The Importance of Online Algebra Tutors: A Complete Guide to the 5 Best Services of 2023
One of the biggest milestones in any child’s life is the momentous transition from middle school to high school, followed soon by graduation, potentially college, and the world beyond. The move signifies a new level of difficulty in that student’s education and, with it, added stress and pressure. That’s why at this stage, it has become increasingly common for parents to seek out algebra tutors to help their children. The pace and difficulty of algebra courses can be a big step up from what students are used to, leaving many feeling anxious or frustrated with their lack of progress.
Online algebra tutors can help students of all grade levels understand the material covered in class by working at their pace and answering questions along the way. Meeting regularly with a math tutor is one of the best ways for students to regain their confidence, perform better on tests, and approach math class with renewed enthusiasm.
Our Top Picks for the Best Algebra Tutoring Companies
Compare These 3 Services
For this article, we took a close look at the most popular online algebra tutoring platforms and considered important factors such as tutor quality, personalized learning plans, online learning environment, constructive feedback, availability, and flexible scheduling. Out of all the services we encountered, we chose Learner as our top choice for online algebra tutors.
Top 5 Online Algebra Tutoring Services
We know just how many tutoring options are out there and how little time parents have to find the right algebra tutor for them. That’s why we extensively researched the most popular online math tutoring services and compiled a list of the best platforms for high school algebra students. We hope that by comparing the pros and cons of each company, you can make the best decision to help your child reach their full potential in math class and beyond.
1. Learner
Learner impressed us with the quality of its algebra tutors, who all have relevant degrees and several years of algebra teaching or tutoring experience. Learner’s tutors excel at creating personalized learning plans and have guided many former students to success in their algebra classes.
Learner’s online setup gives families the flexibility to schedule tutoring sessions at times that work with their busy schedules. The online learning platform allows students and tutors to video chat while working together on the virtual whiteboard. All lessons are recorded so students can review the material later on, while parents are kept informed with regular updates.
One feature that sets Learner apart from many other companies is the tutor-matching process, which involves completing an online questionnaire and chatting with Learner’s Academic Advisor. This process ensures that students are provided with a tutor who is a good fit for their academic level, learning style, and personality. If for any reason students are not satisfied, Learner will help them find a new tutor.
Learner's tutors set their own rates, which are on the more reasonable end of private tutoring and range from about $70 to $100 per hour. The first session is always heavily discounted, and there is no commitment beyond that first hour.
Pros
- Experienced, highly-qualified tutors
- Personalized lessons and an easy-to-use virtual classroom
- Flexible scheduling, including mornings, evenings, and weekends
- Discounted first session (with no further commitment)
- Excellent customer reviews cite how quickly students improved grades and confidence
Cons
- You can’t select the tutor yourself, though you can always switch if unsatisfied
- Online-only platform isn’t ideal for those looking for in-person tutoring
Bottom Line: Learner’s algebra tutors are math specialists with stellar track records of helping students improve their grades and confidence through convenient, personalized, one-on-one tutoring sessions. Students learn from home using Learner’s virtual classroom and work with the same custom-matched tutor in every session.
2. Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors’ extensive website promises to connect students of all ages, levels, and abilities with an online tutor who will lead them to academic success. Although algebra is one of the most popular subjects, Varsity Tutors offers tutoring in hundreds of courses, from elementary school to graduate school to professional qualifications.
Depending on their needs, students can work one-on-one with their matched algebra tutor for long-term tutoring, or request a one-off session with any available tutor for immediate help with homework or test prep. Students can access Varsity Tutors' online classroom from any internet-connected device, including smartphones. In addition to online tutoring, the company also offers numerous live online classes.
Varsity Tutors has earned positive reviews from most of its customers, though some were frustrated by the unclear pricing structure. To receive relevant pricing information, interested students or parents must enter information about their location and provide a name and email address. Additionally, plans involving long-term tutoring and online classes can be expensive compared to other tutoring services.
Pros
- Includes free resources like enrichment classes, practice tests, flashcards, assessments, and a mobile app
- Tutors create personalized lesson plans
- Academic help available for hundreds of courses and all aspects of algebra
- Tutor satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Unclear pricing structure, though a phone number is provided to find out more
- Email signup required to access more information about private tutoring
- Although customers can read tutor profiles, they can’t choose their tutor
Bottom Line: Varsity Tutors offers numerous educational services, including online classes and one-to-one tutoring through its virtual classroom. It is a popular and well-regarded service, though many customers have expressed frustration with the lack of transparency in pricing.
3. Wyzant
For families that would prefer to select their own algebra tutor, Wyzant is a respected tutoring marketplace with over 65,000 tutors who cover dozens of subjects, both online and in person. Algebra is one of the most sought-after subjects, so you’re likely to find a well-qualified tutor with good customer reviews and significant professional experience among their thousands of math tutors.
You can narrow your search by hourly rate, availability on certain days of the week, online or in-person, and other criteria. Wyzant also has a feature to request a tutor if you need immediate help.
Although the client is responsible for researching and choosing their tutor through a job-board style interface, Wyzant offers a “Good Fit Guarantee,” which means that the first hour of tutoring is free if clients are not satisfied. However, with so many tutors to choose from, it can be somewhat overwhelming to make a choice, especially with tutors ranging from college students charging $20 per hour to highly experienced educators charging over $120 per hour.
Pros
- Options for both online and in-person tutoring across a range of subjects
- Good Fit Guarantee helps ensure customers satisfaction
- Wide range of hourly rates are more likely to fit your budget
- “Ask an Expert” feature gives you access to the entire Wyzant community of tutors
Cons
- No tutor-matching service could mean a trial-and-error process to find the right tutor
- Browsing thousands of tutor profiles can be very time consuming and overwhelming
- Not all tutors have finished their undergraduate education
- Can be very expensive to work with a professional educator
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a tutoring marketplace so that you can choose your own algebra tutor, Wyzant could be right for you. They offer instructors at all education and experience levels who charge a wide range of hourly rates.
4. Skooli
Skooli uses a well-designed online classroom with a variety of interactive learning tools to help students get the most out of their tutoring sessions. Skooli offers a flexible approach to tutoring, as students can use the platform to connect with available tutors at any time and pay by the minute or the hour (for a minimum of fifteen minutes) or set up a longer-term tutoring plan with lessons booked in advance with a tutor of their choice.
Skooli’s algebra tutors have bachelor’s degrees in relevant fields, and many also have teaching licenses and further educational qualifications. Prospective families can read reviews and peruse tutor profiles to find the best tutor for their needs, though it can be difficult to get a good idea of the tutor’s teaching style and approach without booking an initial session.
Pros
- Offers online tutoring from elementary school to college
- Virtual classroom supports the learning process
- Tutors tend to be professional educators, often with plenty of teaching experience
- Students can get immediate help by booking instant sessions
Cons
- Prospective clients have to register with an email address to access much of the site
- Information about pricing isn’t readily available
- May be more suitable for quick help with homework questions than long-term tutoring.
Bottom Line: Students looking for immediate help with algebra homework or test prep can connect with one of Skooli’s well-qualified tutors through the platform’s easy-to-use online classroom.
5. Chegg
Chegg is an education technology company offering a wide range of services, including buying, renting, and reselling textbooks, career advice, and a citation generator. Some of these features are completely free to use, so it’s worth browsing their resources if you’d like additional help with a high school, college, or graduate-level course.
Although Chegg’s popular online tutoring service shut down in 2021, the company still offers a variety of learning resources through its Chegg Study section. For a flat monthly rate, students can access millions of step-by-step expert solutions or upload a photo of their homework. There are also quizzes, flashcard decks, study guides, and lecture notes for most high school and college courses, including Algebra I and Algebra II.
Chegg’s Math Solver is another useful feature for students in classes ranging from Pre Algebra to Linear Algebra. This tool will solve any equation and break down the solution into small steps, explaining every aspect of the process. Students can get three free solutions per day or pay $9.99 per month for unlimited Math Solver access.
