Ready to start learning Czech? There are tons of online resources out there, but it can be challenging to figure out which courses offer the best strategies and instruction.
Here, we’re taking a look at all the courses worth checking out—and those you should skip.
Our top choices—tier 1—are picks that are tried and true. The second tier covers courses that are only so-so but might fill some gaps.
Finally, the third-tier selections are ones we can’t wholeheartedly recommend. In fact, there are a lot of reasons to go ahead and skip them.
Let’s get started with the most-recommended courses on our list.
Top Tier
Italki, CzechClass101, Mluvte Cesky, Pimsleur
2nd Tier
Duolingo, Memrise, FSI, Glossika, Mango Languages
3rd Tier
Charles University, Mondly, Transparent Language
Tier 1 – The Best Courses For Learning Czech Online
TUTORING HELP TO FIT YOUR SCHEDULE
A lot of language learners say that becoming fluent in Czech is hard. We get it—but at the same time, with the right instruction, it doesn’t have to be a huge challenge.
On italki, a platform for connecting students with instructors, you can find help for any stage of learning. italki has teachers (typically with professional experience or a degree) and tutors (often native speakers) who can provide help with pronunciation, advanced conversation practice, and more.
Pros
- You can schedule lessons at your convenience.
- Trial lessons are available and allow you to give each instructor a test run before committing.
- italki’s community makes it easy to find a language exchange partner or ask questions about the language.
Cons
- Sometimes the popular teachers book up quickly—so you might have to plan in advance.
See our Super-Detailed italki Review
PODCAST STYLE LEARNING WITH EXTRAS
CzechClass101 is a podcast-style course with hundreds of hours of video and audio lessons. Other supplements include flashcards, vocab tools, and lesson notes. You’ll find a ton of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural instruction with this course, and it becomes more challenging as you progress.
You may not necessarily want to follow the path that’s laid out, but you can jump around and sample different lessons in your subscription. For more advanced learners, you can probably skip some lower-level content, but the course still relies on a lot of English instruction, too.
Pros
- Audio-focused learning in a podcast format is low-stress and easy to follow.
- There’s a lot of English instruction at first to ease you into Czech.
- There’s some free content available to try.
Cons
- The course relies heavily on English, even at higher levels, which may not be a plus for a lot of learners.
- CzechClass101 can get pricey if you choose a higher-level subscription, and you might not use all the “extras.”
See our Super-Detailed CzechClass101 Review
LEARN CZECH AT YOUR OWN PACE
Mluvte Cesky is endorsed by the European Union, which means it’s a trustworthy source for learning Czech. You can start at level A1 and advance through B2 levels, and the courses include vocabulary for internal medicine and other clinical applications.
You’ll start with useful phrases, then advance through courses on pronunciation, food and drinks, and more. Each “course” includes a few lessons and then a test at the end. The basic lessons (introduction, pronunciation) don’t include audio/video content. However, upper levels do feature more interactive elements.
Pros
- All content is totally free.
- You can jump around to the lessons that are most relevant to you.
- There’s professional/clinical Czech included, helpful for medical aid workers.
Cons
- You do need to be motivated to study—there’s a lot of reading involved and not much interactive content.
- There doesn’t seem to be a ton of audio content, at least in the introductory level lessons.
A SMART START WITH CZECH
Although Pimsleur doesn’t yet offer Czech as part of their subscription, you do get 16 hours of instruction when you buy the Level 1 course. It offers lessons on vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and basic conversation skills.
Pimsleur is a strong resource overall for many languages, and we don’t have too many complaints.
Pros
- The course was planned well, with lessons progressing in difficulty.
- Once you buy the course, you can access it from anywhere via the Pimsleur app.
- The focus is on speaking and pronunciation, which helps you get started quickly.
Cons
- Sometimes the lessons feel a bit repetitive.
- A supplement for reading and writing practice would probably be helpful.
See our Super-Detailed Pimsleur Review
Tier 2 – pretty good courses for learning Czech
These tier-two courses are decent options, but they have a few more drawbacks overall.
A PASSABLE STARTING POINT FOR CZECH
Duolingo can be a great introduction to learning Czech—but you won’t want to rely on it too heavily. Especially for beginners, working through the levels slowly is ideal. It can take a lot of repetition to get the basic grammar and vocabulary down, so you might want another resource to use in conjunction with Duolingo.
The game-like format is interactive and fun no matter what language you choose—and you can enroll in multiple courses all for free.
Pros
- Duolingo is free, so you can easily use it with another resource.
- You can repeat the lessons or jump around for varied practice.
- It makes learning addictive as it feels like a game.
Cons
- The introduction to Czech can be overwhelming if you’re an absolute beginner.
- The audio recordings are of poor quality for most languages.
See our Super-Detailed Duolingo Review
SIMPLE, VOCABULARY FOCUSED INSTRUCTION
Another great tool for entry-level Czech speakers is Memrise. You can access tons of user-generated content for different subjects and areas of study, for free. Upgrade to the paid option, and you get access to the official courses.
