No matter how diligently you tackle your homework, there’s inevitably that one question that stumps you completely. You’ve pored over all the examples, absorbed the materials, and paid close attention to your professor’s explanations—yet you’re still lost. While you might benefit from some great studying tips, sometimes you need direct help from someone who can guide you through the confusion. Does that mean you’re destined to struggle alone? Should you accept defeat on the shores of academic confusion? Absolutely not—tutoring sites exist precisely for these moments.
The expansion of online learning has sparked tremendous growth in web-based tutoring services. These platforms typically offer better accessibility than traditional on-campus tutoring and feature instructors skilled across diverse subjects. However, with countless options available, skepticism is natural. Can you trust the accuracy of their answers? Do the tutors have real expertise? Does relying on tutoring sites cross ethical boundaries? While tutoring platforms vary widely in quality, Chegg Tutors stands out as a dependable resource for students. Let’s explore their offerings and determine whether they’re the right fit for your needs through this comprehensive Chegg Tutors review.
Note: As of early 2021 Chegg has discontinued its Chegg Tutors service. We recommend checking out their Chegg Study service for tutoring and homework help needs.
What Is Chegg Tutors?
Originally launched as InstaEDU before rebranding, Chegg operates as a comprehensive study platform with the mission of providing “a Smarter Way to Student.” Since its 2011 founding, the company has experienced rapid expansion, generating $390-395 million in profits during 2019. Their core objective centers on connecting students with knowledgeable tutors who can guide them through challenging homework while helping them master their coursework.
How Does Chegg Tutors Work?
Chegg offers two distinct pathways for connecting with tutoring assistance: submit a help request for automatic assignment, or browse tutor profiles to contact instructors directly.
The request submission method is both the most popular and streamlined approach (and the only option available to non-members). Simply enter your subject area, specify your timeframe for help, and set up an account.
Although Chegg promotes their first lesson at just $6.95, this pricing exclusively applies to text-based chat sessions. Their primary tutoring service immediately directs you to a monthly subscription—60 minutes of tutoring for $30 per month. Account creation (including payment details) is mandatory before scheduling any tutoring session.
Students can choose between different tutoring formats—chat sessions or audio/visual calls—to match their preferred learning style. All visual sessions start with a virtual whiteboard where tutors and students work through problems together, though each session remains unique to the participants involved. Session duration varies depending on needs, but once you exhaust your monthly 60 minutes, each additional minute costs $0.50.
Is Chegg Tutors Cheating?
Every student wrestling with tutoring platforms asks the crucial question: “Is this cheating?” Do services like Chegg violate academic integrity policies? While critics have labeled these platforms “the gateway drug to cheating,” they don’t inherently constitute academic dishonesty. Using Chegg isn’t cheating by nature—though dishonest students certainly attempt to exploit it. This explains why many educators view such services with suspicion, particularly after incidents where entire test answers appeared on the platform for widespread viewing.
Chegg has responded proactively to combat cheating through their machine-learning system called SNORKEL (the reasoning behind this name remains unclear). This program identifies requests showing classic cheating indicators: requests for complete paper writing, test answer provision, and similar academic misconduct.
Flagged requests undergo human review for verification. While Chegg cannot prevent students from seeking unethical assistance, their tutors are contractually prohibited from fulfilling such requests.
Study platforms function as tools—and like any tool, misuse is possible without negating their legitimate value. You wouldn’t abandon hammers simply because they might crush your finger instead of driving nails! Chegg Tutoring mirrors the experience of working through problems with your professor in many ways. When used properly, Chegg can significantly enhance your understanding of challenging material.
Effective study practices involve attempting problems independently first—but when you’re genuinely stuck, Chegg’s step-by-step tutoring approach provides valuable guidance. Since homework aims to solidify your grasp of concepts, working through problems with a tutor serves this educational purpose effectively.
Remember that homework typically carries minimal grade weight, so cheating offers no GPA benefit—you’d only rob yourself of crucial understanding. That realization becomes particularly frightening when final exams arrive.
Is Chegg Tutors Reliable?
Chegg operates as a trustworthy company, earning partnerships with major student loan providers like Sallie Mae to offer tutoring services to borrowers. They maintain an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, despite experiencing a recent data breach that exposed email addresses and shipping information (though no financial data was compromised).
Customer service represents Chegg’s most significant weakness. While their website lists phone support hours, no actual contact number or email appears anywhere on the site. This has created substantial user frustration, especially among subscribers attempting to cancel their memberships.
The tutoring staff proves highly reliable. All tutors possess college degrees and demonstrate prior teaching or tutoring experience. Candidates undergo rigorous screening, including subject-specific testing, before acceptance into the program.
Some Cautions For Chegg Tutors
Despite being a reliable and effective study resource, Chegg comes with several important considerations. Their pricing structure lacks clarity—while they advertise lessons starting at $6.95, this only covers text-based chat sessions. Standard tutoring requires a complete monthly membership. Each month includes predetermined minutes, but unused time doesn’t carry over—penalizing students who need occasional help rather than consistent support.
Chegg provides no clear tutoring session guidelines either—while each interaction varies, the platform doesn’t outline any standardized format for sessions.
The persistent temptation to cheat remains concerning. For younger students, parental supervision of Chegg usage helps ensure ethical academic behavior.
Is Chegg Tutors Worth The Money?
At $6.95 for individual sessions, Chegg proves cost-effective for tackling specific challenging questions. Their thorough hiring process guarantees tutor expertise across subjects. Multiple communication methods accommodate different learning preferences, helping students approach concepts in ways they might not encounter in traditional classrooms.
Beyond tutoring, Chegg provides several valuable complementary tools. Chegg Study features instructional videos covering difficult topics across various subjects; Chegg Math Solver allows photo submission of problems for guided solutions; Chegg Writing includes plagiarism detection and grammar checking capabilities.
Multiple opportunities exist for accessing Chegg services affordably. Platforms like Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, and Survey Junkie offer discounted or complimentary Chegg subscriptions—making free academic assistance an unbeatable value proposition.
Chegg Tutors Alternatives
Tutor
The aptly-named Tutor platform, operated by Princeton Review, represents another prominent tutoring service. Tutor specializes in AP placement preparation alongside drop-off essay review services. Their hiring standards are exceptionally stringent, incorporating mock tutoring demonstrations, mentor evaluations, and comprehensive third-party background screening—ensuring top-tier instructor quality.
However, while Chegg welcomes all students directly, Tutor requires institutional access. Students must access Tutor through partner platforms like colleges or military programs. Although Tutor maintains helpful public articles, their services lack the immediate accessibility that makes Chegg appealing to everyday students.
Skooli
Skooli operates on per-minute pricing at $0.81 per minute, with a 15-minute minimum creating a base cost of $12.30. While individual sessions cost more than Chegg’s offerings, Skooli records all tutoring sessions for unlimited student replay. The platform also functions across any device—a significant advantage over Chegg’s notorious account flagging when users switch devices.
Instead of subscription services, Skooli uses pay-as-you-go pricing—beneficial for students needing short-term assistance rather than month-long commitments. However, Skooli provides limited information about their tutor vetting procedures and lacks the free trial that Chegg provides.
Conclusions For Chegg Tutors
When used ethically, Chegg Tutors serves as an excellent student resource. Their pricing beats many competitors for individual sessions, while their extensive subject coverage and rigorous tutor selection process ensure quality assistance. Customer service problems and mandatory monthly subscriptions present drawbacks for long-term users, though supplementary tools like Math Solver add significant value. Ultimately, Chegg Tutors excels at addressing specific challenging questions and occasional trouble spots, while also supporting extended tutoring relationships effectively.
