The Best Online Tutoring for Kids in 2026, by Subject and Budget
Updated · By Edulist · 14 sources
Our top picks
How we chose
- Real, live teachingWe focused on platforms where kids work live with a person. AI tools are covered on our AI tutors list.
- Kid fitWe looked at minimum ages, session length, video versus chat, and whether a child keeps the same tutor.
- Matched or marketplaceSome services choose the tutor for you; marketplaces let you choose. Both can work. We say which is which.
- Transparent prices and fair termsPublished prices, trial terms, renewals and refunds come from official pages as of October 2026. Quote-only pricing is flagged.
- Public feedback patternsWe summarized repeat themes in public reviews, such as billing complaints, with sources, rather than relying on marketing claims.
Rankings are editorial. Vendors can’t pay for placement. Prices and grades update from each listing.
1. Learner Tutoring
- Price
- From $219/mo
- Grades
- 2–12 · College · Adult
- Type
- Tutoring
Learner matches students from 2nd grade through adult with a 1:1 online tutor in math, reading, writing, science, Spanish or SAT/ACT prep, so you don't have to sort profiles. Monthly plans run from $219 for 2 hours to $1,759 for 30 hours, about $59–$110 an hour, and a first session is $25, refundable if you're unhappy (October 2026). Sessions are recorded and tutor swaps are free. Unused hours expire monthly.
Pros
- Tutor chosen for you, free reassignment
- Published monthly prices
- Recorded sessions
Cons
- Expensive on small plans
- Hours don't roll over; online only
Best for: Families who want a steady tutor without vetting one
2. Wyzant
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- K–12 · College · Adult
- Type
- Tutoring
Wyzant lets you search tutors in hundreds of subjects, compare hourly rates and reviews, message before booking and pay after each lesson with no subscription. Sample tutors on Wyzant's own page list $30–$50 an hour (October 2026). A Good Fit Guarantee covers the first hour. Quality varies, you do the vetting, and public reviews describe support as hard to reach.
Pros
- See prices and reviews up front
- Pay as you go
- Online or in person
Cons
- Quality varies widely
- Inconsistent cancellation rules
Best for: Parents who want control and flexibility
3. Varsity Tutors
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- K–12 · College · Adult
- Type
- Tutoring, Course
Varsity Tutors matches students with live 1:1 tutors in thousands of subjects, from K–5 reading to AP exams and the SAT, plus live group classes and free practice tests. Prices are quote-only after a consultation, and public reviews mention around $100 an hour (October 2026). It holds a 4.3 Trustpilot score, but recurring-billing complaints are common, so get terms in writing.
Pros
- Fast matches for almost any subject
- Session recordings and live classes
Cons
- No published prices
- Billing and cancellation complaints
Best for: Teens who need AP, SAT or ACT specialists
4. Brighterly
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- 1–9
- Type
- Tutoring
Brighterly offers 45-minute live 1:1 math and reading lessons for grades 1–9, with a diagnostic, a personal plan and monthly progress reports. Lessons run $17.70 to $21.90 on two-a-week packages (October 2026), and a free demo lesson comes first. Plans auto-renew and can't be canceled mid-term.
Pros
- Low price for live 1:1
- Math and reading in one service
Cons
- Rigid contract terms
- Stops at 9th grade
Best for: Young kids who need regular, affordable 1:1 help
5. Thinkster Math
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- K–10
- Type
- Tutoring, App
Thinkster Math pairs kids with one dedicated live math tutor plus an AI practice coach and a parent dashboard, covering K–8, Algebra 1 and Geometry. Sessions start at $22.50 (Ignite) or $45 (Signature) as of October 2026, with a 7-day trial.
Pros
- Consistent tutor relationship
- Strong parent visibility
Cons
- Math only
- Online only
Best for: K–8 kids who need ongoing math help
6. Outschool
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- Pre-K–12
- Type
- Course, Tutoring
Outschool is a marketplace of live online classes for ages 3–18, from Algebra 1 and phonics to chess and social clubs, plus some 1:1 tutoring. Teachers set prices, commonly from under $10 to over $200 per class or course. Quality varies by teacher, the refund window is 24 hours, and the credit membership can be confusing.
