Is Online Tutoring a Good Side Hustle? Reviewing Online Tutoring Websites
Hello fellow tutor aspirees, side hustlers, academic extraordinaires. I’m here to give you the scoop on the various tutoring platforms, how their services work, tutoring requirements, the types of students on each platform, and of course - how much you get paid for your time.
A little about me. I’ve tutored for a few months now on the following platforms: Varsity Tutors, Wyzant, and SuperProf. I’ve had a number of students on each platform, and it’s safe to say I’ve definitely realized the pros and cons of each one.
With out further adieu.
Wyzant
Money Info: You set your hourly rate. Wyzant takes 25% of it. If you set your rate to $20/hr you get paid $15/hr.
The Requirements: Each subject you tutor you have to take a 10–20 question multiple choice test on it. The test will be beginner to intermediate questions on the subject you’ve chosen. You only have one chance to pass the test.
The Pros:
- You set your own rate
- Tutors and students can freely schedule meetings on their own, rather than have someone assign you
- The user interface is better(mobile app, messaging system, teaching platform, etc)
- Students can largely vary(this can be a con too). You will get a wider range of students, who can be adults with various full time jobs.
The Cons:
- You are charged 25% of your hourly rate
- It’s very hard to get started as a new tutor. There are tons of tutors with a lot of reviews already.
- There are scammers(be cautious of people asking you to communicate off the platform)
Final Verdict
Wyzant is an easy to use platform that takes a while to build a student base. You’ll have to apply and reach out to students a lot at first before you start getting more consistent jobs. This can take a few months, so consider this before you start. The 25% fee is high, but certainly not unreasonable compared to other platforms.
Varsity Tutors
Money Info: Unless you’re tutoring GRE or LSATs, the flat rate is $15/hr, regardless of the subject. GRE and LSAT tutors make $28/hr. Varsity Tutors charges their students $50 - $75/hr.
Requirements: Most subjects do not require a test, however you do need to send in a video interview of yourself, mostly to confirm that you can speak eloquently.
The Pros:
- You are assigned students after declaring interest, so you can get started tutoring within a few days.
- Students are screened so you’ll mostly get students more prepared for lessons.
The Cons:
- A large amount of tutors will only make $15/hr, whereas they charge $50 - $75/hr per student. This can be a huge cut, and limit on pay, especially if you’re teaching harder subjects like programming, sciences, higher level math.
- The user interface is not as great. Basic functionality is there, but the overall platform is not aesthetic.
- You are legally not allowed to take students off the platform.
Final Verdict
Varsity Tutors definitely has the lowest pay amongst all the platforms. $15/hr to teach is what you can make at some retail jobs in the US. The platform can be better if you need to start making money immediately, or if you live in a country where the cost of living is lower. The amount you are paid is better for people who are teaching subjects that aren’t too difficult.
SuperProf
Money Info: You set your own rate, SuperProf takes 10%. The caveat, SuperProf charges students $39 a month to use the platform.
Pros:
- For tutors, SuperProf takes the least amount from your pay compared to other platforms.
- Students are generally more prepared because they are paying $39 a month to use the platform.
- The user interface is also pretty good.
- You can set your own cancellation policies
Cons:
- There are less students because of the monthly subscription fee.
- It’s very hard to get started as a new tutor. There are tons of tutors with a lot of reviews already.
- You have to teach your first two lessons free.
Final Verdict
SuperProf is very similar to Wyzant in that students and tutors can openly communicate and set up time with each other. The 10% fee is lower than the other platforms. But because it’s already hard to get started as a new tutor, and there are less students on the platform, it’s one of the harder platforms to build a student base.
Additional Notes
While all these platforms have their pros and cons. You can always consider tutoring independently. You do not need any licenses or business registration for tutoring in most places. Once you get a student base through Wyzant or SuperProf, you can take them off-platform and teach independently. The best part? You keep the money you work hard for.
**If you found any of this helpful, consider checking out a referral link. You get additional sign up and welcome bonuses. Signing up and using Rakuten for cash back is free!**
- Explaining why travel hacking is my favorite side hustle, along with step by step instructions.
- Rakuten is a reputable website/app with millions of users that gives you up 20% cash back on popular stores like Nike, Target, and Petsmart
- SoFi is a great online checking/savings bank that offers up to 4.9% interest on accounts(currently).
Posted Nov 1, 2023, 4:10 PM UTC