Math is tough at every level, from K-12 through college. In fact, researchers say math evokes fear and anxiety in college students. Younger students don’t fare much better, even with help from their parents. One survey found that 56% of parents feel hopeless trying to help their kids with math homework. If you feel hopeless – or just a little behind – math tutoring can help you get back on track, gain a deeper understanding of mathematics and improve your grades.
Jump straight to math tutoring services: College & K-12 | K-12 Only
Math tutoring types
Here are five types of math tutors to explore.
1. Websites and apps
Math tutoring websites and apps make it easy to get help on your computer or phone in one of three ways:
Ongoing tutoring: Many websites offer ongoing sessions with tutors who help you achieve your academic goals. These services typically feature virtual classrooms and progress tracking (plus reports for K-12 parents). They’re best if you want to work 1-on-1 with online tutors to improve your grades over time.
Group tutoring: Some websites also offer cost-reduced group tutoring sessions (learn more about group tutoring below).
On demand tutoring: On demand, 24/7 tutoring is ideal if you’re a college student who needs homework help during late night study sessions or you’re a K-12 student (or parent) seeking occasional help with after school homework. You won’t work with the same tutor every time or get ongoing support, but you will get instant help with troublesome problems – no need to schedule or wait for your next appointment.
Read Also: The Ultimate Homework Help Guide
Options include:
- Learner.com
- Wyzant
- Smarthinking by Pearson
- The Princeton Review
- Skooli
- TutorMe
- Varsity Tutors
- ID Tech
- Thinkster
- Prodigy
- Yup
2. Private tutors
Private math tutors offer ongoing 1-on-1 instruction, either in person or online. Some work for tutoring companies while others are independent.
Tutoring company advantages often include advanced technology, such as virtual classrooms and progress tracking apps, plus the ability to switch tutors if it’s not working out or if your tutor quits. However, they also take their share of your tutoring fee, which could mean you’ll pay more than necessary for a less experienced tutor.
Independent tutors might offer more experience at a better rate, since there’s no middleman to pay, but their schedules are limited. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll need to find a replacement yourself.
Read Also: Tutoring Guide: How to Find a Tutor, Costs and Success Tips
Find private math tutors via:
- Tutoring websites
- Local provider websites like Care.com and Thumbtack
- Online search
- School and college bulletin boards
- Social media
- Referrals from teachers, parents and other students
3. Group tutoring
Group tutoring is more affordable than private tutoring and often encourages collaboration with peers – something you won’t get with private tutoring. It can be a good option for K-12 students who struggle with math as well as budget-strapped college students who prefer learning in a social environment. You can get group tutoring both online and off.
Potential drawbacks include lack of individualized instruction, curriculum that isn’t aligned with what’s being taught in class and social anxiety: some students do not speak up in a group setting.
Scheduling can prove problematic, especially for K-12 students juggling extracurricular activities and college students who work.
Find group tutoring:
- On math tutoring websites
- At math learning centers
- In after school programs
4. Tutoring centers
Primarily for K-12 students, tutoring centers offer both 1-on-1 and group tutoring depending on your budget and needs. Sessions are traditionally held in person at local facilities, but many have added online tutoring to their services.
Advantages include proven math curricula, ongoing progress tracking and the ability to work with multiple tutors and experience different teaching styles. Some centers create customized learning plans for each individual student.
Potential disadvantages include curricula that deviates from what’s being taught in class and a disconnect when students work with a different tutor each session. Though each tutor has formal training and is updated on every student’s progress, inconsistent teaching styles could hamper progress.
Options include:
5. Free math tutoring
Chances are you can get math tutoring for free if you know where to look. For example, many K-12 students can take advantage of free after school programs, and colleges have academic success centers that offer free assistance.
One benefit to these programs is curricula consistency: they’re staffed by teachers or students who have taken the same courses you’re struggling in, so they understand the nuances of each class.
Other options include nonprofit organizations that provide free online math tutoring, including UPchieve and PowerMinds, which are staffed by volunteer math tutors.
Find free math tutors via:
- K-12 after school programs
- College academic success centers
- Nonprofits like UPchieve and PowerMinds
15 math tutoring services
Ready to find a math tutor? Here’s a closer look at 15 popular services.
College and K-12
1. Learner.com
Learner.com takes a “white glove” approach to online tutoring by matching you (or your child) with a tutor based on learning style, personality, motivations and other factors. Fill out a questionnaire, and the system will suggest a tutor – plus give insights into the tutor’s education, experience, teaching style and past success stories.
One-on-one virtual sessions feature collaboration tools, whiteboards and live video, and all sessions are recorded so you can view them later. The platform keeps you updated with tutor feedback on student engagement, progress, successes and challenges.
Quality is paramount at Learner.com, as all tutors are professionals and not high school or college students. They also pay their tutors highly competitive rates. That makes Learner.com’s pricing a little higher than other options, but you get quality instruction from top-notch educators. You can optionally include your math teacher in the process.
Your first session is 100% free – you don’t even need to enter a credit card number – so it costs nothing to see if Learner.com is the right fit for you.
