When tutors search for "tutoring apps," they usually mean one of two things: apps to manage their tutoring business, or apps to use during lessons.
This guide covers both - with a focus on the tools that help you run a tutoring business from your phone.
Best apps for managing your tutoring business
1. Zutor - Best all-in-one CRM for solo tutors
Zutor is a CRM built specifically for independent tutors. It combines student management, scheduling, payment tracking, automated reminders, and a booking page in one app.
Key features:
- Student profiles with contacts, rates, and lesson history
- Calendar with recurring lessons
- Payment tracking with automatic balance calculation
- Automated reminders via Telegram (80%+ open rates) and email
- Public booking page (zutor.app/your-name) where students book directly
- PDF invoices and progress reports
- Analytics dashboard (revenue, lessons, trends)
- PWA - works as a mobile app on any device
Pricing: Free (up to 5 students), Pro $9/month, Business $19/month. Everything free during Early Access.
Best for: Solo tutors who want one app for everything, without the complexity of enterprise tools.
2. Google Calendar + Google Sheets - Best free DIY option
The classic combo. Google Calendar for scheduling, Google Sheets for tracking payments and student info.
Pros: Free, familiar, works everywhere.
Cons: Nothing is connected. You manually update the spreadsheet after every lesson. No automated reminders. No booking page. No invoices. Admin time adds up fast.
Best for: Tutors with fewer than 5 students who want to spend $0.
For a detailed comparison: Google Sheets vs Tutor CRM
3. Calendly - Best for scheduling only
Calendly is a scheduling tool that lets students book time on your calendar. It's not tutor-specific, but it handles scheduling well.
Pros: Clean booking interface, integrates with Google Calendar, free tier available.
Cons: No student management, no payment tracking, no lesson notes, no invoices. You still need other tools for everything else.
Pricing: Free (basic), $10/month (standard).
Best for: Tutors who only need scheduling and handle everything else separately.
4. TutorBird - Best simple alternative
TutorBird is a tutor management app designed for solo tutors and small teams.
Pros: Simple interface, scheduling, invoicing, student management.
Cons: No mobile app, limited reminders, no booking page, $14.95/month minimum.
Best for: Solo tutors who want simplicity and don't need a mobile experience.
5. Teachworks - Best for tutoring companies
Teachworks is enterprise-grade tutoring management software with scheduling, billing, payroll, and 70+ integrations.
Pros: Very comprehensive feature set, Stripe integration, QuickBooks sync, multi-location support.
Cons: Expensive ($16+/month base + per-lesson fees), complex setup, no mobile app, built for companies not solo tutors.
Best for: Tutoring companies with multiple tutors and complex billing needs.
For a detailed comparison: Zutor vs Teachworks
6. TutorCruncher - Best for agencies
TutorCruncher is designed for tutoring agencies that manage many tutors and students.
Pros: Powerful matching, payroll, CRM, client portal.
Cons: $30+/month plus 1% of revenue, complex, overkill for solo tutors.
Best for: Tutoring agencies with 10+ tutors.
For a detailed comparison: Zutor vs TutorCruncher
Best apps to use during tutoring sessions
Online whiteboards
- BitPaper - Best for math/science (grid backgrounds, graph paper)
- Excalidraw - Best free option (no signup, collaborative)
- Miro - Best for visual/project-based learning
For a full comparison: Best Whiteboard for Online Tutoring
Video conferencing
- Zoom - Industry standard, built-in whiteboard, breakout rooms
- Google Meet - Free, simple, works in browser
- Skype - Free, but less reliable than Zoom/Meet
Interactive learning tools
- Kahoot - Create quizzes and games for engagement
- Quizlet - Flashcards and study sets
- Desmos - Free graphing calculator (essential for SAT math prep)
- Khan Academy - Free practice content across subjects
How to choose the right app
Ask yourself these questions:
How many students do I have? Under 5: Google Calendar is fine. 5-50: You need a CRM like Zutor. Over 50: Consider Teachworks or TutorCruncher.
What's my budget? $0: Google tools or Zutor free tier. $9-15/month: Zutor Pro or TutorBird. $30+/month: Teachworks or TutorCruncher.
Do I need a booking page? If yes: Zutor or Calendly. Most other tools don't include one.
Do I need automated reminders? If yes: Zutor (Telegram + email). Calendly has basic email reminders. Most others require manual texting.
Do I tutor on my phone? If yes: Zutor (PWA works on mobile). Most competitors are desktop-only.
The best setup for most solo tutors
If you're an independent tutor with 5-30 students, this is the most efficient stack:
- Zutor - scheduling, payments, reminders, booking page, invoices
- Zoom or Google Meet - video for online lessons
- Excalidraw or BitPaper - whiteboard during lessons
Three tools. That's it. Everything else is handled by Zutor.