Guidance
How much does tutoring cost in Australia?
See current Australian tutoring price examples, annual cost scenarios and the questions to ask before paying for a tutor or AI subscription.
A current price snapshot - not a national average
Australia does not have a regulated retail price for private tutoring, and there is no single current public dataset covering every independent tutor, centre and platform. A Year 5 group class, a university-student tutor, a registered teacher specialising in Year 12 Chemistry and an AI tutor should not be treated as interchangeable because they all use the word “tutoring”.
The figures below were checked on 22 August 2026 and are shown in Australian dollars.
| Tutoring format | Current published price evidence | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Large group or class | The Australian Tutoring Association says a student may pay as little as $10 to $15 an hour in a class of 15 to 20. One 2026 centre example works out to $48 for each one-hour Reception to Year 8 group session, plus a $50 new-enrolment fee | Class size, fixed-term commitments and individual attention vary |
| One-to-one online tutoring | Published 2026 rates from national online providers include $65 an hour across Prep to Year 12, and $62 an hour for Year 10 and below rising to $72 for Years 11 and 12 | “Online” describes delivery, not tutor qualification or lesson quality |
| Teacher-trained or specialist tutoring | The Australian Tutoring Association gives a broad $55 to $180 hourly range for teacher-trained tutors | Experience, subject scarcity, senior level, location and preparation can move the price substantially |
| AI tutoring | PocketTutor Basic is $0 with daily limits. Plus is $19/month billed annually - $228 a year - or $29 month to month | It provides on-demand AI support, not booked time with a person |
These are evidence points, not a promise that every family will find these prices. Provider inclusions and rates can change. Ask for a written quote and terms before enrolling.
What tutoring can cost over a term or year
Hourly prices are hard to compare with subscriptions and term fees. Convert each option to the same time period. The scenarios below assume 40 weeks of tutoring across a school year.
| Scenario | Calculation | Indicative annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| One hour a week at $55 | $55 × 40 | $2,200 |
| One hour a week at $65 | $65 × 40 | $2,600 |
| One hour a week at $110 | $110 × 40 | $4,400 |
| Two hours a week at $65 | $65 × 2 × 40 | $5,200 |
| PocketTutor Plus annual plan | Published annual subscription | $228 |
The subscription comparison needs an important qualification: an AI tutor and a human tutor do not provide the same service. The price difference does not prove that one will produce the same or better learning result. PocketTutor has not measured grade or learning improvements. The table only helps a family understand the budget implications of on-demand AI support compared with scheduled paid hours.
PocketTutor Plus includes one student profile. A household can have up to five profiles, with extra students priced at $10 per month each on annual billing or $15 per month each on monthly billing. Check current PocketTutor pricing before deciding.
What changes the cost of a human tutor?
Qualifications and experience
A registered teacher, experienced subject specialist or senior-assessment expert will usually charge more than a university student or general homework helper. Ask for the exact qualification rather than relying on the word “teacher”. The Australian Tutoring Association distinguishes teacher-trained tutors - people with an education degree - from tutors with subject knowledge but no teaching qualification.
Higher credentials are not automatically better for every need. A patient university student who knows the current course may be an excellent fit for routine practice. A qualified teacher may be worth the higher fee when a gap is difficult to diagnose, the student has complex needs or the work is high stakes.
Year level and subject
Senior Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, English extensions and other specialised courses can command higher prices because fewer tutors have current syllabus expertise. Primary and junior-secondary support may be less expensive, although location and qualifications still matter.
One-to-one, small group or class
One-to-one tutoring gives one student all of the session time and is generally the highest-cost format. Small groups spread the tutor's time and cost. Ask for the maximum group size and how questions are handled; “small group” may mean two students or many more.
Online or in person
Online sessions remove travel and can expand the available tutor pool. They are not always cheaper: sought-after specialists may charge the same online and in person. In-home prices may include travel time or a surcharge.
Commitment, preparation and extras
Look beyond the lesson rate. Total cost can include enrolment or matching fees, minimum terms or prepaid packages, cancellation charges, travel, resources, marking or practice portals, extra subjects, longer senior sessions, and holiday programs or exam workshops.
Ask whether preparation, post-session notes and contact between lessons are included. A cheaper hourly rate can cost more overall if sessions are longer, more frequent or locked into a term.
Free and lower-cost support to check first
Before paying, ask the school what is already available. A teacher may offer clarification, lunchtime help, revision sessions, learning-support programs or guidance on the exact gap. Libraries, community programs and peer study can also help in some areas.
For a family that mainly needs help when a student gets stuck, an AI tutor may cover part of the need. PocketTutor's free Basic plan includes all seven AI tutors and learning modes, voice input, 10 tutor messages a day, three quizzes a day and two guided study sessions a day. A family can test the real product before deciding whether to pay.
For a persistent gap, a human tutor may be the more appropriate starting point even if it costs more. Read AI tutor vs human tutor for a task-by-task comparison.
How to decide whether tutoring is worth the cost
Price alone is a poor quality signal. Agree on a specific problem and a review point before committing.
- What need are we solving?“Improve Maths” is vague; “solve two-step equations independently” can be reviewed.
- Who will provide the support? Ask about qualifications, subject and syllabus experience, child-safety checks and supervision.
- What happens in a session? Look for explanation, guided practice, feedback and independent work - not completing assignments.
- How does this connect to school?The support should use the right curriculum and respect the teacher's assessment rules.
- How will we review fit and progress? Agree on a date and evidence, not a guarantee.
- What are the full terms? Confirm fees, cancellations, minimum commitment, refunds and data handling in writing.
Talk to the student as well. A technically impressive tutor is poor value if the child will not ask questions or engage. Equally, an enjoyable session is not enough if the student remains dependent on the tutor for every step.
At the review point, ask whether the student can handle a comparable problem without help, explain the method and apply it in class. Session counts, time in an app and completed worksheets are activity measures; they are not learning outcomes by themselves.
Evidence for Learning says one-to-one tuition can be effective when targeted and linked with classroom teaching, but results vary and implementation quality matters. Its evidence summary also notes that teacher-delivered tuition can be expensive and that Australian-specific evidence on the one-to-one element is limited. No provider should turn general tutoring research into a guaranteed result for one child.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- How much should I charge? (Australian Tutoring Association)ata.edu.au
- One-to-one tuition evidence summary (Evidence for Learning)evidenceforlearning.org.au