Finding a tutor in Czechia means first knowing exactly what you want, and only then looking for an ad. Most private tutors today offer lessons through ad portals, local groups, or directly on their own website. Prices range from about 200 to 800 CZK per hour depending on the city, subject, and experience. Before you pay, always verify references and agree on terms in writing.
Finding a tutor looks simple until you hit the first problem. Someone offers math for ninth graders but doesn't say whether they prepare for entrance exams or just practice the curriculum. Another ad promises "results in a month" and there's no phone number or name anywhere. That's why it's better to treat the search as a small project: first sort out your requirements, then go through the offers, then talk to the shortlisted people, and only then decide. Below you'll find a process you can use on your phone during a meeting, and a table to compare a private tutor, a small team, and a company. Everything targets common subjects: math, Czech, English, physics, chemistry, but also preparation for the maturita or entrance exams.
- First write down what you want: subject, grade, goal, and deadline. Without that, you can't compare offers.
- In the ad, look for a name, city, price per hour, and what's included. If it's missing, ask.
- Verify references, don't just read them. Call or write to two numbers from their history.
- Treat prepayment without a written agreement as a warning sign, not an advantage.
Where to find a tutor and what an offer looks like
Private tutors most often advertise on ad portals, in local Facebook groups by city district, and on school or library noticeboards. Companies and small teams have their own websites where they list prices and schedules.
Each type of offer carries different information. With a private ad, check whether a name, city, price for 45 or 60 minutes, form of teaching (at your place, at the tutor's, online), and whether it's individual lessons or a package are listed. With a small team, ask who exactly will teach and what happens if the tutor gets sick. With a company, check who provides the lessons, whether they're a sole trader or an employee, and how replacement lessons are handled.
On ad portals, it pays to filter by city and district. When you search in Prague, the difference between Vinohrady and Zličín means a different commute and different time. In Brno, it's worth looking separately at the Královo Pole area and the center, in Ostrava at Poruba and Mariánské Hory. In Plzeň and Liberec, the offer is smaller, so it pays more to ask directly in groups and not be afraid of online lessons.
Before you get in touch, write three sentences: what you want to improve, how much time you have, and how much you're willing to pay per hour. A tutor who gets this information right away will respond more specifically and faster than one who has to guess.
How to read an ad and what to verify in practice
A good ad answers four questions: who teaches, where, for how much, and what's included. If one is missing, it's not necessarily a scam, but it's something you have to fill in yourself.
Portfolio and references
A tutor's portfolio means more than a list of schools. What's interesting is which subjects and grades they teach, how many years they've been doing it, and whether they have experience with entrance exams or the maturita. For languages, ask about the level and whether they have a certificate or just practice. For math and physics, ask whether they also teach the material covered at the specific school, because notebooks differ between schools.
Verify references, don't just read them. Write to two numbers from their history and ask two things: whether results came, and whether the tutor kept the agreed time. One specific answer says more than ten ratings without text.
What to ask before agreeing
Before the first lesson, go through these points. Feel free to write the answers in your phone so you have them with you.
- How much does a lesson cost and how long is it: 45 or 60 minutes?
- What's included: materials, tests, feedback for parents?
- What does the first lesson look like and is it paid?
- How are canceled lessons handled and by when can they be canceled without a fee?
- What's the estimate for how long it will take to reach the goal, and what is that estimate based on?
- Will I get a short message after the lesson about what was covered?
Take the time estimate as an estimate, not a promise. A tutor who says "you'll have an A in a month" has no way of knowing that. A tutor who says "we need twenty hours to prepare for the entrance exam and we'll start with fractions" speaks concretely and you can work with that.
How much tutoring costs and how to compare offers
The hourly rate in Czechia varies by city, subject, and form. Online lessons tend to be cheaper than commuting because the tutor saves travel time. Group lessons are the cheapest, but watch out for how much space you'll get in the group.
When comparing offers, don't work with the hourly rate alone. Multiply it by the number of hours you estimate you need, and add travel and time. Twenty hours at 400 CZK is 8,000 CZK. Twenty hours at 300 CZK plus two hours of travel per week is not just 6,000 CZK, it's also your time.
| Provider type | Price per hour | Advantages | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private tutor | 200 to 500 CZK | Personal approach, flexible times, option to teach at your place | Less guarantee of a substitute, everything depends on the agreement |
| Small team | 350 to 600 CZK | Substitute when sick, more tutors to choose from | Verify who exactly will teach, not just the team |
| Company or agency | 500 to 900 CZK | Contract, invoicing, replacement system | Higher price, sometimes less room to change tutors |
If you want to compare more offers in one place, an ad section with a filter by city and district helps. On the advertising rules you can see what details an offer must include, and from that you can tell whether an offer is complete. On EX & GO, the seller's history and ratings are shown with the ad, so you can at least partially verify whether someone has been advertising long-term and whether there have been complaints. tutoring and courses
For more expensive packages, always ask what happens to unused lessons. Is money refunded, or does it expire? Is the whole package paid upfront, or per lesson? tutoring and courses in Prague
How to spot a scam and what a written agreement should include
The most common scam in tutoring isn't a fake tutor, but upfront payment without any trace. Someone promises ten lessons at a discounted price, you send the money, and communication ends.