Pros
- Huge variety and flexible schedules
- Social learning with peers
Cons
- Teacher quality varies
- Short refund window
Best for: Homeschoolers and kids who learn well in small groups
7. Preply Kids
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- K–12 · Adult
- Type
- Tutoring
Preply's tutors-for-kids section lets you choose a 1:1 tutor by intro video, price and reviews, most often for English, Spanish and other languages. Kids filters run from $3 to $40+ a lesson, and many experienced tutors charge about $30–$70 for 50 minutes (October 2026). The trial is paid, then lessons renew every 28 days.
Pros
- Wide range of prices
- Native-speaker language tutors
Cons
- Auto-renewing subscription
- Narrow refund rules
Best for: Kids learning a world language
8. Lindamood-Bell
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- K–12 · Adult
- Type
- Tutoring, School
Lindamood-Bell delivers intensive one-to-one reading, comprehension and math instruction using its own programs, such as Seeing Stars and Visualizing and Verbalizing, at centers or live online. Sessions can run up to four hours a day for several weeks. Prices are quoted after an evaluation and can be high, and Lindamood-Bell makes no guarantee of improvement.
Pros
- Built for kids with dyslexia and comprehension struggles
- Intensive format can move kids quickly
Cons
- Prices not published; total cost can be high
- Big daily time commitment
Best for: Kids with significant reading struggles, often in summer
9. Sylvan Learning
- Price
- See site
- Grades
- K–12
- Type
- Tutoring
Sylvan is a network of locally owned K–12 centers where certified teachers work at low student-to-teacher ratios, with live online tutoring at many centers. Pricing pages checked in October 2026 showed about $42–$78 a session plus a $95–$199 registration fee. Sessions are shared, not strictly one-on-one, and quality depends on the owner.
Pros
- Certified teachers and a structured plan
- Switch between center and online
Cons
- Shared attention
- Prices and quality vary by franchise
Best for: Families who want a local team plus online flexibility
10. Tutor.com
- Price
- From $39.99/mo
- Grades
- K–12 · College · Adult
- Type
- Tutoring
Tutor.com offers 24/7 on-demand homework help in hundreds of subjects, mostly by text chat or voice. Many students get it free through a public library, school or military benefit. Individual plans through The Princeton Review start at $39.99 a month for 1 hour (October 2026). You usually get a different tutor each time.
Pros
- Free through many libraries
- Available any hour
Cons
- Mostly chat, not video
- No ongoing relationship
Best for: Older students who need quick homework help
11. Khanmigo
- Price
- From $3.67/mo
- Grades
- 1–12 · College
- Type
- Tutoring, App
Khanmigo is Khan Academy's AI tutor for $4 a month or $44 a year, covering up to 10 children on a parent account with a US billing address (October 2026). It guides rather than gives answers, and parents can review chats. It's a helpful companion to a human tutor, not a replacement.
Pros
- Very low cost
- Parent can see chats
Cons
- AI can make mistakes
- No human
Best for: Practice and homework help between tutoring sessions
Quick comparison
| Pick | Grades | Format | Price from (Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learner | 2–adult | Matched 1:1 | $219/mo (2 hrs) | Steady matched tutor |
| Wyzant | K–adult | Marketplace 1:1 | About $30/hr | Picking your own |
| Varsity Tutors | K–adult | Matched 1:1 + classes | Quote only | Test prep |
| Brighterly | 1–9 | Live 1:1 math, reading | $17.70 a lesson | Elementary on a budget |
| Thinkster Math | K–Geometry | Live 1:1 + AI | $22.50 a session | Math |
| Outschool | Ages 3–18 | Live group classes | Set by teacher | Group learning |
| Preply Kids | K–12 | Marketplace 1:1 | From $3 a lesson | Languages |
| Lindamood-Bell | K–adult | Intensive 1:1 | Quote after evaluation | Dyslexia |
| Sylvan | K–12 | Center + online, small group | About $42 a session | Local structure |
| Tutor.com | K–adult | On-demand chat | Free via many libraries | Homework help |
| Khanmigo | 1–12 | AI tutor | $4/mo | Between sessions |
How to choose the best online tutoring for kids
Start with the subject and the goal.
