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Lesson Diary vs Passly
Passly is best known for built-in card payments and a free pupil marketplace. 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
- Passly
- £14.99/mo, drops to £8.99 later
- 14-day free trial
- Lesson money: 1.5% flat + Stripe fees
| Lesson Diary | Passly | |
|---|---|---|
| Price & terms | ||
| Monthly price | £9.99/mo | £14.99/mo, drops to £8.99 later |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial | 14-day free trial |
| Cut of your lesson money | £0 — we never handle pupil payments | 1.5% flat + Stripe fees |
| Everything on one plan | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Booking & getting pupils | ||
| Pupils book online themselves | Yes | Yes |
| Booking link & QR code | Yes | Partly |
| Booking widget for your site | Yes | Yes |
| Draw your pickup area on a map | Yes | Partly |
| Approve, defer or decline requests | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Per-pupil pricing & packages | Yes | Yes |
| Pupil portal | Web, no download | Web, no download |
| 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 |
| 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 Prices and plans change; if you spot something out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.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: Passly
Where Passly is stronger
- A free marketplace listing that can bring in new pupil enquiries
- Card payments built in at a published 1.5%
- Everything on one plan at a low headline price
- An optional done-for-you instructor website
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
Launched in 2026, so it is the newest here with the shortest track record. Takes 1.5% of lesson money run through the app, and the pupil side is browser-only with no native app.
Common questions
Can I switch from Passly 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 Passly do that Lesson Diary does not?
Mainly: a free marketplace listing that can bring in new pupil enquiries. The table above shows the full picture on both sides.
Still weighing it up? See all Passly alternatives →
No cut of your lesson money. Ever.
Lesson Diary never touches pupil payments — no 1.5%, no platform fee. Flat £9.99 a month, free for 7 days.