Best online tutoring websites: find the right tutor for your child

Whether you're looking to boost your child's academic learning outside of school or looking for a tutor to support homeschooling, online tutoring is a fantastic resource for families. The best online tutoring services have expert tutors available, with flexible schedules and subjects you won't find at the average UK school. 

Learning isn't confined to the classroom, as Mumsnetters well know. From playing fun and educational family board games to sourcing the best tablets for kids, every day's a school day - if you want it to be. That's why we've enlisted Mumsnetters to put online tutoring resources to the test - to help you find the right one for your child. 

If you're looking for a language tutor, a maths tutor or a STEM tutor, read on to discover our pick of the best online tutoring resources for UK kids. 

These are the best online tutoring services in 2023. 

1. GoStudent - Mumsnet Rated winner

Prices from: £24 | Register now

Key specs

Ages: All age groups | Subjects: All school subjects

What Mumsnet users say

"I felt they really listened to what we wanted to get out of the sessions - my daughter was OK at the subject we chose for tutoring and I wanted her to have a boost in the subject and feel reengaged after missing so much school rather than needing a push to understand the subject. The tutor she was matched with was lovely, really easy to get on with - she listened to my daughter and gave her room to think around the questions she was asked and the points she made were great." (Approved by Mumsnet user welshmardymum)

“Both myself and my daughter liked the fact that so much progress was made in a short space of time. She identified four areas of maths she found the most difficult and worked on one each lesson. By the end of each lesson, she was confident in all of these.” (Advice from Mumsnetter MummyFever)

Our verdict

Offering individual, tailored online tutoring classes for students aged six to 18, it's easy to see why GoStudent has won a coveted Mumsnet Rated award. 77 Mumsnetters tried out the service with their children and 81% said they would recommend it to family and friends.

GoStudent makes online tutoring seamless: it's as easy as being matched with a tutor, requesting a lesson and completing it in the online classroom. All the tutors have to pass a quality check in order to teach with GoStudent, so you can rest assured that your child is being taught by vetted professionals who are experts in their respective subjects.

Exclusive Mumsnet deal: Save 10% on all GoStudent packages when you sign up now

Related: Looking to boost a love of reading? Check out our guide to the best books for 8-year-olds.

2. Preply

Prices from: £4 | Register now

Key specs

Ages: Not stated | Subjects: Dozens of languages

What Mumsnet users say

"DS has lessons twice a week in Japanese, his tutor asked us to buy a particular book- which we did- and he sets homework for each session from the book.We’re pleased we found this system, DS is engaged (he’s between GCSEs and sixth form so good to have something to do) and it’s easy to fit in the lessons." (Tried and tested by Mumsnetter QueenofLouisiana)

Our verdict

If you have a budding polyglot on your hands, Preply might be the way to go. It connects students with online language tutors, and is an established player in the online tutoring market, providing 30,000 hours of tutoring a month to language students. 

Read next: Looking to stock up your toy cupboards for a wide variety of ages? Our guides to the best toys for 4-year-olds, best toys for 5-year-olds and best toys for 6-year-olds have you covered.

3. MyTutor

Prices from: £20/hour | Register now

At a glance

Ages: All age groups| Subjects: School subjects, plus business, languages, politics, computing and university admissions

What Mumsnet users say

"We've used my tutor twice for multiple subjects and had a really excellent experience both times." (Recommended by Mumsnetter WinterDeWinter)

Our verdict

Trusted by over 300 UK schools, and with a rigorous hiring process for tutors (only one in eight tutors make it on their books, so we hear) this is a great option if you want the best of the best. It’s super flexible – you can book a recurring slot, or move around each week. There are over 145,000 reviews on the website, so you can find the best tutor for you.

Related: Heading off on holiday this summer? Check out our guides to the best travel games and the best kids' camera to keep them occupied and make memories.

4. Owl Tutors

Prices from: £70/hour | Register now

At a glance

Ages: 7+ | Subjects: School subjects, 11+, university admissions, business, computer science and some languages 

What Mumsnet users say

"I recommend Owl Tutors because their tutors are all qualified teachers. Many of them have been on the Teach First programme and the founders related well pastorally to the trials and tribulations of DS being a teenage boy." (Approved by Mumsnetter crossdonut)

Our verdict

If having a fully qualified teacher is a top priority, Owl Tutors has you covered. All tutors have at least one year of classroom experience, full qualifications, and have to pass Owl Tutors’ own teaching test before being added to the books. As these tutors really are top quality, it’s worth noting you do pay a premium for it – with tutors costing £70 p/h for online sessions.

Read next: Looking for the best options for tech-loving kids? Don't miss our guides to the best games console, best laptops for kids and best phone for kids - all tried, tested and approved by Mumsnetters.

5. Keystone Tutors

Prices from: £20/hour | Register now

At a glance

Ages: 8-18 years | Subjects: School subjects, 11+, university admissions, GCSE, IGCSE and A-Level

Our verdict

If your children are aiming for grammar school, are at a private school, or are in an international school abroad which is also closed due to Covid-19, Keystone Tutors might be able to help. They’ve provided advice to grammar schools and universities on admission, and include the former Head of English at Dulwich College. They also have offices in Hong Kong, China and Singapore if you and your family are based there.

Related: Don't miss our guides to the best lego sets and the best online learning resource options for kids, for more ways to boost creativity and learning.

