A straight-talking look at how TutorToday stacks up against every major competitor. Pick a platform below or see the full overview.
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | MyTutor | Tutorful | GoStudent | First Tutors | Superprof | BBC Bitesize | MyEdSpace | Medly AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live human tutor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Small group (3–5 students) | ✓3–5 per group | ✗1-to-1 only | ✗1-to-1 only | ✗1-to-1 only | ✗1-to-1 only | ✗1-to-1 only | ✗ | ✗100s/stream | ✗ |
| AI support (Toby) | ✓24/7 always on | ✗ | ✗ | ~Limited | ✗ | ✗ | ~Basic only | ✗ | ✓AI-only |
| Affordable price | ✓£16/lesson | ✗£25–60/hr | ✗£20–65/hr | ✗£40–80/hr | ✗£25–70/hr | ✗£15–60/hr | ✓Free | ✓Low cost | ~Subscription |
| UK GCSE exam-board aligned | ✓ | ~Varies by tutor | ~Varies by tutor | ~Varies | ~Varies by tutor | ~Varies | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| Between-session support | ✓Toby 24/7 | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Motivation coaching included | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Peer accountability | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No lock-in contract | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗Long contracts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| Tutors from top universities | ✓Oxford/Cambridge/UCL | ✓ | ~Mixed | ✗Career tutors | ~Mixed | ~Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
The bottom line: MyTutor and Tutorful offer real tutors but charge premium 1-to-1 rates with no AI layer. GoStudent ties families into long contracts. First Tutors and Superprof are directories with no quality guarantee. BBC Bitesize is free but passive — no tutor, no accountability. MyEdSpace is a cheap livestream with hundreds in the “class.” Medly AI is clever but has no human. Only TutorToday combines a live tutor from a top university, small group accountability, Toby AI 24/7, and a motivation coach — at £16 a lesson.
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | MyTutor |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per lesson | £16 — transparent, no hidden fees | £25–60 depending on tutor and subject |
| Tutor quality | Curated tutors from top universities — Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and more | University students — vetted but quality varies by tutor |
| Group vs 1-to-1 | Small group of 3–5 builds peer motivation and costs far less | 1-to-1 only — highest cost, no peer dynamic |
| Between-session support | Toby AI covers questions any time — day or night | Nothing until next week’s session |
| Motivation coaching | Dedicated coach monitors wellbeing and drive weekly | Not included — tutor focuses on subject only |
| AI personalisation | Toby tracks gaps and adapts between every lesson | No AI layer at all |
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | Tutorful |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per lesson | £16 — inclusive, no surprises | £20–65/hr — varies widely by tutor |
| Tutor quality | Curated and trained — every tutor meets TutorToday’s standards | Self-certified — quality varies significantly between tutors |
| Convenience | Matched automatically — no searching, no trial-and-error | Parents must browse, compare, and book independently |
| AI support | Toby available 24/7 for questions, revision, and homework | No AI layer at all |
| Progress tracking | Toby and tutor both track gaps and report weekly | No structured tracking — depends entirely on the tutor |
| Motivation coaching | Dedicated weekly coach keeps your child on track | Not offered |
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | GoStudent |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per lesson | £16 — no hidden extras | £40–80/hr reported by families |
| Commitment required | Month-to-month, cancel any time | Long contracts often reported — difficult to exit |
| Sales approach | Transparent — no upsell pressure | High-pressure sales calls widely reported by parents |
| AI support | Toby AI available 24/7 — proactive, personalised, always on | Limited AI features — no always-on tutoring assistant |
| Group learning | Small group of 3–5 builds accountability and costs less | 1-to-1 only |
| Motivation coaching | Dedicated coach every week | Not offered |
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | First Tutors |
|---|---|---|
| Quality assurance | Every tutor trained and monitored by TutorToday | Self-submitted profiles with no platform verification |
| After-booking support | Ongoing — Toby AI, coaching, progress tracking | None — relationship is entirely between parent and tutor |
| Cost | £16/lesson, fully inclusive | Varies — typically £25–70/hr charged directly by tutor |
| AI support | Toby always available between lessons | None |
| Progress tracking | AI-tracked and reported weekly | No platform tracking at all |
| Motivation coaching | Included every week | Not offered |
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | Superprof |
|---|---|---|
| Quality control | Every tutor trained to TutorToday standards | Self-submitted profiles, no enforced quality standard |
| Platform involvement | Ongoing — Toby AI, coaching, progress reports | Platform withdraws after booking — no ongoing role |
| Cost predictability | £16/lesson, always | Highly variable — £15–60/hr depending on tutor |
| AI between sessions | Toby available 24/7 for questions and revision | None |
| Peer motivation | Small group creates shared accountability | 1-to-1 only — no peer element |
| GCSE alignment | Built around UK exam boards from day one | Depends entirely on the individual tutor you pick |
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | BBC Bitesize |
|---|---|---|
| Human interaction | Live tutor in every session, small group format | None — entirely self-directed |
| Accountability | Tutor + group + coach — someone notices if your child drifts | Nobody notices if your child stops logging in |
| Personalisation | Toby tracks specific gaps and the tutor addresses them | Same content for every student — no adaptation |
| Exam technique | Tutors coach mark scheme thinking and paper strategy | Content only — no exam technique taught |
| Cost | £16/lesson | Free |
| Completion rate | Structured sessions drive consistent attendance | Research shows most self-directed learners disengage within weeks |
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | MyEdSpace |
|---|---|---|
| Class size | 3–5 students — your child gets real attention | Hundreds — your child is a username in a chat |
| Can your child ask questions? | Yes — directly in session and to Toby any time | Chat box only — rarely answered in real time |
| Personalisation | AI tracks gaps; tutor focuses where it’s needed | Fixed content for everyone — no adaptation |
| Accountability | Tutor notices if your child is absent or struggling | Nobody notices anything |
| Between-session support | Toby available 24/7 | Nothing — no AI, no follow-up |
| Motivation coaching | Included every week | Not offered |
| What matters | TutorToday ★ | Medly AI |
|---|---|---|
| Human connection | Tutor from a top university builds real relationship over weeks | None — students interact with AI only |
| AI quality | Toby — adaptive, curriculum-aligned, always on | Strong AI — but isolated with no human layer |
| Accountability | Tutor + group + coach — real weekly commitment | No one notices if the student stops logging in |
| Exam technique | Tutors teach mark scheme thinking and paper strategy | AI can explain content but lacks examiner perspective |
| Emotional support | Motivation coach monitors confidence and wellbeing | No emotional intelligence — cannot address anxiety |
| Completion rate | Structure ensures students show up every week | Self-directed platforms see 80–90% disengage within a month |
