Looking for the best online tutoring websites? We’ve got an overview of popular sites where you can find professional tutors who teach a range of subjects. No matter what you want to learn, it’s possible to study it online with a qualified tutor. If you’re already panicking about an upcoming exam, it’s possible to find a tutor within minutes, and get matched within hours on many online platforms. Read on to understand more about the pros and cons of top tutoring websites.
Understanding Online Tutoring
Contrary to traditional in-person tutoring, online tutoring makes the most of modern communication platforms and video services. Many platforms offer a virtual classroom with interactive tools like video, voice chat, and whiteboards, simulating a real classroom environment. You can connect with your tutor from anywhere, which is great for learners with a busy schedule, and arrange sessions at convenient times. Plus, meeting with an online tutor saves you time on commuting, which can cut into your free time each week.
Most students find that online tutoring is as effective as in-person tutoring for learning a subject, and they enjoy the online resources their tutor uses to aid their learning. Additionally, you have the flexibility to schedule multiple sessions as needed, making it easier to fit learning into your routine.
Criteria for Selecting the Best Online Tutoring Websites
When looking for an online tutor, it’s important to make sure that you are clear about your expectations. Consider the level of education, teaching qualifications, teaching methods and style that you would like. Finding tutors who can help students improve their grades is also essential. Also consider how often you want tutoring, and how flexible you will expect your tutor to be. Many platforms offer child reach, supporting learners as young as age 3. Some platforms provide services for entire school districts and schools, ensuring broad support for educational institutions. You can learn more about how to select the right tutor for you in our blog 4 Steps to Choose the Right Math Tutor for Your Child. When choosing the right tutor, also consider the availability of online tutoring platforms in all US locations.
Below, we discuss some of the benefits of the top sites for online tutoring. Paid platforms often provide access to a wider range of courses and qualified tutors. Many top sites offer a variety of courses, including options for beginners.
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TutorLyft
We might be a little biased, but we’re pretty proud of the quality of our tutors. TutorLyft has a slightly different approach than most online tutoring websites. We ensure that all our tutors meet very selective criteria. These include at least three years of tutoring experience, university educations, and exceptional communication skills. Our tutors are experienced professionals, including teachers, professors, and other experts in their fields. We conduct thorough interviews with our tutors, and accept less than 5% of those who apply. Also, like all the best online tutoring websites, we offer in-depth profiles of every tutor. You can browse their personal videos for an understanding of their personality and teaching style, and feel confident that you’re finding a tutor who not only fits your needs, but is highly qualified for their job.
Additionally, tutor availability is clearly listed on their profiles, making it easy to find a time that fits your schedule. Booking sessions is seamless through our platform, and our client portal simplifies joining online lessons, managing your appointments, and communicating directly with your tutor—all in one convenient place.
Pricing: Unlike many of our competitors, TutorLyft has no cost or subscription fee to join. Our pay-as-you-go model ensures there’s no risk to you as a student, and you only pay for the time spent with your tutor. This means you only pay for what you use, and the paid sessions come with the benefit of personalized attention from qualified tutors. If you’re not satisfied with your first lesson, TutorLyft offers a Good Fit Guarantee so you won’t be charged for that session. If you want to book multiple sessions, TutorLyft also offers discounts on bulk tutoring packages. You can see more on each tutor’s rate by visiting the Tutors page.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors is a comprehensive tutoring platform that connects students and parents with tutors for both online and in-person sessions. They offer personalized one-on-one tutoring tailored to each student's learning style and goals, covering a wide range of subjects including math (such as algebra), science, English, test preparation, and electives. In addition to individual tutoring, Varsity Tutors provides live group classes and workshops to foster collaborative learning. Their flexible scheduling allows students to arrange sessions at convenient times, and their virtual classroom features tools like video chat and interactive whiteboards to create an engaging online learning environment. While Varsity Tutors offers many benefits, it does not have as strict a vetting process for tutors as some other platforms, which means the quality and experience of tutors can vary.
Pricing: Varsity Tutors offers memberships that provide access to personalized tutoring services. Pricing varies depending on the package and subject, with rates generally ranging from $70 to $100 per hour. However, these memberships often require booking a minimum number of hours each month, which may limit flexibility for some families.
Wyzant
Wyzant is a US-based company offering tutors the opportunity to list a profile and access hundreds of students looking for tutors. The interface is easy to use, and there are thousands of available tutors, with the flexibility to book individual sessions according to your schedule. In addition to tutors, Wyzant also features licensed teachers who bring professional expertise to their sessions. However, Wyzant has some drawbacks. Their vetting process is lightweight compared to some other tutoring platforms, which may mean that the overall quality is lower. Also, since the tutors are based in the US only, they may be unfamiliar with the Canadian curriculum. Finally, the rates will be in USD, which will eat up more of your tutoring budget than hiring a tutor based in Canada.
Pricing: Wyzant has no upfront fee, so the cost for their tutoring services varies based on the experience level and subject area of their tutors. You can expect rates between $35 and $80 per hour (USD). Wyzant is a paid platform, and a service fee is applied on top of the tutor's hourly rate, which increases the total cost for each session.
