GoStudent vs Tutor House: Which Online Tutoring Platform Should You Choose?

Choosing between tutoring platforms can feel overwhelming when every site claims to offer the best support for your child. This guide compares two well-known names in UK tutoring, GoStudent and Tutor House, so you can see how they actually differ.

Both platforms connect students with tutors for one-to-one lessons, but they take quite different approaches to getting there. GoStudent matches each student with a vetted, trained tutor through a personal consultation and teaches entirely online, while Tutor House lets families search and book interviewed, DBS-checked tutors themselves, either online or in person.

By the end of this article, you will have a clear picture of how online private tutoring works on each platform, whether you’re a parent, a student, or a tutor.

GoStudent vs Tutor House: key takeaways

GoStudent

GoStudent is an online-only tutoring platform built around fully personalised, one-to-one lessons. It covers 30+ subjects, with a strong focus on core school subjects across primary, secondary, and exam-level learning. Every lesson takes place in GoClass, GoStudent’s own virtual classroom, and students also benefit from tools such as Magic Quizzes and automatic Lesson Summaries.

Students are matched with a tutor based on their level, learning goals, and personality, following a free consultation with an education expert. This matching process means families do not need to search through and compare tutor profiles themselves. Lessons run for 50 minutes and can be booked seven days a week, including evenings and weekends.

GoStudent puts a strong emphasis on tutor quality, only 8% of applicants make it through the selection process, which includes background checks, subject competency tests, and a mandatory onboarding programme.

GoStudent pros

Advantages for students and families:

• A rigorous 5-step tutor selection process, with only 8% of applicants accepted,
• A free trial lesson, with no card details or subscription required,
• Personalised tutor matching based on level, goals, and personality,
• A built-in GoClass virtual classroom with a whiteboard, recordings, and automatic Lesson Summaries sent after every session,
• Flexible scheduling, with lessons available seven days a week.

Advantages for tutors:

• Flexible working hours, set by the tutor,
• GoStudent handles matching and scheduling, so tutors can focus on teaching,
• Access to teaching tools built for online delivery, including the GoClass whiteboard and Magic Quizzes,
• The ability to increase your rate over time as you deliver more lessons.

GoStudent cons

Drawbacks for students and families:

• Online lessons only, with no in-person or at-home option,
• Lessons are sold as subscription packages rather than one-off sessions.

Drawbacks for tutors:

• Tutors cannot set their own hourly rate directly.

Tutor House

Tutor House is a UK tutoring platform founded in 2012 by former teacher Alex Dyer. It offers both online and in-person lessons, with in-person tuition available across the UK and online lessons reaching students worldwide. Tutor House advertises 160+ subjects on its site, spanning core academic subjects, languages, music, business, and exam-specific programmes such as Entrance Exams and A-Level retakes.

Every tutor on Tutor House is personally interviewed and holds a valid DBS check before going live on the platform. Because Tutor House operates as an open marketplace rather than a matched-tutor model, students and parents browse tutor profiles themselves, comparing subject, experience, and hourly rate before booking directly.

Tutors set their own hourly rate, starting from around £20 per hour, and Tutor House takes a commission of roughly 20% from each booking. Families typically start with a free consultation to discuss their child’s needs before choosing a tutor.

Tutor House pros

Advantages for students and families:

• Both online and in-person lessons available, unlike many online-only platforms,
• Every tutor is personally interviewed and DBS-checked,
• A wide subject range, with 160+ subjects on offer,
• A free consultation to discuss learning needs before booking,
• No subscription required, lessons are booked and paid for individually.

Advantages for tutors:

• Flexible working hours, set by the tutor,
• Tutors set their own hourly rate directly,
• The option to teach both online and in-person, depending on location.

Tutor House cons

Drawbacks for students and families:

• No dedicated virtual classroom or built-in lesson tools for online sessions,
• Since tutors set their own rates, prices and experience levels can vary significantly between profiles,
• Families search and compare tutors themselves, with no personalised matching consultation.

Drawbacks for tutors:

• A commission of roughly 20% is deducted from each booking,
• Tutors are responsible for keeping their own profile and availability up to date to attract bookings.

GoStudent vs Tutor House: detailed comparison

GoStudent and Tutor House take genuinely different approaches to tutoring, so a side-by-side look helps before deciding. This section breaks down subjects, tutor vetting, lesson format, pricing, trials, and in-lesson tools, so you can see exactly where the two platforms overlap and where they differ.

How many subjects can you learn?

• GoStudent: 30+ subjects are available, with a focus on core school subjects, from maths to languages to sciences.
• Tutor House: 160+ subjects are listed, giving families a wider range to choose from, including GCSE, A-Level, and iGCSE-specific preparation.

How are tutors selected?

• GoStudent: tutors go through a 5-step process, including a background check, a skills assessment, and a mandatory onboarding programme. Only 8% of applicants are accepted.
• Tutor House: tutors are personally interviewed and must hold a valid DBS check before their profile goes live, though families still choose and vet the fit themselves.

What lesson formats are available?

• GoStudent: online lessons only, delivered through GoClass.
• Tutor House: both online and in-person lessons, with in-person tuition concentrated around London.

What are the prices of the tutoring platform?

• GoStudent: lessons are sold in monthly subscription packages, from £27.81 to £32.09 per lesson on a 12-month membership, with the price per lesson falling as the number of monthly lessons increases.
• Tutor House: tutors set their own hourly rate, starting from around £20, with no subscription required and a commission of roughly 20% taken from what the tutor earns.

Comparing GoStudent vs Tutor House on price is not straightforward, since GoStudent works on fixed subscription tiers that include structured tools and matching, while Tutor House’s cost depends entirely on the individual tutor chosen.

Does the platform offer free trial lessons?

• GoStudent: every student gets a full, free trial lesson, with no card details or subscription required.
• Tutor House: families get a free consultation to discuss their child’s needs before booking a paid lesson.

What tools are available during lessons?

• GoStudent: GoClass includes a whiteboard, lesson recordings, GoChat messaging, and automatic Lesson Summaries after every session.
• Tutor House: no dedicated virtual classroom is provided, so online tutors typically rely on their own video call and whiteboard tools.

Parents who want a built-in, consistent lesson experience with a detailed record of each session may prefer GoStudent’s GoClass and automatic Lesson Summaries, sent after every session.

GoStudent vs Tutor House: full comparison table

So which tutoring platform should you choose between GoStudent and Tutor House?

Both platforms offer solid options for UK tutoring, but they suit different needs. Between GoStudent and Tutor House, we recommend GoStudent first, for the following reasons.

➡️ If you’re a student or parent, choose GoStudent if you’re looking for

• A matching service that finds the right tutor for you, rather than leaving the search to your family,
• Tutors selected through a structured 5-step vetting process, including background checks,
• Automatic Lesson Summaries after every session, so parents can follow progress without asking,
• A full, free trial lesson to try the platform before committing to a package,
• Tools such as Magic Quizzes built directly into every lesson.

➡️ And if you’d rather become a private tutor, GoStudent offers

• A stable rate per lesson, with loyalty and referral bonuses available,
• Less administrative work, since GoStudent handles matching and scheduling,
• Ongoing support, including onboarding and training,
• A steady stream of students, rather than having to find and market yourself.

Choosing between GoStudent and Tutor House ultimately comes down to whether you would rather have a tutor matched for you or search for one yourself, and whether in-person lessons matter to your family. Whichever you choose, online tutoring has made finding one-to-one support far more accessible than it used to be.