6. Mentor Education

Prices from: Not stated | Register now

At a glance

Ages: 4+ | Subjects: School entry, 11+, GCSE and A-Level

What Mumsnet users say

"There is good tutoring organisation in south London that my daughter uses for her DS. I think it is called Mentor Education. The tutor comes to daughter's house once a week." (Advice from Mumsnetter Coppersulphate)

Our verdict

Having provided in-person tuition for over thirty years, Mentor education has now turned to online tutoring. As an extra bonus, there is an SEN Consultant who has published extensively as part of a neurological team at King’s College Hospital – so if you’re looking for extra tips and tricks on teaching a child with SEN, Mentor Education may be your new best friend.

Related: Don't miss our guides to the best kids' headphones and the top-ranking fidget toys if you're looking for gift ideas this summer.

7. Kings Tutors

Prices from: £55 | Register now

At a glance

Ages: 7+ | Subjects: School and university entrance, 11+, all national curriculum subjects

Our verdict

With a regimented feedback system, where tutors provide an outline of a student’s progress, strengths and weaknesses after each session, King’s Tutors will suit any particularly goal-oriented students (or parents who want to keep a weather eye out). There’s an online booking system which is fully compatible with all mobile devices meaning online tutoring can be arranged from wherever you are.

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8. Think Academy

Prices from: £29 for a course | Register now

At a glance

Ages: 5-16 years | Subjects: Maths

Our verdict

As a leading online education brand owned by TAL Education Group, Think Academy UK offers EdTech-powered online maths courses that are specially-designed and delivered to help students achieve better academic results in Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and SATs. All Think Academy UK teachers are highly experienced to ensure that every student’s leaning experience is fun and effective.

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Questions to ask your online tutor

What qualifications does the tutor have?

Find out about the tutor's education – what school and university they went to, what they studied – as well as asking if they have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Remember that 'experts' don't always make the best tutors; core knowledge is vital, but it can be equally important to ask if they took the same tests/exams your child is going to sit.

What tutoring experience do they have?

Bear in mind that for certain subjects, such as UCAS applications, or degree-level help, a tutor who has recently been through the same process and been successful can be just as helpful, even if they have less tutoring experience.

Which examination board(s) is the tutor familiar with?

If possible, ask your child's teacher which exam board they use, so that your child and the online tutor are aligned. The syllabus for each board is available online, and often past or practice exam papers can be downloaded for free.

A tutor with experience as an examiner can also be really valuable, and this is something which may not always be advertised, so it's a good question to drop in.

How do they make lessons engaging?

It's helpful to ask the tutor how the lessons are constructed; will they use 'fun' learning materials, or engage through mutual interests? Good tutors will quickly learn what the best approach is to engage your child, and will often ask for your advice on this.

How long are the tutoring lessons?

Ask yourself whether your child can concentrate fully for an hour, or whether half-hour sessions would be more achievable. This will entirely depend on the age of your child and what you and the tutor think is sensible. It's a good idea to ask the tutor how long they would recommend. Either way, breaks are important, so don't forget to schedule those in too. It’s important to consider that their attention span might be shorter with online tutoring than it would be in real life.

Do they set homework?

Many tutors choose not to add to the workload of a student. However, a small amount of work (or past papers during exam time) can be beneficial. Make sure your tutor knows your child's homework schedule so that they don't become overwhelmed with extra work.

How can parents assist with their child's progress when the tutor's not there?

Some parents will have a tutor to help with all of their child's homework; for others, 10 hours of one-to-one tuition is a big investment. It's crucial to remember that you can benefit from the experience without lots of expense. Ask the tutor what advice they can give on strategies or skills you can work on with your child when the tutoring comes to an end.

Dos and don’ts of tutoring

Do

1. Involve your child in the decision-making process

It is crucial for your child to be willing and open to participate in tutoring. If your child helps to choose their own tutor, they feel as though it's their choice and the relationship can begin on a stronger footing.

2. Know where the problem areas are

Ask your child or your child's teacher if you're unsure: knowing what area(s) your child needs to focus on will help the tutor know how to prepare for, and approach, lessons.

3. Try marking syllabus topics with colours

Red = don't know, Orange = need some help, Green = got it!

4. Set goals

Whether it's very specific, such as improved confidence with algebra, or a general goal such as maintaining their grade at school, having a goal in mind and sharing it will help your tutor tailor lessons, provide updates, and ensure you're all on the same page.

5. Praise effort over grades

Reward and praise your child for the day-to-day hard work they put in, rather than placing the weight of 'success' on their final grade.

This can help reduce anxiety and prevent your child from feeling overwhelmed, as well as encouraging persistence.

6. Empower your child to love learning

Play to your child's interests: do they find the Egyptians a bit dull? If they love creative activities, try purchasing some gold paint and recreating Tutankhamun's death mask – instant fun. For a child a bit bored by maths and problem solving, you could look up the mathematical encoding in the Great Pyramid of Giza. Activities and reading around a subject can inspire a better depth of knowledge and a love of learning.

Don't...

1. ... Settle for a tutor if you or your child aren't completely happy

One-to-one tutoring is the most effective form of education, and the relationship between a tutor and a student sits somewhere between a teacher, a coach and a mentor. Those are big shoes to fill, so don't feel like a failure if you don't get it right the first time. It can be particularly challenging to develop rapport over video chat, so do shop around.

2. ... Overdo it

Your child needs to enjoy some downtime, too. If they're against private lessons, listen to them and don't assume their worries are irrational. Encourage your child to give it a go, at least until schools reopen.

3. ... Be scared to say 'I don't know'

If you don't know the answer, just say so! Encourage your child to look it up, or better still, look it up together. This helps ingrain the habit of asking questions when we don't know something, and your child will be more aware that it's completely normal not to know everything.