verified Reviews: https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/tefl-online-pro-reviews-in-2025/
TTA The TEFL Academy Reviews
The TEFL Academy tends to receive mixed reviews.
Some reviewers praise the course content, but there is a lot of negative feedback with regard to the ability to use TEFL Academy’s certificates online and abroad. The question of fake reviews (on other platforms) is another hot topic regarding this company.
We also tried to contact TTA The TEFL Academy, submitting a question via their online contact form, and we received a notification that we would be receiving “a reply soon.” We were issued with a ticketing number. After waiting 5 days, we were finally connected to a TEFL Academy staff member.
Verified Reviews: https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/the-tefl-academy/
Affiliate Marketers
Affiliate marketing is a major issue in the online TEFL certification course marketplace.
What is affiliate marketing?
This is taken from the TEFL Academy’s website (https://www.theteflacademy.com/affiliate-programme/):
“First you‘ll need to sign-up as an affiliate in the Share a Sale network, for free. Once you have signed up and been approved, you can apply for “the tefl academy” network. Use the banners and text links provided everywhere you can!
Social handles, blog posts, in the comments of videos are some of the key areas affiliates successfully use their referral link. You’ll earn a commission for every customer that books with us through your link.
The agreed amount for an affiliate is 10% of the sale value which usually equates to $20-$60 per purchase depending on the course bought and price at the time of purchase. You’ll receive your commission payments directly from ShareAsale at the end of each payment cycle via your preferred payment method.
It’s important to note in the case of refunded courses or void transactions on occasion commission will be revoked on the platform.”
We do want to make it clear here that affiliate marketing isn’t illegal.
It is a very common way that some companies win new customers, while letting people earn a commission on sales.
However, we have two documented cases of The TEFL Academy affiliate marketers who have abused their ‘power’ by not only promoting TTA’s TEFL program, but also conducting a negative marketing campaign against a competing TEFL program.
Ever watched ‘Narcos’? Well, The TEFL Academy’s affiliate marketers have, at times, appeared to behave like digital sicarios, writing hit pieces about competing TEFL programs.
One of the most notable affiliate marketers is Caitriona McTiernan. If you Google her name, you’ll see just how much she promotes TTA The TEFL Academy – I mean, she is everywhere!
So, what’s wrong with someone earning a bit of extra money by promoting a TEFL program they believe in you might be thinking?
When affiliate marketing is done properly, you would be correct that there is no issue.
However, The TEFL Academy’s affiliate marketers have been involved directly in publishing negative content online about The TEFL Academy’s business competition.
In addition, it’s important to note that affiliate marketers for The TEFL Academy have been caught writing exaggerated claims about, for example, how much graduates can earn teaching English online. Caitriona was caught claiming graduates could “easily earn $100 per hour” teaching English – the crazier the claims the crazier the business revenue from new customers signing up?
It just appears very convenient to have affiliate marketers working for you that will do pretty much anything to win a sale for a The TEFL Academy course and also attempt to destroy a business competitor’s reputation.
Conclusion
We are not trying to convince you to take or not take a course from either program.
Again, we are an unbiased online TEFL certification course reviews website.
However, it is important that you, the reader, has all information available to you so that you are able to choose the right course for your requirements.
Accreditation Watchdog Essential TEFL Tip!
Don’t get scammed by online TEFL/TESOL courses.
Some providers overstate accreditation, make false job promises, or fail to give internationally recognized certification.
Before you enroll, check out 10 Things to Know Before Enrolling in an Online TEFL/TESOL Course (2026 Guide) to spot red flags, verify accreditation, and avoid wasting time and money: https://trustedteflreviews.com/2026/01/31/online-tefl-tesol-courses-10-things-to-know-before-enrolling/
Once you know what to watch for, choose from the top programs in The 5 Best Online TEFL/TESOL Courses in 2026: https://trustedteflreviews.com/2026/01/31/best-online-tefl-courses-tesol-2020/. Picking a trusted, fully accredited course ensures your certification is accepted worldwide for online and overseas English teaching jobs — and keeps you safe from scams.
— Trusted TEFL Reviews | Accreditation Watchdog | https://trustedteflreviews.com/
New! Click here for the online TEFL/TESOL international certification course Teachers’ Choice Award winner. International Online TEFL/TESOL course certification at its best.
Verified Online TEFL/TESOL certification course program reviews, ranked in order of customer satisfaction: TEFL Course Directory
TEFL Accreditation Guide | 6 TEFL Red Flags | TTR Home | TEFL Course Special Offers
The TEFL Watchdog
I just need to correct you on one point contained within your guest-written article.