2. Wyzant
Wyzant makes it easy to find a math tutor by subject area, age, availability and education level: elementary, middle school, high school, college or adult.
You can filter tutors by location and distance for in-person tutoring nationwide. Or, opt for online tutoring and meet your instructor in a virtual classroom that features a whiteboard, text editor, code editor and screen sharing.
Instantly browse for tutors or fill out some information about the type of tutor you’re seeking and Wyzant will make recommendations. From there, you can check their credentials and reviews, see if they have background checks (or request one) and even chat with tutors before you book a session.
If you need immediate help, you can alternatively use Wyzant’s instant book feature: enter your timeline and price range, and Wyzant will automatically book an online session for you. An app is also available for mobile tutoring sessions.
Rates vary by tutor, but most charge $50/hour or less.
3. Smarthinking by Pearson
Smarthinking offers multiple math tutoring options to fit into your schedule. You can get instant 1-on-1 help with drop-in tutoring, schedule tutoring sessions in advance or send questions to tutors to receive a reply within 24 hours.
Smarthinking tutors average 12 years of experience and cover middle school, high school, college, graduate school and even professional school. More than 90% have advanced degrees.
Subjects include algebra, liberal arts math, geometry, trigonometry, calculus and statistics. You can also get tutoring for advanced subjects like differential equations, linear algebra, multivariable calculus and discrete mathematics.
All sessions are conducted online or via the Smarthinking mobile app (available for Android and iOS).
Pricing starts at $43.75/hour, with discounts for multi-hour packages.
4. The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review tutors are available 24/7 for on demand math tutoring, which makes it a good option if you need help grasping specific concepts or solving troublesome problems.
Browse tutors by availability, student reviews and subject areas including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, finite math, multivariable calculus and statistics. Then, review tutor profiles to find the ideal match.
Sessions are 1-on-1 and conducted online for grades 6-12 plus college, graduate and professional students.
If you’re looking for a way to save money, you can start with the Conects app: upload a photo of your math problem and The Princeton Review’s AI search engine will attempt to solve it. If that doesn’t work, you can connect to a live tutor instantly.
The Princeton Review offers a money-back guarantee if your subject grade doesn’t improve after you work with a tutor for at least two hours a month for three consecutive months.
Pricing starts at $39.99/hour, with discounts for monthly multi-hour plans. Your first tutoring session is free.
5. Skooli
Skooli takes a different approach to math tutoring: rather than charge by the hour or month, you pay by the minute for access to live tutors who cover the gamut of grade levels and subject areas. All college level tutors hold a master’s or doctorate degree.
To get started, select your subject and education level. Skooli will present a list of qualified tutors so you can view their credentials and availability. Then, book an instant session or schedule tutoring at a time that’s more convenient for you.
All sessions are conducted online or on-the-go via Skooli’s mobile app – a virtual classroom that features live video, chat, file sharing and recording so you can replay tutoring sessions.
Pricing is $0.82 per minute, which means Skooli might be ideal if you need occasional help. However, it could get expensive if you need multi-hour sessions several times a week.
6. TutorMe
TutorMe offers 24/7 on demand live tutoring in a variety of math subjects, including algebra, calculus, geometry, LaTeX, linear programming number theory, numerical analysis, partial differential equations and set theory.
Create a request and TutorMe’s smart matching system will connect you with a tutor. Alternatively, you can browse tutor profiles to view their credentials, experience, work histories and availability. From there, you can contact them for more details or start an instant session.
TutorMe caters to all grade levels and conducts 1-on-1 sessions via its online virtual classroom, which features a whiteboard with audio/video chat plus screensharing. All tutors are pre-screened (only 4% are accepted), and you can rate your instructor after each session.
Pricing starts at $69/month for up to 2 hours of on demand tutoring, with discounts for additional hours. You can also opt for pay-as-you-go pricing at $1/minute. TutorMe offers a 30-minute free trial session.
7. Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors offers online math tutoring via private 1-on-1 whiteboard sessions and small group classes. On demand instant tutoring is also available 24/7.
The company emphasizes a personalized approach, starting with an “adaptive assessment” used to identify your strengths, challenges and goals. Next, they develop a dynamic plan tailored to your needs, then match you with one of their 40,000 experts to begin your tutoring sessions.
Alternatively, you can browse math tutors to compare their education, test scores and subject matter expertise before you commit.
Varsity Tutors offers a tutor satisfaction guarantee: if you’re not satisfied with your tutor after your first session, contact them and they’ll help you find a better fit. Plus, your next session is free (up to 2 hours).
Though Varsity Tutors doesn’t publish pricing on its site, others report its rates start at $70 to $95/hour with discounts for multi-hour purchases.
K-12 only
8. iD Tech
iD Tech offers 1-on-1 virtual math tutoring for children ages 10 to 19, so it covers kids in upper elementary grades, middle school and high school. Subject options include pre-algebra, algebra (I & II), geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, trigonometry and statistics.
