Best Online Tutoring Platforms for Students and Parents

While 44% of public school students fall behind their grade level in at least one academic subject, only 11% of them participate in high-dose tutoring provided by the school. This means that students and parents have to resort to finding tutoring options on their own to bridge the knowledge gap, ensure academic success, and make higher education a feasible opportunity.

This article ranks the 6 best online tutoring platforms for students and parents. These websites offer on-demand tutoring services in a wide range of K-12 subjects that are able to deliver noticeable results to students who are struggling academically or who benefit from structured academic intervention programs to reveal their full potential. If you're new to this type of educational support, understanding what online tutoring is can help you make the best choice for your needs. Services are generally available across the US, and rates are competitive to ensure that families from different backgrounds can afford them.

The top 6 online tutoring platforms for K-12 students include:

1. iTutor
2. Tutor.com
3. Varsity Tutors
4. Skooli
5. Wyzant
6. Air Tutors

For flexible, strong-impact online tutoring services in most K-12 subjects tailored to the needs of your child and delivered by state-certified teachers, check out iTutor.

How to Choose the Best Online Tutoring Platform for Your Child

Selecting the right platform and tutors for the specific needs of your child is crucially important for boosting academic results via online tutoring. Before choosing a service, it's worth understanding research on online tutoring effectiveness to make an informed decision. You have to find tutors that are qualified, reliable, engaging, and available when your child needs them. Moreover, you need to make sure that they can help with both general tutoring and homework help when required. Finally, you should find an affordable option that your family can cover for as long as your child needs tutoring.

So, when choosing the best online tutoring platform for your child, whether for general academic support or specialized online test prep tutoring, you should focus on the following criteria:

• Services: Search for on platforms that offer tutoring and homework assistance for comprehensive services.
• Available subjects: Look for a website that provides online tutoring in various K-12 subjects in case your child’s needs change over time.
• Availability: Ensure that services are present in your location and that on-demand tutoring is available at most times of the day. 
• Teacher background and qualifications: Focus on tutors that are state-certified to ensure compliance with your child’s academic curriculum.
• Cost: Look for affordable rates so that you can afford the services in the long run.
• Online reputation and customer reviews: Check out customer reviews of a few different platforms on reputable websites (such as Trustpilot and BBB) to see what other parents think about the quality of services and the provided value.
• Value for money: Choose the tutoring website that offers the best value for money and has the potential to bring the best results for your child.

Now, let’s take a look at the services, coverage, pricing, and terms of use of the best online tutoring platforms for parents and students:

1. iTutor

iTutor is a top-ranked platform that provides high-quality, flexible online tutoring services across different subject areas to all students from ages 3 and up. As part of Fullmind, iTutor provides access to the same qualified, state-certified teachers in all US locations as the parent company.

Harry Aurora founded iTutor in 2014, with headquarters in Jericho, NY. The company mission is to provide every child with access to an exceptional education.

iTutor Services for Students and Parents

iTutor offers online tutoring services directly to parents and students so that students can catch up with their peers and enhance their knowledge and skills in a wide range of academic subjects. Instruction is tailored to the specific needs and learning style of each child and is provided via live video sessions that are highly interactive and engaging. Tutoring is delivered at the times that are most convenient for the student.

iTutor Subject Coverage

iTutor covers the vast majority of K-12 academic subjects including but not limited to:

• Math
• English
• Computer Science
• History
• Biology
• Foreign Languages
• Art
• Musical Instruments
• Music Production
• AP Tests
• SAT Tests

iTutor Student Age/Grade Eligibility

All students from ages 3 and up can benefit from iTutor services.

iTutot Tutor Qualifications and Salaries

What makes iTutor the best online tutoring platform is the fact that all tutors are state-certified teachers who are licensed to work in their subject(s), in their state, and with kids of the respective age group. Moorever, they are qualified to work with students with special learning needs and disabilities.

iTutor staff members are carefully vetted and undergo a rigorous background check as well as interview process to guarantee student safety.

Tutors who work with iTutor make $32/hour or more after the platform commission.

iTutor Geographical Availability

The iTutor platform can be used by students in all locations, in all 50 US states. Services are available to students from all public and private schools and school districts. Children outside the US can also benefit from tutoring services.

iTutor Cost and Fees

Most iTutor tutors charge $40/hour, which is below the average in the industry for access to educators with higher qualifications.

iTutor Cancellation Policy and Terms of Use

iTutor runs a subscription-based model for students and parents. The platform collects payments after each session and handles the tutor fees. This means that families do not need to arrange payments with tutors.