| Need | Start here |
|---|---|
| Catching up in elementary math or reading | Brighterly, Thinkster |
| Ongoing help in middle or high school | Learner, Wyzant |
| SAT, ACT or AP prep | Varsity Tutors, Wyzant specialists |
| Dyslexia or serious reading struggles | Lindamood-Bell, or a certified structured-literacy tutor on Wyzant |
| A world language | Preply Kids, Outschool |
| Enrichment or social learning | Outschool |
| Late-night homework question | Tutor.com, Khanmigo |
Decide how much you want to manage. Matched services pick and replace tutors for you. Marketplaces give you more choice and lower prices, but you read profiles, message tutors and handle problems yourself.
Test the setup with a trial. Use Learner's $25 first session, Brighterly's free demo, Wyzant's Good Fit Guarantee or Preply's trial. Check video quality, whether the tutor uses a shared whiteboard, and whether your child does most of the talking.
Check the money terms. In public reviews, billing causes more complaints than teaching. Before paying, find out: Does it auto-renew? Can you cancel mid-term? Do unused hours expire? How much notice to reschedule?
Red flags
- Pressure to buy a large package before a trial
- No written cancellation policy
- A different tutor every session when you need continuity
- No plan or progress updates after a month
What it costs (and how to get it funded)
As of October 2026, online tutoring for kids ranges from free (Tutor.com through many libraries) and $4 a month for Khanmigo, to about $18 to $45 a session with Brighterly and Thinkster, $30 to $70 an hour on Wyzant and Preply, and $59 to $110 an hour with Learner. Varsity Tutors and Lindamood-Bell quote prices individually, and intensive programs can total thousands of dollars.
Some state education savings accounts and scholarships cover tutoring, often with rules about approved providers; others don't. Each program decides. Save your picks to your Edulist wishlist, then find scholarships in your state, such as Arizona, Florida or Texas. Your library card may unlock free Tutor.com access too.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing by price alone. A $20 lesson that your child dreads costs more than a $50 lesson that works.
- Skipping the trial. Every pick here offers some way to test fit. Use it.
- Letting it run on autopilot. Ask for a short update after each session.
- Forgetting the renewal date. Add it to your calendar the day you sign up.
Comparing companies? Read Varsity Tutors vs Wyzant, Kumon vs Sylvan or Mathnasium vs Sylvan. Math only? See the best online math tutoring. Prefer AI help? See the best AI tutors for kids. Browse all tutoring.
Sources
- Learner pricing
- Wyzant: how it works for students
- Trustpilot: Wyzant reviews
- Varsity Tutors prices and rates
- Varsity Tutors guarantee
- Brighterly pricing
- Thinkster Math pricing
- Outschool FAQ for families
- Preply tutors for kids
- Preply subscriptions
- Lindamood-Bell
- Sylvan Learning FAQ
- Tutor.com pricing
- Khanmigo pricing
Questions
What age can kids start online tutoring?
Many services start around age 5 or 6, but attention spans vary. Learner starts at 2nd grade, Brighterly at 1st grade, and Outschool has classes from age 3. For kids under 7, keep sessions to 25 to 45 minutes and sit nearby.
Is free online tutoring any good?
It can be. Tutor.com is free through many public libraries, schools and military programs, and Khan Academy offers free lessons and practice. Free options are usually on-demand rather than a steady tutor, so they suit homework questions more than long-term catch-up.
Matched service or marketplace: which is better?
Matched services like Learner and Varsity Tutors save you time and handle tutor swaps, but cost more. Marketplaces like Wyzant and Preply are cheaper and give you more control, but you do the vetting. If you are short on time, choose matched.
How do I know online tutoring is working?
Look for a clear plan in the first few weeks, then check progress against it monthly. Signs it's working: your child explains steps in their own words, homework takes less time and grades or test scores move. If nothing changes in six to eight weeks, change tutors or approach.
Can scholarships pay for online tutoring?
Some education savings account programs cover tutoring, often only from approved or credentialed providers, and some providers accept ESA payment directly. Each program decides. Save your picks to your Edulist wishlist and check your state's rules before booking.
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