Best Online Reading Tutoring Services of 2023 (2023)

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According to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Assessment, only 33% of fourth-graders and 31% of eighth-grade students performed at or above NAEP Proficient in reading, down 2 percentage points for fourth-graders and 3 percentage points for eighth-graders from 2019. Literacy affects academic achievement in the long run: about 16% of children who score below proficiency for reading in third grade do not graduate from high school on time. That’s four times greater than that of proficient readers.

But help is out there. Getting a reading tutor doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are lots of options online. Whether your child's reading comprehension needs a little boost, a total overhaul, or you just need some specialized tutoring toward a particular goal, there’s an online reading tutoring service out there that’s a great fit. Here are our picks for some of the best online reading tutoring services currently out there.

Best Online Reading Tutoring Services of 2023

Best Online Reading Tutoring Services

Best Online Reading Tutoring Services

  • Our Top Picks
  • Skooli
  • Princeton Review
  • Revolution Prep
  • Wyzant
  • Online Reading Tutor
  • Club Z
  • See More (3)
  • Final Verdict

  • Compare Providers

  • Frequently Asked Questions

  • Methodology

Best Overall : Skooli

Key Specs

  • Price: About $1 per minute
  • Grade Level: Elementary school through college
  • Frequency: As needed

Why We Chose It

Skooli is a great as-needed tutoring app, where you can instantly connect with tutors with expertise in your struggle areas. We love that there’s no commitment needed.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Get help instantly

  • No commitment needed

  • Pay per minute makes rates reasonable

Cons

  • 15 minute minimum

  • No student-tutor relationship, since you’ll book as-needed

Overview

Skooli is a broad-strokes tutoring platform, where students can connect with tutors in a wide variety of subjects.

For the most part, Skooli prefers to hire instructors with at least a bachelor’s degree in the subjects they tutor, so students can be assured they’re getting the kind of expert help they may need, regardless of grade level. It’s easy to browse tutors (and their credentials), select one, and start a session almost instantly, whenever you need it.

Although you can certainly use Skooli as a long-term tutoring option—either with one specific tutor or choosing different tutors each time you log on—it’s designed for in-the-moment queries as well.

The pricing structure reflects that: rather than monthly or even hourly rates, Skooli charges around $1 per minute (minimum time is 15 minutes), so you do not pay for a single wasted minute. It starts at $0.82 a minute with pay-as-you-go; and is as low as $0.65 a minute if you prepay 32 hours. For the most part, tutors on Skooli are well-vetted and experienced, with degrees and teaching certifications, so you can be sure that every minute spent will involve learning something useful.

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Best for Test Prep : Princeton Review

Key Specs

  • Price: $26 to $40 per hour
  • Grade Level: High school, college, and graduate level
  • Frequency: As needed, two hours per month, four hours per month, or eight hours per month.

Why We Chose It

Princeton Review is best for test prep because there are programs to prepare for the SAT, ACT, SAT II, LSAT, GRE, MCAT, and more. While it’s not strictly a reading tutoring platform, these tests all have reading sections, and Princeton Review's tutors will help you prepare for them.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Pay-as-you-go and monthly plans available

  • Different options for different learning styles

  • Tutors available 24/7

Cons

  • No specific reading tutoring course

  • Courses aren’t live

  • Tutoring plans can get expensive

Overview

Reading sections show up on every major standardized test, and Princeton Review has plenty of instructors to help you prepare. Reading comprehension sections on standardized tests tend to have very specific goals and standards, so even strong readers may want to look into tutoring ahead of taking these tests.

Princeton Review has tutors to help prepare for both the SAT and ACT, as well as individual SAT II subject tests. On top of that, the site also has tutors available for college and graduate-level tests, such as the LSAT, GRE, and MCAT, that also require reading sections.

Princeton Review has a platform that includes screen-sharing and different types of live chat options, so students can consult with tutors using the modalities that work best for them. For such critical tests, it’s important for students to know their instructors have relevant experience. The company has a selective vetting process: It actively hires tutors with prior tutoring experience in the subject(s) they tutor, and applicants must be either enrolled in or have graduated from an accredited university.

Students can select from several pricing options and can choose to pay per month or per session. Subscription plans range from $40 a month for one hour of tutoring to $153 per month for five hours of tutoring. If you pay per session, you'll have more scheduling flexibility, and sessions can cost as little as $26 an hour. However, you have to pay for access for up to six months, which can cost as much as $1300.

