Wyzant vs. Varsity Tutors vs. Alexander Tutoring
Whether your child needs extra help in school or needs acceleration, the right tutor can help nurture confidence and a love of learning. There are many options for online tutoring platforms, but the ideal service for your child depends on factors such as the subjects covered, the skills of the tutors, and how your child learns. This article will compare Wyzant vs. Varsity Tutors vs. Alexander Tutoring so you can choose the best online tutoring services.
Wyzant: Flexible Tutoring Options
Wyzant is an online platform that lets you choose a tutor among their 65,000 instructors. Think of it like a tutoring marketplace rather than a service. Unlike other tutoring options, Wyzant doesn’t follow a specific methodology. Instead, it allows tutors to sign up on its platform so students can choose their instructor based on desired subjects needed and tutoring styles.
Subjects Covered
Wyzant offers over 300 subjects, including traditional ones such as math, chemistry, and reading, as well as more obscure ones such as AutoCAD and sewing.
Pricing Structure
Tutors on Wyzant set their own prices, which can vary and may be as low as $10/hour. Wyzant makes its money directly from tutors, not students. Tutors pay 25% of their hourly rate.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Multiple subjects are offered.
- You can find tutors at price points that work within your budget.
- You make arrangements directly with the tutor, so you’re not tied to a specific program or time length.
- You can often get started very quickly.
Cons
- Background checks aren’t required for tutors
- The education level and expertise of tutors can vary
- It may take time to find the right tutor fit for your child
What Students and Parents Have To Say
Wyzant Tutoring has an average of 1.5 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot, indicating most clients are not satisfied with their services. While some positive reviews mention that the tutors were helpful, other parents report being overcharged or having fraudulent charges on their credit cards. A student reports that a tutor behaved inappropriately with them. Others report dissatisfaction with the lesson-recording platform.
Varsity Tutors: Live Online and On-Demand Learning
Varsity Tutors is a tutoring service that hires and pays tutors directly. It offers online and in-person tutoring to individuals, along with online tutoring to schools. Both schools and individuals can access online live classes, one-on-one support, and homework help.
Subjects Covered
Varsity Tutors covers almost every topic in K through 12, such as reading, math, science, social studies, and ACT/ SAT prep. It also offers some college-level and professional licensing exams tutoring, such as the bar exam.
Pricing Structure
Varsity Tutors offers four membership plans, including academic, enrichment, languages, and test prep. Your rate is based on the plan you choose, which may include a set schedule for test prep or a certain number of hours per month.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The tutors are well-vetted.
- An extremely wide variety of subjects are offered, such as math, writing, reading, coding, and paleontology.
- Some plans offer unlimited access to live online classes.
Cons
- The quality of tutors varies as some may not have degrees in their fields.
- Pricing can be confusing, as it’s not obvious that it’s a recurrent subscription model based on a particular plan.
What Students and Parents Have To Say
Varsity Tutors has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot. Positive reviews mention that the tutors worked well with students and improved their grades. Negative reviews primarily focus on the heavy-handed sales pitch and unclear pricing.
Alexander Tutoring: Personalized Math and Physics for Advancement
Alexander Tutoring focuses on customized tutoring in math and physics. All of its tutors have at least a bachelor’s degree in their field, with many having a master’s and a doctorate. It designs personalized learning plans for students to accelerate in math or physics or plans to help kids with math anxiety.
Subjects Covered
Alexander Tutoring offers math tutoring and physics tutoring for students in 2nd grade through high school and even advanced college level. College test prep is also available to help students excel on the SAT or ACT.
Pricing Structure
Alexander Tutoring has mainly subscription-based pricing, but you can buy packages for the summer months. It also offers package pricing for SAT and ACT prep tutoring.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- You’ll receive the best tutoring for math.
- You’ll find highly vetted subject-matter experts.
- Your child will receive a customized learning plan.
Cons:
Services may be higher priced than lower-quality options.
What Students and Parents Have To Say
Parents who use Alexander Tutoring give rave reviews, with an average of 5 out of 5 stars on Google and Yelp. Many parents mention that their children love working with their tutors, have built up their confidence in math and physics, and have improved their grades and test scores. Students commented that the tutors were excellent and patient while making the process enjoyable. Other reviews mention that tutors serve as great role models.
How To Choose the Best Online Tutoring Platform
When evaluating online tutoring options, consider the following:
- Subjects offered, including whether the platform covers all of the topics in which your student needs help
- Services and specialties, including test prep, homework help, AP/IB level offerings, and distance learning help
- Tutor availability to start when you need it
- Tutor background and qualifications, including education and expertise
- Customer reviews from students and parents
- Value for money, as lower-priced options may not necessarily provide what you need
- Fit for your child’s learning style
- Flexibility in meeting times to coordinate with your schedule
Which Online Tutoring Website Is Right For Your Child? Wyzant vs. Varsity Tutors vs. Alexander Tutoring
The difference between Wyzant and Varsity Tutors is that Wyzant is a tutoring marketplace. Here, tutors advertise their services, and you can match with them. Varsity Tutors is a tutoring service that hires and vets tutors directly. Alexander Tutors is also a tutoring service where you can choose from elite tutors who are subject-matter experts in their fields.
Wyzant | Varsity Tutors | Alexander Tutoring | |
---|---|---|---|
Pricing | Varies greatly, starts as low as $10/hour | Different membership plans available | Subscription-based and packages |
Subjects covered | Depends on tutor offerings | Almost all topics in K to 12 and some college | Math, physics, and chemistry at all levels |
Rating | 1.5/5 stars | 4 ¾ stars | 5/5 stars |
Flexibility | Depends on tutor | Primarily online, some in-person options | Online only |
Modes of teaching | One-on-one | Online classes and one-on-one instruction | One-on-one |
Choose Alexander Tutoring for 1-on-1 Tutoring
Given its poor reviews and lack of quality control, Wyzant probably isn’t one of the most popular online tutoring websites. Varsity Tutors may be a good option if your child needs help with several different subjects, including reading or writing.
Alexander Tutoring is the best option for students who need personalized help with ACT or SAT prep, advanced-level math, and physics, particularly IB or AP courses. Alexander tutors have a deep expertise that allows them to easily convey concepts in a way your child can understand. The tutors go beyond offering repetitive practice and help students make connections between the big ideas in math and physics. Their goal is to ignite a love of learning and confidence in their abilities for every child. Reach out to Alexandar Tutoring today for a free consultation.