Top 10 online tutoring websites

1. Tutor.com

Overview & years in operation: Founded in 1998, Tutor.com is one of the oldest commercial online tutoring services and works both direct-to-consumer and via school/library/employer partnerships.

Pricing: Multiple plans: pay-as-you-go hourly or subscription-style packages through partner programs; pricing depends on plan and subject.

Pros

  • Long track record and institutional partnerships (libraries, schools, employers).
  • On-demand help across many academic levels and subjects.

Cons

  • Pricing and plans can be structured differently via partners (so direct comparison is sometimes hard).
  • Large platforms sometimes report uneven tutor quality in specific niche topics.

Ease of use: Platform built for quick matching and a simple online classroom; commonly used by institutions and students.

Subject coverage: Wide  –  K–12 through college, test prep, vocational subjects.

Quality of tutors: Mix of certified teachers, graduate students, subject experts; platform uses vetting processes, but quality can vary by subject.

Reviews on major platforms: Institutional customers often cite usefulness; public reviews vary and occasionally raise privacy/data concerns tied to ownership/partnerships in media coverage (see recent reporting).

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Tutor.com publishes FAQs and refund/guarantee policies (e.g., “Better Grades” style guarantees via some programs); responsiveness is generally via website/partner channels — experiences in reviews are mixed.

  1. My Engineering Buddy (MEB)

Overview & years in operation: My Engineering Buddy (MEB) began (as My Physics Buddy earlier) and is listed on its site with operations traced to about 2008–2011, depending on the page; it positions itself as a specialist in engineering and STEM tutoring.

Pricing: Site lists hourly starts from about USD 20/hr for one-to-one tutoring and test-prep. Pricing pages and sample rates are published on the company website.

Pros

  • Focused on engineering and advanced STEM topics (100+ advanced subjects), which can be useful for engineering students.
  • Offers homework, lab/project, and test-prep support in engineering-specific tools and platforms.

Cons

  • Smaller, specialist providers sometimes have less geographic reach and fewer instant-match options versus very large marketplaces.
  • Public review volume is smaller than global marketplaces (fewer independent review data points).

Ease of use: Website and contact options (WhatsApp/email) aim to make booking and quick matching straightforward; interface and onboarding are less marketplace-like and more service-oriented.

Subject coverage: Deep in engineering disciplines (electrical, mechanical, aerospace, etc.), plus related math and test prep.

Quality of tutors: Company highlights subject-specialist tutors and examples of senior tutors; as with many smaller specialist platforms, tutor quality is often cited as good by students who need niche/advanced help, but third-party, large-scale ratings are limited.

Reviews on major platforms: MEB hosts customer testimonials on its site; independent review coverage is smaller than for U.S./EU marketplaces.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Contact channels include WhatsApp/email and site forms; company documents indicate case-by-case handling of refunds/estimates. Public reports suggest responsive tutor matching for many engineering queries, but formal refund policies are not as widely publicised as on large marketplaces.

  1. Wyzant

Overview & years in operation: Founded in 2005, Wyzant is a U.S.-based tutoring marketplace where individual tutors set rates and students book directly.

Pricing: Tutors set their own hourly rates; Wyzant reports typical ranges and an average (example: many tutors are $35–60/hr, though rates vary by subject and experience). No mandatory subscription.

Pros

  • Large US tutor marketplace with broad subject and geographic coverage.
  • Flexible: pay only for booked hours; students can compare profiles and reviews.

Cons

  • Quality and price vary widely because the marketplace model depends on individual tutors.

Ease of use: Profile search, filtering, messaging, and in-platform lessons are well-developed; matching requires active choice by the student.

Subject coverage: Very broad — academic subjects, test prep, niche topics, hobbies.

Quality of tutors: Mixed; the platform offers verified credentials for some tutors and student reviews to help evaluate fit.

Reviews on major platforms: Generally positive for the marketplace model, though price and tutor variability appear in reviews. (See Wyzant’s own rate information and independent reviews.)

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Wyzant provides support and dispute processes; because payments are tutor-specific, refund outcomes depend on policy and circumstances.

  1. Preply

Overview & years in operation: Launched in 2012 as a language-learning marketplace with offices across Europe and the U.S. — now one of the largest language-tutor marketplaces.

Pricing: Lesson prices set by tutors; Preply advertises very competitive starting prices (examples often show lessons from low double digits in USD/€ depending on tutor). They offer trial lessons and a “tutor replacement” policy in some cases.

Pros

  • Large choice of language tutors, strong recommendation/matching engine.
  • Transparent tutor ratings and trial options.

Cons

  • Quality is variable across thousands of tutors; the best tutors can get booked quickly.

Ease of use: Modern marketplace UX, mobile apps, lesson booking, and payments in-platform.

Subject coverage: Primarily languages (many languages), some general tutoring categories, but strongest in language instruction.

Quality of tutors: Ratings shown on each profile (Preply displays average tutor ratings and number of students).

Reviews on major platforms: Preply cites large positive review counts on its site; independent press pieces note rapid user growth and strong demand.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Preply offers tutor replacement and customer support via website; specific refund terms depend on package and local rules.

  1. Varsity Tutors 

Overview & years in operation: Founded in 2007, Varsity Tutors grew into a large U.S. tutoring platform offering private lessons, live groups, and school/district solutions.

Pricing: Offers single lessons, packages, and subscription-style memberships; prices vary considerably by subject, tutor level, and lesson format.

Pros

  • Strong focus on test prep and structured programs.
  • Robust platform features (recording, whiteboard, scheduling).

Cons

  • Higher-end rates for top subject-matter experts; subscription prices for ongoing programs can be substantial.

Ease of use: Full-featured platform; onboarding is straightforward for students and institutions.

Subject coverage & tutor quality: Wide subject coverage; vetting tends to favour experienced tutors and specialists.

Reviews on major platforms: Mixed-to-positive; many institutions cite benefit in scaling tutoring, but individual consumer reviews note price variance.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Varsity Tutors provides support and structured program guarantees in some cases; policies vary by product.

  1. GoStudent

Overview & years in operation: Founded in Austria and scaled rapidly in Europe; positioned as a subscription-based tutoring service for school-age students.

Pricing: Membership-based pricing with examples (price per lesson decreases with more frequent lessons or longer commitments); sample starting points shown on their pricing page.

Pros

  • Focus on K–12, curriculum-aligned lessons, and structured memberships.
  • Strong European coverage and app-centric UX.

Cons

  • The membership/subscription model may be less flexible for one-off lessons or irregular users.

Ease of use: App and web booking with scheduled lessons and assigned tutors; designed for recurring tutoring.

Subject coverage: K–12 core subjects, test prep, and language support.

Quality of tutors: Vetted tutors with a focus on matching to student level; independent reviews show good outcomes for many students.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Membership terms require attention; GoStudent’s site details membership and cancellation mechanics — responsiveness generally reported as fair in user accounts.

  1. Superprof

Overview & years in operation: Paris-based marketplace connecting tutors and students across many subjects; tutors set their rates.

Pricing: Tutor-set pricing; platform often highlights free introductory lessons and flexible arrangements.

Pros

  • Very broad subject and skill coverage (academic, music, sports, hobbies).
  • Strong European presence and many local tutors.

Cons

  • As a large listing site, quality control and refund issues are sometimes flagged in independent reviews.

Ease of use: Simple listing/search model; contact tutors directly and arrange lessons.

Subject coverage & tutor quality: Extremely broad; tutor quality varies widely since individuals create profiles and set offerings.

Reviews on major platforms: Mixed: many successful matches, some complaints about hidden fees or refund handling in third-party reviews.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Platform supports tutors and students, but refund/fee disputes are sometimes reported in Trustpilot-style reviews — check the specific tutor’s terms before booking.

  1. TutorMe

Overview & years in operation: U.S.-based online tutoring platform notable for on-demand help and a large tutor base (founded in the 2010s).

Pricing: Mix of pay-as-you-go and monthly plans; common market rate examples reported in reviews around mid-$20s–$60/hr depending on package.

Pros

  • Fast on-demand help across many subjects; useful for quick homework support.

Cons

  • Independent reviews and Trustpilot threads show both positive tutor experiences and some service/support complaints (typical of high-volume platforms).

Ease of use: Designed for quick sessions with an integrated online classroom.

Subject coverage & tutor quality: Broad subject list; tutor experience varies, but the platform uses matching and ratings.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Experiences are mixed in public reviews; TutorMe provides support and package-based terms.

  1. Skooli

Overview & years in operation: Skooli is an online tutoring platform (founded mid-2010s by education/edtech founders) that offers pay-as-you-go and pre-purchased plans.

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go model (examples show ~$0.65–$0.83 per minute, or roughly $39–$50/hr depending on plan), plus pre-purchased packages.

Pros

  • Pay-for-what-you-use model; simple per-minute pricing for short help sessions.

Cons

  • Per-minute pricing can be less predictable for longer, structured lessons. Some independent reviewers flag refund and tutor-response issues.

Ease of use: On-platform classroom and booking; straightforward for short sessions.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Official FAQs describe pricing and payment; independent reviews caution that refunds can be limited, and that the refund policy should be read carefully.

  1. Khan Academy

Overview & years in operation: Founded by Sal Khan and launched publicly around 2008, Khan Academy is a free, donation-funded nonprofit offering video lessons, practice exercises, and teacher tools. It is not a 1:1 paid tutoring marketplace, but it is widely used as free tutoring-style content.

Pricing: Free for learners; funded by donations and partners.

Pros

  • Free, high-quality videos, practice exercises, and structured curricula for K–12 and early college topics. Widely used in classrooms and for self-study.

Cons

  • Not a substitute for live, personalised 1:1 tutoring when a student needs interactive, bespoke help; no paid tutor matching on-platform.

Ease of use: Very accessible site and apps, designed for self-paced learning.

Subject coverage & quality: Extensive content library across math, science, computing, and humanities; content is produced and reviewed by educators.

Customer-care responsiveness & refunds: Not applicable in the conventional paid-service sense; support is via help center and community resources.

How to read this list and choose what’s right for you

  • If you need fast, general help across many subjects, look at on-demand marketplaces like Tutor.com, TutorMe, or Wyzant. They have large tutor pools, but tutor quality varies by subject and price.
  • If you need engineering / specialized STEM help: My Engineering Buddy is a specialist option focusing on engineering coursework and projects; larger marketplaces also host engineering experts, but search effort may be higher.
  • If you want curriculum-aligned, recurring lessons for school kids, subscription services like GoStudent or institution-facing programs from Varsity Tutors work well.
  • If budget is critical, marketplace tutor-set pricing (Preply, Superprof) and free resources (Khan Academy) offer options — but check tutor ratings and trial policies.

Final practical tips

  1. Check founding/longevity: older platforms often have institutional procedures; newer marketplaces can be more flexible but also more variable.
  2. Compare actual tutor profiles, not just platform blurbs: look at recent student reviews, credentials, and lesson recordings where available.
  3. Trial lessons and replacement/refund policies matter: platforms differ (Preply advertises tutor replacements; others have varying refund terms). Read the small print before prepaying.
  4. If you need highly specialised help (advanced engineering, labs, software), specialist providers such as My Engineering Buddy or platform tutors with clear project/industry experience tend to be a better initial filter.