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Short answer
Recent research suggests well-run online tutoring can work about as well as in-person tutoring. A 2025 randomized study that had the same tutors teach both ways found no significant difference in reading gains, though in-person students attended more often. Reviews of virtual programs find positive effects that are sometimes a little smaller than the best in-person programs. The tutor's skill, one-to-one attention and regular attendance matter more than the format. Online tutoring is usually cheaper and easier to schedule.
Key takeaways
- A 2025 randomized study found no significant difference in reading gains between formats.
- In-person students attended more consistently, so routine matters online.
- The tutor's skill matters more than whether lessons are online or in person.
- Online tutoring is usually cheaper and easier to fit around family life.
Where TaleemSquare fits
- Format
- Live one-to-one math lessons online
- Price
- From $85 a month for 2 classes a week (about $10.63 a class)
- Fees and contract
- No registration fee, no contract, cancel any month
- First step
- Free 45-minute assessment, then a 4-class money-back promise
How we wrote this
TaleemSquare teaches online, so we have an interest in this question. We have tried to report the research fairly, including where in-person tutoring comes out ahead. Sources are listed at the end and were checked in October 2026.
Tutoring is one of the best-studied ways to help children catch up. A large review of randomized trials by J-PAL found tutoring raised achievement by about 0.37 standard deviations on average, roughly moving a student from the 50th to the 66th percentile. Most of those studies were in-person. So the question for many parents is simple: does online tutoring work as well?
What does the research say?
The most direct evidence comes from a 2025 randomized study of a summer early literacy program in New York. The same tutors taught some children in person and others online, one-to-one, in 30 to 45 minute sessions. Children in both formats gained about 0.31 to 0.35 standard deviations, with no significant difference between them. The researchers concluded that the tutor's skill mattered more than the format.
Other recent studies of virtual programs also find positive effects. Researchers quoted in a January 2025 review noted that virtual effects are sometimes a little smaller than the best in-person programs, but well-designed online tutoring comes close.
Where does in-person tutoring have the edge?
- Attendance. In the 2025 study, children attended in-person sessions more consistently. Online sessions are easier to skip.
- Relationships. Tutors reported feeling closer to in-person students.
- Very young children. Four- and five-year-olds may find it harder to focus on a screen, and benefit from hands-on materials.
- Children who struggle with screens, or who are easily distracted at home.
Where does online tutoring have the edge?
- Cost. No travel, no center rent, and access to tutors in lower-cost areas. Online one-to-one tutoring can cost a fraction of local rates.
- Choice. You are not limited to the tutors who live nearby, which matters for specialist subjects or a particular curriculum.
- Scheduling. No driving, and lessons can fit before dinner or on weekends.
- Consistency. A move, a snow day or a mild cold does not have to cancel a lesson.
| Online tutoring | In-person tutoring | |
|---|---|---|
| Results in studies | Similar when well run | Strong evidence base |
| Typical cost | Often lower | Often higher, plus travel |
| Tutor choice | Wide, not limited by location | Limited to local tutors |
| Attendance | Easier to skip | More consistent in studies |
| Best for | Ages 6 and up, busy families, specific needs | Very young or screen-averse children |
How do the costs compare?
In-person tutors charge for their time and usually their travel, and learning centers have rent to cover. Wyzant says its tutors average $35 to $60 an hour, and centers such as Sylvan and Huntington are typically estimated at $45 to $80 an hour. Online services can charge much less, especially when tutors live in lower-cost areas. TaleemSquare, for example, charges $85 a month for two 45-minute one-to-one lessons a week.
Remember the hidden cost of in-person tutoring too: a 20-minute drive each way turns a one-hour lesson into nearly two hours of a parent's time. See our guide to tutoring rates per hour for more.
What matters more than the format?
The research points to the same few ingredients either way:
- A skilled tutor who can diagnose gaps and explain in several ways.
- One-to-one or very small groups, since several studies find one-to-one works better.
- Regular sessions, at least two or three a week.
- Consistent attendance, which online families need to protect.
- A clear plan and progress checks, shared with parents.
How do you make online tutoring work?
- Use a laptop or tablet with a camera, not a phone, and headphones.
- Set up a quiet spot with paper and a pencil for working out.
- Keep lessons at the same time each week to build a habit.
- Sit in on the first lesson or two, then step back.
- Ask for progress updates and check homework occasionally.
Which format is right for your child?
Choose in-person if your child is very young, finds screens distracting, or you have an excellent local tutor at a price you can manage. Choose online if you want more choice, lower cost or easier scheduling, and your child can focus on a screen for 30 to 45 minutes. Many families try online first, because it is cheaper to test.
Our verdict
For most school-age children, well-run online tutoring works about as well as in-person tutoring, at a lower cost. The tutor's skill, one-to-one attention and regular attendance matter far more than the format. If you go online, protect the routine so lessons do not get skipped.
What to do next
- Decide how many sessions a week your child needs and your budget.
- Try one online lesson and watch how your child engages.
- Book a free 45-minute math assessment with TaleemSquare, or read how our online math tutoring and online reading tutoring work.
Sources
- 1.National Student Support Accelerator, Experimental evidence on tutoring format and tutors (Hashim, Miles and Croke, 2025) Randomized comparison of in-person and virtual tutoring with the same tutors. Checked Oct 2026.
- 2.The 74, Done right, virtual tutoring nearly rivals in-person (Jan 2025) Recent virtual tutoring studies and conditions for success. Checked Oct 2026.
- 3.J-PAL, The transformative potential of tutoring (2020) Pooled effect of tutoring and features linked to larger effects. Checked Oct 2026.
- 4.Wyzant, Get started Average hourly rates used for cost context. Checked Oct 2026.
Written and fact-checked by the TaleemSquare Editorial Team
We research every figure against the provider's own pages or independent sources, list them above, and update posts when prices or policies change. See our editorial process and teaching method.