Best for Full-Time Instructors : Revolution Prep

Key Specs

  • Price: Around $199 to $3,599
  • Grade Level: K - 12 and college
  • Frequency: 5 hours, 12 hours, or more

Why We Chose It

Revolution Prep offers several tiers of in-depth tutoring, from small groups to test-prep to one-on-one instruction.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Hours of rigorous tutoring

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  • Several options for different needs

  • Group and one-on-one available

  • Live interactions

Cons

  • Can be expensive

  • No one-off appointments

  • Lowest tier is 5 hours

Overview

Revolution Prep is one of the only online tutoring platforms that hires professional, full-time tutors (rather than hiring experts who tutor as a side gig).

Although the platform does offer instruction in a variety of subjects, typically through one-on-one tutoring that focuses on a student’s current curriculum, it started out as test prep, and that’s still one of its crown offerings. Test prep tutoring with Revolution Prep takes the form of pre-existing programs, taught in small, group tutoring sessions.

Each course includes preparatory tutoring and real-time practice tests, complete with detailed score reports and a personalized study plan after each one. The company has three different options. Personalized tutoring with up to three other students for five hours starts at about $199. Group test prep in a group of up to eight students for 12 hours starts at roughly $499. And, private, one-on-one tutoring for 12 hours using a customizable schedule costs approximately $1,398 and goes up from there.

Best for 24/7 Help : Wyzant

Key Specs

  • Price: Starts at $25 an hour
  • Grade Level: All, plus adults
  • Frequency: As needed

Why We Chose It

Wyzant is a tutoring service that instantly connects you to a tutor when you need it even for those late-night study sessions.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Ability to search for the type of tutor you want

  • Search within your price range

  • 24/7 access to tutors

Cons

  • Experience is very specific to the tutor you choose

  • Site does not have tutors adhere to a specific methodology

  • No tutor/student relationship, as sessions are one-off and as-needed

Overview

One of the more popular, broad-ranging tutoring platforms, Wyzant has plenty of expert reading tutors available at any time. And, it doesn’t matter if you’re seeking help for K-12 reading comprehension and fluency, college-level literature assignments, or test-specific tutoring—there’s a whole list of tutors with the expertise you need.

The service allows students to narrow down prospective instructors by stated expertise and niche skills, all the way down to specific grade levels or standardized tests. Students can also view a tutor’s profile, ratings from previous students, and hourly rates.

Instructors on Wyzant can set their rates. According to the site, the average rate for reading tutors is between $25 and $65 per hour, although not every tutor will fall into that range. On the plus side, Wyzant does include a one-hour “insurance” policy: The first-hour lesson with a new tutor is guaranteed to work out, or it’s free.

Thanks to the service’s interactive features, complete with video chat and “whiteboard” style classroom space, it’s super easy to use for any reading lesson, anytime.

Best for Readers with Dyslexia : Online Reading Tutor

Key Specs

  • Price: About $179 to $359 per month
  • Grade Level: Any, plus adults
  • Frequency: 20 - 30 minute practices at least three days per week. Two to eight one-on-one tutoring sessions per month
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Why We Chose It

Online Reading Tutor uses the Orton-Gillingham method—designed to help teach students with dyslexia—and it's accredited by top organizations such as the International Dyslexia Association.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Backed by expert research

  • Individual adjustment of lessons

  • One-on-one attention

Cons

  • Can be expensive

  • Only 2 one-on-one tutoring sessions at the lowest cost tier

  • Emails and WhatsApp messages are rationed

Overview

For students with dyslexia, a specialized reading tutor can make all the difference, and that’s where Online Reading Tutor comes in. The platform specializes in methods to assist students with reading disabilities, no matter their age or grade level.

Based on Orton-Gillingham methodology, the site is designed to give students the tools they need to improve their reading skills in the long term, not just to meet certain benchmarks or pass a particular test.

Tutors work with students in five specific areas: vocabulary, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, and reading comprehension. Students are required to work on lessons a minimum of three days a week—although five or six are recommended—and tutors are available for one-on-one lessons fitting the student’s schedule.

The site offers a one-week trial for roughly $49, along with three tiered monthly plans: about $179 per month for the “silver” plan, around $249 per month for the “gold” option, and approximately $359 per month for the “platinum” plan. The difference between levels comes down to frequency of one-on-one tutoring and communication with your tutor.

Best for Tweens and Teens : Club Z

Key Specs

  • Price: About $231 to $554
  • Grade Level: Pre-K to College
  • Frequency: 4, 8, or 12 hours. Custom plans are available

Why We Chose It

Club Z is a great fit for tweens and teens because it skips the flashy games that usually accompany tutoring for younger children, and uses one-on-one styles that are useful for latergrades.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Guaranteed tutor matching

  • One-on-one, individualized instruction

  • In-person tutoring available

Cons

  • Very little info about methods used

  • Does not seem to have a cohesive program all tutors use

Overview

Club Z offers reading tutoring to students of all grade levels, but it’s especially effective for older students who have outgrown the colorful games of children’s reading tutoring.

