Which is cheaper, Superprof or TutorDex?

It depends on how quickly you find a tutor and how long you use the platform. Superprof charges a £39/month Student Pass that recurs until cancelled, plus the tutor's lesson fee. TutorDex charges a one-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99 with no subscription. A student who finds a tutor and cancels Superprof in the same month pays about £39; a student who takes several months pays the pass again each month.

Does Superprof take commission from tutors?

Superprof says tutors keep 100% of what they earn when they collect payment independently. If a tutor routes lesson payments through Superprof, a 10% processing fee applies. Listing is free.

Are Superprof tutors DBS checked?

Superprof does not publicly document a DBS or criminal-record-check requirement for tutors on the pages reviewed; tutors may upload credentials, which are reviewed by its admin team, but credentials are optional. Families should check each tutor's credentials themselves.

Can I import my First Tutors reviews to Superprof?

Superprof does not import a former tutor's First Tutors history. TutorDex does: it accepts a full import of a First Tutors account, and verifiable imported reviews feed its search ranking.

Do Superprof tutors offer a free first lesson?

Many do, and Superprof encourages it, but it is at the tutor's discretion rather than guaranteed. Check the tutor's profile or ask before booking.

Which is better for niche subjects?

Superprof's scale gives it far broader subject coverage, which helps with unusual or niche requests. TutorDex is UK-focused and smaller, but is the only platform that imports a full First Tutors history.

Superprof vs TutorDex

Superprof is a global tutor marketplace funded by a monthly Student Pass subscription paid by the student. TutorDex is a directory-style platform built around a one-off finder's fee, direct tutor contact and importing a tutor's First Tutors history. This page compares the two on price, reach, lesson format and safeguarding.

By Henry Lin, Founder of TutorDex · Published 14 September 2026 · Updated 14 September 2026 · Last reviewed 14 September 2026

Superprof vs TutorDex at a glance

Superprof is a global marketplace where students pay a monthly Student Pass — £39/month in the UK — to browse and message tutors, then pay lesson fees separately at the tutor's own rate. Tutors list for free and keep 100% of lesson fees when they collect payment independently; a 10% processing fee applies if payments are routed through Superprof.

TutorDex is a directory-style platform: a one-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99 releases a chosen tutor's contact details, there is no recurring subscription and no commission, and lessons and payment are arranged directly with the tutor. It is also the only platform built to import a full First Tutors account history.

The practical choice is subscription-and-directory-reach versus one-off-and-direct-contact. Neither is cheaper in every case.

At a glance: parents and tutors

If you're a parent

Superprof: a £39/month Student Pass to contact tutors, plus the tutor's lesson fee; a very large directory and many tutors offer a free first lesson.

TutorDex: one-off £9.99–£39.99 finder's fee, direct contact with the tutor, no subscription, and you arrange lessons and payment yourself.

If you're a tutor

Superprof: free to list with no listing fee; you keep 100% when you collect payment directly, or pay a 10% processing fee if payments go through Superprof.

TutorDex: free to list, the student pays the finder's fee, an open pool of tutors can register, and you can import your First Tutors history.

How booking works on each platform

Booking with Superprof

Search for a tutor by subject, level and location.
Buy a Student Pass (£39/month in the UK) to message tutors.
Message as many tutors as you like and agree lesson details.
Cancel the Student Pass when you no longer need it; pay the tutor's lesson fee separately.

Booking with TutorDex

Search for a tutor by subject, level and location.
Message the tutor to discuss your requirements; browsing and messaging are free.
Pay the one-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99 to release the tutor's contact details.
Arrange the lesson format, schedule and payment directly with the tutor.

Side-by-side

Dimension	Superprof	TutorDex
Business model	Global tutor marketplace; Superprof connects students and tutors.	Directory-style platform; a finder's fee releases contact details and lessons are arranged directly.
Pricing model	Monthly Student Pass of £39 to contact tutors, plus the tutor's lesson fee separately.	One-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99; no subscription and no commission.
Tutor cost	Free to list; keep 100% if you collect payment directly, or pay a 10% processing fee if payments go through Superprof.	Free to list; the student pays the one-off finder's fee.
Lesson format	Online, in person, at home or group lessons, depending on the tutor.	Tutor and family agree the format, schedule and tools.
Contact sharing	The Student Pass lets you message tutors; you can then take the relationship off-platform.	Finder's fee releases contact details; communication then happens directly.
Tutor checks	Tutors upload their own credentials, which are reviewed; credentials are optional and no DBS requirement is publicly documented.	Identity, address and two references collected and reviewed; DBS not mandatory for self-employed private tutors; families verify the specific tutor.
Free first lesson	Encouraged, at the tutor's discretion, and common.	No platform first-lesson offer; the finder's fee is a one-off introduction charge.
Reach	Operates in dozens of countries; tens of thousands of UK tutors and more than 1,000 subjects claimed.	UK-focused, smaller directory.
First Tutors history	No First Tutors import.	Full First Tutors account import, including reviews that feed search ranking.

