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Lesson Diary vs MyDriveTime
MyDriveTime is best known for multi-car schools and trainee PDIs. Here is how it lines up against Lesson Diary, feature by feature — checked 27 August 2026.
- Lesson Diary
- £9.99/mo
- 7-day free trial
- Lesson money: £0 — we never handle pupil payments
- MyDriveTime
- £19/mo solo (free for PDIs)
- 30-day trial + 6-month money-back
- Lesson money: No card processing in the app
| Lesson Diary | MyDriveTime | |
|---|---|---|
| Price & terms | ||
| Monthly price | £9.99/mo | £19/mo solo (free for PDIs) |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial | 30-day trial + 6-month money-back |
| Cut of your lesson money | £0 — we never handle pupil payments | No card processing in the app |
| Everything on one plan | Yes | Per-instructor discounts for schools |
| Cancel yourself, anytime | Yes | Yes |
| Diary & scheduling | ||
| Works on the web | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring lessons | Yes | Yes |
| Working hours & time off | Yes | Yes |
| Double-booking flagged | Yes | Yes |
| Phone calendar sync | Via the mobile app | Yes |
| Gap alerts between lessons | Yes | Partly |
| Booking & getting pupils | ||
| Pupils book online themselves | Yes | Partly |
| Booking link & QR code | Yes | No |
| Booking widget for your site | Yes | Partly |
| Draw your pickup area on a map | Yes | No |
| Approve, defer or decline requests | Yes | Partly |
| Pupils & progress | ||
| Pupil records & lesson history | Yes | Yes |
| Progress notes | Yes | Yes |
| DVSA syllabus tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Mock tests, marked DVSA-style | DL25-style, live pass/fail | Partly |
| Per-pupil pricing & packages | Yes | Yes |
| Pupil portal | Web, no download | Student app |
| Waiting list | Yes | Partly |
| Theory & practical test dates | Yes | Yes |
| Money & admin | ||
| Who has paid, who owes you | Yes | Yes |
| Payment records & financials | Yes | Yes |
| Export pupils, lessons & payments | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic lesson reminders | Yes | yes, plus SMS |
| Multi-instructor / school mode | Focused on solo — no bloat | Yes |
A note on fairness. We build Lesson Diary, and it is one of the tools on this page — so read the comparison with that in mind. Every rival figure was checked on 27 August 2026 against each company’s own website. Prices and plans change; if you spot something out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.
Sources: MyDriveTime
Where MyDriveTime is stronger
- Running since 2014 — one of the most established
- Per-instructor price drops sharply for bigger schools
- SMS reminders included for solo instructors
- A 30-day trial backed by a 6-month money-back guarantee
Why instructors move to Lesson Diary
- We never touch your lesson money — no percentage, no platform fee, ever
- One plan: online booking, the coverage-area map, mock tests and the pupil portal are all in it
- DL25-style mock tests marked the way the DVSA marks them — live pass or fail
- Export your pupils, lessons and payments whenever you want — the data stays yours
Built with multi-car schools in mind, so a solo instructor still pays £19 — near the top of this list. Billing is by direct debit.
Common questions
Can I switch from MyDriveTime to Lesson Diary?
Yes. Start a 7-day free trial, add your pupils, and share your booking link. You can run both side by side while you decide — there is no contract to end.
Does Lesson Diary take a percentage of my lesson fees?
No. Lesson Diary never handles pupil payments, so there is no percentage and no platform fee. You record who has paid — cash, card or bank transfer — and keep every penny.
What does MyDriveTime do that Lesson Diary does not?
Mainly: running since 2014 — one of the most established. The table above shows the full picture on both sides.
Still weighing it up? See all MyDriveTime alternatives →
Built for you, not a fleet of cars
Solo-instructor software at £9.99 a month — no per-seat pricing, no school features you'll never open. 7-day free trial.