TutorOcean
TutorOcean is a global tutoring marketplace that connects students with tutors across hundreds of subjects, from academics like math and science to languages, test prep, and even music. The platform’s virtual classroom includes useful tools like video chat, whiteboards, and file sharing, making it easy to learn online. Students can browse tutor profiles, check availability, and book sessions that fit their schedule.
While TutorOcean offers lots of choice, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to sort through the large pool of tutors and figure out which one is the right fit. Because tutors manage their own rates and approaches, the quality of the experience can vary widely. There’s also less emphasis on local context—most tutors are spread globally, which means the teaching style or curriculum focus may not always align perfectly with Canadian students’ needs.
Pricing: Tutors set their own hourly rates, which typically range from about $20 to over $100 depending on subject and expertise. Students pay only for the sessions they book, with no ongoing membership fee.
Preply
Preply is a global online tutoring platform that primarily focuses on language learning, offering a wide range of qualified tutors for personalized language lessons. However, they also provide tutoring in other subjects such as math, test preparation, and more, catering to learners of all ages and levels. The platform emphasizes flexibility, allowing students to easily search for tutors based on their specific needs, availability, and budget. Tutors on Preply come from diverse backgrounds, and many hold teaching licenses or relevant qualifications, ensuring knowledgeable educators are available to help students reach their full potential.
Pricing: Preply operates on a pay-as-you-go model, but students must purchase lessons in blocks of five or more. Prices vary depending on the tutor’s qualifications, experience, and subject area. Students can book lessons individually within these blocks or purchase packages for ongoing support.
Superprof
Superprof is a global company with a strong Canadian footprint. There are tutors available from coast to coast, and the platform opens up learning to practically any subject you can think of — everything from grade school math to Bollywood dance is on offer here, and most instructors are available to teach both in-person and online. As for drawbacks, the Superprof platform deals in numbers — tutor profiles are only lightly vetted, so you may find lots of potential teachers who are passionate, but not experienced. If you want a professional, you may want to look elsewhere.
Pricing: Superprof charges a monthly subscription fee of $49 (after one month free), in addition to the hourly cost of each tutor. Many students are also surprised to learn that Superfprof charges its tutors a 10% processing fee for payments made through the platform. This platform is useful if you’re looking for a number of different types of lessons (or for families with multiple children) but students looking for instruction in a single subject tend to look elsewhere for tutors.
How to Get the Most Out of Online Tutoring
Whether you choose an online or an in-person tutor, be sure you take the time to do your research and thoroughly vet both the online platform you use for finding tutors and the tutors themselves. Don’t be afraid to interview several candidates before you make a decision about the right fit for you. One benefit of online tutoring platforms is that they provide tailored support to meet your individual needs. Also remember that after you begin tutoring, you can still try new tutors or switch tutors if you find you’re not learning as much or as quickly as you’d like. Tutoring can help build your confidence by improving your understanding and mastery of subjects. Remember, you’re in charge of your learning journey, and you’re investing your money (or your parents’ money!) in the process—both students and parents can easily register and participate in the selection process. So it’s critical that you feel you’re getting the most out of your tutoring hours, and that you enjoy the time you spend with your tutor. Effective tutoring can lead to positive outcomes, such as better grades and increased motivation. A good personality fit is as important as their academic and professional qualifications, and online platforms help students and tutors focus on learning rather than administrative tasks. You can find more articles on choosing the right tutor on our blog page.
Potential Challenges of Online Tutoring
As with any tutoring service, you might struggle to find someone who matches your ideal of the right kind of tutor. A blend of the right education, teaching ability and personality isn’t always easy to find, especially if you are seeking tutoring in a niche subject. The right tutor can also help students fill gaps in their knowledge, ensuring a stronger foundation for future learning. Therefore, you have to spend time on your search and selection of the right tutor. Making a sensible investment is worth it! Regular practice is also essential to reinforce learning and make the most of your tutoring sessions.
Once you begin online tutoring, it’s possible that you may struggle to connect one-to-one with your tutor. Don’t be afraid to spend some time each session chatting and getting to know one another. If it will improve your comfort level and willingness to learn from them, it’s time well spent. Finally, working with your tutor on your own computer can be distracting. Online tutoring platforms often provide tools to help students focus during sessions, minimizing interruptions and keeping attention on learning. Silence any email or messaging notifications, put your phone out of reach, and close any tabs you might be tempted to browse during the lesson. For parents of younger children, you might even consider using a tool like Freedom to block certain sites and notifications to ensure your child won’t get distracted during their tutoring session.
Conclusion
There are many great tutoring platforms available both in the US and Canada, so that parents, students and tutors can feel confident in finding the platform that works best for them. When choosing a tutoring online service, be clear about your expectations as you begin researching, and have a budget or hourly rate in mind as you browse profiles. As with any service, don't be afraid to try a few different sites and different tutors until you find the right fit. Happy learning!
