Helpster Live Homework Tutor

This flawed tutoring app has more problems than it solves.The first thing you notice upon examining this app's store page is its high rating; then you notice the rating's based on some pretty vague five-star reviews. Download the app, and you'll see for yourself – those reviews are highly suspect. Right off the bat you'll notice the limited number of tutors. No matter what subject or grade you choose, you seem to get the same paltry selection, even if the tutor doesn't teach your subject. Choose “English,” for instance, and your results include people specializing in Geometry and Calculus. It's not the worst, but it's sloppy, and this sloppiness extends to the app's overall interface. Tutors introduce themselves via introductory video clip, but these often play upside down. A five star rating system allows you to rate tutors, but there's no way to see how other users have rated them, and listings often indicate a tutor's online when they're actually not. Beyond the defective interface, the service itself is an issue. Homework's a timely thing, but since Helpster Live Homework Tutor lets tutors choose their own hours, they often aren't online when you need them, and it can take ages to hear back about questions submitted by text. The whole setup seems questionable for students and potentially for tutors as well. The “Become a Tutor” screen asks that you agree to Terms of Use but fails to link those terms so you know what it is you're agreeing to. That's just one too many red flags for a 'Net-savvy app user to ignore. So parents and kids—there are better, more reliable solutions to your tutoring needs out there. Give this flawed app a pass.