Private tutors occupy an interesting space. You're not a large institution with complex administrative needs, but you're also running a professional service that deserves professional tools.
The platform that's right for you depends largely on how you teach: purely one-on-one, small groups, or a mix of both.
One-on-One Tutoring
If your teaching is primarily one-on-one — one tutor, one student — your platform requirements are relatively straightforward:
- Reliable video and audio
- Screen sharing for going through problems together
- Easy scheduling and joining
- Optional recording for student review
For purely one-on-one work, mainstream platforms like Zoom or Google Meet work fine. They're reliable, students know how to use them, and the free tiers are often sufficient for solo tutors.
The main consideration is professionalism. Sending students a personal meeting link works, but using a platform with your own branded space (like yourname.simpleclass.eu) creates a more professional impression.
Small Group Tutoring
If you teach small groups — even just 2-4 students — your needs change significantly.
Small groups often work best with breakout activities. You explain a concept, then split students into pairs to practice while you circulate. This is where mainstream platforms start to show their limitations.
As we've discussed in our article on monitoring multiple breakout rooms, most platforms only let you see one room at a time. For a private tutor with a group of 6 students in 3 pairs, this means constant room-hopping — or accepting that you'll miss what happens in most rooms most of the time.
If group work is a significant part of your teaching, breakout room monitoring becomes important.
Professional Considerations
Beyond basic functionality, private tutors should consider:
Your brand: Are you sending students to zoom.us, or to a space that feels like yours? A custom subdomain — yourname.simpleclass.eu or similar — creates a more professional impression than a generic meeting link.
Student access control: Open meeting links mean anyone with the link can join. For professional tutoring, especially with minors, invite-only access is more appropriate. Students have accounts; only invited students can access sessions.
Recording and review: Many tutors record sessions so students can review difficult concepts. If you do this, consider where recordings are stored and who can access them. Proper recording management keeps things organized and secure.
GDPR compliance: If you tutor students in Europe, data protection rules apply to you too — not just large institutions. This is especially important if you work with minors.
Cost Considerations
As a private tutor, you're likely cost-conscious. Here's how to think about platform costs:
Free options: Zoom (free tier), Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams all have free options that work for basic tutoring. Limitations typically include meeting length caps and feature restrictions.
Paid general platforms: Zoom Pro, Google Workspace, etc. run €10-20/month. These remove limitations and add professional features.
Education-specific platforms: Pricing varies. Simpleclass, for example, is €8 per user per month — so a tutor with 10 regular students would pay €80/month. Whether this makes sense depends on your teaching volume and whether the education-specific features (breakout monitoring, invite-only access) add value for you.
For private tutors just starting out, free options are often sufficient. As your practice grows and professionalism matters more, upgrading to purpose-built tools typically pays for itself.
Making the Choice
For private tutors, the right choice depends on your specific situation:
Just starting out, mostly one-on-one: Use Zoom or Google Meet. It's free, students know it, and it works fine.
Established practice, professional image matters: Consider a platform with your own branded space and proper student management.
Teaching small groups with breakout activities: Look for education-specific platforms with proper breakout room monitoring.
Working with minors in Europe: Prioritize platforms with EU data hosting and clear GDPR compliance.
Try Before You Commit
Whatever platform you're considering, test it with real teaching. A free trial should give you enough time to run several sessions and see if the workflow fits your teaching style.