UK tutoring platforms compared
The platforms differ on who pays, how much, and who ends up owning the client relationship. Some add a service fee on top of the tutor's rate. Some take a commission and keep the booking inside their own platform. One charges parents a monthly pass just to make contact. Here is how the main UK options compare.
The platforms side by side
Competitor details reflect each platform's publicly reported model. Fees change, so check the current terms on each platform before you decide.
| Platform | Pricing model | Tutor keeps full rate | How parents make contact | Who owns the client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TutorLab | Free to list. Optional tools subscription £29 a month | Yes, 100% of their rate on the students they bring and on families TutorLab introduces, unlimited on every paid plan; families see one all-in price before booking | Free, message tutors directly | No, the tutor. Merchant of record on card payments, student list exportable any time |
| Tutorful | Percentage service fee added on top; public rate not stated | Yes, but the parent pays the fee on top | Through the platform at booking | Tutorful, the booking stays inside the platform |
| MyTutor | Per-lesson commission | No, the platform takes a cut of each lesson | Through the platform | MyTutor, the booking stays inside the platform |
| Superprof | Free to list, parents pay a monthly pass | Yes, no per-lesson commission | Recurring Student Pass to message; price shown at purchase | No, tutor and parent agree payment directly |
| First Tutors | Closed permanently in 2026 | Service ended | Service ended | Was hosted on the platform, with no export before closure |
Checked against public first-party pages on 2 August 2026 and subject to change. Tutorful does not publish one service-fee percentage, and Superprof presents its current Student Pass price during purchase. First Tutors closed permanently in 2026.
What it means for you
If you are a parent
A service fee or a contact pass means the same tutor at the same rate costs you more. On TutorLab you see one all-in price per lesson before you book, with nothing added at checkout, and contacting a tutor is free.
Find a tutorIf you are a tutor
A per-lesson commission takes a cut of every session you teach. On TutorLab you keep 100% of your rate on the students you bring (a family paying you through TutorLab pays a processing fee from 5% on top), list for free, and pay only an optional flat fee for the admin tools.
Start freeCompare TutorLab to a specific platform
For a closer look at any one platform, including how to switch, read the dedicated comparison.
Tutoring platforms: common questions
What is the best tutoring platform in the UK?
It depends on what matters to you. If you want the lowest cost, look at how each platform charges: some add a service fee on top of the tutor's rate, some take a per-lesson commission from the tutor, and some charge parents a monthly pass just to make contact. TutorLab is a directory where parents contact tutors free and see one all-in price before booking, and tutors keep 100% of their rate on the students they bring (a family paying through TutorLab pays a processing fee from 5% on top).
Which tutoring platforms charge commission?
MyTutor confirms that it deducts a tutor fee plus VAT, while Tutorful confirms that it adds a percentage service fee to the tutor's rate. Neither publishes one universal percentage on its public pages. On TutorLab the tutor keeps 100% of their rate, and the family sees one all-in price before booking, with the full breakdown in our terms.
Do parents pay to contact a tutor?
On some platforms, yes. Superprof requires parents to buy a recurring Student Pass before messaging tutors. On TutorLab, searching the directory and messaging a tutor is free for parents, with no pass, and the price you see is the price you pay.
What happened to First Tutors?
First Tutors closed permanently in 2026. Parents who used it and tutors who listed on it now need an alternative. TutorLab is a UK tutor directory built for the same job: parents search by subject and town and message tutors directly, free of charge.
Is TutorLab free for tutors?
Listing and publishing a profile is free; you keep 100% of your rate on the students you bring, and families paying through TutorLab pay a small processing fee. TutorLab Pro, an optional subscription at £29 a month, adds software: AI lesson notes and parent reports, invoicing and an HMRC tax summary. The subscription does not buy directory ranking or lead access. Free to start, no card needed.
Tutors can also read how much tutors earn, and parents can read how to choose a tutor.
The same tutor, none of the fees
Parents contact tutors free and see one all-in price before booking. Tutors keep 100% of their rate on the students they bring, and a family paying through TutorLab pays a processing fee from 5% on top. No contact pass to buy.