Short answer: Tutoring platforms differ mainly in business model, fees, contract commitment, payment handling and data protection. A comparison works only with the current contract and fee terms of each provider, because these change. If you work as an employee, the minimum wage of 13.90 euros gross per hour applies (value for 2026, last updated: November 2026).
Anyone offering private lessons through a platform faces a series of similar-sounding offers. They promise assignments, visibility and simple billing, but differ in what they actually charge and deliver. This guide shows what students should check when comparing platforms. It deliberately names no providers and makes no recommendation, because terms change constantly.
Key points at a glance
- Business model: first clarify whether the platform brokers lessons or employs you.
- Fees: a brokerage fee can bind a significant share of your hourly rate.
- Contract: term, notice periods and cancellation rules determine your flexibility.
- Data protection: when pupils are minors, extra care is needed.
- Tax and status: the contract is not the only factor, the way the work is actually organised counts too.
Which business models exist?
Many platforms act as brokers. They connect tutors with families, and the lesson contract is formed between you and the parents or pupils. You are then usually self-employed and set your own rate. Other providers employ tutors and pay an hourly wage. There the statutory minimum wage applies, and you enjoy the usual employee rights.
The distinction matters because it determines contributions, calculation and status. If a platform sets your times, prescribes content and forbids refusing assignments, that can point to an employment relationship, whatever the contract is called. Our guide to the hourly rate for students (in German) explains the figures.
Comparison criteria at a glance
| Criterion | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | brokerage or employment | determines status, contributions and calculation |
| Brokerage fee | amount, calculation base, due date | reduces your net hourly rate |
| Contract term | minimum term, notice period | determines commitment and exit |
| Cancellation rules | pay for cancelled lessons by pupils or parents | affects the buffer you need |
| Payment | payout rhythm, deductions, invoicing | affects liquidity and bookkeeping |
| Data protection | scope of data collected, storage period, chat function | important when minors are involved |
| Transparency | fees visible before signing | prevents unpleasant surprises |
Last updated: November 2026. These criteria apply regardless of the provider. Concrete fees and terms are in each provider’s contract documents and should be checked there.
How does a brokerage fee affect your income?
Assumption: a platform keeps 20 percent of the agreed hourly rate, and you charge 20 euros per lesson. You then keep 16 euros. With 90 minutes of total effort per appointment, including preparation and travel, that is about 10.67 euros per hour actually spent. The figures are an illustration, not an offer. What matters is that you know the fee before signing and include it in your calculation.
Always compare the net amount that remains for you. A low basic fee can come with high deductions elsewhere. Read the calculation base carefully, because some fees refer to the parents’ payment and others to yours.
Check contract, notice and cancellation
Look at the minimum term and the notice period. A long commitment is often impractical for students with changing semester plans. Cancellation rules are just as important: is cancelled teaching paid, or do you lose that income? This decides how large your buffer for lost time must be.
Also check who arranges appointments and whether you can decline pupils. A platform that assigns pupils without the option to refuse takes away part of your control over your time. You should know this before you start.
Data protection with minors
Many pupils are minors. Their names, schools, grades or learning difficulties are personal data that deserve particular care. Review the platform’s privacy notice: which data is collected, how long it is stored and whether chat histories remain accessible. Avoid writing sensitive details in messages that you would not hand over on paper.
Why reviews help only to a limited extent
Reviews from other tutors or parents show moods, but rarely the actual terms. Read them as hints about processes, for example how quickly enquiries are answered or how invoicing works. It is hard to judge from outside whether a review is representative. Do not rely on star ratings, but on the contract documents and on direct questions to the provider.
Be wary of promotional promises such as quick earnings or guaranteed bookings. Such statements count only if the provider puts them in the contract. Otherwise they remain advertising with little to do with your actual workload.
Payment and invoicing
Ask when and how you are paid: monthly, weekly or after each appointment. Check whether deductions are made automatically and whether you receive statements you can use for your tax return. Clean invoicing makes bookkeeping easier, and you always know which amounts are outstanding.
Payments through third-party providers or from abroad may carry extra charges. Include these in your calculation as well, so that the net amount is correct.
When a platform suits you
A platform suits you better if you want to spend little time on client acquisition, your subjects are in broad demand and you accept the fee on purpose. It suits you less if you work at short notice and irregularly, because minimum terms and cancellation rules weigh more heavily then. If you already build your own client base, weigh the fee against the effort of acquiring clients yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one best tutoring platform?
No. The right platform depends on your subject, region, time and willingness to pay fees. A comparison along the criteria above leads to a decision more reliably than any general recommendation.
How do I recognise a dubious offer?
Be careful if you are asked to transfer money in advance, if fees become visible only after signing or if you are pressed to sign under time pressure. Unclear contact details are also a warning sign.
Do I always have to pay the brokerage fee?
That depends on the contract terms. Read them before you register and ask when a fee becomes due and whether it applies to cancelled appointments.
Do I have to pay tax on my earnings?
Tutoring income can be relevant for tax. The allowances for part-time teaching under § 3 no. 26 EStG (in German) do not apply in every case. Our guide on tutoring and tax (in German) explains the threshold in more detail.
What to do now
- List three or four platforms that are suitable for your subject and region.
- Compare them with the criteria fee, term, cancellation and data protection, using the table above.
- Calculate the net hourly rate for each platform per hour actually spent.
- Request the contract terms in written form before you register and read them in full.
Related reading
- Founding alongside your studies: funding programmes and advice
- Tutoring hourly rate for students
- Tutoring and tax
- Side jobs with high hourly pay
Sources: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (in German; value for 2026) and § 3 EStG, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German; checked November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
