School-Age Kids Best Online Tutoring Services Chegg Study is an affordable and flexible online tutoring service By Laura Dorwart Laura Dorwart Laura Dorwart, Ph.D., is an Ohio-based freelance writer and expert in social work, prenatal testing, neonatal nursing, and prison healthcare reform. Her beats include mental health, pregnancy, disability, parenting, education, relationships, pop culture (especially television), queer issues, the performing arts, feminism, and politics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 19, 2023 Fact checked by Kayla Farrington Fact checked by Kayla Farrington Kayla Farrington is an expert fact-checker across various mediums. She has experience across several industries and is highly regarded as a research specialist. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. It's no secret that many parents turn to online tutoring services for their children to help them do better in school and on standardized tests. Whether your household is full of homeschoolers or you're looking to help supplement in-person learning, and whether you have a kindergartener or a high-school student, online tutors can help get your child where they need to be, academically, from the comfort of their home. It’s important to find a tutoring program that fits your child’s needs and learning style, as well as your family’s budget, goals, and schedule. That’s why we’ve combed the market and compiled a list of the best online tutoring services to help you make the right choice. Best Online Tutoring Services of 2023 Best Overall: Chegg Study Best Budget: Learn To Be Best Variety: Princeton Review Best for Language Learning: Preply Best Homework Help: Skooli Best for Writing Improvement: Pearson's Smarthinking Best Test Prep: TutaPoint Best for Math Tutoring: Mathnasium Best Online Tutoring Services View All Best Online Tutoring Services Our Top Picks Chegg Study Learn To Be Princeton Review Preply Skooli Pearson's Smarthinking TutaPoint Mathnasium See More (5) Final Verdict Compare Providers How to Choose FAQs Methodology Best Overall : Chegg Study Chegg Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: Starts at $15.95 a monthAges: All agesStandardized test prep? Yes Why We Chose It Chegg Study is an affordable, flexible online tutoring company that covers a wide range of academic services, from language learning to test prep. Pros & Cons Pros Affordable monthly rate 24/7 access to help Wide variety of studies available Cons Have to borrow and return textbooks for some courses No free returns for book-borrowing service internationally Overview We selected Chegg Study as the best overall online tutoring service for its combination of affordability, flexibility, and subject variety. Chegg experts come from top colleges and universities, and they mentor students of all ages in hundreds of subjects—from engineering and test prep to essay writing, AP classes, ESL and foreign languages, and music—and must pass a subject proficiency test. They’re available 24/7 on Chegg’s online platform, making it easy to start learning or get some extra help ASAP. You can search through thousands of homework problems on the Chegg platform or upload a photo and ask an expert for help with a specific question. A subscription for Chegg Study costs $15.95 a month and includes access to select textbook solutions, video walkthroughs and practice sets, and its experts. Those in need of a little extra help can also subscribe to Chegg Writing ($9.95 a month), which provides users the ability to scan papers for plagiarism, create automatic citations, and receive expert writing help at any time. There's also Chegg Math Solver, which gives users unlimited solutions and detailed explanations for tough problems, as well as access to a graphing calculator, for $9.95 a month. Best Budget : Learn To Be Learn To Be Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: Pay what you can, up to $30 a monthAges: Grades K-12Standardized test prep? Yes Why We Chose It We love this free tutoring program that has shown it raises students' average test scores and GPAs. Pros & Cons Pros "Choose if you can pay" model Nonprofit service Covers K-12 students Provides personalized study plans Cons Less comprehensive than some other online tutoring services No strict vetting process for tutors Overview While online tutoring programs can be invaluable for many students looking to achieve their learning goals, they’re often pricey and unattainable for many families. The nonprofit Learn To Be aims to bridge that gap with a "choose if you can pay" model for its one-on-one online tutoring in a digital classroom. The company's tutors have served more than 7,000 students since the nonprofit launched in 2012. The program offers math, science, reading, and English tutoring to students in kindergarten through 12th grade from qualified families. Parents regularly report that their children’s test scores and GPAs improved significantly after enrolling in Learn To Be. If your family needs affordable tutoring, head to Learn To Be’s website to fill out an enrollment form. If you’re approved, your child will be matched with a tutor by email, and they will create a personalized study plan from there. Best Variety : Princeton Review Princeton Review Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: Starts at $40 an hourAges: All (children, teens, adults)Standardized test prep? Yes Why We Chose It One of the most comprehensive online tutoring services out there, Princeton Review has tutoring support 24/7 for anyone who needs it on a seemingly endless list of study topics. Pros & Cons Pros Tutors available online 24/7 Wide range of test prep options Serves adults and kids Cons Can get expensive Website can be difficult to navigate Overview Princeton Review is one of the most comprehensive online tutoring services on the market. The company's tutors—who are available online 24/7—offer homework help and live learning sessions for everyone from kindergarteners to adult learners in more than 250 subject areas. Subjects include math, science, history, drama, and the humanities (taught in both English and Spanish), as well as ACT, SAT, P/SAT, and GED test prep, AP and IB courses, student success skills (like note-taking, organization, and time management), nursing and health, business, technology, essay and cover letter writing, and even career support. Princeton Review's prices depend on the package you choose. If you subscribe on a month-to-month