One benefit of going to school is that you receive an education on a variety of topics. The downside is that almost every student struggles in at least one subject and might need some additional help after school. These tutoring alternatives can save you money while getting the academic help you need.
Khan Academy
Cost: Free
Best Material: Math and Science
Khan Academy offers free YouTube videos for math, science, computing, arts & humanities, and test prep. They offer math resources for every math grade ranging from Kindergarten to High School.
Parents, students, and teachers can benefit from Khan Academy. Their coaching dashboard can also make it easy for teachers or parents to assign videos and assignments to students.
In addition to being a tutoring alternative, Khan Academy can also be a good option for homeschool families too.
As Khan Academy has received funding from Google and Bill Gates, they pledge to remain free to every user forever.
YouTube
Cost: Free
Best Material: Anything
You can literally find just about any video on YouTube. Khan Academy videos will be listed and many other teacher videos too. And, they are all free to view!
The best part of having so many different options is that you can find the teacher that works best for you. We all learn differently and there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach to video lessons. That’s a good thing and YouTube can be one of the easiest ways to get the help you need for free!
Mathalicious
Cost: $320 per year
Best Material: Middle School and High School Math
Mathalicious is intended to be purchased by teachers and parents and it costs $320 a year after a 30-day free trial. If you are stuggling with Common Core and want a fun and engaging way to apply the lessons, you might like Mathalicious.
Some of the lesson examples include making your own video game, calculating how much Halloween candy a child can “safely” eat, and calculating Inspector Javert’s fall from Les Miserables.
Udemy
Cost: Free or Paid
Best Material: All Subjects for Middle School and Older
At Udemy, you can take a course on just about any subject. While you can find some elementary level courses, this site is better for teenagers and adults.
Courses are made by individual instructors and can be free or paid. You can easily filter the results to find the courses that fit your needs. Many paid courses can be found for only $10. This might not be the best option if you only need help with one chapter in the course, but, it can be a helpful supplement without breaking the bank.
Coursera
Cost: $29-99 per course
Best Material: College-level courses
Coursera covers a variety of college-level topics taught by some of the most renowned professors in higher education. Most Coursera classes last 4-6 weeks and can be used to earn credit for a university-recognized master’s degree. This can be a great option if you want to attend college online to save money or do not have the time to attend class.
TakeLessons
Cost: Varies on Tutor
Best Material: In-home and video lessons
TakeLessons is a digital tutoring alternative. You can pick an instructor for video lessons on subjects for any grade level. It’s even possible for in-home lessons to tutor a small child or to meet at a public place for traditional tutoring.
After choosing which subject you need help in, TakeLessons will provide a list of teachers describing their background and hourly rate. You can choose the best option for you at this time.
Schoolhouse Teachers
Cost: $19.95 per month or $179 a year
Best Material: PreK to High School
Schoolhouse Teachers is another option for self-guided courses. The platform is primarily designed for homeschool families, but, it can be used for any student.
They have classes for elementary, middle, and high school levels for core subjects and electives. This can be a great resource if you need help with math, science, history, language arts, or foreign language. Most courses are either in Powerpoint or video format.
Time4Learning
Cost: $19.95/month PreK to 8th Grade and $30/month for 9th to 12th grade
Best Material: Math and Language Arts
Time4Learning appeals to those looking for an after-school tutoring alternative, homeschool families, and summer skill building.
All lessons are video-based and self-paced. You might prefer to use Time4Learning for math and language arts, but, they also offer courses in science, social studies, and foreign language.
At $19.95 to $30 per month, Time4Learning is a fraction of the cost of a traditional tutor that might cost the same amount for a single hour.
When It’s Best to Hire a Tutor
Sometimes it is better to hire a tutor. You might consider this option when you need one-on-one interaction or only need brief help with a subject. Tutoring might be more expensive, but, the results can be better. Only you can make that decision.
Hiring a tutor, for instance, can help you get the good grades you need to secure a college scholarship to help pay for college without going broke.
Summary
Before you decide to hire a tutor, do keep in mind that the Internet has many free and low-cost resources that can be just as effective. For example, the above sites also include homework and exams to reinforce the lessons. While some of these tutoring alternatives cost money, they can still be cheaper than an actual tutor and provide similar results.