Fees and pricing compared

Superprof charges UK students a monthly Student Pass of £39, which lasts 30 days and renews until cancelled. The pass lets a student browse profiles and message as many tutors as they like. The lesson fee is separate: it goes to the tutor at the tutor's own rate. Superprof says tutors keep 100% of what they earn when they collect payment independently, and that a 10% processing fee applies if lesson payments are routed through Superprof. Superprof encourages tutors to offer a free first lesson, but it is at the tutor's discretion.

TutorDex charges the student or parent a one-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99 to release a chosen tutor's contact details. There is no subscription and no commission: the tutor keeps the hourly rate agreed directly with the family, and further payments and arrangements are handled privately.

What the fee models mean over time

Superprof and TutorDex charge the student in structurally different ways, and the total cost depends on how quickly you find a tutor and how long you keep using the platform.

On Superprof, the Student Pass is a recurring monthly charge that continues until you cancel it, separate from the lesson fee. A student who finds a tutor and cancels in the same month pays one month's pass. A student who takes two or more months, or who forgets to cancel, pays the pass again each month.

TutorDex charges once per tutor unlocked, so its platform cost is fixed no matter how long the relationship lasts. When comparing, work out the total first-month cost and the expected term total, not just the headline hourly rate.

Lesson format and reach

Superprof is a marketplace, not a managed classroom. Lessons can be online, in person, at home or in small groups, depending on the tutor. Students and tutors may arrange lessons directly or use Superprof's secure payment system; Superprof's role is to connect them.

TutorDex is also a directory rather than a classroom. The finder's fee enables contact-detail sharing, and the tutor and family agree the format, platform, schedule and payment method themselves.

Superprof's main advantage is breadth: it operates in dozens of countries and lists tutors across more than a thousand subjects, which helps with niche or unusual requests. TutorDex is smaller and focused on the UK.

Tutor choice and who can list

Superprof allows anyone with subject knowledge to sign up and teach; it states that no formal teaching certificate is required and that proof of credentials is optional. That openness is why the directory is so broad, but it also means credentials vary widely from tutor to tutor.

TutorDex is open to new tutors, including experienced working tutors, qualified teachers and specialists. TutorDex collects identity, address and two references for registered tutors, and tutors set their own rates.

Safeguarding and tutor checks

Superprof states that tutors upload their own credentials — such as degree certificates — which are reviewed by its admin team, and that profile credentials are optional. Superprof does not publicly document a DBS or criminal-record-check requirement for tutors on the pages reviewed, so families should treat platform profile checks as one input, not a safeguard guarantee.

TutorDex collects proof of identity, proof of address and two references for registered tutors, which are reviewed by its compliance team. Private tuition is not generally a regulated activity, so a DBS check is not a legal requirement for a self-employed private tutor; TutorDex does not claim that every tutor holds one. Families should verify identity, qualifications and any check for the specific tutor.

Vetting and safeguarding compared

A check on a platform is not a guarantee of teaching quality or personal fit. This table records what each platform says it does.

Check	Superprof	TutorDex
Who can list	Anyone with subject knowledge; no formal teaching certificate required and credentials optional.	Open to new tutors, including experienced tutors, teachers and specialists.
Identity	Not publicly documented as a mandatory pre-listing check.	Proof of identity collected and reviewed for registered tutors.
Criminal-record check	No DBS requirement publicly documented on the pages reviewed.	Not mandatory; private tuition is generally not a regulated activity.
Credentials	Tutors may upload certificates, reviewed by the admin team; optional.	Tutors may display qualifications; families verify the specific tutor.
References	Not documented as a requirement.	Two references collected for registered tutors.
Lesson recording	Not provided by Superprof; lessons are arranged by tutor and student.	Not recorded by the platform; tutor and family decide.
Parent responsibility	Families check each tutor's credentials and background themselves.	Families arrange lessons directly and carry out their own due diligence.

First Tutors history and review imports

Superprof is a general marketplace and does not import a former tutor's First Tutors history.

TutorDex was built to accept a full import of a First Tutors account. After the First Tutors closure, tutors can download their data from the First Tutors Privacy Center and import it into TutorDex: published and unpublished reviews, former students, references, old tuition requests and response times. Verifiable imported reviews feed the TutorDex search algorithm, so a tutor who built years of feedback does not restart from zero.

If you were a First Tutors tutor carrying a review history, that migration path is the clearest practical difference between the two platforms. Read the import walkthrough.

What Superprof offers that TutorDex doesn't

Unmatched reach
Superprof operates in dozens of countries and lists tutors across more than a thousand subjects, which helps with niche or unusual requests.
A free first lesson is common
Superprof encourages tutors to offer a free first lesson, giving students a low-risk way to assess a tutor, though it is at the tutor's discretion.
Flexible lesson formats
Tutors can offer online, in-person, at-home or group lessons, so families can choose the format that suits them.
Free for tutors to list
There is no listing fee, and tutors keep 100% of lesson fees when they collect payment directly.