basis, prices range from about $40 for an hour of tutoring (usually broken up into three 20-minute sessions) to roughly $115 for three hours of tutoring. Packages range from around $350 for 10 hours of tutoring across six months to about $1,450 for 50 hours of tutoring across six months. Princeton Review also offers free tutoring for students from U.S. military families, funded through the U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance. Best for Language Learning : Preply Preply Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: Averages $18.30 an hourAges: AllStandardized test prep? Unclear Why We Chose It Students using Preply can connect with tutors from over 180 countries and learn over 20 different languages. Pros & Cons Pros Wide range of language tutoring available Tutors set their own prices Search by language, availability and cost Free tutor session or refund if not satisfied with first lesson Cons More adult students than children Teachers not paid for hour-long trial sessions Unclear if test prep is available Overview Preply, one of the best online tutoring services for language learners, boasts thousands of native-speaking tutors from about 185 countries around the world. Students can use Preply to grow their working vocabulary, complete foreign language homework assignments, or even work toward becoming fluent in one of dozens of languages. Each Preply language tutor sets their own prices and schedule, so you can search for them by availability, nationality, language, or cost. After scheduling a first session that fits both your and your tutor’s schedule, you’ll meet with your new tutor to discuss your goals and take your first lesson. You can also browse language tutors’ profiles to read reviews from other parents and students to make sure you find the best fit for your child. Students who aren’t satisfied with their first session can try another Preply tutor for free or receive a full refund. Costs vary depending on the tutor and frequency of sessions, but the average is around $18.30 per hour. Best Homework Help : Skooli Skooli Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: $0.65 to $0.82 per minute Ages: Elementary school through college-ageStandardized test prep? Yes Why We Chose It Students looking for quick homework help can connect with a tutor on Skooli within seconds, and be back on track in just 15 minutes. Pros & Cons Pros Quick tutor connection Budget-friendly Wide range of subject matter help available Virtual whiteboard for interactive help Cons Not for students who need more long-term help Overview A flexible pay-as-you-go learning model—around $1 per minute, with a minimum of 15 minutes in one sitting—makes Skooli one of the best online tutoring services for instant homework help. You or your child can ask a specific question or start chatting with a tutor to see if you get along. Within seconds, you can begin a live video session from any device with a tutor who specializes in popular subjects like trigonometry, calculus, chemistry, or physics. Skooli’s interface is also uniquely interactive, with a virtual whiteboard that allows students to work through tricky problems alongside their tutor. Skooli offers tutoring help for elementary, middle school, high school, and college students in math, science, languages, the humanities, and business. Students can rewatch their tutoring sessions anytime to jog their memory about what they learned. Best for Writing Improvement : Pearson's Smarthinking Pearson Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: $45 an hour for live tutoringAges: Middle-school age through adultStandardized test prep? Yes Why We Chose It Writing can be challenging, whether you're doing it in school or in your career. That's why Pearson’s Smarthinking gives focus to that subject area with tutors who zero in on helping you hone your writing skills. Pros & Cons Pros Wide range of subjects available Affordable Majority of tutors have higher education degrees Help with career-based writing Cons Language studies limited to Spanish Overview Pearson’s Smarthinking is one of the best online tutoring services available for students who want to improve their writing skills. Although Smarthinking’s tutors—90% of whom have master’s degrees or PhDs in their chosen subject—can teach middle school, high school, and college students in almost any area of expertise, they truly shine when it comes to helping learners achieve their potential in writing. They can improve academic and career writing, and even help you brush up on grammar and APA style. Smarthinking’s prices are also reasonable, especially considering the tutors’ level of expertise. Four hours of on-demand, online tutoring in your choice of over 150 subjects costs about $150, while an hour costs roughly $45. You can also submit your or your child’s sample SAT or a school essay assignment for a comprehensive review by an expert writing tutor. Fees for this service range from around $13 for an SAT essay to approximately $32 for a standard-length essay and around $50 for an essay over 10 pages long. For older students looking to land a job or start college, Smarthinking’s resume, college admissions essay, and cover letter review services could help them reach their goals. Best Test Prep : TutaPoint TutaPoint Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: $50 to $95 an hourAges: Middle school through high school studentsStandardized test prep? Yes Why We Chose It Tutapoint prides itself on being a one-stop shop for standardized test prep for students. The service is designed to help students tackle these daunting tests by arming them with online workbooks, practice drills, and test-taking strategies. Pros & Cons Pros Wide range of subjects available ACT/SAT prep 24-hour turnaround for editing papers Cons Basic website No discounts for paying for more sessions up front Overview Staffed primarily by retired teachers, college and university professors, and teaching assistants, TutaPoint offers some of the best online tutoring services on the market for SAT's latest prep. While basic tutoring is $50 per hour, TutaPoint packages for SAT test prep start at about $85 an hour (plus $350 for the optional electronic TutaPoint test preparation workbook). There's also a $95 an hour plan for specialized test prep. Each online test prep student gets guidance in test-taking strategies built around their specific strengths and weaknesses. Most packages also include access to an online