- What Outschool is and where it came from
- How Outschool teachers earn: the 30% fee and the 70% share
- When and how Outschool pays teachers
- Getting approved to teach on Outschool
- What Outschool means for parents and carers
- The catches to know about Outschool
- Fake Outschool messages and lookalikes
- Outschool's pages in one table
- My verdict on Outschool
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Outschool is a real online classes company: Wikipedia says it was founded in 2015 and its first class launched in 2017. For teachers, its help pages say Outschool keeps a 30% teacher fee and you receive 70% of the class price. The catches are that income depends on enrolments, classes need approval, and payouts are moving from PayPal to Stripe.
Outschool gets searched by parents wondering about live online classes for their kids, and by teachers, tutors and creators wondering if it's worth setting up classes there. Both groups deserve a straight answer. I've read Outschool's own help pages on teacher earnings, payouts and new teachers, plus Wikipedia's history of the company, and I'm giving you what they say rather than any guesswork.
What Outschool is and where it came from
According to Wikipedia, Outschool was founded in 2015 by Amir Nathoo, Mikhail Seregine and Nick Grandy, and the first class launched in 2017. It's a platform where independent teachers list live online classes on a huge range of subjects, and families book them for their children.
That model matters for both sides. The teachers aren't Outschool staff in the usual sense. They create their own classes, set their own prices and run them, while Outschool handles listing, booking, payment and policies.
How Outschool teachers earn: the 30% fee and the 70% share
Outschool's teacher earnings page is clear on the split. Outschool takes a 30% teacher fee of the class price, so you receive 70%. A separate fee charged to parents isn't part of your share. Your payout for a section is 70% of the class price multiplied by the number of enrolled learners.
That means your income scales with two things: your price and how many learners join. A popular class with a full roster earns very differently from a new one with a single learner. Outschool's help pages don't promise any particular income, and I'd be suspicious of anyone who does.
If you're weighing this against one-to-one tutoring, my page on what you can earn tutoring online part time in the UK is a useful comparison.
When and how Outschool pays teachers
The help page says teachers are paid by PayPal in US dollars, regardless of location. Timing depends on the class type. For classes paid upfront, the money is sent 7-8 days after the start date. Weekly group and tutoring classes are processed on Sundays, and chat groups are paid on the 15th of the following month.
There's a change coming that teachers should know about. Outschool's payouts page says teacher payouts are moving from PayPal to Stripe. For now, payouts continue through PayPal, and teachers will be told in advance before the move. When it happens, the page says you'll create your Stripe profile from your Outschool teacher dashboard, and Outschool will hold unpaid earnings until you complete Stripe setup. The page also says 1099-K tax forms will remain available through Stripe and that Outschool covers Stripe's payout-processing costs.
- Now: payouts through PayPal, in US dollars.
- Coming: a Stripe profile created from your teacher dashboard.
- Watch out: don't create a Stripe account on Stripe's own site, because the page warns it may create a duplicate profile.
Getting approved to teach on Outschool
The new-teacher FAQ says teachers are approved after completing an application. Classes must be objective, secular and age-appropriate, and new teachers can submit only one class for review until that class is published. So there's a gate before you can build a catalogue, and your first class needs to be strong.
If you're a UK reader thinking about online teaching generally, how to check whether online tutor jobs are legit has useful checks that apply here too.
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What Outschool means for parents and carers
From the parent side, Outschool is a place to book live classes taught by independent teachers. Outschool's help pages cover the teacher side in detail, and a separate fee is charged to parents on top of the class price. Before you book, I'd read each teacher's profile and class description, check the age range and read the class content policy. My guide on choosing the right tutor for your child has questions worth asking whoever's teaching.
The catches to know about Outschool
- Income isn't steady. You earn per enrolment, so a quiet week means a small payout.
- The fee is large. A 30% cut is a big slice, so price your classes with that in mind.
- US-dollar payouts. The page says currency conversion fees from your bank aren't covered by Outschool.
- Waiting for payouts. Payments arrive days after a class starts, not on the day.
- Tax is yours. The help page says educators are responsible for reporting their income under local tax rules. An accountant can advise on your own situation.
Fake Outschool messages and lookalikes
As with any education brand, copycats exist. Be careful if you meet any of these:
- A message asking a teacher to pay to be listed or to buy a training pack.
- Parents being asked to pay for a class outside the platform, for example by bank transfer.
- Emails from a lookalike address asking you to log in through a link.
- Anyone asking you to move a class chat to a private app.
Book and pay inside your Outschool account, and type the website address yourself rather than following a link in a message.
Outschool's pages in one table
| What I checked | What Outschool's pages say |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015, first class in 2017, per Wikipedia |
| Teacher share | 70% of the class price |
| Outschool's fee | 30% |
| Payout currency | US dollars |
| Upfront class payout | 7-8 days after the start date |
| Payout change | Moving from PayPal to Stripe |
| Tax forms | 1099-K remains available through Stripe |
My verdict on Outschool
It's a legit, established platform with clear written rules on fees and payouts. For teachers, it can work as a way to reach families without finding them yourself, but you give up 30% and your income follows enrolments. For parents, read each class carefully and keep payments inside the platform. Either way, don't trust an offer that asks you to pay outside it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Outschool legit?
Yes. Wikipedia says Outschool was founded in 2015 and launched its first class in 2017. Its help pages set out the fees, payout timing and class rules for teachers.
How much does Outschool take from teachers?
Outschool's teacher earnings page says it takes a 30% teacher fee, so teachers receive 70% of the class price.
How does Outschool pay teachers?
By PayPal in US dollars for now, with payouts moving to Stripe. Upfront classes are paid 7-8 days after the start date.
Can anyone teach on Outschool?
Teachers are approved after an application, and classes must be objective, secular and age-appropriate. New teachers can submit one class for review until it's published.
Do Outschool teachers get tax forms?
The Stripe payout page says 1099-K tax forms will remain available through Stripe. Outschool's earnings page says educators are responsible for reporting income under local tax rules.