What TutorDex offers that Superprof doesn't

A fixed one-off cost
A single finder's fee releases contact details, with no recurring Student Pass and no commission, so the platform cost does not grow with time.
No separation between access and lesson fees
TutorDex has one finder's fee rather than a subscription to contact tutors plus a lesson fee on top.
Direct contact and control
You deal with the tutor directly and agree the lesson format, schedule and payment method yourselves.
First Tutors history import
TutorDex imports a full First Tutors account — reviews, students, references and old requests — and imported reviews feed search ranking.
An open UK tutor pool
TutorDex accepts new tutors and charges them nothing to list; the student pays the finder's fee.

Key terms in this comparison

Student Pass

Superprof's monthly contact subscription (£39/month in the UK) that lets a student browse and message tutors. Separate from the lesson fee.

Finder's fee

A one-off payment to unlock a tutor's contact details, rather than a subscription or per-lesson charge.

Processing fee

Superprof applies a 10% processing fee when a tutor routes lesson payments through the platform, rather than collecting directly.

Tutor marketplace

A platform where many tutors list their own profiles and prices, and families compare tutor-level evidence.

Tutor directory

A listing platform that helps families find and contact tutors, then leaves lessons and payment to be arranged directly.

First lesson free

A tutor offering the first session at no cost. On Superprof it is encouraged but not mandatory.

Contact sharing

Whether the platform releases a tutor's contact details to the family or keeps communication on-platform.

Review import

Bringing previously published reviews from another platform (here, First Tutors) into a new profile, with the source checked.

Questions to ask before you book

A few questions reveal more than a headline price or star rating.

What is the total first-month cost?
Add the contact subscription (if any), the lesson fee and any processing fee, then compare that with a one-off finder's fee.
Is there a recurring charge?
If the platform uses a contact pass or subscription, confirm how to cancel it and how it renews.
What has actually been checked?
Ask which checks apply to the specific tutor — identity, references and any DBS level — rather than relying on a general platform claim.
How are lessons run?
Confirm whether lessons are online or in person, whether they are recorded, and how homework and progress are handled.
Is a free first lesson offered?
On marketplaces this is common but optional, so check the profile or ask the tutor.
How do we switch tutors if it is not a fit?
Ask how to change tutor and whether any fee is lost if the first fit is wrong.

Which is the better fit?

Superprof may suit you if

You want the widest possible choice of subjects and tutors
You value a free first lesson, which many tutors offer
You only need to contact tutors for a short period
You are comfortable checking each tutor's credentials yourself
You may want in-person, at-home or group lessons

TutorDex may suit you if

You want a fixed one-off cost rather than a recurring subscription
You want to deal directly with the tutor and choose your own lesson setup
You were a First Tutors tutor and want to import your history and reviews
You want an open tutor pool that accepts new tutors
You are comfortable carrying out your own tutor due diligence

Sources and checked dates

Prices and terms change, so each claim is tied to a primary source and a checked date.

Superprof — Superprof Payments: What You'll Pay as a Student or Tutor
Superprof · Accessed 2026-09-14
UK Student Pass £39/month and 30-day renewal; subscription separate from lesson fees; tutors keep 100% when collecting payment directly; 10% processing fee if payments are routed through Superprof; free first lesson encouraged, not mandatory; Superprof's own comment section acknowledges student confusion about the recurring subscription.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Superprof or TutorDex?: It depends on how quickly you find a tutor and how long you use the platform. Superprof charges a £39/month Student Pass that recurs until cancelled, plus the tutor's lesson fee. TutorDex charges a one-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99 with no subscription. A student who finds a tutor and cancels Superprof in the same month pays about £39; a student who takes several months pays the pass again each month.
What is the Superprof Student Pass?: It is Superprof's monthly contact subscription — £39/month in the UK — that lets a student browse profiles and message as many tutors as they like. It is separate from the tutor's lesson fee, which is paid at the tutor's own rate.
Does Superprof take commission from tutors?: Superprof says tutors keep 100% of what they earn when they collect payment independently. If a tutor routes lesson payments through Superprof, a 10% processing fee applies. Listing is free.
Are Superprof tutors DBS checked?: Superprof does not publicly document a DBS or criminal-record-check requirement for tutors on the pages reviewed; tutors may upload credentials, which are reviewed by its admin team, but credentials are optional. Families should check each tutor's credentials themselves.
Can I import my First Tutors reviews to Superprof?: Superprof does not import a former tutor's First Tutors history. TutorDex does: it accepts a full import of a First Tutors account, and verifiable imported reviews feed its search ranking.
Do Superprof tutors offer a free first lesson?: Many do, and Superprof encourages it, but it is at the tutor's discretion rather than guaranteed. Check the tutor's profile or ask before booking.
Which is better for niche subjects?: Superprof's scale gives it far broader subject coverage, which helps with unusual or niche requests. TutorDex is UK-focused and smaller, but is the only platform that imports a full First Tutors history.