portal with quizzes and practice drills. Students with ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, or learning disabilities can access live sessions with TutaPoint tutors who have specialized training in helping students with learning differences. Best for Math Tutoring : Mathnasium Mathnasium Sign Up Now Key Specs Price: Varies by program and locationAges: Elementary through high schoolStandardized test prep? Yes Why We Chose It Kids get a private math expert tutor and personalized plan to help them improve their math skills, all online, via Mathnasium@home. Pros & Cons Pros Math expert tutors Personalized learning plans Face-to-face virtual instruction Cons Focus is on STEM subjects Unclear how often tutors can meet with students Overview Mathnasium is a neighborhood-based, math-only learning center franchise with over 1,000 locations. Mathnasium@home is an online alternative that offers the same customized, one-on-one math tutoring programs taught by the same expert instructors. Designed to help both students who struggle with math and advanced students who want to be challenged and up their STEM game, Mathnasium’s program starts with a detailed assessment of each elementary, middle school, or high school student’s current grasp of relevant math concepts. Then, a private tutor will design a personalized plan that caters to that student’s particular strengths and weaknesses. Homework help and test prep are baked into the curriculum, and regular evaluations are used to periodically assess each student’s progress. Prices for Mathnasium@home programs vary by ZIP code, but current estimates online range from about $200 to $300 per month. Final Verdict Working with an online tutor is a great way to gain any number of academic and/or professional skills, or improve the ones you already have. The services above are especially helpful for students and professionals with busy schedules who need to find a way to fit in a quick tutoring session without having to travel to a location. We chose Chegg Study as the best overall online tutoring service due to its affordability, convenience, and range of subjects offered. Compare Online Tutoring Services Company Price Ages Standardized Test Prep? Chegg Study Best Overall Starts at $15.95 a month All ages Yes Learn To Be Best Budget Pay what you can up to $30 a month Grades K-12 Yes Princeton Review Best Variety Starts at $40 an hour All ages Yes Preply Best for Language Learning Averages $18.30 an hour All ages Unclear Skooli Best Homework Help $0.65 to $0.82 per minute Elementary school through college-age Yes Pearson's Smarthinking Best for Writing Improvement $45 per hour Middle school age through adult Yes TutaPoint Best Test Prep $50 to $95 per hour Middle school through high school Yes Mathnasium Best for Math Tutoring Varies by program and location Elementary through high school Yes Guide to Choosing the Best Online Tutoring Service You'll want to sort through a number of features to determine the best online tutoring service, but it's important to first identify the purposes for which you need a tutor and be sure a service's offerings align with your needs. You'll also want to consider the technology your student will need to use. For example, you may seek a tutor to prep for a specific standardized test, or you may want a tutor to help a student struggling with a specific subject. Providers of online tutoring services may include: Qualified teachersSubject matter expertsMentors They teach students in one-on-one sessions via video chat, phone, or even online chat and email. You may want to build a long-term relationship with a specific tutor over time, or you might use a tutoring service that allows you to contact a variety of instructors at any time, day or night. While cost is often a consideration, value may be more important to you and your student. Some services like Chegg Study, our top pick, aren't free, but they're more affordable than other programs. A more comprehensive online tutoring service, with experts and high-quality resources like practice tests, may be worth the added expense. Frequently Asked Questions Who Should Use Online Tutoring Services? Reasons for using an online tutoring service include both the need to improve in a specific subject and the need for academic enrichment. Some people want to prepare for a standardized test or focus on specific tasks, like writing college entrance essays. Is Quick Homework Help Available Through Online Tutoring? Yes, online tutoring services do serve students who need instant homework help. Some online tutoring services give students access to a subject matter expert at any time, day or night. Quick-answer services may be more cost-effective than the longer-term tutoring plans. Is Paying for a Tutor Worth It? The answer likely depends on your family budget and your reasons for hiring a tutor. The best value comes when you've chosen a qualified tutor with whom the one-on-one sessions work well, and you're careful to support the effort at home. Check with your student's teacher, too, to be sure tutoring is worth it. Methodology We selected these programs for our list of the best online tutoring services based on the variety of available subjects and tutoring/teaching expertise, along with quality, affordability, schedule flexibility, tutor availability, and user-friendly technology. We chose some tutoring services because they had a mix of all or many of these elements, according to users. Others made it onto the list because of a specific benefit that made them stand out. For example, Preply earned a spot on the list because of its laser focus on assisting language learners of all stripes. Likewise, Smarthinking is ideal for students who need to sharpen their writing skills. Yulia Shaihudinova / Getty Images By Laura Dorwart Laura Dorwart, Ph.D., is an Ohio-based freelance writer and expert in social work, prenatal testing, neonatal nursing, and prison healthcare reform. Her beats include mental health, pregnancy, disability, parenting, education, relationships, pop culture (especially television), queer issues, the performing arts, feminism, and politics. Edited by Ally Hirschlag Ally Hirschlag Ally is an expert in health, science, sustainability, wellness, mental health, and parenting. She has written for publications including The Washington Post, The Guardian, BBC Future, and more. Learn about our editorial process See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies