Stop Paying for Leads That Never Book
Thumbtack charges you per lead — even when it is a bot, a no-show, or one of five tutors competing for the same family. Elevated.Study is free to list, with no per-lead charge, ever.
You are paying for a chance, not a booking
On Thumbtack:
- Charged per lead whether or not it converts
- Up to 5 other tutors pay for the same lead
- Unresponsive, mismatched, and bot leads are reported as common — and you still pay
- Real cost to land one student is often 3-10x the per-lead price
On Elevated.Study:
- Listing is free — no per-lead charge, ever
- Parents find and book you directly, not one of five tutors chasing the same inquiry
- You only pay a small per-session fee when a session actually happens
- Cash on the day or online — get paid however works for you
An honest cost comparison
 Elevated.Study | Thumbtack | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to list | Free | Free |
| Cost per lead | None — ever | ~-80 per lead, charged regardless of outcome |
| Charged for unresponsive/bot leads | Reported as a common complaint | |
| Pros competing per inquiry | N/A — parent books you directly | Up to 5 pros pay for the same lead |
| Real cost to book one student | Small per-session fee, only when booked | Often 3-10x the per-lead price |
| Payment flexibility | Cash or online — your choice | Arranged directly after the lead |
Lead cost ranges and conversion estimates based on publicly reported pro experiences as of 2026. Thumbtack does not publish a fixed price list; actual costs vary by market and category.
What this actually costs you
The per-lead price is just the starting point. Once you factor in conversion rates, the real cost to land one paying family is often much higher.
Pay-per-lead example
Elevated.Study flips this:
List for free, get discovered by parents already looking for a tutor like you, and only pay a small fee once a session is actually booked and happens. No spend before you earn.
No per-lead charges. Ever.
Founding members get a featured profile, priority placement in search, and direct input on what we build — before this becomes a 100,000-tutor platform.
Free to list. No subscription. No per-lead fee. Just a small per-session fee when a booking actually happens.
Create Your Free ListingFrequently asked questions
Does Elevated.Study charge per lead like Thumbtack?
No. Listing is free, and there is no charge for being discovered or contacted by a parent. We only charge a small fee on a session that is actually booked.
What if a parent contacts me and it does not go anywhere?
You do not pay for that. Unlike a pay-per-lead model, there is no charge just for being contacted or inquired about.
Am I competing with multiple tutors for the same inquiry?
No. Parents search and book you directly based on your profile, subjects, and availability. Your listing is not shopped to several tutors at once.
How do I get paid?
Cash on the day, or online through secure payment processing. You are not forced into one payment method.
Is it free to list?
Yes. Free listing, no subscription, no per-lead fee, during beta and beyond. Just a small fee per booked session, shown in full before you publish your profile.