VIPKid Review (Get Your Facts Straight)

I came across a platform called VIPKid that claims it can help you make $18-22 per hour for teaching kids in China through video calls.

Cindy Mi and Jessie Chen started this platform, and according to their site, the platform has grown rapidly and even attracted major investors like Kobe Bryant.

You may have visited their site and found the features and claims of this platform to be promising, but since there are lots of scam programs out there, you want to know if this is the real deal.

Well, you’ve come to the right place because, in this VIPKid review, I will reveal to you all the details I have uncovered about this program.

In fact, you will know if you have what it takes to join this platform and if this is a opportunity you should take advantage of.

Let’s start!

What is VIPKid and what does it offer?

VIPKid is a website that pays ESL teachers to teach kids in China, and it was started in 2013 by Cindy Mi and Jessie Chen, and if you’re the teacher-type individual, then this is an opportunity that might fit your personality.

Based on my research, the pay is good, and you get to teach kids from China, but the application process is vigorous, and if you get approved, your profile will be visible to Chinese parents, and they have the option to choose you as their child’s teacher.

If you’ve passed the application process, you’ll be teaching kids one on one via video call and each lesson will last about 30 minutes – 25 minutes for the lesson itself, and 5 minutes for Q&A session.

Also, you’ll be teaching kids with an age range from 4-12, and the class follows the common core guidelines like downloadable material you will supply to your students, so they can review the lessons you’ve taught them.

Honestly, this is a legit ESL teaching platform that you can take advantage of if you have the requirements for it, but this is NOT for everybody, and you’ll need the teaching skills and experience to succeed in this type of online endeavor.

VIPKid teacher requirements

If you want to be a part of VIPKid, you’ll need to meet some basic requirements.

In fact, VIPKid’s clients rely on the admins of this platform to provide them trustworthy and qualified teachers, so if you think you do not meet these requirements, then this platform might not be for you.

Here are the basic requirements you need:

• You must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Your degree can be in any field; it doesn’t matter whether or not it’s in the field of education.
• Once accepted, you have to sign a minimum 6-month renewable contract, so this means they will always track your performance.
• You need some experience teaching K-12 in the United States or Canada.

Here are the tech requirements:

• You need to have a desktop or laptop and just a tablet or smartphone.
• Your system must run on Windows 7 or above, or MAC OS 10.8x.
• It must also have Intel Core i3 or above, at least 4GB RAM, the latest Flash version, and you need a wired DSL internet connection – at least 20 Mbps.
• Your computer needs to have a camera
• You need a good headset with a high-quality microphone

If you think you have all the requirements above, then you are now ready for the application process.

How much can you earn on the VIPKid platform?

How much you can earn is, of course, also important to know before you even decide if you want to apply or not.

On VIPKid, you can earn $7-9 per 30-minute teaching session, and you’ll also receive several incentives.

Here’s the breakdown of their payment and incentives:

Your base pay rate will be determined by your demo class performance, so you’ll need to do your best during your demo.

You’ll get paid via direct deposit, and they will deposit your payment via your bank account on the 10^th and 15^th of the month.

Once your 6-month contract is up, you will receive a raise based on your performance.

As for taxes, you are responsible for paying it on your own because you are considered as an independent contractor.

Common Complaints about VipKid

No job is perfect especially if you are engaged in home-based work, since there are lots of factors to consider, and there are some valid teacher complaints that you should be aware of before you decide to join the VIPKid network.

This does not mean it cannot be worth it but you just need to know what you are saying yes to as you need to sign a contract for at least 6 months.

Factor #1 – You will be working during inconvenient times

You’ll need to understand that you’ll be teaching kids across the globe in real-time, so this means you’ll be working during inconvenient times.

In fact, the peak hours to teach kids in Beijing will start on Mondays to Fridays at 6-10pm and Saturdays to Sundays at 9-10pm.

If you live in the US and Canada, then you’ll need a time zone chart to see if it’s workable on your end.

You need to make sure that you can handle the work hours before you accept your teaching schedules because it will not be good on your record if you cannot attend even a single class that you’ve accepted.

Recommended: Click to Learn the Best Way to Make Money Online

Factor #2 – It can be an unreliable source of income

You can’t always set your work hours at VipKid and parents will also choose the teacher for their kids, so this means there’s a chance you can’t get work for several days or weeks.

Therefore, some days or weeks will be slow, while others may be pretty full, so you must have a contingency plan at your disposal when this happens.

Having multiple sources of income is always a good idea and it helps you get through those slow days anyway.

This is another factor to consider before you submit your application to VIPKid.

Factor #3 – There is a communication gap between teachers and parents

Based on their system, you will be graded according to your performance, and there is an option where the parents can leave a review about you – the teacher.

However, a lot of them don’t speak English, so the review is commonly written in Chinese and must be translated, and it can get confusing sometimes.

In fact, I have seen some people mention there were times when VipKid teachers seem to receive negative feedback from parents, but in reality – it’s all due to bad translation.

At times, online translators don’t seem to get the right translation, and the VipKid network doesn’t have an in-house translator to work on all the parents’ reviews, so this can be an issue they need to resolve on their platform, in my opinion.

Also, former teachers have complained about parents who leave negative reviews without any justification; it seems the communication gap between teachers and parents sometimes can be an issue you need to be aware of.

Factor #4 – Slow support system

Based on my research, one complaint that comes up a lot is the slow support system. Should you need a hand with something from the company, it may take a while before you hear anything back.

In my opinion, this can be understandable since there are lots of teachers employed on the VIPKid platform, but it seems they lack the number of in-house support staff to cater to all their teachers’ needs and issues.

Honestly, this can be resolved if they outsource some parts of their support system, so they can at least speed up the whole process even if they lack the number of in-house support staff in their company.

Again, this is another factor you need to think about before you decide to teach at VIPKid.

Final verdict – legit or scam?

Although there were numerous complaints from former teachers, I consider VIPKid as a legitimate teaching platform. Despite some shortcomings, it is still a legit way of making money online.

However, you need to weigh the pros and cons yourself before you submit your application.

To help you more in your decision-making process, here are the pros and cons of this platform:

Pros

• You can work from home
• You can set your own schedule
• You’ll be able to teach English to kids from China
• The pay is decent

Cons

• There will be slow days or weeks, which means no income during these times
• You’ll need to adjust your schedules based on your student’s time zone
• Slow Support system
• There is a communication gap between parents and teachers that might affect reviews
• There is a steep hiring process

Honestly, if you have the qualifications and the willingness to adjust your work hours based on your student’s time zone, then this opportunity might be for you.

Also, this is a noble profession since you are teaching kids about English from around the globe, so if you meet their requirements, then I’d say – go for it!

But if you think you are unable to meet their requirements, but you still want to make money online – don’t despair because there are other legit opportunities out there that can help you create a sustainable income online.

One good example is affiliate marketing and it is still one of the most ideal ways of making a decent income online.

I would urge to learn more about it before you look for other opportunities online.

How I make a living online

I have been able to create a full-time income online myself, and it has allowed me to work anywhere and completely on my own terms.

Although it will take some time and effort on your end, it is totally worth it.

If you want to create your own online income, then you can follow my footsteps, which I have compiled in my FREE guide.

I will share with you all the steps I took, and I promise you that you can easily follow these steps even if you’re a complete beginner.

 

If you have any comments, questions, or have any experiences with VIPKid, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.