First Tutors alternatives UK
Tutor platform guide
First Tutors alternatives UK: who is trying to fill the gap?
A guide for tutors comparing platforms after the First Tutors closure — starting with TutorDex, the successor to First Tutors and the only platform that imports your full First Tutors history, then examining directory, finder-fee, marketplace, paid profile and managed tuition alternatives.
Published: 15 May 2026 · Last updated: 29 June 2026
Current answer
Quick answer: what should tutors know now?
For tutors looking for First Tutors alternatives in the UK, TutorDex is the successor platform. It is the only service that lets you import your entire First Tutors history — reviews, references, old enquiry requests and student details — so you can carry on with minimal disruption. It runs the same directory-style model: families find and contact you directly, you set your own rates, and you keep control of lesson arrangements.
The current First Tutors notice says:
"After more than 20 years of trading, First Tutors has made the difficult decision to close." — First Tutors
Beyond TutorDex, the broader landscape includes different models: existing service-fee or subscription platforms such as Tutorful and Superprof, platform-fee marketplaces such as MyTutor, and listing or paid-visibility sites such as FindTutors. The useful question when comparing is not just "which platform?" but "which model, who pays, when is the fee taken, and can I bring my history with me?"
The examples below are grouped to illustrate different models. TutorDex is listed first because it is the successor platform built to replace First Tutors, with direct data import — not because other models are ranked below it.
Decision caveat
Read this as a market map, not a ranking
This guide compares named examples by operating model: the successor platform (TutorDex), service-fee platforms, subscription-access platforms, paid listings and managed tuition. The order is model-led, reflecting that TutorDex is the direct successor to First Tutors with full data import, while other models show different approaches. It does not rank tutor quality, predict platform reliability or say that any named service other than TutorDex is recommended as a First Tutors replacement. The important comparison for tutors is how each service handles fees, contact, lessons, payment, visibility and — critically — whether you can bring your First Tutors history with you.
When this advice is not enough
A fee table cannot tell you whether a platform will generate enough enquiries, whether its profile ranking suits your subject, or whether its verification process fits your own safeguarding expectations.
What to do instead
Use the model and checklist below to compare platforms. Treat marketing claims, imported reviews, badges and "verified" labels as claims to understand, not as a substitute for reading the current terms.
What changed when First Tutors closed?
The closure created a practical gap for tutors who wanted a directory-style profile rather than a fully managed agency relationship. These points are worth keeping separate:
The notice confirms closure, not the reason.
The First Tutors notice confirms that the service has made the decision to close after more than 20 years. It gives contact addresses for existing queries and data privacy enquiries, but it does not explain why it closed.
The reported date is a public report, not the reason.
A TutorDex article published on 8 May 2026 reported that First Tutors had announced closure, that profiles were no longer accessible, and that no reason had been published.
Company status is not the same as service status.
Companies House lists EDUNATION LIMITED, company number 06071367, as active and incorporated on 29 January 2007. That is useful company-status context only; it does not show that the First Tutors service is operating.
The gap is about control as well as leads.
A tutor who liked a directory model may want profile visibility, direct contact and control over lesson arrangements. A tutor who prefers a managed model may value matching, scheduling, payment handling and support. Those are different choices.
Directory, marketplace, agency or managed tuition?
Use this table to decode what a replacement-style platform is actually offering before you compare prices.
