Tutoring English Online with Tutlo
Polish teaching platform Tutlo is a unique service where teachers don’t have scheduled hours, but it’s increasingly popular.
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Many online English teaching companies and platforms say they offer something different, and each has its own niche or teaching method. Tutlo, founded in 2015, is distinct from its competitors, however. Focusing on availability and instant connection between learners and teachers, the Polish company has a very clearly defined USP.
Putting flexibility at its heart, Tutlo is a remarkably simple platform which allows Polish students to practice conversations or work on specific English language exercises.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about tutoring through Tutlo. That includes the requirements you need to meet, what you can earn, and some key tips for success.
What is Tutlo?
Serving the needs of Polish learners, Tutlo began in Warsaw, Poland, in 2015. Focusing on flexibility and personalisation, Tutlo has mainly taught adults since it started, though teenagers also use the platform.
What sets Tutlo apart from other English learning companies? The main difference is the scheduling system. Students log into Tutlo and choose an available teacher there and then. From a learner’s perspective, there’s no pre-booking or waiting for a teacher. They can access Tutlo, pick a teacher they like, and take a lesson. One-to-one lessons are usually about 20 minutes long.
As a teacher, you’ll have a curriculum provided for you. This means no rushing around planning lessons, or bringing your own materials into lessons. Given that the learner base is adults, you’ll usually be required for conversation classes, teaching English for academic purposes, grammar tasks, business English phrases, and other similar learning areas.In 2025, Tutlo announced it was “entering new international markets”, which could mean increased job opportunities for English teachers.
What are the requirements to teach English online with Tutlo?
Tutlo seeks “good conversationalists” who are at least 18 years old and have an internet connection speed of at least 5 Mbps (upload and download). You also need at least 6 months of previous teaching experience, including classroom or online teaching, private tutorials and language volunteer programs.
What else does this Poland-based company require from candidates?
Bachelor's degree
If you’re looking to teach English online, but don’t have a degree, you’re in luck. You can teach English through Tutlo without holding a bachelor’s degree. This online tutoring platform prefers teaching experience and qualifications specific to teaching instead of degrees. However, a degree obviously can help.
TEFL certification
To teach English on Tutlo, you will need a teaching certificate. This can include a TEFL certificate from an accredited, reliable provider. The industry standard is 120 hours of TEFL training.
As you’ll be working with adults, advanced TEFL certificates will help out significantly. Specifically, English for Academic Purposes and Business English will be useful.Native/non-native
To teach English with Tutlo, you need to be a native speaker of English from any of the following countries:
- USA
- UK
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Canada
Download our teaching English online guide
Tutlo Job Description
While other online teaching platforms tend to have structured lesson plans and curriculums in place, Tutlo has a looser feel. The platform provides prepared conversation topics and questions to ask students, but these are more of a launching point than a rigid lesson plan.
As a tutor on Tutlo, you build confidence through conversations. You’re there to talk to students, fix their grammar mistakes, and help them build proficiency through practice. The better you are at building rapport and creating an environment where students feel comfortable, the more your students will respond and feel engaged with the lessons.The amount you teach and earn on Tutlo depends entirely on your availability. There is no structured set-up for teachers, necessarily. You can log on, be available for students, and if they pick you, you can conduct as many 20-minute lessons as you like. It’s ideal for teachers who have other commitments and want a more casual online teaching experience, without mandatory teaching hours to stick to.
How much can you earn teaching English with Tutlo?
Tutlo pay tutors about $5 - $11 / £3.75 - £8.30 per hour. Payments are made through PayPal.
This payment rate means that Tutlo could work best as a part-time teaching job or a “side hustle” instead of a teacher’s primary job.
The application process for Tutlo
If you’re interested in teaching English online through Tutlo, you’ll be pleased to know the application process is very straightforward. How’s it done?
How do I apply?
The first step in applying to tutor through Tutlo is completing the online application form. Here, you’ll fill out your basic information, including contact details, before writing at least 1,000 characters about your English teaching experience, including formal work, language volunteer programs and any other related experience you might have teaching English as a foreign language.
After this point, you’ll state your availability and upload three files. The first of these is your CV. The second is a short video introducing yourself. The purpose of the video is mainly to show that you have the English abilities of a native English speaker and to talk more about your previous English teaching experiences. It's also a good opportunity to discuss your teaching skills - discussing what you learned while taking a TEFL certificate is good practice. The last file is a scan of your teaching certificates, including your TEFL certification.Once this is done, you’ll move on to the interview stage of the Tutlo application process.
Interview process
The Tutlo company doesn’t reveal its interview process. However, successful applicants have described the experience as an informal chat with a Tutlo employee who assesses your teaching experience, qualifications, and proficiency in English (and other languages, if you wish to tutor in more than one).
After the interview, Tutlo will provide training on its platform and how lessons are delivered. While Tutlo's tone is looser and more conversational, there are still standards and some lesson materials to guide you.What to consider before you start
You need to think about some essential things before teaching English online through Tutlo. So you’re adequately prepared, we’ve provided a list of topics to consider before sending an application:
- Always ensure you have working tech: Before you start, check your computer software is up to date, you have the required internet speed, your microphone and headphones work and you have everything else you need to teach online.
