Introduction
An online tutor is someone who teaches students virtually, typically through video calls, chat, and digital whiteboards. This method helps students improve their understanding, expand their knowledge, and prepare more effectively for exams.
In offline teaching, one must go through several steps. It usually requires completing specific teaching courses, passing teacher eligibility tests, and applying for teaching positions. Only after successfully clearing all these stages can someone officially become a government-recognized teacher.
However, when it comes to online tutoring, there is no mandatory certification or eligibility test. If you have strong knowledge of a subject and effective communication skills, you can start teaching online without major obstacles.
What Does an Online Tutor Do?
- Teach academic or skill-based subjects like math, science, languages, coding, or music
- Create lesson plans – Make a lesson plan and execute in class or batch.
- Use digital tools – whiteboards, PPT, Zoom app, and screen sharing, etc.
- Track progress and give feedback to help students improve
- Communicate regularly with students (and sometimes parents)
- PKT – Take a test based on previous knowledge
Skills That Help Online Tutor Succeed
- Strong knowledge of your subject
- Clear communication and patience
- Teaching tools (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
- Ability to adapt to different learning styles
Bonus: You Don’t Always Need a Degree
Many platforms (like Preply, Palfish, or Wyzant) let you teach based on your expertise, not your formal qualifications. A TEFL certificate can help if you’re teaching English.
Platforms That Don’t Require a Degree
| Platform | Subjects Offered | Requirements | Notes |
| Preply | Languages, school subjects, hobbies | No degree needed; TEFL preferred for English | Set your own rates and schedule2 |
| Wyzant | Academic subjects, test prep | High school diploma or GED | U.S.-based; flexible hours |
| Tutors.com | Math, science, music, more | GED or high school diploma | Match with students based on profile |
| Open English | English for Latin American students | TEFL certificate + 1 year experience | Spanish/Portuguese helpful |
| Palfish | English (mobile app) | TEFL certificate | Great for flexible, mobile-based teaching |
Some Platforms Where You Can Teach Any Subject
1. BYJU’S
- BYJU’S is a leading educational technology platform offering interactive and personalized learning for school and competitive exam students.
- It actively recruits online home tutors across India to teach subjects like Math, Science, and English for Grades 1–10.
- Offers opportunities to teach from home with flexible hours, using BYJU’S tech-enabled teaching tools.
- Great for individuals passionate about education, especially those targeting JEE, NEET, UPSC, and other competitive exams.
- Tutors benefit from structured training, dedicated support teams, and attractive compensation based on teaching slots.
🔗 https://byjus.com/home-tutor-recruitment/
2. Unacademy
- Unacademy is a top-tier educational technology platform that offers live classes, recorded lectures, and interactive sessions to students across India.
- It connects top educators with learners preparing for competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT, GATE, and more.
- Educators can create structured content, conduct quizzes, and deliver live sessions using Unacademy’s robust teaching tools and LMS (Learning Management System).
- The platform runs on a subscription-based model, ensuring recurring engagement and access to a large pool of active learners.
- Teachers are supported with training, analytics, content-building tools, and visibility to grow a loyal student base.
🔗 Download Unacademy App to Get Started
3. Coursera
- Offers high-quality courses in partnership with top universities and institutions.
- Great for educators with academic or professional credentials.
- Instructors typically collaborate through universities or organizations (not direct sign-up).
- Ideal for teaching college-level courses, certifications, and specializations.
- Massive global reach—millions of learners across 100+ countries.
🔗 Teach on Coursera (via Partnership)
4. Skillshare
- Creative-focused platform popular for subjects like design, photography, writing, and productivity.
- Offers royalty-based earnings depending on watch time.
- You can create project-based video classes without needing any credentials.
- Teachers retain full ownership of their content.
- Skillshare supports teachers with production guidelines and community resources.
🔗 Become a Teacher on Skillshare
5. Thinkific
- Allows educators to build and sell online courses under their own brand.
- Full control over pricing, student data, and marketing.
- No technical knowledge needed—drag-and-drop course builder included.
- Ideal for entrepreneurs, coaches, and subject experts.
- Offers integrations with payment gateways, email tools, and analytics.
🔗 Start Teaching on Thinkific
6. iTalki
- A platform for teaching languages one-on-one through video calls.
- No teaching degree required—just proficiency and good communication skills.
