The main advantages of online learning are flexibility, no travel, access to specialist teachers anywhere, lower overall cost and recorded lessons for revision. The main disadvantages are more screen time, harder focus for younger children, less face-to-face social contact and dependence on a good internet connection. Most disadvantages shrink when classes are live, small-group and interactive rather than pre-recorded videos.
Advantages and disadvantages at a glance
| Advantages of online learning | Disadvantages of online learning |
|---|---|
| Learn from home, with no commute | More time on screens |
| Flexible timings around school and family | Younger children find it harder to focus |
| Access to specialist teachers in any city or country | Less in-person social contact |
| Lessons can be recorded for revision | Needs a stable internet connection and a device |
| Often lower total cost (no travel, no centre overheads) | Self-discipline matters more |
| Shy students often speak up more | Hands-on practical work is harder |
| Easy to track progress and share work with parents | Quality varies widely between providers |
The advantages of online learning
1. Flexibility and time saved
Online classes fit around school, sport and family. A one-hour tuition class that once took two hours with travel now takes one. For exam students in IGCSE, A-Level, IELTS or SAT preparation, that time goes back into revision.
2. Access to the right teacher, wherever they are
A family is no longer limited to tutors within driving distance. A student in a small town, or abroad, can learn from a specialist in their exact subject or exam board.
3. Recordings and resources for revision
When live lessons are recorded, students can rewatch a difficult explanation before a test. Shared notes, slides and past papers stay in one place.
4. Lower overall cost
Online learning removes travel costs and the overheads of a physical centre. For families, the real saving is often time as much as money.
5. Confidence for quieter students
Many shy children speak up more in a small online group, using the chat, a shared whiteboard or their microphone, than in a crowded classroom.
6. Modern skills come naturally
Learning online builds digital skills, typing, file sharing, online research and safe use of tools, that students need anyway. For subjects like coding for kids, Python and AI for kids, the computer is the classroom.
The disadvantages of online learning
1. Screen time
Online classes add to the hours a child spends in front of a screen. What matters most is how the time is used: creative screen time, where a child writes, builds or solves, is very different from passive watching.
2. Focus and motivation, especially for younger children
Children under about ten can drift off in long or passive sessions. Recorded video courses are the hardest; live classes with a teacher who calls on each child work far better.
3. Less face-to-face contact
Online groups lack break-time chat and in-person friendships. Small groups where students talk to each other, not just to the teacher, close part of that gap.
4. Internet and device problems
A weak connection or a shared device can disrupt a lesson. A simple computer setup for online classes prevents most problems.
5. Quality varies
"Online course" can mean anything from a live expert teacher to a pre-recorded video with no feedback. Choosing well matters more than whether learning is online or in person.
Online learning vs face-to-face classes
| Online live classes | Face-to-face classes | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | None | Daily or weekly commute |
| Teacher choice | Any city or country | Local only |
| Recordings for revision | Usually available | Rarely |
| Group size | Often small (3–5) | Often larger |
| Social contact | Less in person | More in person |
| Practical, hands-on work | Harder | Easier |
| Best for | Exam prep, coding, writing, languages, busy families | Very young children, lab and sports work |
For most academic subjects and skills courses, live online classes match face-to-face results when groups are small and teaching is interactive. See is online learning effective for kids? for the evidence.
Online learning for kids
For children aged about 6 to 12, online learning works best when:
- Sessions are short and live, around 45–60 minutes
- Groups are small, so every child speaks
- Children make something, a story, a game, a project, rather than only watch
- A parent is nearby for the first few sessions
Courses like creative writing for kids, Math Magic and coding for kids suit this format well.
Online learning for exam students
For older students preparing for IGCSE, O Level, A-Level, IELTS or the SAT, online learning has extra advantages:
- Past papers and mark schemes shared on screen and marked in the lesson
- Timed practice and mock tests at home
- Specialist teachers for each subject or test
See IGCSE tuition, A-Level tuition, IELTS preparation and SAT preparation.
How to get the advantages without the disadvantages
- Choose live, small-group classes over pre-recorded videos.
- Set up a quiet spot with a reliable device and headphones.
- Keep sessions focused: shorter and more frequent beats long and rare.
- Ask for recordings and use them before tests.
- Check the teacher first with a free trial or free demo class.
- Balance screen time with reading, outdoor play and offline practice.
Read how to choose an online course for your child for a full checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main advantages of online learning?
Flexibility, no travel, access to specialist teachers anywhere, recorded lessons for revision and often a lower overall cost.
What are the main disadvantages of online learning?
More screen time, harder focus for younger children, less face-to-face social contact, and dependence on a stable internet connection and device.
Is online learning better than face-to-face learning?
For most academic subjects and skills courses, live online classes in small groups give results similar to face-to-face classes. Face-to-face still suits very young children and hands-on practical work better.
Is online learning good for kids?
Yes, when classes are live, short, interactive and in small groups. Pre-recorded videos with no teacher contact work far less well for children.
How can students overcome the disadvantages of online learning?
Choose live small-group classes, set up a quiet study space, keep sessions short, use recordings for revision and balance screen time with offline activities.
More parent & student guides
- How to help your child with homework, without doing it for them
- The best study routine for O Level and IGCSE students
- How to use past papers effectively for IGCSE and O Level
- IGCSE and O Level grading explained
- How to choose IGCSE and O Level subjects
- Online tuition vs a tuition academy in Pakistan: which is better?
- All parent & student guides →
Written by the Learning Bubble teaching team. If something here does not match your situation, ask us. We would rather give you a straight answer than have you guess.