- Think about when you want to teach: What kind of time can you commit to teaching English online through Tutlo? Considering what Tutlo tutors earn on the platform, it’s worth setting aside at least 5-10 weekly teaching hours.
- Adult learners: You’ll work with adult learners, so think about specialist teaching areas. We’ve already discussed Business English and English for Academic Purposes, but what about specific English for tourism, sport, or other niche topics? The platform won’t just be used by business professionals and students.
- What kind of English teaching experiences have I had? Before you apply, remember that all previous teaching experience counts, and Tutlo wants to hear about it. Not all your teaching might’ve been in an official capacity.
- Teaching skills: Are you best-suited to private tutorials that rely on conversational skills, or prefer a more rigidly structured lesson plan? If you want a looser feel, being a Tutlo tutor will suit you, but if you're less experienced with online teaching and want a more organised style, other platforms might suit you better.
Tutlo: Pros and cons
Every online company and platform has good points and bad points, including flexibility, pay, contracts and a range of other factors. Where does Tutlo excel, and why should some tutors think twice about this platform? Let’s take a look:
Pros
- Style: Tutlo isn’t as punitive as other teaching platforms. You can tutor in a more relaxed, conversational environment.
- Opportunity for self-branding: As an online teacher, advertising yourself well is essential. Tutlo is a very immediate experience, where students pick available tutors based on how the teacher advertises themselves. This means you can clearly understand how well you’re branding yourself as a teacher.
- Flexibility: You can log into Tutlo and work whenever you like. Your teaching hours are dependent on whether you get picked for lessons.
- Diversity: Tutlo tutors will meet a wide range of different types of learners, with differing requirements.
- Materials provided: Though Tutlo lessons aren’t rigidly structured, there are still materials to guide you.
Cons
- Tutor pay: At $5 - $11 / £3.75 - £8.30 per hour, Tutlo is far from being one of the most lucrative online teaching platforms.
- Schedule: While Tutlo’s scheduling style, or lack thereof, can benefit some teachers, it does mean you aren’t guaranteed hours.
- Style: Newer TEFL teachers might be put off by the lack of a defined structure. Though you are provided materials, recent TEFL course graduates may find the style daunting.
- Native speaker bias: You must be a native English speaker from certain nations to be accepted. Even if you have a teaching certificate, if you aren't a native speaker of English, you're very unlikely to be considered.
Tutlo Reviews
How kind are Tutlo reviews? Compared to some other online teaching platforms and companies, Tutlo has few reviews. However, there are some, and they give us a relatively strong idea of how tutors feel about the Polish platform.
On Indeed, Tutlo has a rating of 4.4 stars, with many reviewers praising the flexibility and fun, informal style of tutoring. Glassdoor has Tutlo rated far lower, at 3.1 stars, with the low pay being a point of contention, though again, flexibility and the platform's interactivity are praised.
Some Tutlo users have shared experiences of Tutlo pay arriving late and student take-up being slow. However, plenty of teachers online have talked positively about the platform, citing the excitement of the lessons and the ease of use as the main positives.
Teaching English Online with Tutlo: Key Takeaways
Let’s take a look at the most important takeaways from this review of online tutoring with Tutlo:
- Requirements: You must be a native English speaker from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. You need a minimum of 6 months of teaching experience (formal or informal) on your CV and a TEFL certificate (a 120-hour TEFL certificate is the industry standard). Additionally, you’ll need a strong internet connection (5 Mbps+).
- Salary: Tutlo pays $5–$11 USD / £3.75–£8.30 per hour via PayPal. This means that Tutlo works best as a part-time or supplementary income source.
- Availability: The number of lessons you can do depends on how busy the platform is at any given time. You can’t schedule lessons.
- Reviews: Tutlo reviews point out how flexible and fun the platform can be. However, there have been financial issues, from low wages to payment not being delivered.
This rapidly growing European platform has a unique selling point: conversational lessons are delivered on an ad-hoc basis. Students benefit from always having a teacher available, but TEFL tutors may find Tutlo best as a side hustle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is a TEFL certification necessary to become a Tutlo tutor?
To work on Tutlo, you need a teaching certificate. We recommend a 120-hour TEFL certificate, the industry standard, as a solid foundation for tutoring.
Q. Do Tutlo teachers need to create their own lesson plans?
Tutlo provides lesson plans and materials for teachers. Tutlo lessons are usually conversational in nature, so these materials are more of a guide than a strict curriculum.
Q. How does Tutlo pay teachers and how much can I earn?
Tutlo pays its teachers around $5–$11 USD / £3.75–£8.30 per hour via PayPal.
Q. Can I choose my own teaching schedule on Tutlo?
On Tutlo, you connect with students who are online at any given time. In a sense, you can choose your own schedule, as you can pick up lessons when you want, depending on demand
Tutlo is quite a unique platform, so there are plenty of burning questions online from TEFL teachers. Here are our answers: