Best Online Reading Tutoring Services

Skooli is a broad-strokes tutoring platform, where students can connect with tutors in a wide variety of subjects.

For the most part, Skooli prefers to hire instructors with at least a bachelor’s degree in the subjects they tutor, so students can be assured they’re getting the kind of expert help they need, regardless of grade level. It’s easy to browse tutors (and their credentials), select one, and start a session almost instantly, whenever you need it.

Although you can certainly use Skooli as a long-term tutoring option—either with one specific tutor or choosing different tutors each time you log on—it’s designed for in-the-moment queries.

The pricing structure reflects that: Rather than monthly or even hourly rates, Skooli charges less than $1 per minute (minimum time is 15 minutes), so you do not pay for a single wasted minute. Rates start at $0.82 a minute with pay-as-you-go, and can go as low as $0.65 a minute if you prepay 32 hours. For the most part, tutors on Skooli are well-vetted and experienced, with degrees and teaching certifications, so you can be sure that your child will be learning something useful for every minute they spend on Skooli.

Reading sections show up on every major standardized test, and Princeton Review has plenty of instructors to help you prepare. Reading comprehension sections on standardized tests tend to have very specific goals and standards, so even strong readers may want to look into tutoring ahead of taking these tests.

Princeton Review has tutors to help prepare for both the SAT and ACT, as well as the PSAT. On top of that, the site also has tutors available for college and graduate-level tests, such as the LSAT, GRE, and MCAT, that also require reading sections.

Princeton Review has a platform that includes screen-sharing and different types of live chat options, so students can consult with tutors using the modalities that work best for them. For such critical tests, it’s important for students to know their instructors have relevant experience. The company has a selective vetting process: It actively hires tutors with prior tutoring experience in the subject(s) they tutor, and applicants must be either enrolled in or have graduated from an accredited university.

Students can select from several pricing options and can choose to pay per month or per session. Subscription plans range from $40 a month for one hour of tutoring to $153 per month for five hours of tutoring. If you pay per session, you'll have more scheduling flexibility, and sessions can cost as little as $26 an hour. However, you have to pay for access for up to six months, which can cost as much as $1,300.

Revolution Prep is one of the only online tutoring platforms that hires professional, full-time tutors (rather than hiring experts who tutor as a side gig).

Although the platform does offer instruction in a variety of subjects, typically through one-on-one tutoring that focuses on a student’s current curriculum, it started out as test prep, and that’s still one of its leading offerings. Test prep tutoring with Revolution Prep takes the form of pre-existing programs, taught in small, group tutoring sessions.

Each course includes preparatory instruction and real-time practice tests, complete with detailed score reports and a personalized study plan after each one. The company has three different options. Personalized tutoring with up to three other students for five hours starts at about $199. Group test prep in a group of up to eight students for 12 hours starts at roughly $499. And private, one-on-one tutoring for 12 hours using a customizable schedule starts at approximately $1,398 and goes up from there.

One of the more popular, broad-ranging tutoring platforms, Wyzant has plenty of expert reading tutors available at any time. And it doesn’t matter if you’re seeking help for K-12 reading comprehension and fluency, college-level literature assignments, or test-specific tutoring—there’s a whole list of tutors with the expertise you need.

The service allows students to narrow down prospective instructors by stated expertise and niche skills, all the way down to specific grade levels or standardized tests. Students can also view a tutor’s profile, ratings from previous students, and hourly rates.

Instructors on Wyzant can set their own rates. The average rate for reading tutors is between $30 and $50 per hour, although not every tutor will fall into that range. On the plus side, Wyzant does include a one-hour “insurance” policy: The first hour-long lesson with a new tutor is guaranteed to work out, or it’s free.

Thanks to the service’s interactive features, complete with video chat and “whiteboard” style classroom space, it’s super easy to use for any reading lesson, anytime.

Club Z offers reading tutoring to students of all grade levels, but it’s especially effective for older students who have outgrown the colorful games of children’s reading tutoring.

Struggling with reading can be especially frustrating for students at this level. Club Z instructors focus on improving reading skills and comprehension so that students can improve not just in language arts classes, but across the board, since reading is fundamental to pretty much every subject.

In addition to standard tutoring on techniques for reading comprehension, vocabulary, and related areas, the service also has its own proprietary program designed to help high school students who are struggling or are disinterested in reading. Tutoring is typically done one-on-one, and in-person tutoring is offered along with the online services, depending on the needs of the individual student and tutor.

The site also has a guarantee for tutor matching, refunding the first hour if the instructor is a poor fit. Plans start at roughly $231 for four hours of tutoring, about $415 for eight hours, and $554 for 12 hours. Custom plans and test prep plans are available as well.