Warning signs: pressure to decide quickly, payment only to an account without a name, no phone number, just chat, a price significantly lower than elsewhere, and willingness to teach anything without questions. If someone tells you "the last available slot is today," that's sales pressure, not information.
A written agreement doesn't have to be a complex contract. An email or message that both parties reply "I agree" to is enough. It should include:
- the tutor's name and contact and your name,
- subject, grade, and teaching goal,
- price per hour, lesson length, and payment method,
- place and time of lessons, or that it's online,
- rules for canceling lessons and for replacements,
- what happens if one party wants to end it, and with what notice period.
In consumer relationships, it pays to know your rights. General information on complaints and what constitutes an unfair commercial practice can be found at the Czech Trade Inspection Authority. When it comes to teaching children and youth, it also makes sense to check whether the provider works in accordance with rules for working with minors, which mainly concerns camps and clubs, not individual lessons. For subsidies and support for educational activities, information at the Ministry for Regional Development is only marginal, but it's useful when asking about public programs for schools.
At EX & GO, we see that the most common question about this category is whether the tutor is willing to teach online, and the second most common question is about the hourly rate.
How to choose between a private tutor, a team, and a company
The goal and time decide. If you need to improve a grade in one subject and have a semester, a private tutor is enough. If it's about entrance exams or the maturita with a fixed date, a team that can substitute and has experience with tests is worth it. A company makes sense where you want a contract and invoice, for example when the employer pays for the lessons.
Also ask how progress is measured. A good tutor can say what the student will know after ten hours and how you'll recognize it. Tests they make themselves are fine, but what's more interesting is whether school grades improve or the practice test result.
How to find a tutor on your phone during a meeting
Most people read ads on their phone and arrange things right away. So save a short process so you don't have to think.
- Open the ad and check the name, city, price, and form of teaching.
- Look at the advertiser's history and ratings, if visible.
- Write three sentences about what you need and ask about availability.
- Arrange the first lesson and write down in advance what's included and how lessons are canceled.
- After the first lesson, make a note: did it click, or not.
If something doesn't feel right, it's not a failure. The first lesson is a trial for both sides and it's normal to say afterward that you're looking further. A decent tutor will understand.
Frequently asked questions
How much does tutoring cost in Czechia?
The hourly rate usually ranges from 200 to 900 CZK depending on the city, subject, and type of provider. A private tutor in a smaller town tends to be cheaper than a company in Prague. Online lessons are often 50 to 150 CZK cheaper than commuting because there is no travel. Always ask whether the lesson is 45 or 60 minutes and what is included. The difference between 45 and 60 minutes at the same price is a 25% increase.
Where can I find a tutor in Prague or Brno?
In Prague, it pays to filter by city district because traveling from Vinohrady to Zličín takes as long as a full lesson. In Brno, offers are concentrated around the center and Královo Pole. Besides ad portals, local neighborhood groups and library noticeboards work well. In Ostrava, Plzeň, and Liberec, the offer is smaller, so it makes more sense to consider online lessons with a tutor from another city.
How do I recognize a scam?
The biggest warning sign is paying in advance without a written agreement and without a phone number. Also watch out for pressure to decide quickly, a price significantly lower than elsewhere, and refusal to answer who exactly will teach. Verify the advertiser's name and history if the portal shows it. If you are unsure, arrange a first lesson and pay only after it.
What should a written agreement with a tutor include?
An email or message that both parties confirm is enough. Include the name and contact, subject and goal, price per hour and lesson length, place and time, rules for cancellations and replacements, and conditions for ending the cooperation. A complex contract is not necessary, but it is important to have the agreement recorded so you can trace what you agreed on. For packages, ask what happens to unused lessons.
Is cheap tutoring worth it?
Sometimes yes, but price is not the only criterion. A cheap lesson after which the student makes no progress is more expensive than a pricier lesson that works. Compare the hourly rate along with the estimated number of lessons you will need and travel time. Group lessons are the cheapest, but check how much space you will get in the group. For language courses, ask about the group size.
How do I verify a tutor's references?
Write or call two numbers from their history and ask two specific things: whether results improved and whether the tutor kept the agreed time and cancellation rules. A rating without text says little. If a tutor has no references, it is not automatically a problem, but arrange the first lesson as a trial and pay only after it. Also ask which grades and schools they have experience with.
Summary
Finding a tutor who fits both you and the student isn't a matter of luck but of preparation. Write down your goal and budget, go through offers by city and district, verify references, and agree in writing. Treat the first lesson as a trial and decide after it. If you're not sure what a proper ad should look like or how to handle a complaint, see support and the portal rules. Price matters, but what decides is whether the student can do something after ten lessons that they couldn't before.