Honest guide • June 2026

    The best IB and AP tutoring companies in 2026

    There is no single best company. There is a best one for you. This guide ranks the leading IB and AP tutoring services by what they are genuinely best at, so you can match the provider to your priority. We include ourselves, and we say where another company wins.

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    Short answer

    The best IB and AP tutoring companies, by need

    The leading IB and AP tutoring companies in 2026 are Bespoke Learning, TutorChase, Lanterna Education, Crimson Education, Spires, MyTutor, and TYCHR. Each is best at something different. Choose on the priority that matters most to your family.

    • Best for a dedicated IB or AP educator: Bespoke Learning.
    • Best for breadth of curricula: TutorChase.
    • Best for IB only: Lanterna Education.
    • Best for university admissions: Crimson Education.
    • Best for choosing a tutor yourself: Spires.
    • Best on a tight budget: MyTutor and TYCHR.

    How we ranked them

    Four questions decide whether a tutoring company is right for IB and AP, not marketing claims.

    Who actually teaches

    Are tutors trained educators, vetted specialists, or university students learning on the job?

    Price and transparency

    Is pricing public and clear, or quote-only? What does an hour really cost?

    Subject and curriculum fit

    Does it cover your subjects, including TOK, the Extended Essay, and AP, not just Math and Science?

    Tools and reporting

    What reaches you and your parents after the session: a real report, or vague feedback?

    The best company for each need

    Find your priority, then start with the company built for it.

    Best for a dedicated IB or AP educator

    Bespoke Learning

    That is us

    One dedicated IB or AP educator, plans tied to the live rubric, and a written report after every session that parents can read.

    Indicative price: USD packages. $99 first lesson, $109 single, multi-session from $299

    Best for breadth of curricula

    TutorChase

    A large, vetted tutor pool across IB, A-Level, AP, GCSE, and admissions, backed by its own IB resources platform.

    Indicative price: A-Level from about £49/hr, AP around $75/hr. IB by quote

    Best for IB only

    Lanterna Education

    A pure IB specialist since 2004, with transparent hour packages and a full refund if you are not happy after two hours.

    Indicative price: Hour packages roughly £58 to £85/hr depending on size

    Best for university admissions

    Crimson Education

    Built for top-university admissions, pairing a strategist with subject tutors and tracking the whole plan.

    Indicative price: Premium and quote-based. Tutoring roughly $90 to $110/hr

    Best for choosing a tutor yourself

    Spires

    A marketplace where tutors bid on your request, so you compare many options and pick, with recorded lessons to review.

    Indicative price: From about £30 per class, average near £40/hr

    Best on a tight budget

    MyTutor and TYCHR

    MyTutor offers a large UK pool of mostly university-student tutors. TYCHR offers the lowest rates we found, with a free demo.

    Indicative price: MyTutor from about £22 to £26/hr. TYCHR roughly £6 to £22/hr

    Prices are indicative and were last verified in June 2026. They vary by subject, level, region, and currency, and they change often. Confirm the current rate with each provider before you decide. Company names are used for comparison only.

    Switching from a specific provider? Read our TutorChase alternatives guide

    Compare a specific provider

    Looking at one company in particular? Read the honest, head-to-head alternatives guide.

    TutorChase alternativesLanterna Education alternativesCrimson Education alternativesSpires alternativesMyTutor alternativesTYCHR alternatives

    What families say about us

    Real feedback from students and parents.

    “Tout simplement le professeur d'Anglais que tout élève rêve d'avoir. Je suis ravie d'avoir pu être son élève au lycée !”

    M

    Marie-Léa François

    IB Student

    “Great learning support. Highly recommended!! My son went from not being sure about what to do and how to being proud of the work he handed in. THANKS A LOT.”

    M

    Magda Munar

    Parent

    “A. is an outstanding French teacher—patient, engaging, and incredibly skilled at explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Thanks to him, I've made real progress.”

    B

    Bruno P.

    French Language Student

    Where we fit

    Built for IB and AP, with reporting parents can see

    If your priority is a dedicated IB or AP educator who knows the rubric and reports progress after every session, that is what we do. We focus only on IB and AP, so we are not the pick for GCSE or a one-off cheap lesson. Start with a free 15-minute intro call, or a $99 first lesson if you are new.

    See pricing and packagesWhy choose us
    A Bespoke Learning educator guiding an IB student through an online lesson

    Keep reading

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the best IB and AP tutoring company in 2026?
    There is no single best company, because the right one depends on what you need most. For a dedicated IB or AP educator with parent-visible reporting, Bespoke Learning is a strong fit. For breadth across many curricula, TutorChase. For IB only, Lanterna Education. For university admissions, Crimson Education. For the lowest price, MyTutor or TYCHR. For choosing a tutor yourself, Spires.
    How should I choose an IB or AP tutoring company?
    Start from your priority. Decide whether you care most about tutor quality, price, subject coverage, or reporting. Then check who actually teaches, whether pricing is transparent, whether your exact subjects are covered including TOK and the Extended Essay, and what feedback you receive after each session. Ask for a free call or trial before you commit.
    How much does IB and AP tutoring cost?
    In 2026, online IB and AP tutoring ranges widely. Budget options like TYCHR and MyTutor run from roughly £6 to £26 per hour. Specialists like Lanterna sit around £58 to £85 per hour. Premium admissions-led tutoring like Crimson runs about $90 to $110 per hour. Bespoke Learning uses transparent USD packages, with a $99 first lesson and multi-session packages from $299.
    Are cheaper IB tutors worth it?
    Sometimes. Lower rates often mean tutors who are current university students rather than trained educators, which can be fine for confidence building or earlier years. For top IB and AP grades, TOK, and the Extended Essay, subject depth matters more, so weigh the price against the result you need.
    Which company is best for TOK and the Extended Essay?
    Look for a true IB specialist, since TOK and the Extended Essay need someone who knows the criteria. Lanterna and Bespoke Learning both support the IB core directly. Bespoke Learning supervises the TOK essay, the TOK exhibition, and the Extended Essay as part of its IB tutoring.
    Are these prices accurate?
    These figures are indicative and were last verified in June 2026. Tutoring prices change often and vary by subject, level, region, and currency. Always confirm the current rate with the provider before you decide.

    Not sure which company fits? Let's talk it through.

    Book a free 15-minute intro call with an IB or AP specialist. We will give you an honest read on your goals, even if another company is the better fit.

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