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• Varsity Tutors Review: Is It Worth It?

Varsity Tutors Review: Is It Worth It?

Looking for the most comprehensive Varsity Tutors reviews? You’re in the right place! As a professional educator with over 20 years of hands-on experience, I’ve seen the full spectrum of what educational services can offer.

So, this article is the result of my weeks-long research and analysis. I’ve combined my impressions with real feedback from students and parents to give you a clear, unbiased perspective. So, read on for a complete picture.

Key Points

• Range of features: 8/10. I liked how inclusive and multi-functional the Varsity Tutors’ features are. However, learners should be careful about fluctuating costs, so a minus point on that.
• Learning approach: 7/10. Good overall and can fit many purposes. But in the end, its effectiveness will depend on the tutor you work with.
• User interface and experience: 5/10. The only way to find some basic details here (like course pricing) is to pass their test or call the provided number. Varsity Tutors, you’d better be transparent on this!
• Effectiveness: 7/10. Please get me right — multiple Varsity Tutors rating feedbacks show that this site DOES ensure academic progress. However, your final result will primarily depend on the student-teacher combo they make up for you.
• Customer support: 5/10. I could find more than one Varsity Tutors review that pinpointed difficulties solving problems via their phone support.
• Pricing model: 5/10. With prices climbing above $100/hour, it’s definitely not the most budget-friendly variant.
• Average rating: 6/10. I wish that would be higher, but as shown by Varsity Tutors review on Reddit and Trustpilot left by K-12 students and their parents, the service possesses a number of severe cons. That said, I should also mention the effectiveness of this site, which has been proven and complemented by many users.

Varsity Tutors Review: Everything you need to know

Versity Tutors is one of the biggest tuition services in the US. It offers a rich variety of choices, including 1:1 lessons, test prep for exams like SAT, ACT, and AP, live classes, homework help, and supplementary practices.

Okay, now, let’s move into detail, clarifying what are people saying about Varsity Tutors. Believe me, this guide will help you make a prudent choice regarding this service.

💡All of the thoughts and statements made in this article are completely unbiased. They rely on the official information, Varsity Tutors reviews on Reddit and Trustpilot, and my personal observations. I aimed to create a complete guide answering all possible questions about this learning venue.

How does Varsity Tutors work? Features

• Broad subject coverage
• Online & offline tutoring
• Advanced courses

Feature #1: Broad subject coverage

Varsity Tutors did its best to cover the needs of any learner in grades K to 12. They have it all, starting from basic elementary-level subjects like Phonics or Reading and up to advanced knowledge like business courses, coding, and engineering.

To be sincere, any ambitious approach like this one always makes me doubt the real effectiveness of materials. To eliminate these hesitations, I explored reviews of Varsity Tutors and found out that most of them were positive regarding the learning strategies here.

⭐️ I give this feature 8/10 as I believe in the power of such resources for supplementary practice. However, choosing specialized platforms like Brighterly for math may be more reasonable if you want to work on a specific subject.

Feature #2: Online & offline tutoring

Some learners prefer online in-house style, while others crave personalized face-to-face interaction. The good thing about Varsity Tutors is that it matches the needs of both groups. With centers across 20+ US states and no limitations regarding the subjects you can learn there, this service provides a many-sided, diverse experience.

However, note that prices for offline studying can get hefty — that’s the only (yet strong) minus I could find at Varsity Tutor reviews for this point.

⭐️ 7/10. Minus three points for unexpected pricing — their tags can fluctuate, and you never know what you’re dealing with till they make you an individual calculation.

Feature #3: Advanced courses

As highlighted in Varsity Tutoring reviews, this service offers a range of advanced learning options to fit high schoolers. For instance, their tailored courses cover areas like:

• Business (Accounting, Economics, Finance, etc.)
• Tech & Engineering (C++, Ruby, Python, etc.)
• Humanities (Law, Essay Editing, Theology, etc.)
• and more!

Even though it’s primarily targeted at schoolers, adult learners can also use Varsity Tutors, another pro mark.

