🧑🏫 AI tutors and tutoring · 🎓 Courses and learning platforms
Outschool
By Outschool, Inc.. Visit Outschool
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A marketplace of live online classes for ages 3 to 18. Independent teachers list small-group video classes, one-on-one tutoring, clubs and self-paced courses on almost any subject, from algebra to Minecraft to ADHD-friendly social groups. A parent finds and pays for classes; the child joins a video call from a Learner Space on the web or the Outschool app, and can message teachers privately (the parent is told about those messages).
Our take: Good for families who want a live teacher for a specific interest or gap; skip it if you are not comfortable with recorded video calls with adults you have not met.
| Ages it suits | about 3-18 |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Only adults who can form a binding contract (18 in most places) can hold an account. A parent creates learner profiles and accepts the terms for the child; kids under 13 use a Learner Space with controls that make it harder to switch into parent mode. (terms) |
| Price | Paid. Pay per class at the price each teacher sets, or a monthly credit membership from $40 USD a month (about one group class a week) up to $600 a month (Oct 2026); memberships auto-renew. |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | Outschool uses AI to suggest classes and teachers and to write summaries of class transcripts for parents; some teachers also use AI tools to plan lessons. |
What's good
- Huge range of live small-group classes and tutors
- Teachers pass ID and yearly background checks
- Many classes for neurodivergent learners
- Parent sees and approves what the child joins
Watch for
- Your child is on live video with an adult stranger, and classes are recorded
- Teacher quality varies; Outschool says it does not control the classes
- Costs add up fast, and memberships auto-renew
- Kids can message teachers privately (parent is notified)
Data and privacy
Outschool says it follows COPPA and gets verified parent consent (for example by card check) before collecting a child's data. Video classes are automatically recorded and kept for 90 days; it says it does not use your family's data, including what a learner did in class, to train AI models, but it does share data with marketing and analytics vendors. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent studies of Outschool found. The maker's own claims only: 1.5 million families, a 4-to-1 average class size, and identity checks plus yearly criminal background checks for every teacher.
In the Big Index
- On the list 21 best homeschool resources online
- On the list 19 best cooking-with-kids resources
- Outschool
Alternatives to Outschool
Desk researchFreeNo ads
AmblesideOnline
AmblesideOnline (volunteer advisory) · ages about 5-18 (Year 0 to Year 12)
A strong free plan for homeschool families drawn to Charlotte Mason and literature-rich learning; secular families or those wanting an interactive program should look elsewhere.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
AoPS Online
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Incorporated) · ages grades 5-12 (about 10-18)
A strong fit for a child who loves hard math and wants contest prep; a child who is behind in math needs something gentler.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Babbel
Babbel · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A solid choice for a motivated older teen; younger kids are not allowed and are better served by kids' apps.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Beast Academy
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) · ages 6-13 (levels 1-5, roughly grades 1-5)
A great fit for curious or advanced elementary kids and homeschoolers who enjoy a challenge; kids who need gentle catch-up practice should start elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Codecademy
Codecademy LLC · ages 16+
A good next step for a motivated 16- or 17-year-old; younger kids need a coding tool built for them.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Connections Academy
Pearson · ages grades K-12
Worth a look for families who need school at home and have an adult free to coach; families expecting it to match a good local school should read the research first.
Where these facts come from
- https://outschool.com/
- https://outschool.com/terms
- https://outschool.com/privacy
- https://outschool.com/join-membership
- https://support.outschool.com/llms.txt
- https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/11465844-how-ai-enhances-your-family-s-outschool-experience.md
- https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/10752946-how-to-choose-the-right-membership-plan-for-your-family.md
- https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/14171096-outschool-payment-options-faqs-for-parents.md
- https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/10421801-how-to-purchase-and-manage-an-outschool-membership.md
- https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/2701506-educator-background-checks.md
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.