- Set your own hourly rates and availability.
- Great for native speakers or multilingual tutors worldwide.
- Built-in classroom tools, reviews, and a large global student base.
🔗 Teach Languages on iTalki
7. Pear Deck Tutor (Formerly TutorMe)
- Offers on-demand tutoring in academic subjects, test prep, and professional skills.
- Requires strong subject knowledge and the ability to explain concepts clearly.
- Tutors get matched with students based on profile and expertise.
- 24/7 tutoring opportunities with flexible hours.
- Payment is hourly and managed by the platform.
🔗 Apply to Tutor on TutorMe
8. Google Classroom
- A free tool designed for educators to manage lessons, assignments, and grading.
- Best for school teachers or private tutors who want to teach in batch formats.
- Integrates well with other Google tools like Docs, Drive, and Meet.
- Great for creating collaborative class environments.
- Ideal for schools, coaching institutes, or freelancers managing groups.
🔗 Use Google Classroom
9. RCampus
- An educational management platform for hosting online courses and assessments.
- Best suited for structured academic or certification-oriented teaching.
- Tools include course builders, grade books, rubrics, and ePortfolios.
- Frequently used by institutions, but individuals can also create classrooms.
- Supports collaboration, feedback, and course accreditation.
🔗 Explore RCampus Teaching Tools
10. StudyIQ
StudyIQ is an online learning platform and you can enroll yourself and sell you course as a affordable price, especially for government exam preparation. Yon can offers pre-recorded video lectures, current affairs updates, and study materials for exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defense, and State PSCs. StudyIQ is popular for its YouTube channel, which provides free educational content so you may make a part of it and provide your subject knowledge on daily basis. It’s a go-to platform for students looking for concept clarity and exam-oriented preparation at a budget-friendly price.
🔗 Join StudyIQ as Educator
11. Udemy
- Global course-selling platform where you can teach any topic—academic or skill-based.
- Create self-paced video courses and earn passive income over time.
- No formal qualification required—only expertise in your chosen subject.
- Access to tools for course creation, marketing, and analytics.
- You set your own price, promo codes, and get paid for each enrollment.
🔗 Start Teaching on Udemy
12. Teachable
- Perfect for educators who want to build and brand their own course website.
- You control everything—pricing, content delivery, and student data.
- Excellent for skill-based, entrepreneurial, or niche subject teaching.
- Integrated tools for sales pages, payment gateways, and email marketing.
- No degree required; just your knowledge and content.
🔗 Create Courses on Teachable
Conclusion
Becoming an online tutor is one of the most accessible and rewarding ways to share your knowledge, build a flexible career and leave your impact on students’ lives. If you are passionate about your subject and any other competitive exam, language or skill like coding or music, then there are many platform and people who are waiting for you. So in this journey you need a strong grasp of your subject, good communication skills, and basic digital tools then you can make your lecture ordinary to extraordinary.
Start small, stay consistent, and grow your presence, your classroom is now the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I become an online tutor without a teaching degree?
Yes, there are many platforms that provide online tutor facilities, then you can join them with your knowledge and experience base.
2. What subjects can I teach online?
You can teach as per your subject expertise, here is including:
- Academic: Math, Science, English, History, etc.
- Competitive Exams: UPSC, SSC, JEE, NEET, etc.
- Languages: English, Spanish, French, etc.
- Skills: Coding, Music, Art, Public Speaking, etc.
3. Do I need any certifications?
It depends on you, where do you want to apply? If you want to teach online, then you don’t need any degree, but if you are applying to any organization or government institute, then you definitely need certification and a degree too.
4. How much can I earn as an online tutor?
Earnings vary based on:
- Platform policies
- Your subject and experience
- Number of hours you teach
- Whether you set your own rates
Some tutors earn ₹15,000 to ₹1,00,000+ per month, depending on their engagement and platform
5. What tools do I need to start teaching online?
- A laptop or tablet with a webcam
- Stable internet connection
- Tools like Zoom, Google Meet, Skype
- Optional: Digital whiteboard, stylus, screen recording software
6. Which platform is best for beginners?
- Preply and Tutors.com are great for flexible, low-barrier entry.
- Unacademy and BYJU’S are better for structured, exam-focused teaching (may require a selection process).
- StudyIQ is ideal if you want to create and sell your own courses.