The technology used by iTutor works on all devices.

How to Get Started with iTutor

To get started with iTutor, you can schedule a matching session with our team to discuss your needs so that we find the best tutors for your child.

2. Tutor.com

Tutor.com, a service of The Princeton Review, is one of the largest and most popular providers of online tutoring services to K-12 as well as college and university students. The platform works with over 3,000 tutors who teach various academic subjects across all fields.

George Segale established Tutor.com in 1998, with headquarters in New York, NY, making it one of the oldest online tutoring platforms. The company mission is to instill hope, advance equity, and catalyze achievement in schools and communities.

Tutor.com Services for Students and Parents

Tutor.com offers on-demand and high-dose tutoring via partnerships with K-12 schools and districts, colleges, universities, libraries, benefit programs, and other institutions. Parents and students can also purchase tutoring services directly from the platform.

Tutoring sessions happen in an online classroom which runs in a web browser on the student’s device. Homework assistance is available.

Tutor.com Subject Coverage

Tutor.com services cover hundreds of subjects taught at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities as well as career advancement courses.

K-12 subjects include more than 80 options including:

• Math
• Science
• English
• Social Studies
• Foreign Languages
• Spanish Language Tutoring
• Business and Technology
• AP
• IB

For grades 6-8, skill tutoring is available in English and Spanish. 9-12 grade tutoring covers AP and IB subjects and college admission support as well.

Tutor.com Student Age/Grade Eligibility

Tutor.com works with K-12 students, college and university students, and company, non-profit, government, and association employees. 

Tutor.com Tutor Qualifications and Salaries

Tutor.com hires tutors that are qualified in their subjects. During the vetting process, they undergo education verification, multiple background checks, a subject matter exam, and an interview. Online tutors include teachers, professors, adjuncts, PhD students, and industry professionals. However, teachers are not necessarily state-certified in their subject(s).

Third-party sources report the average salary for Tutor.com tutors to be around $20/hour.

Tutor.com Geographical Availability

The online tutoring platform can be used by students across the US market.

Tutor.com Cost and Fees

Students whose schools are part of the Tutor.com program can access tutoring services for free.

Otherwise, parents and students can choose between one-time and subscription tutoring. One-time Tutor.com sessions cost from $350 for 10 hours to $1,450 for 50 hours over the course of 6 months. This translates into a rate of $29-$35/hour.

Subscriptions cost from $40 for 1 hour/month to $180 for 5 hours/month, or an hourly rate between $36 and $40.

Tutor.com Cancellation Policy and Terms of Use

Families can choose between one-time and monthly subscription-based Tutor.com plans. Students can switch between plans and cancel at any time. Upon cancellation, they can finish the current month and will not be charred afterwards. No long-term commitment is needed.

Tutor.com online tutoring services are available 24/7, and students can usually get help within minutes.

How to Get Started with Tutor.com

To get started with Tutor.com, you can contact the team to learn about the best option.

3. Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors, a Nerdy Company, is another top online tutoring platform for students of all ages. The website connects learners in any subject, anywhere, anytime with experts.

Chuck Cohn started Varsity Tutors in 2007, with headquarters in St. Louis, MO. The company mission is to transform the way people learn through technology and to leverage technology including AI to match learners of all ages to experts in a way that delivers value on both sides of the network.

Varsity Tutors Services for Students and Parents

Varsity Tutors offers online tutoring services to students and parents directly as well as to schools and districts. During the application process, the platform takes into account over 100 variables to create a personalized learning plan matching the needs of each individual student with the right tutor. Homework help is also available.

Varsity Tutors Subject Coverage

Varsity Tutors covers more than 3,000 subjects. Options for K-12 students include but are not limited to:

• English
• Math
• Science
• Humanities
• Foreign Languages
• Tech and Engineering
• AP
• Test Prep
• College Admissions

Varsity Tutors Student Age/Grade Eligibility

Varsity Tutors has the capacity to provide online tutoring to all grades K-12 plus to college students and adults/professionals.

Varsity Tutors Tutor Qualifications and Salaries

Varsity Tutors works with tutors who have a history of academic excellence, exceptional teaching skills, and great communication skills which get checked during the interview process. In addition, they are able to develop and teach individualized learning plans. All tutors go through a background check, but they don’t necessarily hold a state license.