The issue with Memrise is relying on it too heavily as a beginner. It’s great for learning vocabulary, but that’s only one small part of learning a language. Take advantage of what Memrise offers—but don’t rely on it too much.
Pros
- You can access user-generated content for free (and there’s a lot of it).
- The flashcard format is a fast-paced and interactive way to study.
Cons
- User-generated content means there’s a limit to what’s offered—and it might not always be correct.
- The study decks are standalone resources and won’t teach languages in a comprehensive manner.
See our Super-Detailed Memrise Review
A STRONG BUT DATED SOURCE FOR LEARNING CZECH
FSI Language Courses offers a free student text and tons of audio lessons for people studying Czech. It’s your basic textbook-style learning, but if it works for you, this can be an excellent resource or supplement.
What’s not so great about FSI is that the materials are very old and dated. The student text is a downloadable PDF that’s scanned in from a real book. That said, the content is strong, so if you can buckle down and study, you’ll learn a lot.
Pros
- Comes from a trusted resource—the US government—so you know it’s high quality.
- It’s completely free and downloadable, audio files included.
Cons
- The materials are very dated (circa 1990) and can be tough to navigate.
- There’s no app or interactive instruction—textbook and audio clips only.
MULTI-LANGUAGE ORAL LESSONS
If you’re willing to invest in learning Czech plus another language (or five!), Glossika might be a good fit. The primary teaching method isn’t the most exciting as a lot of it is just listening and repeating, though there are other extra features. The sentences can seem kind of random and but it will help improve your listening and speaking skills.
That said, the price is pretty steep, and the program isn’t that engaging overall.
Pros
- One subscription gives you access to every language in Glossika’s program.
- It’s audio-focused, so you can practice listening and pronunciation.
Cons
- The price is a bit high unless you’re studying multiple languages.
- You’ll need motivation—the repetition can become boring.
See our Super-Detailed Glossika Review
DECENT ENOUGH CZECH INSTRUCTION
Mango Languages teaches in a format similar to Duolingo and some other courses. However, it doesn’t necessarily excel in any particular area, though it’s still fairly good.
If you’re trying to learn multiple languages, this might be a good all-around option. We still think you’d need some supplements, though, since the repetition can get to be too much.
Pros
- A lot of libraries offer it for free.
- A subscription can grant you access to over 70 language courses.
Cons
- Doesn’t really stand out compared to competitors.
- You might get bored with the repetitive lessons.
See our Super-Detailed Mango Languages Review
Tier 3 – Probably pass on these for Czech
Our third-tier picks are probably courses to pass on—there’s not enough to recommend them for everyday use.
ACADEMIC-STYLE CZECH PROGRAM AT A PRICE
While we haven’t tried Charles University yet, the fact that it’s steep in price makes us a bit wary. Course levels range from A1 to B1, and all the courses involve professional instruction via tutors. If you’re the type of language learner who needs an academic-style course, this might be a good fit.
At the same time, a lot of us don’t want a set program for studying Czech—we’d rather do it on our own time and seek out support as necessary. But if you’re a traditional learner with plenty of funds, this could work for you.
Pros
- Structured learning environment complete with professional tutors, so it’s very formal.
- The courses are certified and follow a specific study plan.
Cons
- It’s very rigid as far as the lesson format and timeline.
- The price is a sticking point for us, and for most people trying to learn Czech on a budget.
- There’s nothing interactive or fun about the program.
GOOD INTENTIONS BUT NOT QUITE THERE
Mondly seems like a promising offering, but it’s not one we’re quick to recommend for learning Czech. It covers the basics, but doesn’t do so as well as competitors. One point that worries us is that courses for each language are structured the same way, and ignore some of their unique qualities.
Pros
- You’re exposed to a lot of vocabulary, which is good for picking up phrases even as a beginner.
- There are some quizzes and challenges that help reinforce your lessons.
Cons
- The format is super repetitive and gets very dull.
- The lessons don’t build on one another very well, so it makes progress a challenge.
- You don’t get much guidance as far as explanations in the lessons.
See our Super-Detailed Mondly Review
AN EXPENSIVE COURSE THAT’S NOT WORTH THE PRICE TAG
It’s not just the price that has us listing Transparent Language as a third tier, not-so-great pick. Even if you have a generous budget for learning Czech, you probably won’t want to spend it on this course. The teaching methods aren’t very innovative or effective, especially given the high cost.
We wouldn’t recommend Transparent Language even if it were free.
Pros
- The recording tool is neat for hearing your mistakes (or perfect pronunciation) in context.
- More than just Czech is available.
Cons
- The pricing is supremely high, and—we feel—unwarranted.
- It’s a memorization-heavy type of instruction that doesn’t vibe with us.
- It gets boring because of all the repetition.
See our Super-Detailed Transparent Language Review
Final Thoughts on Czech Language Courses
Whether you’re planning a trip abroad or are hoping to communicate with new friends, learning Czech doesn’t have to feel intimidating. With the right courses from our top-tier section, you can feel confident about learning Czech and start building your skills. Have recommendations to add to our must-try courses for learning Czech? Drop us a comment below.