TutorChase is a UK-based online tutoring company (founded 2018) offering IB, A-Level, AP, GCSE and admissions exam support. It claims expert tutors and global reach (70+ countries). This article reviews TutorChase’s user feedback, pricing, features and plans, and compares it with alternatives like My Engineering Buddy.
TutorChase Reviews and Testimonials
Students and parents report positive experiences with TutorChase. The company cites a 4.93/5 average rating from 561 reviews. Site testimonials praise big grade improvements and university admissions thanks to its tutors. For example, one IB student said their grades improved to a 42 after tutoring, and another family credited a tutor with a Cambridge admission. There are no major scam warnings online, so TutorChase appears to be a legitimate service. Overall sentiment in reviews is strongly positive, highlighting quality tutors and support.
TutorChase Pricing
Pricing Range
- TutorChase does not post fixed rates on its site; students must request quotes. Independent guides suggest A-Level tutoring “starts at £49 per hour”. One TutorChase blog shows AP tutoring from about $75/hr. Another source finds hourly rates roughly AU$96–115 (≈US$65–80) on average. Fees vary widely by subject and tutor qualifications.
- TutorChase acts as an education agency: its terms state it does not charge tutors a fee, but does add a fee to clients. This agency markup is built into the quoted price. (No sign-up fee was mentioned.)
What Students Say About Pricing
Some students note TutorChase is on the expensive side. TutorChase promotes “premium tutoring,” so higher costs are expected. Many users seem satisfied given the high review scores, suggesting most feel they received value for the price. Still, hidden pricing details (only disclosed after inquiry) means fees are not transparent upfront.
Hidden Costs
- Agency fee: TutorChase’s terms confirm it takes a fee from clients (not from tutors). In practice, booking a tutor includes a service charge.
- Cancellation: TutorChase allows online order cancellations within 14 days (the “cooling-off” period). However, refunds for actual tutoring sessions are treated separately and often not granted beyond this period. No other hidden fees (like registration or technology fees) are publicly noted.
How Pricing Works
- Students pay per lesson. The site processes payment only when a booking is confirmed. There are no monthly subscriptions; you pay each time you schedule tutoring.
- There are no advertised discounts or promo codes from TutorChase itself. (Some third-party coupon sites mention occasional deals, but always verify such offers.)
- TutorChase includes bonus resources: all tutoring customers get free access to their revision platform (normally worth £29/month).
Free Trial
TutorChase does not mention any free trial lesson on its site. Instead, it offers a free revision platform with past papers and study notes. (For contrast, My Engineering Buddy does advertise a $1 trial session.)
Refund Policy
According to the TutorChase Terms, customers may cancel services bought online within 14 days and request a refund. After that, refunds for booked tutoring sessions are handled case-by-case and not guaranteed. In practice, some users report difficulty getting refunds for unused lesson time. By comparison, My Engineering Buddy advertises an easy refund process, highlighting that TutorChase’s policy is stricter.
TutorChase Alternatives
Students may seek alternatives for lower cost, different specialties, or support hours. Below are key competitors (including My Engineering Buddy) with their pros and cons:
My Engineering Buddy
- Focus: Specializes in engineering and STEM tutoring for college-level students (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Gulf). Offers 2800+ advanced subjects across engineering, math, science, CS, economics, etc.
- Pricing: Starts very low (from about US$20/hr) and no registration fee. They even advertise a “$1 trial” for new users.
- Pros: 24/7 help available, highly-rated (4.9/5 from 10K+ reviews), 97% satisfaction. Very affordable and focused for engineering courses.
- Cons: Niche to STEM/engineering (less help in humanities). The website is newer (15+ years of trust vs. 100k+ students for TutorChase) and mostly English-support.
Varsity Tutors
- Focus: US-based platform for K-12 through college. Offers rigorous tutor vetting (accepts ~10% of candidates) and a broad tutor pool for many subjects.
- Pricing: Tutoring plans start around $60/hr, with options for unlimited tutoring membership plans.
- Pros: Large, established platform, accepts almost any subject, offers group classes and on-demand help. 24/7 scheduling is available.