⭐️9/10 — Excellent platform, overall, especially if you need advanced learning.

Here comes the time for my first bottom line. Is Varsity Tutors worth it? Yes, the site deserves your attention. Nevertheless, you should also be aware of the flip side. Here are some things that Varsity Tutors Google reviews outline regarding the negatives.

Varsity Tutors review: Disadvantages

Before we dig into the cons, you should know that Varsity Tutors produces an overall positive impression, as verified by the 4.3 average Trustpilot score. Still, that naughty 5% of 1-star reviews… without further ado, let’s explore the common complaints.

Cons #1: Payment and cancellation issues

I could find quite a few Varsity Tutors reviews that claim the same thing — this site gets frustrating regarding payments. Charging money after a subscription was cancelled, automatic renewals without reminders, and unstable prices are just a few of the general dissatisfactions. 

If you cannot tolerate similar Varsity Tutors complaints, I have a good alternative for you. It’s Brighterly, the math tutoring platform for kiddos in grades K to 9. With an average score of 4.6, this site ranks even higher in the Trustpilot top. 

No strange, though — investigating their feedback, I haven’t found any mentions of scammy payments. However, I have seen multiple compliments regarding their tutoring approach and the teaching team. So yes, it’s my sincere recommendation.

Cons #2: Poor academic progress

Frankly, I was surprised by this one since multiple Varsity Tutors reviews from parents often acknowledge the service’s universality and efficiency. But some are still dissatisfied with the quality of lessons provided. They claim that the methodology here can get somewhat boring and lack interactivity. All subjectivity aside, this issue can harm the academic progress of elementary students or those with ADHD.

At this point, I should again mention Brighterly due to its interactive and practice-oriented math program. All lessons here — no matter the level and grade — are built to engage children and show them the real-world application of what they learn. It’s how the emotional connection and better memory retention are gained.

Cons #3: Сustomer support issues

Do you know that feeling when you face an issue and can’t find any help in solving it? Unfortunately, that’s the concern I could find in a Varsity Tutor review. The helpline here is available only via the phone number. However, some users faced issues getting through or being matched with the right personnel to assist with their trouble.

To give you a complete picture of how Brighterly contrasts with Varsity Tutors, I’d like to compare their support channels. While digging into Brighterly reviews, I discovered that most users were satisfied with prompt issue-solving. The site promises 24/7 support via email, phone, and social media. Thus, you can choose the variant that best fits you.

Review of Varsity Tutors: How effective is the service?

As I’ve already said, Varsity Tutors has sooo many learning options. From 1:1 customized lessons to prerecorded group classes — they get it covered. 

Regarding personalized classes, this service will ask you to pass a diagnostic test and try to create a perfect student-teacher combo based on the results. The approach is not unique, as other resources like Brighterly also use this scheme. However, it works great anyway. 

Still, as many reviews Varsity Tutors users leave suggest, the quality of services can vary. With over 40,000+ professionals, learners heavily depend on who they are matched with.

As for group classes, Varsity Tutors claims these are supplementary resources to give extra practice after 1:1 lessons. Held with a few students, you can use them to fill specific knowledge gaps.

⭐ I give this feature 7 out of 10 — great in theory, but may vary in effectiveness.

More than one Varsity Tutors review from students showed that the experience they get is quite incoherent. While some are mesmerized by the learning approach, others find it illogical and repetitive. 

Reviews on Varsity Tutors: Usability and convenience

Such things as the convenience of navigation may be a bit subjective. However, I have to share my impression here. Unfortunately, I felt difficulties surging through the platform and finding sufficient information. It mainly concerns Varsity Tutors rates — there’s no straightforward way to find these details.

I cannot skip mentioning Brighterly here, as it’s a great example of a UX-oriented platform. Take their pricing list in this regard — everything is transparent and convenient, so users always know what they commit to.

⭐️ Sorry, not sorry, I give Varsity Tutors 5/10 in this category.