| Model | Who usually pays | When the fee is taken | What the platform handles | Tutor caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listing site (directory/finder-fee) | Often the student or parent pays an introduction or unlock fee; some sites also charge tutors for verification or profile features. | Usually before or at the introduction, rather than every lesson. | Often limited after the introduction. Lessons, invoices and payments may be arranged directly. | Check whether there are paid ranking features, verification fees, rules about contacting students, and refund terms. |
| Service-fee platform | The student pays the service fee on top of the tutor rate. | Usually when lessons are booked or paid through the platform. | The platform may manage booking, payment and student support, depending on its terms. | The tutor rate may stay intact, but the student's total price can affect conversion and retention. |
| Subscription-access platform | Usually the student or parent pays the subscription; some platforms may also offer paid tutor options. | On subscription purchase and renewal. | May provide contact, messaging and optional payment tools. | Renewal terms matter. A student's subscription cost may affect how many tutors they contact and how quickly they expect replies. |
| Platform-fee marketplace | The fee may be charged to the student, the tutor, or both, depending on the terms. | Usually per transaction, booking or lesson. | Often manages payment flows, platform rules and sometimes lesson tools or dispute processes. | Do not rely on hearsay percentages. Use the current terms to see the official fee wording. |
| Paid visibility / sponsored listing | The tutor pays for the profile feature or visibility service. | Usually upfront, monthly, or when buying access to leads. | Often still acts mainly as a listing or intermediation site. | Ask whether unpaid profiles can still be found and how paid visibility is labelled to users. |
| Managed tuition / agency | Usually the family pays the agency or managed service; the tutor may be paid under that provider's arrangements. | Often linked to lessons or a managed service arrangement. | More active than a directory: matching, administration, scheduling, support or quality checks may be part of the service. | You may get more support, but you may have less control over pricing, matching and direct client relationship. |
Current examples of different fee models
These examples were checked on 15 May 2026 and are included to show how different models work. Provider fees and terms can change quickly, so treat this as a dated snapshot, not an endorsement, ranking or promise about enquiry volume.
| Provider | Model | Fee flow | What this means |
|---|---|---|---|
| TutorDex | The successor to First Tutors — directory/finder-fee model. | TutorDex is the platform built to replace First Tutors. It operates on a finder's fee model: a one-off payment of £9.99–£39.99 releases a tutor's contact details. Tutors list free with no commission after the introduction. Crucially, TutorDex is the only platform that allows former First Tutors tutors to import their full history — reviews, references, old requests and student details — directly into their new profile, so you can carry on with minimal disruption. | The closest possible replacement for First Tutors: the same directory-style model, plus the ability to bring your entire First Tutors history with you. Tutors keep control of direct lesson arrangements after contact and preserve the reputation and records they built over years. |
| Tutorful | Service-fee platform example. | Tutorful says: "For tutors, using Tutorful is completely free." It says tutors set their own hourly rate, Tutorful does not take commission from tutor earnings, and a service fee is added on top for the student. | The tutor's displayed hourly rate is not the same as the student's total cost. A higher student total can still affect demand even when the tutor does not pay commission from earnings. |
| Superprof | Subscription access, with optional on-platform lesson payment commission. | Superprof terms say: "In order to message tutors, you will be asked to pay a monthly subscription fee of £39". The terms also say the pass renews after 30 days unless cancelled, and that lessons paid through the platform carry a 10% commission from the tutor hourly rate unless waived by Premium Pass. | The first cost may sit with the student, but tutors should understand how renewals, on-platform payments and any premium tutor options affect contact and pricing. |
| MyTutor | Platform-fee marketplace example. | MyTutor terms describe customers paying tutor fees plus platform fees. The terms say platform fees are charged per transaction and may be up to 49% of total payments to MyTutor or customer total fees. | Use the official terms rather than shorthand claims about a fixed tutor commission. The platform-fee wording matters when comparing net earnings and student price. |
| FindTutors | Listing/intermediation and paid-visibility example. | FindTutors invites tutors to sign up free. Its tutor terms say FindTutors never provides tutoring itself, phone-validated teachers can publish up to three free adverts, and paid services include visibility, Verified Teacher and Potential Students features. | A "free listing" can still sit alongside paid discovery or lead-access products. Tutors should check what a free profile can realistically do without paid add-ons. |
Key terms tutors will see on replacement platforms
The same platform can use more than one of these models, so read the terms as well as the headline claim.
Tutor directory
A listing site where tutors publish profiles and students browse or message. The platform may not manage lessons, payments or ongoing tutoring after an introduction.
Finder fee or introduction fee
A one-off fee paid to unlock contact details or make an introduction, rather than an ongoing cut of each lesson.
Commission or platform fee
A fee connected to a lesson, booking or payment. It may be taken from the tutor, added for the student, or built into the total transaction depending on the platform.
