An honest, balanced look at Cluey Learning — what it does well, where some families run into friction, and how to decide if it's the right fit for your child. We're a competing service, so we'll tell you when Cluey is the better choice.
Cluey Learning is the largest online tutoring platform in Australia. Founded in 2017 and now publicly listed on the ASX, it connects students with tutors via video call for one-on-one sessions. The platform covers a wide range of subjects from Years 2 through to Year 12, including ATAR, HSC, and VCE preparation.
Cluey operates at significant scale — thousands of families use it across Australia. Its size is genuinely one of its strengths: a large tutor pool means more availability across subjects and year levels, and the company has invested in a purpose-built session platform called Clueyhub.
Quick facts:
This is important: Cluey has genuine strengths, and for many families it's a solid option. Here's what it does well.
Cluey covers far more subjects than most boutique tutoring services. If your child needs help with Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or another specialist subject, Cluey can likely accommodate that. A smaller service like Merit only tutors Maths and English — so if you need science subjects covered, Cluey is worth considering.
Cluey explicitly supports senior secondary students — HSC, VCE, and ATAR preparation. This is a significant advantage for families with older students. Merit doesn't tutor Year 11 or Year 12 at all, so if your child is approaching their senior years, Cluey is a genuine option that we aren't.
Because Cluey operates nationally at scale, there is generally good tutor availability — including for unusual scheduling requirements or specialist subjects. For families in regional areas or with tight scheduling constraints, this matters.
All Cluey sessions are one-on-one. If your child specifically needs dedicated individual attention in every session, that's Cluey's default format rather than an add-on.
Cluey aligns sessions to the relevant curriculum (Australian Curriculum for most states, plus state-specific syllabuses for NSW and Victoria). Tutors are assigned based on year level and subject knowledge.
Cluey's 3.6 rating on ProductReview.com.au (out of 5, based on 922 reviews) reflects a genuinely mixed picture. The positive reviews consistently praise individual tutors. The negative reviews cluster around a specific set of operational issues — and it's worth knowing what they are before committing.
Cluey does not publicly list its prices. You need to speak with a "Learning Advisor" before getting a quote. Based on third-party review sources and parent reports as of early 2026, 1-on-1 sessions typically cost in the range of $70–$102 per session, depending on the plan selected. Cluey has historically offered a discounted first session (50% off), but check their current website for the latest offer.
For context, Merit's group sessions start from $29/week and 1-on-1 sessions from $59/week for Years 1–6. The two services are targeting different things — Cluey is premium 1-on-1; Merit is affordable with a group option.
A recurring theme in negative Cluey reviews is technical issues with the Clueyhub platform — login problems, connection drops at the start of sessions, and difficulty accessing the session environment. This appears to have been an ongoing frustration for some families, though it's likely not universal.
Some parents on ProductReview report difficulty cancelling subscriptions, unexpected charges after they believed they'd cancelled, and challenges getting refunds. Several reviews also describe an asymmetrical cancellation notice policy — customers are required to give more notice than Cluey gives if a tutor cancels last-minute. These are complaints, not certainties — but they come up often enough to mention.
Multiple Cluey reviews note difficulty reaching human support — phone accessibility is limited, and email response times have been slow for some customers during disputes. If you value being able to quickly speak to someone when something goes wrong, this is worth factoring in.
We're writing this page because parents search for Cluey reviews, and we'd rather give them an honest comparison than a one-sided pitch. Here's where the two services genuinely differ.
| Feature | Cluey Learning | Merit Tutoring |
|---|---|---|
| Year levels | Years 2–12 (inc. HSC/VCE/ATAR) | Years 1–10 only |
| Subjects | Maths, English, Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics | Maths and English only |
| Session format | 1-on-1 video call | Group (max 5) or 1-on-1 |
| Group pricing | Not available | From $29/week |
| 1-on-1 pricing | ~$70–$102/session (varies by plan) | From $59/week |
| Free trial | Discounted first session (50% off) | Full free 60-min session |
| Gamification | No built-in games | Yes — built into every session |
| Lock-in contracts | Minimum 2-session commitment; cancellation policies apply | No lock-in, cancel anytime |
| Platform | Clueyhub (custom) | Merit platform (custom) |
| ProductReview rating | 3.6/5 (922 reviews) | New service — fewer reviews |
| Operating since | 2017 | ~2 years |
Cluey is probably the better fit if:
Merit is probably the better fit if:
Cluey Learning is a legitimate, large-scale tutoring service with real strengths — particularly for older students and families needing multiple subjects covered. Its 3.6 ProductReview rating is mixed but not poor; the individual tutors generally receive positive feedback, while the operational and billing side generates the most complaints.
If you're looking for something more affordable, more interactive, and focused on primary and early high school, it's worth comparing. The best way to do that is to try both if you can — we offer a free 60-minute session with no obligation, so the cost of finding out is zero.
"Since beginning tutoring, we have seen a significant improvement in his schoolwork, along with a noticeable increase in his concentration and engagement at school."— Ivan Njul, parent (Google Review)
Cluey has genuine strengths — a wide subject range, Year 11–12 coverage including HSC/VCE/ATAR preparation, and a large tutor network. Its ProductReview.com.au rating is 3.6 out of 5 based on 922 reviews. Individual tutors are frequently praised; the main complaints relate to platform reliability, billing, and cancellation processes. For families needing science subjects or senior secondary support, it is a solid option worth considering.
Cluey does not publicly list its prices — you need to speak with a Learning Advisor to get a quote. Based on third-party sources and parent reports as of early 2026, 1-on-1 sessions typically range from around $70–$102 per session depending on the plan. Cluey has historically offered 50% off the first session. Check their website for current pricing as rates may have changed.
It depends on what you need. For Year 11–12, HSC/VCE prep, or science subjects, Cluey remains one of the better-known options. For Years 1–10 Maths and English specifically, Merit Tutoring offers group sessions from $29/week with gamified learning and a free 60-minute trial — which is considerably more affordable than Cluey's 1-on-1 rates. There is no single "best" platform; the right choice depends on your child's year level, subjects, and how they learn.
The main differences: Cluey covers Years 2–12 and multiple subjects including science; Merit covers Years 1–10 with Maths and English only. Cluey is 1-on-1 only; Merit offers group sessions (max 5) from $29/week or 1-on-1 from $59/week. Cluey uses a traditional video-call format; Merit builds games into every session. Cluey is a large, established platform; Merit is a smaller, newer service. Both offer a free or discounted first session.
Book a free 60-minute trial with Merit — no obligation. See how your child responds to gamified, curriculum-aligned tutoring before deciding anything.
Or call us: 0468 229 358
No lock-in contracts · From $29/week · Cancel anytime