Updated October 1, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
TrueFire vs Tutorful
Where TrueFire and Tutorful differ
| Compare |  TrueFire |  Tutorful |
|---|---|---|
| Trial lesson | Free | Discounted |
| Number of tutors | from 400 | from 11,000 |
| Minimum age | 13 | 18 |
| Satisfaction guarantee | 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, refund within 14 days | 100% satisfaction guarantee: first lesson replaced with a new tutor, credited up to £100 |
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Median lesson price | Not confirmed | £53 |
| Subscription price | $11.99 to $20.83 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Cancellation notice | Not confirmed | 24 hours |
Same on both: Tutor vetting (Screened).
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Key differences
- TrueFire scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Support channels: only Tutorful offers Chat.
- Subjects: only TrueFire offers Creative.
- Subjects: only Tutorful offers Math, English, Science.
Our verdict on each
TrueFire
TrueFire suits guitar players who want a wide streaming library under a single membership, plus assessments that set a starting point and track progress. All Access opens 1,900 courses, with a 7-day trial and refunds within 14 days when the fit is wrong.
Tutorful
Tutorful suits families who want a wide pool of screened tutors without a fixed course, since from 11,000 tutors sit behind the matching. Tutor background checks, a satisfaction guarantee that replaces a poor opening lesson, and 24 hours notice to cancel make it a low risk way to find a tutor.
Score breakdown
| Area | TrueFire | Tutorful |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherAll Access bills $143.88 a year, working out at $11.99 a month, with a 7-day free trial before you pay. | 8.9Entry at £20 ranks mid table among compared brands, while the £53 median shows what most families pay. |
| Offer | 9.2A 7-day trial opens the library, assessments set a starting point, and free sample lessons sit on most course pages. | 9.5Higherfrom 11,000 tutors spanning math, english and science and 1to1 and app lessons give families genuine choice. |
| Trust | 9.8HigherA satisfaction guarantee with refunds within 14 days, run by TrueFire, Inc. since 1991. | 9.2Tutor background checks are a yes, screened vetting is standard, and a satisfaction guarantee replaces a poor opening lesson. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | TrueFire | Tutorful |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | TrueFire | Tutorful |
|---|---|---|
| Online tutoring | 7 of 48 | 10 of 48 |
| Kids learning apps | 5 of 38 | 7 of 38 |
Pick TrueFire if, pick Tutorful if
Pick TrueFire if cost and trust matter most.
Pick Tutorful if offer matter most.
What we checked
TrueFire
- truefire.com: 13 facts, checked October 1, 2026
Tutorful
- tutorful.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- tutorful.freshdesk.com: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | TrueFire | Tutorful |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Creative | Math, English, Science, Languages, Coding, School, Music |
| Lesson format | 1to1, App | 1to1, App |
| Legal entity | TrueFire, Inc. | Tutora Ltd, trading as Tutorful (company number 09370702) |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1991 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | TrueFire | Tutorful | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | £20lowest quarter | £26.36 |
| Subscription price | $11.99 to $20.83lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $95 |
| Free trial length | 7 daysbelow the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Number of tutors | from 400below the median | from 11,000above the median | 1,000 |
| Minimum age | 13above the median | 18highest quarter | 10.5 |
| Cancellation notice | Not confirmed | 24 hoursat the median | 24 hours |
Median across 34 listed providers.
Pros and cons
TrueFire
Pros
- All Access is a subscription that unlocks 1,900 courses across the whole library.
- A 7-day free trial opens the entire library before you commit, and free sample lessons sit on most course pages.
- Assessment tools set a starting point, suggest lessons and then track progress.
Cons
- The terms bar anyone under 13 from the site and its services.
- Refunds sit within 14 days of delivery, so a later decision falls outside the window.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so a phone call is not an option.
Tutorful
Pros
- A pool of from 11,000 tutors across math, english and science makes a subject match likely, including coding and music.
- Tutor background checks are a yes and tutors are screened, so families are not left to vet every tutor themselves.
- Canceling with 24 hours notice makes a clash with school life cheap to fix.
Cons
- The £53 median stands well above the £20 entry price, so regular lessons cost more than the headline suggests.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for families who would rather talk a scheduling clash through.
- The vetting standard is screened, so a family wanting verified subject credentials has less detail to go on.
Who each suits
TrueFire
Who it suits
- Guitar players who want plenty to choose from, with 1,900 courses in a single membership.
- Learners who would rather be told where to start, since assessment tools set a starting point and recommend lessons.
- Practisers who watch on a desktop or a phone, because the apps carry lessons on both.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone under 13, who the terms keep off the site.
- Players who want lesson files they keep after cancelling, since offline downloads are sold separately.
- Readers after subjects outside music, because the catalogue is built around guitar, electric and bass.
Tutorful
Who it suits
- Families who want to test a tutor with a discounted trial lesson before booking a run of regular sessions.
- Parents of learners who need help beyond core school subjects, since math, english and science includes coding, languages and music.
- Households that expect to change tutors or timetables often, since 24 hours notice keeps rearranging cheap.
Who should look elsewhere
- Families on the smallest budget, since BUKI lists lessons from PLN 50.
- Learners who want the lowest starting rate, since DojoTutor lists $10.
Current offers
TrueFire
Current offer
Free trial
7-day free trial of All Access: 7 days free
Full access to the entire library, no commitment; cancel anytime during the trial and you won't be charged
Source, checked October 1, 2026
Questions about each
TrueFire
How much does TrueFire cost?+
All Access is quoted on the annual plan, billed at $143.88 for the year, which works out at $11.99 a month. The monthly number is the annual rate spread across the year, so the yearly sum is what you commit to. Keep both figures in view when you weigh entry price against renewal.
Can I try TrueFire before I pay?+
Yes. A 7-day free trial of All Access opens the entire library with no commitment attached. Free sample lessons also sit on most course pages, so you can watch before subscribing and judge the playing style and the teaching voice.
Tutorful
How much does a lesson cost on Tutorful?+
Tutorful lists starting lesson prices from £20, but the median lesson price is £53. That gap is the point: the starting figure belongs to the cheapest tutor on the board, while the median is closer to what a family pays once it settles with a regular tutor. Budget on the median.
Is there a free trial lesson with Tutorful?+
The trial lesson is discounted, so it runs at a reduced rate rather than at no cost. A satisfaction guarantee covers the other risk: if the opening session disappoints, it is replaced with a new tutor and the fee paid is credited back, up to a set cap. Families can test a tutor cheaply, though not for nothing.