AI Tutoring vs MyTutor: Cost and Results Compared

MyTutor is a well-regarded platform for online human tutoring, and the human relationship it provides is genuinely difficult to replicate. AI tutoring is best understood not as a like-for-like replacement but as a complement — delivering unlimited daily practice at £14/month alongside, rather than instead of, occasional human sessions.

What MyTutor is and how it works

MyTutor is a UK-based online tutoring platform founded in 2012. It connects secondary school students with university student tutors for one-to-one sessions delivered via an interactive online whiteboard. Parents browse tutor profiles, read reviews, and book sessions — typically 50 or 55 minutes — directly through the platform. Tutors are drawn primarily from Russell Group universities and are vetted, DBS-checked, and rated by families.

MyTutor is one of the most reputable human online tutoring platforms operating in the UK. Its tutor pool covers virtually every KS3 and GCSE subject, and the platform is widely used by both private families and schools (via MyTutor for Schools).

What MyTutor does well:

Human connection and motivational relationship between tutor and student

Genuine subject expertise from university-level tutors

Real-time assessment of a student's spoken reasoning and body language

Flexibility to explain concepts in multiple ways based on instant feedback

Strong coverage of all GCSE and A-level subjects

Parental visibility via session notes and reporting

DBS-checked tutors; established safeguarding procedures

Where MyTutor has limitations:

Cost: sessions typically run £25–£50 per hour depending on subject and tutor level

Availability: sessions must be booked in advance and depend on tutor schedules

Frequency: most families can afford one or two sessions per week at most

Consistency: the quality and approach varies across tutors on any platform

What AI tutoring offers that MyTutor cannot

The most significant difference between AI tutoring and any human platform is availability and cost. A £14/month AI tutoring subscription provides unlimited sessions — every evening, at the moment the student needs it, without booking in advance. At that price, a family gets more than 30 hours of monthly access for less than the cost of a single MyTutor session.

This matters because the EEF's evidence on one-to-one tuition consistently shows that frequency matters: the strongest gains come from regular, sustained engagement over weeks and months, not occasional intensive sessions. Most families who use MyTutor cannot afford the frequency that would produce the greatest results. AI tutoring fills the gap between weekly human sessions.

AI tutoring also provides the same Socratic approach that the best human tutors use — guiding through questions rather than giving answers — without the variability that comes from matching a student to a particular tutor. A well-designed AI tutor is consistent in method and approach every single session.

What AI tutoring adds over MyTutor:

Dramatically lower cost — £14/month vs £25–£50 per human session

Unlimited availability — no booking, any time, any evening

Consistency of pedagogical approach across every session

No dependency on tutor availability or schedule

Can be used for quick 10-minute check-ins, not only full hour sessions

Pattern of use data across all sessions (what has been covered, where gaps recur)

Where MyTutor is genuinely better

Human tutoring has real advantages that no AI product honestly claims to replicate:

Motivation and relationship: a student who has a trusted tutor they look forward to seeing is more likely to engage consistently. Human connection drives motivation in ways AI cannot.

Nuanced assessment: an experienced tutor picks up on hesitation, confusion, and emotional state in real time — adjusting not just the content but the mood of the session.

Complex extended writing feedback: at GCSE and A-level, detailed feedback on a full essay — its argument, structure, evidence, and voice — is currently better done by a skilled human.

Exam technique for specific mark schemes: a tutor who has marked AQA history papers knows exactly what gets the top marks in ways that even good AI tutors approximate rather than match perfectly.

Irregular or advanced topics: for unusual GCSE options, niche A-level subjects, or students at the extremes of the ability distribution, a specialist human tutor offers depth AI products may not yet match.

Side-by-side comparison

Criterion | MyTutor (human) | AI tutor (e.g. aitutors.me)
Cost per month | £100–£400+ (2–4 sessions/week) | £14/month
Session availability | Scheduled in advance; tutor-dependent | On demand, any time
Human relationship and motivation | Strong — genuine personal connection | Not replicated
Consistency of approach | Varies by tutor | Consistent across every session
Frequency possible on a typical budget | 1–2 sessions/week | Unlimited
Feedback on extended writing | Strong, nuanced | Good for structure; less nuanced than a skilled human
Safeguarding | DBS-checked tutors; platform procedures | Purpose-built products include child-appropriate safeguards
Best for | Students needing human motivation, complex feedback | Daily practice, retrieval, affordable regular support

What the evidence says about human tutoring

The EEF's evidence on one-to-one tuition rates it highly — an average of five months of additional progress. But the EEF also notes that the gains depend significantly on the quality and training of the tutor, and that the average masks considerable variation. A highly motivated, well-matched human tutor can produce exceptional results; a poorly matched or unprepared one can produce little.

AI tutoring, by contrast, delivers a more predictable baseline — the Socratic questioning approach is built in, it does not have an off day, and it is available whenever the student is ready. The expected gain is likely lower than the best human tutoring, but more consistent and more accessible.

A practical approach for families

The most effective use of both tools together:

Use an AI tutor for daily or regular practice throughout the week — retrieval, problem-solving, misconception-fixing.

Use MyTutor (or a comparable human tutor) for the topics where depth of feedback and human motivation matter most: extended writing reviews, specific exam technique ahead of a mock, or a topic where the student is deeply stuck.

For families who cannot afford both, AI tutoring provides most of the daily practice value at a fraction of the cost. For families who can, the two are complementary rather than competing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does MyTutor cost compared to an AI tutor?

MyTutor session rates vary by subject and tutor experience — typically £25–£45 per hour for a standard GCSE tutor. Two sessions per week comes to £200–£360 per month. An AI tutoring subscription at £14/month provides unlimited daily sessions for around the cost of one MyTutor lesson. The trade-off is human connection and depth of feedback versus frequency and affordability.

Is online human tutoring better than AI tutoring?

Not categorically — each excels in different dimensions. Human tutoring (including via platforms like MyTutor) is better for motivation, relationship, and nuanced feedback on complex extended work. AI tutoring is better for daily retrieval practice, immediate availability, and consistent coverage of curriculum topics at a fraction of the cost. The best approach for most families is to combine both: AI tutoring for the daily sessions human tutoring cannot sustain financially, and a human tutor occasionally for the depth a human brings.

How do I find a good tutor on MyTutor?

Filter by subject, exam board, and GCSE/A-level level, then read recent reviews carefully — look for comments that mention the tutor's patience, whether they explain things clearly without just giving answers, and whether students report improved confidence. Book a trial session (MyTutor offers these at a reduced rate) before committing to a block. The fit between tutor and student is important, and a trial is the only reliable way to assess it.

Can an AI tutor help a child who lacks motivation?

Partially. The best AI tutors use conversational tone, encouragement, and manageable step-by-step progression to maintain engagement. They are patient (they do not get frustrated), consistent (no bad days), and available whenever the student is willing to sit down. However, a student who fundamentally does not want to study will not be compelled to engage by an AI — nor by most human tutors. Motivation is ultimately supported by the parent's oversight and the student's own goals.

See how aitutors.me's Socratic tutors compare for yourself at aitutors.me.