This site isn’t the worst I’ve tested. However, there’s so much to improve in terms of convenience…

Varsity Tutors rating: Effectiveness and results

Is Varsity Tutors good? We’ve already discussed it a bit, but let’s dig deeper. Most reviews for Varsity Tutors do claim it’s effective. To highlight the top features, these are:

• Great, experienced teachers
• Effective test preparation help
• Support during the learning flow

Still, you should also have an alternative view. The three cons regarding Varsity Tutors’ effectiveness are as follows:

• Lack of interactivity (especially in advanced lessons)
• Language barrier of some tutors
• Constant phone calls

⭐️ Rating: 7/10. Review Varsity Tutors and you’ll see that the result here depends completely on the teacher you work with. Sounds like roulette, right? 

I highly appreciate the huge work Varsity Tutors did to assemble its teaching team. But what had to be a top-selling point turned out to be a tricky side.

Varsity Tutor reviews: Support channels

The primary communication channel at Varsity Tutors is the phone number. However, getting real help through it? It can be a challenging affair. If you don’t deny hanging on the phone whenever you need basic information, this service may suit you right.

⭐️ Rating: 5/10. Even though their phone support is accessible round-the-clock, such a method of communication won’t fit everyone.

I believe that the most effective help is always provided via a live chat or social media, since those are the most prompt and fastest methods. Sole phone support is not something inherently bad, but rather a thing to know beforehand.

Review of Varsity Tutors: How reasonable is the pricing?

How much is Varsity Tutors? To my pity, I could find little to no information about Varsity Tutors rate. As already discussed, the site won’t feature any exact details, encouraging you to pass the testing or contact their support. 

So, how much is Varsity Tutors then?

I dug into Varsity Tutors review pay hoping to find clarification, but also failed to discover any numbers. Still, this feedback can give you a general idea of how things work.

Where I could find exact numbers, though, was the review of Varsity Tutors from a teacher working there. Here’s what they say:

Now, here’s one more alternative view:

⭐️ Rating: 5/10 — based on what we know regarding Varsity Tutors cost, you can definitely find more budget-friendly options.

Varsity Tutors can impose hefty prices, hands down. So, carefully evaluate the benefits and cons before committing.

Reviews Varsity Tutors: The service VS competitors

	Varsity Tutors	Brighterly	Outschool	IXL
Trustpilot rating	4.3/5	4.7/5	4.4/5	1.4/5
Best for	K-12	K-9	Pre-K-12	Pre-K-12
Focus	English, Math, Languages, Humanities, Business, Tech, Science, Coding, etc.	Math and Reading	Math, English, Social Studies, and Science — plus unique courses such as Cooking, Dance, and Coding.	Math, Languages, Social Studies, Science +Spanish
Standout feature	– 1:1 and group classes – Diagnostic testing and matching with tutors – Lots of free materials  – Extended team of teachers	– Award-winning curriculum recognized for excellence – Free, personalized schedules tailored to each student – No-cost knowledge assessments to track progress	– Proven small-group learning – Personalized 1-on-1 instruction – Flexible pricing to fit your budget	– Tailored learning paths to fit each student – Budget-friendly pricing plans – Ongoing support – Plenty of practice to build confidence
Personalization	👍	👍	👍	👍
Fee	N/A	$17.4+/lesson	$4+/class	$9.95+/month

If you want to investigate Varsity Tutors from another perspective, I sincerely recommend you check these guides:

• Wyzant vs Varsity Tutors vs Brighterly
• 5 Varsity Tutors Alternatives

Varsity Tutor reviews: Thoughts & opinions on the platform

It’s time to leave all the evaluations behind and rely purely on the Varsity Tutors reviews from parents and students. What do they say?

TL;DR: As stated in many reviews on Varsity Tutors, the site features an excellent team of instructors and does help to achieve ambitious academic aims.