Pros
- Offers several online education tools, some of which are free to use
- Affordable, flat monthly rate to access unlimited study resources for practically any high school or college course
- Math Solver tool instantly solves equations and explains each step of the solution
Cons
- Live online tutoring is no longer offered, so students must self-guide their study and will not receive guidance from an instructor
- Navigating the website’s resources can be time-consuming when looking for a specific topic or study tool
Bottom Line: Although Chegg has discontinued its online tutoring service, students can pay a flat monthly rate to receive unlimited access to study resources such as step-by-step solutions, practice exams, flashcards, lecture notes, and answers provided by subject experts.
Why Try Online Algebra Tutoring?
Algebra I and Algebra II are two of the most important mathematics courses students take to earn their high school diplomas. While some students thrive on algebraic expressions, inequalities, and functions, others struggle to build a strong foundation of understanding and master the math skills and concepts they need to succeed.
Unlike math classes, where teachers have to cover a certain amount of material in every lesson and often have 20 or 30 students, the best online algebra tutors work one-on-one with a student. They ensure tutees have a solid grasp of each topic, solve practice problems together, and provide relevant extension activities, all part of an individual tutoring program designed around the student’s needs.
Online algebra tutors are uniquely placed to help students in a comfortable environment, away from the stress and pressures of the classroom, with the student receiving 100% of the tutor’s attention. Here are just some of the core benefits you and your child could experience with a skilled tutor:
The Benefits
Online tutoring offers many of the same benefits as face-to-face tutoring. In fact, there are numerous reasons why online tutoring may be a better fit for families than in-person tutoring.
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Find the best tutors, regardless of location: Not limited by who's in your area, online tutoring gives you access to a wider pool of highly experienced educators.
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Highly personalized tutoring experience: Rather than following a one-size-fits-all curriculum at a local learning center, online algebra tutors have the flexibility to tailor their approach to the student’s needs.
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Convenience and flexibility with scheduling: Online tutoring allows families to arrange sessions at times that fit their busy schedules. Many students thrive learning from the comfort of home.
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More affordable: With fewer overhead costs, online algebra tutors tend to be more budget-friendly and accessible than in-person private tutors.
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Engaging sessions and digital literacy skills: Video conferencing, online whiteboards, and collaborative resources make online tutoring sessions engaging and acquaint students with important aspects of technology they will use in later life.
How to Find the Right Online Algebra Tutor for You
There are many different ways to go about finding an algebra tutor. An essential first step is to decide whether you’d like to work with an online or in-person tutor. Then you can follow these suggestions to select the ideal educator for your child.
Ask for recommendations
Given the soaring popularity of math tutoring (especially online services), it’s likely that you know someone who has hired an algebra tutor for their child. Getting a recommendation from someone you know and trust, like a friend or colleague, is a fantastic way to find a tutor. They can also tell you about their experience using an online tutoring platform and offer tips and tricks.
If your child is struggling in school, connecting with their math teacher, guidance counselor, or principal is also a good strategy. The school may offer its own tutoring program that aligns with the curriculum, or it may have connections with tried-and-tested local tutors.
Choose a reputable online platform
With the recent rise in the popularity of online learning, many companies have begun offering online tutoring. Some are established in-person learning centers that have branched out into virtual instruction, whereas others are exclusively focused on—and designed for—e-learning.
Before selecting a platform, ensure that its tutors have been thoroughly vetted for professional expertise and the quality of their teaching. You’ll also want to find out about the platform’s pricing structure to make sure it fits your budget.
Check for relevant qualifications and experience
Whichever route you choose to find the tutor, you’ll want to double-check that they have the proper credentials to help your child succeed. The best algebra tutors will have a degree in mathematics and years of professional experience, whether that’s as a high school math teacher or an algebra tutor.
Meet your tutor before committing
Even if you’ve found an algebra tutor with stellar credentials, it’s important to get to know their tutoring philosophy and personality before signing up for a tutoring program. You know your child best, so you’ll be able to tell whether the tutor will be a good fit. You could ask for a sample lesson or find out how they would help your child with a specific algebra topic they’re struggling with, such as solving linear equations or finding the distance between two points.