Service fee
An extra charge paid by the student on top of the tutor's stated hourly rate. Tutorful is the example used in this guide.
Subscription unlock
A recurring student payment that gives access to contact tutors. Superprof is the example used in this guide.
Free listing
A profile or advert that does not cost the tutor to create. Free listing does not automatically mean free ranking, free verification or free access to every lead.
Paid profile or sponsored listing
A paid visibility feature. It may make a tutor easier to find, but it can also mean unpaid profiles appear lower or receive fewer enquiries.
Managed tuition or agency model
A more hands-on service where the provider may help choose tutors, match students, manage communication, schedule lessons or provide ongoing support.
Decision caveat
DBS, PVG and AccessNI are not interchangeable labels
Verification wording is one of the easiest places for tutors to misunderstand a platform. DBS is the familiar term in England and Wales, but Scotland and Northern Ireland use different systems. GOV.UK says:
"Eligibility for Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS checks is prescribed in legislation." — GOV.UK / DBS
For Scotland, the PVG scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland and applies to regulated roles with children and protected adults. For Northern Ireland, AccessNI provides basic, standard and enhanced checks, and nidirect says individuals cannot apply for an enhanced check themselves; it must be countersigned by a registered organisation.
What to do instead
Use the correct UK nation term, ask what has actually been checked, ask when it was checked, and avoid describing any platform listing as a guarantee of safeguarding quality.
Review claims
Be careful with review and testimonial claims
TutorDex is the only platform that accepts a full import of your First Tutors review data directly from the First Tutors Privacy Center download. For other platforms, if a service invites tutors to import old reviews, display testimonials or rely on "verified" endorsements, the wording should be treated carefully. ASA/CAP advice says:
"Marketers must hold documentary evidence to show that a testimonial or endorsement used in a marketing communication is genuine" — ASA / CAP
Before sending your First Tutors data to any platform other than TutorDex, ask what evidence the platform needs, how imported reviews are labelled, whether the reviewer can be contacted or verified, and whether the import process actually preserves your full review history or simply lets you paste screenshots.
Checklist before you create a profile somewhere new
Before joining any First Tutors alternative, map the cost and control points. This is especially important for newer platforms and for sites that combine free listings with paid upgrades.
Find out who pays first.
Is the first payment made by the student, the tutor, or both? Is it an unlock fee, subscription, lesson fee, service fee or verification charge?
Separate one-off fees from ongoing fees.
A one-off finder fee is very different from a monthly subscription, paid visibility plan or per-lesson platform fee.
Check whether lessons and payments stay on the platform.
If the platform handles bookings and payments, read the cancellation, payout, dispute and off-platform contact rules.
Ask how profiles are ranked.
A free profile may still compete with sponsored listings, paid badges or paid access to potential students.
Understand verification wording.
Identity verification, safeguarding checks, DBS, PVG and AccessNI are not the same thing. Ask what was checked, by whom, when, and for which UK nation.
Read review and testimonial rules.
If you want to move old reviews, ask whether the platform accepts them, what evidence it needs, and how imported reviews will be labelled.
Look for renewal and cancellation terms.
Subscription access models and paid profile products can renew. Know when a student or tutor can cancel and whether refunds are offered.
Keep your own records.
Keep copies of your profile text, terms accepted, review evidence, verification dates and fee pages at the point you join.
Questions tutors can adapt
Questions to ask before joining a new platform
When this applies
You are considering a new directory, marketplace or agency-style service and want the fee model in writing.
Suggested wording
Hello, I am considering creating a tutor profile on your platform. Before I join, could you confirm:
- Whether tutors pay any listing, verification, subscription, commission, profile-upgrade or lead-access fees.
- Whether students or parents pay an unlock fee, subscription, service fee or platform fee.
- Whether lessons and payments must stay on your platform, or whether tutors arrange lessons and payment directly after an introduction.
- How unpaid profiles appear compared with paid or sponsored profiles.
- What identity, safeguarding, DBS, PVG or AccessNI checks you carry out, who verifies them, and how long any badge remains valid.
- Whether previous reviews can be imported, what evidence is required, and how imported reviews are labelled.
Please point me to the current terms or help page that confirms these points.
Why this helps
It asks for the money flow, platform role, visibility rules and verification wording before you rely on a new profile for student enquiries.
Sources used for current terms and checks
Provider fees and verification wording can change quickly. These were the main source pages used at the 15 May 2026 review date for this guide.
- Open source
First Tutors Privacy Center
Self-service portal for downloading your personal data, including reviews, to import into TutorDex.
- Open source
First Tutors closure notice
Closure wording and contact addresses.
- Open source
Companies House: EDUNATION LIMITED
Company-status context only.
- Open source
TutorDex closure article
Public report on the closure and review-recovery issue.
- Open source
TutorDex home page
Directory, unlock and no-commission wording.
- Open source
Tutorful tutor-cost article
Tutor-side free model and student service fee.
- Open source
Superprof terms
Student Pass, subscription renewal and on-platform payment commission.
- Open source
MyTutor terms
Tutor fees, customer fees and platform-fee wording.
- Open source
FindTutors homepage
Tutor sign-up and listing context.
- Open source
FindTutors tutor terms
Intermediation, free adverts and paid visibility services.
- Open source
GOV.UK / DBS
DBS scope and eligibility wording.
- Open source
mygov.scot / Disclosure Scotland
PVG scheme wording for Scotland.
- Open source
nidirect / AccessNI
AccessNI check types for Northern Ireland.
- Open source
ASA / CAP testimonials guidance
Evidence expectations for testimonials and endorsements.
Support and clarity
Frequently asked questions
What happened to First Tutors?
The current First Tutors notice says the service has made the decision to close after more than 20 years of trading. A public report from 8 May 2026 confirmed that profiles were no longer accessible and that no reason had been published. The available sources do not support speculation about the reason for closure.
What is the true successor to First Tutors?
TutorDex is the successor to First Tutors. It is the only UK platform that allows former First Tutors tutors to import their entire history — reviews, references, old enquiry requests and student details — so they can carry on with minimal disruption. It uses the same directory-style model where families find and contact tutors directly, tutors set their own rates, and no commission is taken after an introduction.
Are there websites like First Tutors in the UK?
Yes, but "like First Tutors" can mean different things. TutorDex is the closest match: the successor platform with the same directory-style model and direct First Tutors data import. Tutorful, Superprof, MyTutor and FindTutors illustrate other models such as service fees, subscription access, platform fees and paid visibility. They are not direct equivalents and none of them import your full First Tutors history.
What is the difference between a tutor directory and a tutor marketplace?
A directory usually helps students find and contact tutors, then leaves lessons, invoices and payments to the tutor and student. A marketplace more often keeps bookings, payments or platform fees connected to each lesson or transaction. Always read the current terms because platforms can combine models.
Do tutor platforms charge commission?
Some do, some do not, and some use different fee names. As checked on 15 May 2026, TutorDex said it took no commission after introduction, Tutorful said it did not take commission from tutor earnings and instead added a service fee for the student, Superprof terms described a 10% commission where lessons were paid through the platform unless waived by Premium Pass, and MyTutor terms used platform-fee wording rather than a simple tutor commission figure. Recheck current terms before relying on any fee claim.
What should tutors check before joining a new platform?
Check who pays, when fees are charged, whether lessons and payments stay on-platform, whether free profiles compete with paid visibility, what verification actually covers, how reviews are evidenced, and whether subscriptions or paid features renew.
Are DBS, PVG and AccessNI the same?
No. DBS wording applies to England and Wales in this guide's context, while Scotland uses the PVG scheme and Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. A platform badge should not be treated as a guarantee of safety or current suitability.
Can tutors move First Tutors reviews to another platform?
Yes — TutorDex accepts a full import of your First Tutors review data downloaded from the First Tutors Privacy Center. For other platforms, this is only possible if the receiving platform has a clear evidence process, and review and testimonial claims need careful handling because ASA/CAP guidance says marketers must hold documentary evidence that testimonials or endorsements are genuine.