Tutoring platform fees compared: what each one really takes
Every UK tutoring platform charges something. Some take a clear percentage, some add a fee you only find in the terms, and some do not publish a number at all. You cannot compare platforms properly until you know which is which, so here is exactly what each one takes from tutors, checked in 10 July 2026.
Why is it so hard to compare tutoring platform fees?
Because half the market does not publish a number. MyTutor and Tutorful both take a cut of tutoring income, but neither states the percentage on its public site. Tutors only discover the real cost once they read the small print or see a payout. Platforms that do publish, like Superprof and TutorCruncher, make comparison easy.
Tutoring platform fees at a glance
Where a platform does not publish an exact figure, the table says so rather than guessing on your behalf.
| Platform | What the tutor pays | What the parent pays | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyTutor | An undisclosed percentage fee, plus VAT on that fee, deducted before the tutor is paid | The tutor's listed rate | The exact percentage is not published on mytutor.co.uk |
| Tutorful | Not published. Tutorful's terms confirm a percentage Service Fee is added on top of the tutor's rate | The tutor's rate plus an unpublished percentage service fee | Not currently accepting new tutor applications (checked 10 July 2026) |
| Superprof | 0% if arranged off-platform; 10% only if payment is taken through Superprof's own checkout | The tutor's rate, plus most parents need a Student Pass subscription (around £39/month) to message tutors | Free for a tutor to list |
| Tutor Hunt | Platform fees that reduce what you keep | Not published | The exact rate is not verified; treat any figure quoted elsewhere with caution |
| First Tutors | n/a, platform closed | n/a, platform closed | Closed permanently in 2026 after more than 20 years (its own homepage announcement) |
| TutorLab | Subscription from £9/month; card processing from 3.4% only if you take card payments | The tutor's own rate, nothing added | 0% commission. A directory and a set of tools, never an agency |
Last checked 10 July 2026. Platforms can change fees or terms without notice, and figures marked as undisclosed or unpublished are not TutorLab estimates, they are simply not stated by the platform itself.
How much does MyTutor take from tutors?
MyTutor deducts an undisclosed percentage fee, plus VAT on that fee, before paying the tutor. Parents are charged the tutor's listed rate, so the deduction happens entirely on the tutor's side. The exact percentage is not published on mytutor.co.uk, so the only way to know your real take-home is to read your own payout statement.
How much does Tutorful take from tutors?
Tutorful's own terms confirm a percentage Service Fee, added on top of the tutor's rate and charged to the parent, but the exact rate is not published. There is a second complication in 2026: Tutorful is not currently accepting new tutor applications, so joining is not even an option open to a tutor trying to sign up today.
Is Superprof really free for tutors?
Mostly, yes. Listing on Superprof costs a tutor nothing, and if a parent pays outside the platform, Superprof takes 0% from the tutor. The 10% fee only applies when payment is processed through Superprof's own checkout. The catch sits on the parent's side: most parents need a paid Student Pass subscription, around £39 a month, just to message a tutor at all.
What about Tutor Hunt and First Tutors?
Tutor Hunt does not publish a clear fee structure, so treat any specific percentage you see quoted elsewhere as unverified. What is certain is that its platform fees reduce what you keep. First Tutors is no longer a factor either way: it closed permanently in 2026 after more than 20 years, according to its own homepage, so it is not an option for new or existing enquiries.
What does TutorLab take from tutors?
TutorLab charges 0% commission on your lessons. There is a subscription from £9 a month for scheduling, invoicing, an HMRC tax summary and AI lesson tools, and card processing from 3.4% that only applies if you choose to take card payments through TutorLab. You keep your rate, the student relationship is yours, and TutorLab is a directory and toolset, never an agency.
- The fee is a subscription, not a cut of your lessons
- Card processing from 3.4% applies only if you take card payments through TutorLab
- Every fee is stated here and in your billing settings, never in a payout you have to go and check
14-day free trial, no card to start.
Curious what tutors actually earn? See how much tutors earn in the UK. Looking beyond marketplaces entirely? How to get tutoring students in the UK covers every channel, not just platforms. Comparing software rather than marketplaces? Read TutorLab vs TutorCruncher.
Tutoring platform fees: common questions
Which tutoring platform takes the biggest cut from tutors?
It is genuinely hard to say, because two of the platforms tutors compare against most, MyTutor and Tutorful, do not publish their fee. MyTutor deducts an undisclosed percentage plus VAT before paying the tutor. Tutorful adds an unpublished percentage service fee to the tutor's rate. Superprof publishes its terms clearly: free unless payment runs through its own checkout, where it takes 10%.
Do MyTutor and Tutorful publish their fee percentage?
No. Neither states an exact percentage on its public site. MyTutor's terms describe a fee plus VAT taken before the tutor is paid. Tutorful's terms describe a Service Fee added to the tutor's rate and charged to the parent. Both are real costs to the tutor, just not disclosed as a headline number anywhere a prospective tutor can see before signing up.
Is Tutorful still accepting new tutors in 2026?
No, not currently. Tutorful's own become-a-tutor page was not accepting new tutor applications when checked on 10 July 2026. Existing tutors already on the platform are unaffected, but anyone hoping to join now needs a different route to students, such as a directory profile or a marketplace that is still open.
What happened to First Tutors?
First Tutors closed permanently in 2026, according to the announcement on its own homepage, after more than 20 years in the UK tutoring market. Any tutor who relied on it for enquiries now needs another channel, and any parent who used it needs to look elsewhere too.
Does TutorLab take a commission from tutors?
No. TutorLab charges 0% commission on your lessons. The cost is a subscription from £9 a month, plus card processing from 3.4% that only applies if you choose to take card payments through TutorLab. 14-day free trial, no card to start.
How do I compare tutoring platforms if the fee isn't published?
Ask the platform directly what percentage it deducts and get the answer in writing before you commit. Or choose a platform that discloses its costs upfront: TutorCruncher and Superprof publish theirs, and TutorLab charges a flat subscription with no commission at all, so there is nothing hidden to discover later.
List where the fee is never a surprise
0% commission, a flat subscription from £9 a month, and card processing from 3.4% only if you use it. 14-day free trial, no card to start.