Research reviews and ratings
If you’ve chosen an online tutoring platform such as Learner, Varsity Tutors, or Wyzant, you should be able to find online reviews and ratings from parents who have used the service. This is an excellent way to get unbiased feedback from other families about their experience with the tutoring service, as well as suggestions to make algebra tutoring as successful as possible.
How We Chose the Best Online Algebra Tutoring Services
With so many online platforms offering math tutoring, we carefully considered our methodology for comparing them. We ultimately decided on five criteria that we believe contribute the most to student success and parent satisfaction.
Excellent tutor quality
Great tutoring starts with a great tutor, so it was important to us to select tutoring companies that have the highest standards for their tutors. This includes education level, qualifications, teaching certifications, and professional experience, along with the ability to connect with students of all ages, levels, and abilities.
Personalized tutoring plans designed with individuals in mind
The best tutoring platforms strive to design all tutoring sessions around the needs and goals of the student rather than trying to cover a standardized lesson plan. We looked for dynamic and responsive platforms that truly tailor the tutoring experience to the learning style and academic level of the student, always considering their academic objectives, strengths, and weaknesses.
Use of technology
With online tutoring, it’s hard to overstate the importance of making use of technology to deliver the best possible sessions. With seamless video chatting, messaging, and audio calling paired with virtual whiteboards, real-time document collaboration, and resource sharing, a virtual classroom has the potential to be just as effective as a real one. We selected platforms that have excellent virtual learning environments designed to help students further their digital literacy while receiving excellent instruction in algebra or any other subject.
Constructive feedback and frequent communication
Frequent and constructive feedback is an essential part of the online tutoring experience. We looked for platforms that emphasize regular communication among tutors, students, and parents and have a straightforward setup in place so that students can reflect on their learning, progress, and targets.
Flexible scheduling and excellent availability
Convenience is one of the main reasons that families turn to virtual tutoring. Online tutoring platforms offer busy students with numerous extracurricular activities the flexibility to schedule sessions at times that fit their schedules, even if that’s before school, in the evening, or on weekends.
We also considered that every student has their own reasons for seeking out online tutoring, and a great platform should be able to cater to all of those needs. For example, some students may want to instantly connect with an algebra tutor to get help with specific homework assignments or prepare for an exam, while others may want to build confidence and increase their subject knowledge over a period of weeks or months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Online algebra tutoring services help connect students with the right algebra tutors who can help them master important math concepts. Choosing an algebra tutor is an important decision that can have a major impact on your child’s academic results and self-confidence, so you may have even more questions. Here are some of the most common ones parents ask about navigating the world of online tutoring.
Who should use online algebra tutoring services?
Any student struggling to understand the topics covered in algebra class can benefit from working with an online math tutor. The same is true for students whose potential isn’t being met at school or someone who wants a little extra support before the SAT or another exam. Due to the one-on-one structure, online math tutors provide personalized attention that students simply don’t get in math class.
How much do online algebra tutoring services cost?
There is a wide range of prices associated with online algebra tutoring, depending on the qualifications and experience of the tutor. It's relatively common for a professional educator to charge $80 or more per session, though many platforms offer tutoring packages designed to suit different budgets.
What should you look for in online algebra tutoring services?
Families interested in online algebra tutoring should look for a service that employs friendly yet professional math experts who have a clear track record of success in student achievement. It’s also important to choose a platform that takes the student’s unique learning style and needs into account when setting up a tutoring plan.
What are the pros of using online algebra tutoring services?
One of the biggest benefits of online algebra tutoring is the ability to work with a subject expert regardless of your location. Families also choose online services because of the flexible scheduling and the convenience of accessing professional tutoring from the comfort of their own homes.
What are the cons of using online algebra tutoring services?
Although online tutors are a great choice for most students, not everyone thrives when using a virtual learning platform. Some students prefer the physical proximity of sitting next to their tutor and working on problems side-by-side. Likewise, some students focus better when they are in a classroom-type environment rather than at home.