Cost/Fee
Looking for a private tutoring solution that won’t break the bank?
You are in the right place!
1-1 Mandarin tutoring used to be costly. You had to pay 200-250rmb "hourly" rate for a 45-50 minute lesson at Mandarin schools - they are universally set for high-end corporate clients. Don't believe it? see for yourself!
That's NO longer the case with us. At ShanghaiTutors.Com, we bring tremendous savings to you. We have made it ridiculously easy for you to find great tutors at lower prices without compromising on quality. You will save 50%-70% using our service compared to school offers of equivalent quality. (find out how we make it happen)
PRICING
Tuition fee based on your total booking hours plus a small one-time service fee make up the overall cost. Your tuition fee is guaranteed refundable for any reason as long as you notify us. (find out Money Back Guarantee)
1. TUITION FEE
All tutors fall into three categories based on qualifications (marked as A, AA, AAA). The different tutoring rates reflect their difference in experience, qualifications, and popularity. Check the standard rates in their profiles for reference and select your best fit.
The final rate is a matter of negotiation between you and the tutor. It may vary based on the tutor's popularity, commuting distance, and the frequency of lessons (usually within a ±20% range).
Below is the average rate range for your reference. For 2 to 3 students taking lessons together, the rates may rise by 30% to 60%. It’s worth pointing out that while all Mandarin schools charge an "hourly" rate for a 45-50 minute lesson, an hour is always an hour - 60 full minutes at ShanghaiTutors. (find out how your time is stolen by schools)
| Tutor Type | A | AA | AAA |
| Hourly Rates | 90-120rmb | 130-160rmb | 170-200rmb |
1. Category A: amateur teachers/novice teachers (just starting out)
Only recommended for non-beginners looking for extra listening & spoken practice as a supplement to formal learning.
2. Category AA: certified teachers/professional teachers (usually 2-5 years of experience)
A great alternative to formal school learning with comparable quality lessons.
Recommended for general purposes: conversation, academics, exam preps, career & personal growth, business, etc
3. Category AAA: star teachers (top trainers with experience in universities, international schools, corporate training, etc)
The best Mandarin teachers, who far exceed the average teacher in any Mandarin school.
Recommended for: efficient learning & fast progress, business Chinese, industry-specific Chinese, group training.
Most tutors fall under Category AA (the most popular choice among our clients), charging between 130-160rmb/hour (for 1-1). Note a minimum of 40 tutoring hours is required for us to handle any booking.
*The above rates are based on sessions of 2+ hours each. If you study for less than 2 hours per session, expect a 25%-50% increase in rates, or consider online tutoring.
2. ONE-TIME SERVICE FEE
The service fee is 400 RMB for 1-on-1 private tutoring, regardless of the number of hours booked at a time. This fee is charged only once for the successful matching of the tutor and must be paid along with the tuition fees upfront before tutoring begins.
This small service fee helps us maintain the operation of our site and offline office work, while also guaranteeing you one year of continuous support. If any issues arise during the year (e.g., schedule conflicts, drop in lesson quality), we will change your tutor free of charge, without any limit on the number of times. (Tutoring rates will need to be discussed and confirmed with the new tutor.) The service fee also validates our Money Back Guarantee, ensuring your tuition fee is refundable for any reason. With this financial support from you, we are able to provide the best possible experience for you and our clients.
If you study in a group, there is a 200 RMB surcharge on the service fee for each additional student studying in the group. For large group and corporate bookings, the service fee varies; please consult us to confirm.
Note: the service fee will be charged each time a new booking is made. (Extending lessons will be considered a new booking.)
Frequently Asked Questions
1- Is it free to book a tutor on ShanghaiTutors.Com? Can I meet the tutor beforehand?
Absolutely! Booking through our site is totally free! You can even meet up with the tutor for a discussion before you decide to commit. We’ll suggest a convenient spot downtown for both of you to meet, or you can fix details over the phone or on WeChat. Just a heads up, if you want to have the meeting arranged at your place instead of a neutral location, we'll charge 50rmb if you're in the inner ring of Shanghai, or 100rmb if you're outside that.
2- When and how much do I pay?
You’ll need to pay a 400rmb one-time service fee plus the full tuition fee (based on the total number of hours you book) upfront, before your first lesson, if you decide to go for it. For instance, if you book 40 hours at 150rmb/hour, that’s a total of 6400rmb (400rmb service fee + 6000rmb tuition fee). If you’re in a group, there’s a 200rmb extra fee for each additional student. If there’s a textbook, that cost is separate.
3- Can I pay the tutor directly, either weekly or monthly based on actual hours taught?
Sorry, but no. We need to eliminate potential problems for everyone involved.
1. For the tutor
There is no guarantee that tutors will receive timely and proper payment if learners delay payment or if conflicts arise over the calculation of hours taught.
2. For the learner
There is no guarantee of your money back and continuity of lessons in case tutors refuse to make a refund for odd reasons when you want to pull out or quit right after getting the first week’s payment from you.
3. For us
As a tutor matching agency, we cannot bear responsibility if learners and tutors have conflict over money issues, but it still takes time and effort for us to help you if such a situation occurs. To avoid these potential problems, the full tuition fee is to be paid to us upfront and we will transfer your payment to tutor based on the number of hours taught each month on your behalf so that you can focus on learning. If you decide to shorten the instruction hours, it’s guaranteed that the prepaid tuition fee will be refunded proportionately. (read Money Back Guarantee)
4- What payment methods can I use?
You can pay in cash (RMB), or through Alipay, WeChat, or a bank transfer(only RMB transfer within China). Credit cards are NOT accepted.
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