Tutorful vs TutorDex
Tutorful is a managed marketplace with an in-platform classroom, recorded lessons and a per-lesson service fee. 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, tutor choice, lesson format and safeguarding.
By Henry Lin, Founder of TutorDex · Published 14 September 2026 · Updated 14 September 2026 · Last reviewed 14 September 2026
Tutorful vs TutorDex at a glance
Tutorful is a fully managed marketplace: lessons run in Tutorful's own online classroom, online lessons are recorded, and all messaging stays on-platform. Tutorful says using it is free for tutors and that it does not take commission from tutor earnings; instead a service fee is added on top of the tutor's rate and paid by the student. Tutorful does not publish the service fee percentage, and its tutor sign-up page currently states it is not accepting new tutors.
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 hourly 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 managed-and-recurring versus directory-and-one-off. Neither is cheaper in every case.
At a glance: parents and tutors
If you're a parent
Tutorful: managed online classroom, recorded lessons, messages kept on-platform, a service fee added on top of tutor rates from £20/hour, and a first-lesson guarantee.
TutorDex: one-off £9.99–£39.99 finder's fee, direct contact with the tutor, no commission, and you arrange lessons and payment yourself.
If you're a tutor
Tutorful: free to list with no commission from your earnings, but a student-paid service fee is added to your displayed rate; Tutorful's sign-up page currently says it is not accepting new tutors.
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 Tutorful
- Search or filter for a tutor by subject, level, price, availability or SEN experience.
- Shortlist favourites and message tutors through the platform.
- Enter payment details and book the first lesson; the tutor confirms the booking.
- Attend the lesson in Tutorful's Online Classroom; payment is taken 24 hours after the lesson.
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 | Tutorful | TutorDex |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Fully managed marketplace; lessons run in Tutorful's own Online Classroom. | Directory-style platform; a finder's fee releases contact details and lessons are arranged directly. |
| Pricing model | Tutor-set rates from £20/hour plus a student-paid service fee; the percentage is not published. | One-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99; no hourly commission. |
| Tutor cost | Free for tutors; no commission from earnings, but a service fee is added to the displayed rate for students. | Free to list; the student pays the one-off finder's fee. |
| New tutors | Sign-up page currently states it is not accepting new tutors. | Open to new tutors. |
| Lesson format | Online lessons in Tutorful's Online Classroom with whiteboard and recordings; terms also allow in-person. | No platform classroom; tutor and family agree the format, schedule and tools. |
| Contact sharing | Messages only through the platform; contact details are not shared. | Finder's fee releases contact details; communication then happens directly. |
| Safeguarding | Enhanced background check within 3 years (DBS / Disclosure Scotland / Access NI), two references, recorded lessons, dedicated safeguarding officer. | Identity, address and two references collected and reviewed; DBS not mandatory for self-employed private tutors; families verify the specific tutor. |
| Search ranking | Mixture of profile data, student ratings, lessons taught, messaging and repeat bookings; weighting not published. | Imported First Tutors reviews feed search ranking, alongside native reviews. |
| First Tutors history | No First Tutors import. | Full First Tutors account import, including reviews that feed search ranking. |
| First-lesson protection | A 100% satisfaction guarantee: a goodwill payment towards a replacement lesson, capped at £100 and with deadlines. | No first-lesson guarantee; the finder's fee is a one-off introduction charge. |
| Ownership | Operated by Tutora Ltd (company 09370702). | Independent platform operated by TutorDex. |
Fees and pricing compared
Tutorful lists online tuition from £20 per hour, and its support pages say the hourly rate shown on a tutor's profile is the price paid per hour once the service fee is included. Tutorful says using the platform is free for tutors and that it does not take commission from tutor earnings. Instead, a service fee is added on top of the tutor's rate and paid by the student; the total Lesson Fee is the combination of the Tutor Fee and the Service Fee. Tutorful's terms describe the Service Fee as a percentage increase applied to the Tutor Fee, but the percentage is not published on its public pages. Payment is taken 24 hours after the scheduled end of each lesson.
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 commission on lessons: 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
The two models behave differently as lesson volume increases. Tutorful has no upfront charge, but its service fee is added to every lesson the student books, so the platform cost scales with use. TutorDex charges once per tutor unlocked, so its platform cost is fixed no matter how many lessons follow.
That means the cheaper option depends on how many lessons you expect. For a single lesson, the two can land close together. For a term of weekly lessons, a fixed one-off fee is usually cheaper than a recurring per-lesson service fee, because the recurring cost compounds while the fixed cost does not.
