Edmonton, as one of Canada's largest cities, offers a range of free online learning resources that are available to both children and adults. The question of whether quality tutoring is available without payment is relevant for many families, and the answer is yes — there are a significant number of platforms and services that provide this opportunity completely free of charge.
Edmonton Public Library and Tutoring Systems
The first and most structured free tutoring system in Edmonton belongs to the Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Schools. The Edmonton Public Library offers free tutoring through a platform called Brainfuse HelpNow. This service allows users with a library card to interact with live tutors in real time from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily on Alberta curriculum material for students in grades 1 through 12. In addition, Brainfuse includes a writing service where users can receive constructive criticism on their written work 24 hours a day, and a writing lab to assist with any phase of writing a paper. For adult learners, the platform provides assistance with resume writing, cover letter writing, preparation for the Canadian citizenship exam, and other professional skills.
Solaro self-learning platform
Another incredibly valuable service from the Public Library is the Solaro platform, which provides learning materials for grades 3 to 12 based on the Alberta curriculum. Solaro includes video lessons, quizzes, and interactive materials for learning math, science, and other subjects. To access Solaro, users must have an Edmonton Public Library card, after which they can use this resource for free through the library's website by logging in with their card number.
DISCOVER Service — Volunteer Tutoring
DISCOVER is another outstanding service provided through the Edmonton Public Library's partnership with college and university students. The DISCOVER service offers free one-on-one tutoring for students in grades 4 through 12, connecting them with college and university student volunteers. Tutoring sessions are held Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via the Google Meet platform. Students can book sessions through the website https://www.mydiscoverprep.com/ by selecting the subject they want to study. Available subjects include math, English, social studies, natural sciences, biology, chemistry, and physics. Each tutoring session is a minimum of one hour, and tutors often hold short additional consultations to answer students' questions.
Metro Continuing Education
Metro Continuing Education from Edmonton Public Schools also offers free one-on-one online tutoring for students enrolled in Edmonton Public Schools. These sessions run from November to January and are available to students in grades 9-12 and grade 9 students who need help with math. Metro has seen consistent demand since its launch in the fall of 2020.
Light Up Learning — Non-Profit Tutoring Center
Light Up Learning is a non-profit private tutoring center located in Edmonton that has been providing completely free tutoring services since the summer of 2025. The organization specializes in helping elementary and middle school students who need extra academic support, especially those from underserved communities. All tutoring sessions are conducted online via Google Meet, typically in small groups to ensure personalized support. Light Up Learning has over 200 hours of experience with four expert tutors who specialize in different fields and offer support in a wide range of high school subjects. Users can follow the organization's updates on their Instagram (@lightuplearningyeg) or contact them via email at [email protected] for information on registration.
Schoolhouse.world — a global platform for free tutoring
On a more global level, Schoolhouse.world is a free tutoring platform founded by Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy. This platform offers free tutoring through small group sessions via Zoom for students from all over the world, including those in Canada and Edmonton. Schoolhouse.world specializes in math and SAT prep, but also has space for tutors to teach any subjects they are passionate about. Volunteer tutors run this platform and are ready to help students. The platform has reached a point where it serves students from over 150 countries and has over 4,000 volunteer tutors and 30,000 students.
Learn To Be — Personalized Tutoring
Learn To Be is another American non-profit platform that provides free one-on-one tutoring in math and reading for K-12 students. Students are matched with specially selected tutors who work with them for 6 months to 6 years, ensuring consistency and a significant positive impact on learning.
Khan Academy — self-paced learning
For those interested in learning at a more leisurely pace, Khan Academy offers free video lessons and hands-on exercises in all major subjects, including math, science, history, and more. Khan Academy is designed for self-directed learning and can be supplemented with direct coaching from parents or guardians. The Khan Academy website also has information on how parents can help their children through the platform, as well as instructions on how to sign up for free tutoring on Schoolhouse.world if the student is at least 13 years old.
Additional resources
In addition, Brainfuse is also available through other Canadian public libraries and is monitored by libraries and schools to support learning. The service also includes SkillSurfer, which is a library of lessons, videos, tests, and other learning materials.
For adult learners who need English or professional skills, the Edmonton Public Library offers Niche Academy, which provides free access to interactive online courses on a variety of topics. In addition, Metro Continuing Education offers hundreds of academic and enrichment programs for students and adults of all ages, with the option of choosing between hands-on or distance learning courses that are held in the evenings, on weekends, or online.
Requirements for access
To access most of these free services, users must first understand three basic conditions. First, you must obtain a Public Library of Edmonton card, which is free of charge. Second, you need to know how to change your password when you first log in to Solaro and other systems. Third, you need to understand how to sign up for tutoring sessions through the websites offered and have a computer with internet access to participate in online sessions.
Conclusion
Overall, Edmonton actually offers a very wide range of free online tutoring platforms that cater to students of all ages and skill levels. All of these resources make educational assistance more accessible to families, regardless of their financial means. From services through the Public Library to non-profit organizations such as Light Up Learning and global platforms such as Schoolhouse.world and Khan Academy, almost everyone can find a tutoring service that fits their needs and schedule.