Struggling with reading can be especially frustrating for students at this level. Club Z instructors focus on improving reading skills and comprehension so that students can improve not just in language arts classes, but across the board since reading is fundamental to pretty much every subject.

In addition to standard tutoring on techniques for reading comprehension, vocabulary, and related areas, the service also has its own proprietary program designed to help high school students who are struggling or are disinterested in reading. Tutoring is typically done one-on-one, and in-person tutoring is offered along with the company's online services, depending on the needs of the individual student and tutor.

The site also has a guarantee for tutor matching, refunding the first hour if the instructor is a poor fit. Plans start at roughly $231 for four hours of tutoring, about $415 for eight hours, and $554 for 12 hours. Custom plans and test prep plans are available as well.

Final Verdict

We like Skooli best for its no-commitment-needed model. Users pay just $1 per hour, and are matched with tutors with expertise in their struggle areas. You’ll get instant help right when you need it, whether it’s during a cram session before an exam, or when your homework is stumping you. Skooli is appropriate for students in elementary school through college. And students will be able to get individualized, live help 24/7.

If your student struggles with dyslexia, Online Reading Tutor is a great option because it uses a teaching method designed to address reading difficulties that dyslexia can cause.

Compare Online Reading Tutoring Services

CompanyCostGrade LevelFrequency
Skooli Best OverallAbout $1 per minuteElementary school through collegeAs needed
Princeton Review Best for Test Prep$26 to $40 per hourHigh school, college, and graduate levelAs needed, 2 hours/month, 4 hours/month, or 8 hours/month
Revolution Prep Best for Full-Time InstructorsAround $199 to $3,599K–12 and college5 hours, 12 hours, or more
Wyzant Best for 24/7 HelpStarts at $25 an hourAll, plus adultsAs needed
Online Reading Tutor Best for Readers with DyslexiaAbout $179 to $359 per monthAll, plus adults20–30 minute practices at least 3 days per week; 2–8 one-on-one tutoring sessions per month
Club Z Best for Tweens and TeensAbout $231 to $554Pre-K to college4, 8, or 12 hours; custom plans are available

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are Online Reading Tutoring Services Worth It?

    Research suggests that tutoring has a positive impact on student achievement in reading. Plus, a small study published in Rural Special Education Quarterly found that supplemental reading instruction online led to a marked increase in students’ oral reading fluency, nearly doubling the number of correct words read per minute. When evaluating a reading tutoring service, be sure to check that it offers skills and a grade-level appropriate focus to meet your child's needs.

  • Can Online Reading Tutoring Help Improve Standardized Test Scores?

    Most services on this list claim that students see improved scores on standardized tests in reading comprehension. However, these claims aren't always backed by peer-reviewed studies, but rather anecdotal evidence reported by tutors working for the service. Reading comprehension improvements are more likely if the student in question is receptive to the chosen online tutoring style and commits to regular study.

  • What Features Do Online Reading Tutoring Services Have?

    Remote tutoring platforms are, for the most part, based on screen-sharing and chat (either text or video) technology. Additionally, some platforms have virtual "classrooms" set up with interactive exercises, such as word games and other drills. A study published in 2017 found that sight word games paired with direct phonemic awareness instruction increased students’ sight word growth by about 2.81 sight words per week on average, which was twice as fast as the oral reading fluency advancement of the control group.

Methodology

Reading tutoring is relevant for different academic areas at any grade level, so we’ve identified some of the niches that we think will be the most useful to a broad range of students. The services we’ve listed here include specialized expertise for test prep or reading disabilities to more general reading tutoring at any grade level. We’ve also included several different specialties, price points, and formats, from pay-per-minute, instant homework help to structured, long-term prep courses with higher costs over longer times.

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Best Online Reading Tutoring Services of 2023 (13)

Article Sources

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. The Nation's Report Card. NAEP Report Card: Reading.

  2. Annie E. Casey Foundation. Double jeopardy: How third grade reading skills and poverty influence high school graduation.

  3. Brown University, Annenberg.Early lessons from implementing high-impact tutoring at scale.

  4. Vasquez E, Forbush DE, Mason LL, Lockwood AR, Gleed L. Delivery and evaluation of synchronous online reading tutoring to students at-risk of reading failure.Rural Special Education Quarterly. 2017;30(3):16-26. doi:10.1177/875687051103000303

  5. Gibbon J, Duffield S, Hoffman J, Wageman J. Effects of educational games on sight word reading achievement and student motivation. JOLLE. 2017;13(2).

Edited byAlly Hirschlag

Best Online Reading Tutoring Services of 2023 (14)

Ally Hirschlag

Ally is an expert in health, science, sustainability, wellness, mental health, and parenting. She has written for publications including The Washington Post, The Guardian, BBC Future, and more.

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