When comparing, work out the expected total, not the headline hourly rate: lesson length, number of lessons, any service fee, cancellation rules, and what happens if the first tutor is not a fit.
Lesson format and classroom
Tutorful runs online lessons through its own Online Classroom, with an interactive whiteboard and document sharing. Tutorful states that all online lessons are recorded and stored for between 28 days and one year, and that messages are only sent through its platform. Its terms define a Lesson as including both in-person and online sessions, but its public marketing is online-first.
TutorDex is a directory, not a classroom. The finder's fee enables contact-detail sharing, and from that point the tutor and family agree the lesson format, platform, schedule and payment method themselves.
If you want a platform-hosted, recorded classroom with messaging kept on-platform, Tutorful provides it. If you want to arrange lessons directly and choose your own tools, TutorDex leaves that to you and the tutor.
Tutor choice, matching and availability
Tutorful says it handpicks tutors, who must have at least two years' experience, and that it accepts only about 1 in 8 applicants. It advertises more than 11,000 tutors. Its tutor sign-up page currently states that it is no longer accepting new tutor applications, so the tutor pool is closed to new entrants for now.
TutorDex lets families search by subject, level and location, then contact tutors directly. The tutor pool 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
Tutorful requires all tutors to hold Background Checked Status: an enhanced background check awarded within the last three years, from the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland or Access Northern Ireland. New tutors must also provide two written references from non-family referees before their profile goes live. Tutorful says it records all online lessons, monitors messages sent through the platform, and employs a dedicated Internal Safeguarding Officer.
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.
In short: Tutorful operates a managed, recorded environment with mandatory enhanced background checks for its tutors. TutorDex is a directory where the family carries more of the due-diligence responsibility and arranges lessons directly.
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 | Tutorful | TutorDex |
|---|---|---|
| Interview / selection | Handpicked; 2+ years' experience required; about 1 in 8 applicants accepted. | No platform interview; families assess fit directly. |
| Identity | Tutorful says it checks the identity of all tutors. | Proof of identity collected and reviewed for registered tutors. |
| Criminal-record check | Enhanced background check required within the last 3 years (DBS, Disclosure Scotland or Access NI). | Not mandatory; private tuition is generally not a regulated activity. |
| References | Two written references from non-family referees required before the profile goes live. | Two references collected for registered tutors. |
| Lesson recording | All online lessons recorded and stored for 28 days to 1 year. | Not recorded by the platform; tutor and family decide. |
| Messaging | Messages only through the platform; monitored. | Contact details shared after the finder's fee; communication then direct. |
| Safeguarding officer | A dedicated Internal Safeguarding Officer. | No named safeguarding officer; support team is available. |
| Parent responsibility | Parent or guardian must not leave a child in the sole care of a tutor. | Families arrange lessons directly and carry out their own due diligence. |
First Tutors history and review imports
Tutorful is an established tutoring 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 Tutorful offers that TutorDex doesn't
A managed online classroom
Online lessons run in Tutorful's Online Classroom with an interactive whiteboard, and all online lessons are recorded.
On-platform communication
Messages are only sent through the platform, which some families prefer.
A mandatory background-check framework
All tutors must hold an enhanced background check awarded within the last three years, plus two written references.
A first-lesson guarantee
Tutorful offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee with a goodwill payment towards a replacement lesson, capped at £100.
SEN and additional-needs pathways
Tutorful surfaces SEN, autism, dyslexia and dyscalculia pathways so parents can filter for relevant experience.
What TutorDex offers that Tutorful doesn't
A fixed one-off cost
A single finder's fee releases contact details, with no per-lesson service fee, so the platform cost does not grow with every lesson.
Direct contact and control
You deal with the tutor directly and agree the lesson format, schedule and payment method yourselves.
An open tutor pool
TutorDex accepts new tutors, including experienced working tutors and qualified teachers, while Tutorful's sign-up page currently says it is not accepting new tutors.
First Tutors history import
TutorDex imports a full First Tutors account — reviews, students, references and old requests — and imported reviews feed search ranking.
Free to list for tutors
It is free for tutors to advertise their services; the student pays the finder's fee when they choose to unlock contact details.
Key terms in this comparison
Finder's fee
A one-off payment to unlock a tutor's contact details, rather than a fee charged per lesson.
Service Fee
Tutorful's fee, added on top of the tutor's rate and paid by the student. Tutorful does not publish the percentage.