- Cons: Can be expensive. Membership model may be overkill if only needing occasional help. Mostly US/Canada focus.
Tutor.com
- Focus: Part of The Princeton Review/Chegg network. Offers 1-on-1 tutoring in many subjects, including college courses.
- Pricing: Plans start at about $39.99/hr.
- Pros: Widely available (24/7 availability), experienced tutors, also serves K-12 and college. Includes features like virtual whiteboard and file sharing.
- Cons: As a huge network, quality can vary and price is moderately high. Primarily US-centric.
TutorMe
- Focus: One-on-one tutoring for grades K-12, college, and career skill learning, often through partnerships with schools and universities.
- Pricing: Plans start at about $26/hr.
- Pros: Lower starting price, thousands of subjects, on-demand help, lesson space with whiteboard and text editor.
- Cons: Quality depends on tutor matched, and unlimited plans can be costly if not fully used. Mostly US market.
Preply
- Focus: Mainly language tutoring (with some academic and test prep subjects). Tutors around the world teach via video chat.
- Pricing: Plans start at about $15/hr.
- Pros: Very flexible (choose tutor by price, reviews, availability). Good for ESL, foreign languages, and some exam prep (IELTS/TOEFL).
- Cons: Not specialized in engineering or standard school curricula. Quality and price vary widely by tutor.
How it Works?
For Students
Students begin by filling out a form or contacting TutorChase with their needs (level, subjects, goals). The company then matches the student with a suitable tutor and schedules online lessons. Sessions are held via TutorChase’s online platform (they include tools like whiteboard, note-sharing, etc.). Students pay per lesson after being matched. Tutorchase emphasizes personalized matching and flexible scheduling to fit the student’s time zone and curriculum.
For Tutors
Prospective tutors apply through the TutorChase website. The platform recruits teachers for all major curricula (GCSE, IB, A-Level, AP, etc.). Tutors must meet high qualifications (often being full-time educators or examiners) and commit at least ~10 hours/week. TutorChase vets candidates carefully. Tutors log in to accept lesson requests and set their own schedule. (According to tutor feedback, the platform is generally easy to use and pays in a timely manner.) Rewards include the chance for regular hours and global clients, but some tutors note competition for the best assignments. TutorChase does not take fees from tutors for leads, so tutors keep their set hourly rate.
TutorChase Company Information
Overview: TutorChase Ltd is a London-based education tech company (founded 2018) employing 11–50 staff. Its mission is to match top tutors with students worldwide. The service caters mainly to high-school/secondary curricula (A-Level, IB, GCSE, AP) and university admissions prep. It claims over 100,000 students globally and partnerships with elite institutions (e.g. Oxford University). Tutorchase also provides a free revision platform (practice questions and exam papers) used by its customers.
USP of TutorChase
- Highly Qualified Tutors: All tutors are vetted and often have teacher or examiner credentials. TutorChase highlights that its tutors include examiners and university graduates, aiming for top results.
- Global and Exam Focused: The platform emphasizes expertise in major curricula and admissions tests (Oxbridge, Ivy League). It also provides extensive curriculum resources (past papers, notes) for free alongside tutoring.
- High Satisfaction: TutorChase’s marketing boasts 100,000+ students and a near-5 star rating. Student testimonials confirm effective outcomes (e.g., significant grade gains and university acceptances).
Drawbacks of TutorChase
- Price: TutorChase is relatively expensive. For example, its A-Level rates “start at £49 per hour”, and AP tutoring around $75/hr. There is no transparent pricing until you make an inquiry.
- Focus on Pre-College Exams: TutorChase mostly serves exam-oriented students (IB, A-Levels, admissions tests). It may not cover broader college courses (especially STEM topics) as fully as engineering-focused platforms.
- Online Only: All tutoring is remote. Students needing in-person help will not find that option here.
- Refunds & Trials: No free trial lessons and limited refund rights make it less consumer-friendly than some competitors (contrast easy refunds from alternatives).
Comparison with My Engineering Buddy
- Subjects: My Engineering Buddy (MEB) specializes in engineering, math, physics, computer science and related fields. TutorChase is broader (IB/A-Levels, admissions). MEB is tailored for college engineering students; TutorChase is aimed at high school and admissions.