Third-party sources quote a range between $17 and $40/hour for the rates that Varsity Tutors pay to tutors.

Varsity Tutors Geographical Availability

All US students can access online tutoring from Varsity Tutors, regardless of their geographical location.

Varsity Tutors Cost and Fees

Third-party sources place the hourly cost of one-on-one online tutoring provided by Varsity Tutors between $70 and $100. This is rather expensive and can be unaffordable for a lot of families.

Varsity Tutors Cancellation Policy and Terms of Use

Learners need to have a membership to access tutoring services from Varsity Tutors. To do this, it’s needed to create a learner profile which covers personal details, learning goals, and preferred subjects. The, Varsity Tutors team helps students and parents choose the right membership based on their profile. The platform algorithms match learners with the most compatible tutors for their needs. The tutor contacts the student to arrange timing, and tutoring is delivered via real-time, online sessions. No special software or equipment is needed.

How to Get Started with Varsity Tutors

To get started with Varsity Tutors, you can contact the team via the online form available on the website to share your needs and find the best solution.

4. Skooli

Skooli is another popular online tutoring platform that helps K-12 and college students in core subjects. Services include one-on-one tutoring, drop-in support, and 24/7 essay and assignment reviews.

Dave Frey founded Skooli in 2014, with headquarters in Dover, DE. The company aims to help students learn difficult concepts and get better grades by connecting them with professional teachers in a digital classroom.

Skooli Services for Students and Parents

Skooli offers individual online tutoring for students that want expert help with their studies. Services are available in all core subjects and include homework support.

Skooli Subject Coverage

While Skooli tutors can help with the following subjects:

• Math: Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, Trigonometry, and Calculus
• Humanities: English, Writing, Reading, and History
• Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer Science
• Languages: ESL, Spanish, French, and Chinese
• Business: Economics, Accounting, Marketing, and Finance

Skooli Student Age/Grade Eligibility

Skooli is able to provide online tutoring to elementary, middle, and high school students as well as college students.

Skooli Tutor Qualifications and Salaries

Skooli online tutors include professional teachers and subject-area experts. They need to have one of the following:

• Government-issued teaching license
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in the field
• Specialized instructor qualification

Tutors who are verified by proving their credentials and submitting a clean background check get denoted with a purple shield badge to highlight their qualifications.

Third-party sources report the average rate that Skooli pays to tutors at $25/hour.

Skooli Geographical Availability

Skooli tutoring services are available in a few dozen cities in a number of US states but not nationwide.

Skooli Cost and Fees

Skooli requires neither subscriptions nor monthly payments. Students and parents can choose from 4 pay-as-you-go plans that range from $49 for 1 hour to $1,248 for 32 hours that can be used within 1 year from the date of purchase. This means that the hourly rate is between $39 and $49.

Skooli Cancellation Policy and Terms of Use

Skooli pay-as-you-go plans are valid for 1 year after the purchase date. Unused plans can be canceled and receive a full refund within the first 7 days.

In case students cancel a session 1-12 hours before the start, they will be charged a $3 fee. The fee is $10 for cancellations of 30 minute-1 hour before the session. No-showups are charged the full price of the session, for up to 1 hour.

How to Get Started with Skooli

To get started with Skooli, you can sign up for an online account.

5. Wyzant

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Wyzant is an online tutoring platform that connects people who need to know with the experts who can teach them. It operates as an online marketplace that serves more than 3 million students and 65,000 expert tutors.

Andrew Geant and Mike Weishuhn launched Wyzant in 2005, with headquarters in Chicago, IL. The company aims to provide accessible, affordable, and convenient one-on-one learning to all.

Wyzant Services for Students and Parents

Wyzant works as a marketplace that connects students and parents with tutors for personalized, one-on-one online tutoring services. Students get to choose their own tutor from a vetted pool of experts based on their unique needs. They can check out the credentials, see whether a background check has been performed, and request one, if needed. Students can connect directly with selected tutors right on the platform. Finally, they need to schedule their first lesson. In case students or parents are not happy with the first lesson, it’s free under the Good Fit Guarantee.