Lesson Fee
In Tutorful's terms, the combination of the Tutor Fee and the Service Fee that the student pays.
Managed marketplace
A platform that hosts the lesson, communication and payment infrastructure, rather than only introducing tutor and family.
Tutor directory
A listing platform that helps families find and contact tutors, then leaves lessons and payment to be arranged directly.
Background Checked Status
Tutorful's status for tutors who have provided an enhanced check within the last three years.
Contact sharing
Whether the platform releases a tutor's contact details to the family or keeps all 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 cost?
Ask for the exact hourly rate plus any service fee, and work out the expected term or monthly total rather than the headline rate.
What has actually been checked?
Ask which checks apply to the specific tutor — identity, references and any background check — and when they were awarded.
How are lessons run?
Confirm whether lessons are online or in person, whether they are recorded, and how homework and progress are handled.
What happens if a lesson is missed?
Check the cancellation window, late-cancellation charges and how rescheduling works.
How do we switch tutors if it is not a fit?
Ask how to change tutor, whether there is a cost, and how any first-lesson guarantee is claimed.
Is the tutor pool open?
If you want a specific or newly qualified tutor, check whether the platform is currently accepting new tutors.
Which is the better fit?
Tutorful may suit you if
- You want a managed online classroom with recorded lessons
- You want all messaging and contact kept on-platform
- You value a first-lesson guarantee with published terms
- You want visible SEN and additional-needs filtering
- You are comfortable with a per-lesson service fee
TutorDex may suit you if
- You want a fixed one-off cost rather than a per-lesson fee
- 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.
- Tutorful — Homepage
Tutorful · Accessed 2026-09-14
Online tuition from £20/hour, 11,000+ tutors, 2+ years' experience, about 1 in 8 applicants accepted, enhanced background checks, recorded lessons, on-platform messaging, Internal Safeguarding Officer, first-lesson guarantee and SEN pathways.
- Tutorful — Terms and Conditions
Tutorful (Tutora Ltd) · Accessed 2026-09-14
Lesson Fee = Tutor Fee + Service Fee; Service Fee is a percentage increase not published; payment 24 hours after the lesson; cancellation rules; 100% satisfaction guarantee capped at £100; Background Checked Status within 3 years; ranking factors; operated by Tutora Ltd (09370702).
- Tutorful — Safeguarding policies
Tutorful · Accessed 2026-09-14
Enhanced background check required within 3 years; two non-family references; ranking; online lessons recorded and stored 28 days to 1 year.
- Tutorful — For Tutors: How much does it cost to use Tutorful?
Tutorful Support · Accessed 2026-09-14
Free for tutors; no commission from tutor earnings; service fee added on top of the tutor rate and paid by the student; total lesson price displayed on the profile.
- Tutorful — Become a tutor (closed)
Tutorful · Accessed 2026-09-14
States "We are no longer accepting new tutors."
- TutorDex — Importing reviews
TutorDex · Accessed 2026-09-14
TutorDex import process and how imported reviews are treated.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Tutorful or TutorDex?
- It depends on lesson volume. Tutorful has no upfront fee but adds a student-paid service fee to every lesson; the percentage is not published. TutorDex charges a one-off finder's fee of £9.99–£39.99 and no commission. For a single lesson they can be close; for an ongoing arrangement TutorDex's cost is fixed while Tutorful's recurs per lesson.
- Does Tutorful take commission?
- Tutorful says using the platform is free for tutors and that it does not take commission from tutor earnings. Instead, a service fee is added on top of the tutor's hourly rate and paid by the student. Tutorful does not publish the service fee percentage.
- Can I join Tutorful as a tutor?
- Tutorful's Become a Tutor page currently states "We are no longer accepting new tutors." TutorDex is open to new tutors.
- Does Tutorful record lessons?
- Yes. Tutorful states that all online lessons are recorded and stored for between 28 days and one year, and that messages are only sent through its platform.
- Are Tutorful tutors background checked?
- Tutorful requires all tutors to hold an enhanced background check awarded within the last three years, from the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland or Access Northern Ireland, plus two written references.
- Can I import my First Tutors reviews to Tutorful?
- Tutorful 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.
- Which is better for ongoing weekly lessons?
- If you want a managed, recorded classroom and on-platform communication, Tutorful fits that model. If you want a fixed one-off cost and a direct relationship with the tutor, TutorDex fits better. Compare the total expected spend and the level of platform involvement you want.