The TEFL Academy, as far as we are aware, doesn’t directly attack their business competition.
Instead, they employ “Brand Ambassadors” who do their dirty work for them.
If you come across any blog that writes negatively about one of The TEFL Academy’s business competition and contained within that blog are links to purchase a The TEFL Academy course, then you can be assured that the website is a clandestine website with the sole purpose of selling The TEFL Academy courses.
Trusted TEFL Reviews isn’t advising people to purchase, or not to purchase a TEFL Academy course.
However, we do recommend treating any TEFL Academy Brand Ambassador websites or blogs with a healthy level of skepticism.
The Online TEFL/TESOL industry really needs one umbrella organization to police and monitor the behavior of certain Online TEFL/TESOL certification course programs because some programs act more like a Sicilian (or in this case, Irish) mafia family, rather than well-respected providers of training courses.
One example in case: A few weeks ago, Trusted TEFL Reviews received a TEFL Academy review, written by one of their “Brand Ambassadors”. The review was laden with commercial language and contained a live link to an affiliates website, where this Brand Ambassador sets to gain money each time someone purchases a TEFL Academy link through the website.
The review was flagged, we decided not to publish the review, and then this certain Brand Ambassador waged online attacks on Trusted TEFL Reviews.
I half expected to wake up one morning with the severed head of a leprechaun nestled between my bed pillows.
The TEFL Academy is incredibly aggressive in the protection of their ‘turf’, and anyone who crosses their path gets to experience the wrath of their Brand Ambassador minions.
Mia Williams
theteflacademy.com should be one to avoid. I took their course in January and besides receiving little help finding work, some of the jobs I’ve applied for have flat-out denied my application because the certificate issued by The TEFL Academy isn’t recognized outside of Ireland and the UK. Try applying for a job in Europe, Asia, The Middle East, or South America with a TEFL Academy certificate and you will be sorely disappointed. I am in the process of reclaiming my course fee back through my bank. Avoid!
They hung up on me too!
I asked TTA (The TEFL Academy) which company accredits their courses, the woman on the other end said “Ofqual”, and when I questioned the legitimacy of that accreditation claim, she ended the telephone call. She actually put the phone down on me.
Completely rude and unprofessional, not to mention that she outright lied to me.
I guess TTA assumes that people will just believe whatever they tell people.
I see thousands of TTA positive reviews on the internet. How can all those be real if people are not able to use the TTA qualification if they want to teach abroad?
It simply beggars belief. Someone should seriously look into reporting TTA to a consumer watchdog.
Nigel.
The TEFL Academy took over as new owners in around 2021.
They are both wealthy and cautious – they litigate TEFL review websites if any negative reviews show up.
They attack business competitors, whom they see as a threat to their business, through affiliate marketers.
Two such prolific affiliate marketers are Caitriona McTiernan and Megan Broccoli, earning between 40-60% per course.
It is common to see only positive reviews of The TEFL Academy on paid platforms, such as GoOverseas and GoAbroad, where they pay for a listing and can have negative reviews unpublished.
On other platforms, we have found proof that the owners of the TEFL review websites delete negative reviews of The TEFL Academy purely out of fear of litigation.
The TEFL Academy act more akin to a Mexican cartel than a legitimate TEFL course provider.
Read their up-to-date verified customer reviews on Trusted TEFL Reviews:
https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/the-tefl-academy/
If in doubt, choose from one of the 5 Best online TEFL/TESOL certification course programs that has been updated every year since 2020:
https://trustedteflreviews.com/2025/02/18/best-online-tefl-courses-tesol-2020/
The 5 Best online TEFL/TESOL certification course programs are reputable and legitimate, and they are constantly attacked by the likes of The TEFL Academy.
– Trusted TEFL Reviews
Chose TEFL Online Pro. Fully accredited and award-winning status did it for me. Have used the certificate for online teaching jobs and here in Vietnam. Do the 120 hours TEFL. That’s the one schools expect you to have.
Had never heard of The Tefl Academy until I read this blogpost.
I’m a graduate of the https://teflonlinepro.com/120-hour-professional/ course.
It was an excellent experience with heaps of support.
The certificate has been good for online jobs and for my current teaching position at a university in Singapore, where entry standards are phenomenally high.
It will be better if there are no affiliate marketers in TEFL. If they are just writing stuff to get me to enroll I don’t want it. I am in the process of choosing a TEFL online course and I have noticed the affiliate marketers for the TEFL Academy and I didn’t take the bait. Thank you for this very helpful comparison article. I’m going to look into TEFL Online Pro now. Thanks for the recommendation.