Online vs face-to-face maths tuition in the UK: cost and fit
Short answer: online maths tuition is usually cheaper. The national guide we read puts online maths tuition at about $47 an hour on average against about $55 face to face, and estimates the saving at $13 to $46 an hour in the most expensive areas. Neither format is better for every child. Our live online maths classes are $100 a month in a small group or $150 a month one-to-one.
Short answer: online maths tuition is usually cheaper than a tutor who visits, because nobody travels, and neither format suits every child. Our live online maths classes are $100 a month in a small group or $150 a month one-to-one, shown in your own currency.
The format matters less than the tutor, but it changes the price and the practicalities. Below: published UK rates for each, what a home visit adds to the bill, what the research does and does not tell us, and a plain guide to which format suits which child.
Our courses, taught live online
Every course is a live lesson with a real tutor on a shared whiteboard, not a video library. The same tutor keeps the same student.
Most askedGCSE Maths: Foundation & Higher
AQA, Edexcel and OCR, both tiers, from a diagnosis of lost marks to timed past papers.
$100/mo group · $150/mo 1-on-1
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A Level Maths
Pure, mechanics and statistics for Edexcel, AQA and OCR, across Years 12 and 13.
$100/mo group · $150/mo 1-on-1
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KS2 SATs Maths
Times tables for the Year 4 check, then the arithmetic and reasoning papers of Year 6.
$100/mo group · $150/mo 1-on-1
View course & enrolWondering whether online works at all? Our blog post does online maths tuition work? goes through the honest answer.
What each format costs in the UK
Published rates, read in October 2026 and converted to US dollars so this page uses one currency. Read each line as a range, not a quote.
| Format | Typical price | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Online maths tutor, all levels, national average | about $47 an hour; the same platform lists tutors from about $26 to $33 | Tutorful, "How Much Does a Maths Tutor Cost in the UK in 2026?" (updated 24 September 2026) |
| Face-to-face maths tutor, national average | about $55 an hour | Tutorful, same guide |
| Face-to-face, by town | from about $39 an hour (Liverpool) to about $93 (Staines); London about $61 | Tutorful, same guide, rates by location |
| Saving from switching to online | about $13 to $46 an hour in high-cost areas | Tutorful, same guide |
| Online tutor on a large marketplace | from about $34 an hour | MyTutor, maths tutor listings (read 7 October 2026) |
| In-person study centre programme | about $93 to $104 a month per subject, plus a one-off fee | Kumon centre pages for Ilford Lane and Ashford South (read 7 October 2026) |
| Modern Age Coders, live online maths | $100 a month in a group of 15 to 20, or $150 a month one-to-one, eight one-hour lessons | Our own price, no enrolment fee |
Conversion: UK figures were converted at 1.3221 US dollars per pound, the Bank of England spot rate for 5 October 2026 (series XUDLUSS), and rounded to the nearest dollar.
This table compares UK online and face-to-face tutoring rates for families paying there, so it is shown to visitors in the UK. Our online maths plans are $100 a month in a group or $150 a month one-to-one, in your currency.
Where the extra cost of face to face goes
The tutor's travel
A tutor who drives to you is paid for the journey, either in the rate or as a surcharge. Online has no journey.
Postcode demand
In-person rates follow local demand. In the guide we read, the same hour ranges from about $39 in Liverpool to about $93 in Staines.In the guide we read, the same hour costs more than twice as much in the dearest town as in the cheapest. Online rates barely move with your postcode.
Printed materials
Some in-person tutors charge for printed papers. Exam boards publish many past papers free online, so an online lesson simply opens them.
A smaller choice of tutor
Face to face, you choose from whoever lives within reach. Online, you can choose a tutor who knows your exam board or Further Maths, wherever they are.
Your own time
A centre or a tutor's home means lifts and waiting. Online lessons start when the laptop opens.
What you do get
Some children, especially younger ones, concentrate better with an adult beside them. That is a real benefit, and for those children it can be worth the extra cost.
What the research says, and what it does not
The Education Endowment Foundation, which reviews school research in England, finds that tuition helps on average: its toolkit says that "one to one tuition can be effective, providing approximately five additional months’ progress on average".
For maths specifically the same summary is more cautious: "Effects in mathematics appear to be substantially lower (+2 months) than in literacy (+6 months)."
Those studies are mostly tuition run by schools. They do not settle whether online beats face to face, and we found no UK-wide study that compares the two at the same quality of tutor.
What does show up again and again is that the tutor, the match to the child and regular practice matter more than the room. That is why we offer a free first lesson rather than asking you to take the format on trust.
Which format suits which child?
Face to face may suit a child who
- is six to eight and struggles to focus on a screen
- needs an adult physically beside them to stay on task
- lives near a tutor you already trust
If that is your child, a home tutor can be worth the higher rate.
Online suits a child who
- is ten or older and comfortable on a laptop
- needs a specialist, such as Further Maths or a particular board
- has a busy week where travel would squeeze lessons out
Live online, the tutor sees the working on a shared whiteboard as it happens.
What an online month costs with us
We are a live online school teaching maths and coding since 2020, rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews. No travel, no materials charge, one monthly price.
One-to-one online maths
$150 / month
- 8 live one-to-one lessons a month (2 a week, 1 hour each)
- 4 live one-to-one lessons a month (1 a week, 1 hour each)
- Live lessons on a shared whiteboard
- The same tutor every week
- No enrolment fee, stop at any month end
Small-group online maths
$100 / month
- 8 live group lessons a month (2 a week, 1 hour each)
- 15 to 20 students at a similar level
- The same teaching at a lower monthly price
- No enrolment fee, stop at any month end
Want to see a live lesson sooner? Book a Priority Demo: a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee.
Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews
★★★★★
"My son struggled with math for years. Integrating it into coding projects has transformed his understanding and confidence. Highly recommended!"
Shewta Singh, mother of Ishan · Google review
★★★★★
"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."
Sonu Goyal, parent · Google review
★★★★★
"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."
Sonam Oswal, parent of Dhairya · Google review
Online or face-to-face maths tuition: questions parents ask
Is online maths tuition cheaper than face to face in the UK?
Usually. The national guide we read found online lessons cheaper on average, because nobody travels and no venue is involved. The rates table shows the published figures for each format.
Is online maths tuition as effective as face to face?
We found no UK-wide study comparing the two at the same quality of tutor. Research on tuition in general finds it helps on average, and the tutor and regular practice matter more than the room.
What age is too young for online maths lessons?
It depends on the child. Many children of ten and over work well online; some six- and seven-year-olds need an adult beside them. The free first lesson is a fair test.
How does an online maths lesson work?
The tutor and student share a live whiteboard and video. The tutor sees each line of working as it is written, which matters more in maths than in most subjects.
Do online tutors use our exam board's papers?
They should. We teach from the board your child sits and use its past papers, many of which the boards publish free online.
What equipment does my child need?
A laptop or tablet with a camera, a stable connection, paper and a pencil. A cheap graphics tablet helps older students but is not essential.
Are there extra fees with you?
No. There is no enrolment fee and no contract, and you can stop at any month end.
Can my child try an online lesson first?
Yes. The first lesson is free and needs no card. For a class today or tomorrow, book a Priority Demo: a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes with a written skill report. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee.
Why are prices in US dollars?
We teach families in more than 25 countries and bill outside India in US dollars, so the page uses one currency. UK market rates were converted at one stated exchange rate.
Test online maths tuition on your own child, free.
One live lesson shows you more than any comparison table: whether your child stays engaged on screen and whether the tutor spots where the marks go. No card needed.