Tutoring platform alternatives & comparisons, 2026
Tutorful, MyTutor and Superprof each charge a different way, and First Tutors closed permanently on 8 May 2026. This page compares what parents pay to contact a tutor, what tutors keep, and how each platform verifies and reviews, sourced and dated. Pick a platform below for the full comparison.
Platform-by-platform, as of July 2026
Figures sourced from each platform's own pricing pages and tutor-reported experiences on Glassdoor, verified by live fetch this week. Products change, so check the individual comparison pages for full sourcing and a dated FAQ.
| Platform | Parent cost to contact | Tutor keeps | Verification | Reviews model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TutorLab | Free to message | 100% on their own students (intro fee from 15%, declining, on TutorLab-sourced parents) | Directory listing | Rail-payment-gated (unfakeable) |
| Tutorful | Service fee added at booking (~35%) | Reported 55-75% of rate (Glassdoor) | Directory login required to browse | "81K+ 5-star reviews" claimed sitewide |
| MyTutor | 3 tiers: £25+/£45+/£65+ per hour | Reported ~50% of rate (Glassdoor) | DBS badges with expiry dates | 543,877 platform reviews, 4.96/5 |
| Superprof | £39/month Student Pass to message | 0% platform fee if paid direct, 10% if routed | Self-reported profiles | Per-tutor reviews, no platform aggregate |
| First Tutors | Closed 8 May 2026 | N/A, platform shut down | N/A | N/A |
Commission figures for Tutorful and MyTutor are hedged ("reported") because they come from tutor-side reviews, not each platform's own disclosure. TutorLab's 0% commission on a tutor's own students is a direct product fact.
Full comparisons
Tutorful alternative
Tutorful's service fee vs contacting tutors free on TutorLab.
MyTutor alternative
MyTutor's per-lesson commission vs TutorLab's 0% on your own students.
Superprof alternative
Superprof's £39/month Student Pass vs free messaging on TutorLab.
First Tutors alternative
First Tutors closed 8 May 2026. Where parents and tutors go next.
What each platform genuinely does well
No platform is strictly worse across every dimension. Here is where each one has a real edge.
Common questions comparing UK tutoring platforms
Which UK tutoring platform has the lowest cost for parents?
TutorLab and Tutor Hunt-style directories where messaging is free. Superprof requires a £39/month Student Pass to message a tutor. Tutorful adds a service fee at booking, reported around 35% on top of the tutor's rate. On TutorLab, contacting a tutor is free with no platform fee added to the lesson.
Which platform lets tutors keep the most of their rate?
TutorLab takes no commission on a tutor's own students, so they keep 100% on the students they bring; a parent who finds them through TutorLab carries an introduction fee from 15% that falls to their card rate within 12 months. Tutor-side reviews on Glassdoor cite MyTutor commission at around 50% and Tutorful in the 25-45% range depending on experience tier. Superprof charges tutors 0% if paid directly and around 10% if payment is routed through the platform.
Is Tutorful, MyTutor or Superprof better for verification?
MyTutor's DBS badges with visible expiry dates are the most transparent verification signal observed. Tutor Hunt is also known for verification depth. TutorLab is a directory listing model; verification depends on what a tutor discloses in their profile, so parents should ask directly for DBS status when enquiring.
Why did First Tutors close?
First Tutors, a long-running UK tutor directory, shut down permanently on 8 May 2026. Its listings are no longer live. Parents and tutors who used it need a new directory; see our dedicated First Tutors alternative page for details on moving over.
Try the alternative
Parents: contact a tutor free, no pass, no fee. Tutors: list free and keep 100% on the students you bring. 14-day free trial, no card to start on the tools, from £9/month after.