If you’re wanting to teach online or looking to add another company, then this post will help you understand the key differences between GOGOKID vs VIPKID vs Outschool and decided which is best for you.
As a teacher for all three companies, I share the facts as well as my honest overall assessment of GOGOKID, VIPKID and Outschool.
[This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I make a commission at no extra charge to you.]
While GOGKID and VIPKID are ESL companies, it should be noted that Outschool is not an ESL company. You can teach language classes on Outschool, but it’s primarily an online marketplaces for teachers to list a variety of different classes types in a range of categories, from dance classes to coding! While GOGOKID and VIPKID offer pre-made curriculum, you’re expected to make your own curriculum for Outschool. The earning potential for Outschool is much higher than GOGOKID and VIPKID, so that’s why I made sure to also include Outschool in today’s post for you!
GOGOKID vs VIPKID vs Outschool Chart:
| GOGOKID | VIPKID | OUTSCHOOL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TYPE | ESL – China 1-on-1 25 min classes Ind. Contractor 10,000+ teachers Founded 2018 | ESL – China 1-on-1 25 min classes Ind. Contractor 100,000+ teachers Founded 2013 | Anything – USA & abroad Group classes, you decide Ind. Contractor 5,000+ teachers Founded 2014 |
| AGE | 4-12 years old Teach all ages | 4-12 years old Can choose what age | 3-18 years old Can choose ages (5 year difference limit) |
| CURRICULUM | Pre-made for you LOVE their curriculum | Pre-made for you Good, but less interactive | Make your own! I use Canva Pro 10 Categories from coding to arts |
| HOURS | No Min/Max Hours Set own schedule 9AM-9PM BJT | No Min/Max Hours Set own schedule | No Min/Max Hours Set own schedule |
| PEAK TIMES | 7PM-9PM BJT & Sat/Sun 10AM-12PM BJT | 7PM-9PM BJT | Varies – USA Hours, less early mornings Fridays 9AM-3PM PST Sat/Sun Later afternoon PST |
| PAY | 7-10 per 25 min class 14-25 USD / hour Incentives: # of class in day + reviews | 7-9 per 25 min class 14-22 USD / hour Incentives: # of classes taught in lifetime & monthly + $2 for last minute bookings | Suggest $10-15 per student per hr Average teacher makes $50/hour |
| MY PAY | $9.50 base rate [Level 4 teaching 6 classes] $11.48 = $22.98/hour | $7.50 base rate [Tier 5 teaching 1-20 classes] 7.5 + $1.8 = 18.60/hour (+ $2 for Last Minute $20.60/hour) | Average $47/hour I charge $16 for 45-50 minute classes |
| HOW PAID | Paypal/ Direct Deposit | Direct Deposit | Paypal |
| REQUIREMENTS | Bachelors Degree Some experience working w/ kids ESL certificate USA/Canada No CA residents | Bachelors Degree 2 years of teaching experience ESL certificate USA/Canada No CA residents | No Degree Required At least 18 years old Able to teach on expertise/passion Reside full-time in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, or Wales CA residents okay |
| APP PROCESS | Easy One 10-minute recorded demo Click here for more info. | Easy One 5-minute recorded demo Click here for more info. | Easy Questionnaire & 5-min recording of potential class Click here for more info. |
| POLICIES | Strict Must cancel before 24 hours Policies often change | Strict Must cancel before 24 hours Policies often change | Lenient Must cancel before 24 hours unless class doesn’t meet the min # of students Policies sometimes change |
| BOOKINGS | Currently, quite fast | Currently, quite slow | Depends (somewhat slow because of holidays) |
| OVERALL SCORE | 8/10 Good bookings Newer company – room for growth Curriculum made for you Good pay | 7/10 Okay bookings Can pick age Curriculum made for you Good Pay | 8/10 Pretty good bookings – takes trial and error Can teach about what you love Great pay – potential to scale bigger |
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Overview
Overall, I think that as an independent contract you should always have contracts with at least 2 companies. I recommend starting with one company, and once you get a feel for it, add on another company. Having a backup company you can quickly open up hours with is very important for increased job security.
I recommend starting with VIPKID or GOGOKID and then moving into something like Outschool if you have never taught online. I believe teaching for VIPKID and GOGOKID [and having their pre-made curriculum] really helped me get comfortable with expanding and teaching my own curriculum on Outschool.
You really can’t go wrong! Look through the chart and see what company strikes you as the best fit and give it a go!
If you need help through any of the application processes, please let me know! I am here to help.
Current GOGOKID Application Process
Read all about the current application process in my blog post here.
Step-by-Step Tutorial of the Gogokid Recorded Demo:
Current Outschool Application Process
For more information on the Outschool Application process, check out this blog post.
Online Teacher Classroom Essentials?
Ready to start teaching online, but not sure what equipment you’ll need? Check out my list of online classroom teacher essentials!