All iD Tech tutors are U.S.-based adult instructors recruited from top universities like NYU, Stanford and Caltech, and each has passed background and reference checks.
The company’s STEM curricula are customizable to match student needs and skill levels, and it offers flexible online scheduling and progress reports.
Pricing starts at $71 per session, with discounted rates as low as $60 per session if you sign up for 12 sessions per month. One money-saving perk: you can bring a sibling or friend along for free.
9. Thinkster
Designed for K-12 students, Thinkster uses artificial intelligence to decipher not only when a student makes a mistake, but why they made the mistake.
Each student is assigned a dedicated tutor who uses AI-driven data to monitor progress and develop custom lesson plans. Then, students meet tutors for 1-on-1 online whiteboarding sessions where they can work on their school homework or Thinkster’s own worksheets.
The online platform features daily assignments for elementary and middle school math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus. A parent app grants real-time insights into student strengths, weaknesses and progress.
Pricing varies depending on your child’s grade level and selected tutoring plan. The most popular plan, gold, comes with two 30-minute sessions per month and starts at $131/month, discounted to $86/month if you pay annually (a total of $1,032).
10. Prodigy
Known for its popular math learning game, Prodigy also offers 1-on-1 private math tutoring online. All tutors are certified teachers who offer customizable, curriculum-aligned sessions designed to help children reach their potential – and even advance beyond their grade level.
The first session is a combined free consultation and mini-lesson so parents and children can explore how Prodigy works. After that, kids meet their tutors in an interactive virtual classroom that features whiteboarding and live video.
Prodigy offers two pricing models: on-demand single sessions are $30 each and recurring weekly sessions are $24 each (billed every 4 weeks at $96).
11. Yup
Yup is a mobile app that offers 24/7 on-demand math tutoring for K-12 subjects like early math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, pre-calculus and calculus AB.
Students use the app to snap a photo of their problem, then connect with a tutor to work through it. Sessions are unlimited and can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
Backed by Stanford University and Sesame Street, all tutors are math instructors or graduate students who have passed Yup’s pre-screening process (only 5% of applicants do). Tutors are focused on teaching concepts (like Common Core), rather than simply solving problems, to foster long-term academic success.
You can choose between three plans: monthly at $199/month, three months at $179/month ($537 upfront) and 12 months at $159/month ($1,908 upfront).
If you choose the 12-month plan, you’ll get a one-week risk-free trial plus the option to pause your subscription for up to 3 months. That’s useful if you sign up partway through the school year and want to take a break during the summer.
12. Mathnasium
Mathnasium is probably best-known for its nationwide math learning centers, but the company also offers live online tutoring with the same instructors who staff its local facilities.
The Mathnasium Method begins with a skills assessment. Then, tutors develop a customized learning plan according to your child’s specific learning goals. From there, students meet with tutors (online or off) who teach math concepts in a supportive environment that fosters confidence and academic progress.
Pricing varies by location, but you can expect to pay around $200 to $300 per month to enroll your child in Mathnasium.
13. Kumon
Kumon’s after school learning program helps students acquire math skills on their own with 30-minute at-home assignments five days a week and in-center tutoring two days a week. Some local centers also offer virtual sessions.
Students learn at their own pace with instructor support to help them master key math concepts for any age, from three years old through high school.
Unlike traditional 1-on-1 tutoring, students complete much of the Kumon curriculum on their own time (via daily worksheets). Kumon instructors step in to offer guidance when they’re struggling. This process helps students learn on their own – a valuable skill itself.
Kumon pricing varies by location and subjects (they offer both math and reading), but in general you can expect to pay between $90 and $180 per month plus registration and material fees (around $25 and $30, respectively).
14. Sylvan Learning
Sylvan Learning offers math tutoring services for K-12 students online and at its learning centers nationwide. Instruction is based on Sylvan Insights assessments that gauge students’ current strengths, weaknesses and attitudes to develop personalized school-aligned curricula.
Sylvan Learning instructors also work with students’ teachers to ensure children are learning the skills required for classwork. That personalized instruction is blended with SylvanSync, a digital learning platform that features interactive iPad lessons.
The mySylvan app lets you check your child’s progress, view upcoming lessons and access at-home activities at any time.
Sylvan Learning guarantees your child will master at least 50 skills in 50 hours of instruction. Rates vary by location and start at $49 per hour for tutoring. You can expect to pay around $180 per month for twice-weekly learning center group instruction with a 6-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio.
15. Huntington Learning Center
Huntington Learning Center has hundreds of locations nationwide plus offers online tutoring for K-12 students.
Enrollment begins with an initial evaluation to assess your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Then, staff develop a personalized tutoring plan designed to meet their needs.
Like other learning centers, there’s no guarantee your child will see the same instructor each visit. However, each instructor who works with your child will know what they’re working on so they can help them master skills for elementary math, middle school algebra and high school algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus.
Pricing varies by location and isn’t evident on the website, but Huntington Learning Center reportedly charges a $150 to $200 assessment fee and $40 to $75 per hour for tutoring, which amounts to $350 to $650 per month.