- Pricing: MEB is much cheaper (tutors “start USD 20/hr” and even offers a $1 trial). TutorChase’s rates are higher (from ~£49/hr). This makes MEB more budget-friendly for STEM help.
- Support & Features: MEB touts 24/7 human help and easy refunds, while TutorChase has standard business hours and stricter cancellation rules. TutorChase’s advantage is its extensive vetted tutor network and exam expertise.
- User Feedback: Both have high ratings (TutorChase 4.93/5; MEB ~4.9/5). TutorChase customers value its exam prep focus, whereas MEB customers praise value and STEM specialty.
Customer Support and Policies
Responsiveness: TutorChase provides contact options (UK phone, WhatsApp, email). It does not advertise 24/7 support. By comparison, My Engineering Buddy promises round-the-clock help.
Refunds/Cancellations: TutorChase’s policy allows a 14-day online order cancellation, but tuition session refunds are limited. In practice, unused lesson fees may be hard to recover. My Engineering Buddy, by contrast, claims easy refunds. Neither service offers full satisfaction guarantees beyond these terms.
Global Reach and Localization
TutorChase operates internationally – it cites students in over 70 countries and has resources for curricula used worldwide. Its site and tutoring are in English. My Engineering Buddy focuses on the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Gulf markets, also in English. Neither platform currently offers multi-language interfaces; both serve mainly English-speaking students globally.
TutorChase’s Future Plans
While TutorChase has not publicly announced new technology, industry trends suggest it may adopt more AI and advanced tools. For example, experts predict tutoring will use AI tutors, microlearning modules, and even VR/AR by 2025. TutorChase has shown interest in tech-focused content (e.g. a 2025 IB Computer Science guide). It’s likely to continue expanding STEM and admissions resources. Watch for possible AI-driven personalization or interactive platforms, as these are becoming common in online education.
FAQs About TutorChase
- Is TutorChase legitimate? Yes. It’s a real UK company (registered TutorChase Ltd) with many students worldwide. The site’s review rating (4.93/5 from 546 reviews) and student testimonials indicate authentic, positive experiences.
- What subjects and levels are covered? TutorChase offers tutoring mainly for IB, A-Level, GCSE/IGCSE, AP and university admissions (Oxbridge, Ivy League, etc.). It has resources and tutors for virtually all STEM, languages and humanities subjects at those levels.
- How much does TutorChase cost? Costs vary. A-Level tutoring “starts at £49/hr” according to TutorChase’s info. AP tutoring is around $75/hr. Exact pricing depends on subject, tutor, and student level and is given after inquiry (students specify their budget to get a match).
- Do they offer a free trial? There is no mention of a free trial session. However, TutorChase provides free revision resources (past papers, notes, practice questions) on their platform. All paid tutoring is paid for per lesson.
- What is the refund policy? TutorChase allows a 14-day cancellation period for any service booked online. This means you can request a refund within 14 days of ordering. Note that actual lesson payments have separate rules, so refunds of paid tutoring hours are not guaranteed beyond standard cancellation rights.
- How do I sign up as a tutor? Visit the TutorChase website and go to “Apply Now” under Tutor Applications. You must provide qualifications, choose subjects and availability. TutorChase looks for professional tutors who can commit to tutoring 10+ hours per week. If approved, you can set your own schedule and rates on the platform.
Conclusion
TutorChase is a strong choice for students needing exam-focused tutoring (IB, A-Level, admissions) from highly vetted tutors. Its strengths include global reach, a vast question bank, and high-rated customer reviews. Its weaknesses are higher cost (£49+/hr) and a narrow focus on pre-college courses. For college engineering students and budget-conscious families, My Engineering Buddy is a compelling alternative: it offers specialized STEM help 24/7 at much lower rates (starting ~$20/hr). In summary, TutorChase excels in exam prep and university guidance, while My Engineering Buddy (and other platforms) may better fit students needing affordable, round-the-clock STEM tutoring. Always compare features, pricing, and reviews when choosing the right service.