Wyzant Subject Coverage

Wyzant tutoring covers more than 300 school subjects including but not limited to:

• Algebra
• Calculus
• Chemistry
• Computers
• English
• Geometry
• Languages
• Math
• Music
• Physics
• Reading
• SAT
• Science
• Spanish
• Statistics
• Test Prep
• Writing

Wyzant Student Age/Grade Eligibility

Wyzant tutors can work with students K-12 grade.

Wyzant Tutor Qualifications and Salaries

Wyzant has a network of over 65,000 independent tutors whose qualifications and expertise vary widely. All experts are vetted to ensure high qualifications, but they are not always state-certified. Moreover, the platform does not conduct a background check on tutors as part of the recruiting process. Background checks are available upon request by students for a fee.

Tutors set up their own hourly rates on the Wyzant online tutoring platform. Most rates range between $35/hour and $60/hour, but higher and lower fees are also possible.

Wyzant Geographical Availability

Wyzant online tutoring services can be used across the entire US.

Wyzant Cost and Fees

The cost of Wyzant tutors varies widely depending on the subject, qualifications, experience, and ranking on the platform. The average hourly rates are $35-$60/hour. In popular subject areas, it’s possible to find tutors that charge $25/hour or less. Tutors in more specialized subjects charge a few hundred dollars per hour.

If students would like to request a background check on any particular tutor, the fee is $15.99.

Wyzant charges a 9% service fee on all lessons, which is added to the tutor rate.

Wyzant Cancellation Policy and Terms of Use

Wyzant doesn’t require any commitment or upfront payments. Students only pay for the amount of tutoring that they get plus the platform commission fee.

It’s important to note that tutors can set up their own cancellation policy. In general, sessions can be canceled up to 24 hours beforehand with no cancellation fee, while later cancellations might be subject to fees. Still, students need to check the specific policy of the tutor before hiring them.

How to Get Started with Wyzant

To get started with Wyzant, you need to sign up for an online account.

6. Air Tutors

Air Tutors provides live online tutoring directly to families and through customized programs for schools and other institutions. Its current public offerings include individual tutoring, small-group tutoring, test preparation, and high-dose tutoring. Families comparing platforms should distinguish the posted family packages from institution programs, which require a custom consultation.

Air Tutors services for students and parents

Families can purchase individualized online tutoring in packages and schedule support across multiple subjects. Air Tutors says its technology works across devices, and its family page also directs customers to contact the company for custom or pay-as-you-go options.

Air Tutors services for schools and institutions

Air Tutors advertises programs for schools, districts, charters, education agencies, and colleges or universities. Its institution page lists one-to-one and small-group tutoring, before-, during-, and after-school delivery, curriculum alignment, bilingual educators, implementation support, engagement campaigns, and accountability reports. Institutional scope and pricing are customized rather than published as a standard package.

Air Tutors high-dose tutoring

Air Tutors describes a high-dose model evaluated with Mathematica during the 2020–2021 school year. The program included 162 students in grades 6 and 8, groups ranging from one-to-one to four students per tutor, 14 to 16 weeks of tutoring, and sessions four to five days per week. Air Tutors reports that students who attended at least 15 sessions gained an average of 6.7 i-Ready percentile points from winter to spring. This is a provider-reported result from one implementation, not a guarantee for every student or program.

Air Tutors tutor qualifications

For institutional programs, Air Tutors currently states that educators are fingerprinted and background checked and that bilingual educators are available. The company does not state on its public institution page that every tutor holds a state teaching certificate, so families and schools should confirm the qualifications required for their specific program.

Air Tutors cost and fees

Air Tutors’ official family pricing page currently lists five hours for $600, or $120 per hour, and ten hours for $1,000, or $100 per hour. Both packages advertise priority scheduling and support across multiple subjects. Custom and pay-as-you-go arrangements are available by contacting Air Tutors. The company does not publish standard institutional pricing.

Air Tutors privacy and session recording

Air Tutors’ privacy materials distinguish direct family services from school-sponsored services. They state that live tutoring sessions may be audio recorded and transcribed for purposes including quality assurance, coaching, safety, compliance, disputes, and service improvement. Families and institutions should review the current privacy policy and children’s privacy statement, including available recording and parent-request options, before enrolling.

Who Air Tutors may suit

Air Tutors may fit families seeking packaged live tutoring and institutions seeking a customized tutoring program with one-to-one or small-group delivery. Buyers should compare the total number of hours, tutor qualifications, scheduling terms, accessibility, privacy practices, curriculum alignment, reporting, and cancellation rules against their own requirements.