Varsity Tutors’ favorite features

• Compassionate and understanding teachers
• Reliable experience
• Excellent mobile app

“Maya has been very professional and patient with my son. His grades have improved thanks to their sessions. Worth it!” — Trustpilot review

“I have found Varsity Tutors very helpful in preparing to take the licensing exam for the first time. I am very pleased with the educational review I am getting.” — Trustpilot review

“Our tutor was very patient and gave clear guidance. My daughter was resistant at first, but now really appreciates the personalized support. Thank you!” — Trustpilot review

Varsity Tutors: Common complaints

• Customer support issues
• Payment troubles
• Inconvenience of the platform

Is Varsity Tutors legit? Before you take up the final decision, let’s check these comments:

“Please be careful if you use the Varsity Tutors learning program. They sign you up for a renewal subscription. We canceled with our tutor and were then billed an additional month.” — Trustpilot review

“I do want to say my tutor herself was the only positive experience with Varsity. I paid for a subscription/private sessions with a set amount of 20 hours and did the final payment back in November. Four months later, I was charged a significant amount of 400 dollars, and when asked why an extra charge, the rep stated I did an extra 4 hours.” — Trustpilot review

“I paid for 2 months of tutoring, and my son received a lower score than on the previous attempt. I’m super disappointed about the program. Paid so much money for nothing.” — Trustpilot review

Final thoughts: Is Varsity Tutors worth it?

Before the final verdict, let me remind you of the scores:

• Learning approach: 7/10.  
• User interface and experience: 5/10.  
• Effectiveness: 7/10.  
• Customer support: 5/10.  
• Pricing model: 5/10. 

Sooo… the final estimation is 6!

To sum it up:

Varsity Tutors is great for:

✅ 1:1 teacher-guided learning

✅ Theoretical and practical resources accessible charge-free

✅ Practicing in multiple subjects in a single place

But Varsity Tutors may be a disappointment if:

❌ You are looking for interactive learning

❌ Prefer stable pricing options

❌ Want to avoid unexpected charges

Looking for a Varsity Tutors alternative?

Even though Varsity Tutors possesses numeric pros, you should still take into account these downsides:

• Poor customer support services
• Automatic subscription extension
• Shaky progress dependent on tutors

If you want to avoid these and other issues we’ve clarified above, why not consider other services? Since you already have some grasp of Brighterly features, let’s evaluate it as a notable alternative to Varsity Tutors. So, it offers:

✅ Access to the customized and gamified math program

✅ Stability in terms of pricing

✅ Focus on the real-world context

Professional tutors

Math tutors are the real gem of Brighterly. From learning insecurities to school traumas and ADHD, they know how to address all these issues. Plus, their approach is highly personalized and based on individual needs, so be sure your kid’s struggles and strong points are considered.

Besides, the Brighterly math tutoring platform uses an identical teacher matching approach to that at Varsity Tutors. It asks kids to pass diagnostic testing and only then picks the best-fitting instructor.

Efficient result-oriented schedules

Brighterly math class works wonders for better academic performance due to these core features:

• One-to-one studying allows for overall better concentration and addresses individual learning styles
• STEM curricula teach kids only practically applicable information
• Common Core-aligned schedules guarantee that classes accurately match what kids learn at school

Free materials

Just like Varsity Tutors, Brighterly provides tons of free materials. But unlike with the former, tasks at Brighterly come with enticing visuals to keep kids engaged:

• Math worksheets are convenient resources you can use for home practice, while printing them out or managing them on your device.

• Math tests 1-9 check regular math knowledge in specific school grades.

Next steps: Achieve math excellence with Brighterly

Okay, by now you have viewed dozens of Varsity Tutoring reviews and know this site is ideal for 1:1 learning, supplementary group practices, and various subjects covered. However, it can also scare you away with hefty prices and shaky customer support.

Luckily, there are other alternatives like Brighterly, which can fill these gaps while also maintaining a worthy level of education. Choose this math tutoring platform for:

• Individualized learning method
• Reasonable and fixed pricing
• 24/7 support
• Fun and interactive classes

Try Brighterly for free and enjoy all of the abovementioned benefits. Book a demo for stressless testing!