Tuton vs the DIY stack
Zoom for video, Google Docs for notes, ChatGPT in another tab, Calendly for bookings, WhatsApp for reminders. It works — that's how most independent tutors start. Tuton is what it looks like when those five jobs are done by one tool that was built for language teaching.
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The DIY stack has real advantages: you probably already use these tools, most have free tiers, and nothing about them locks you in. For a tutor teaching a couple of lessons a week, it's a perfectly sensible setup.
The cost shows up as you grow: nothing connects. The vocabulary you teach in Zoom never reaches a review system. Lesson notes pile up in Docs nobody reopens. ChatGPT doesn't know your student or what you covered last week. Invoices and reminders are manual. Every lesson leaks ten to fifteen minutes of unpaid admin — and the student sees five disconnected tools instead of one professional experience.
Tuton connects the loop: the classroom captures vocabulary as you teach it and sends it to the student's spaced-repetition deck; lessons are recorded and transcribed automatically; the AI assistant knows each student's level, gaps and history; students book your open slots themselves; invoices generate from completed lessons. One flat subscription, 0% commission, and your students get one place for everything.
Tuton vs the DIY stack, side by side
| Tuton | DIY stack (Zoom + Docs + more) | |
|---|---|---|
| Video lessons | Built-in browser classroom with collaborative notes and recording | Zoom / Meet — separate from your notes and materials |
| Lesson notes | Live shared notes that save to the student's profile automatically | Google Docs — manual links, manual organisation |
| Vocabulary | One-click capture in-lesson → student's spaced-repetition deck | Scribbled in a doc; no review loop |
| AI help | Assistant grounded in each student's level, history and gaps | ChatGPT in another tab — knows nothing about your student |
| Scheduling | Public booking page + two-way Google Calendar sync | Calendly or DM back-and-forth |
| Homework & reminders | Tasks, messaging and a free student portal with progress | WhatsApp messages that get buried |
| Invoicing | Generated from completed lessons in seconds | Spreadsheets and manual PDFs |
| Ready-made lessons | 600+ interactive lessons across 70+ courses | Build or find your own materials |
| Cost | Flat subscription from $29/month, 0% commission | Free tiers exist; paid tiers and your admin time add up |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Tuton if…
- You teach regularly and the admin around lessons is eating your evenings
- You want vocabulary, notes and progress to carry over between lessons automatically
- You want students to have one professional place to book, learn and review
- You're ready to look like a business, not a patchwork of free tools
Stick with the DIY stack if…
- You teach one or two casual lessons a week and the admin doesn't hurt yet
- You need absolutely zero software budget right now
- Your students strongly prefer a tool they already use, and switching isn't worth it yet
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Tuton and the DIY stack.
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