CTOCoach

Self-study vs 1:1 CTO coaching

Self-study is free or cheap and runs at your pace, but nobody answers back. 1:1 coaching gives you a person to work through your own decisions with, and most coaches do not publish a price: only 4 of the 17 in our directory do. This page sets the two side by side using only what the providers state on their own pages, read in November 2026.

The two routes

Self-study routes and 1:1 coaching, side by side

Self-study column: this site's free pages and the cheaper-routes page. Coaching column: directory data only.

Self-study

Price
Free on this site. One Coursera course is listed as "Included with Coursera Plus"
Format
Assessment, playbook, five tools and articles; a 3-hour self-paced course
Pace
Your own
Commitment
None
Personal feedback
None

1:1 coaching (directory)

Price
Published by 4 of 17 providers: EUR 220 to EUR 430 a session, EUR 790 a month, $80 to $690 a month, from $5,000 a month
Format
Private sessions with a coach, often weekly or every two weeks; some add contact between sessions
Pace
Set with the coach
Commitment
From none stated to three or six months, by provider
Personal feedback
Yes, from the coach

Source: Each provider's own pricing page, read November 2026

Self-study starts with the free CTO assessment, the first-time CTO playbook and the free tools. For low-fee courses see the cheaper routes and the full programs table.

What coaching costs, where it is published

Price is the hardest part of comparing, because most coaches say "contact us". These are the figures that are published, each in the currency its owner uses. We make no estimate for the rest.

How many of the directory's providers publish a price

17 providers, each page read in November 2026.

  1. State a price on their own page4
  2. Do not state a price13

Source: Each provider's own pricing page, read November 2026

Prices published by directory providers, in the currency each states

Bars are scaled by number only and are not converted between EUR and USD. Most providers publish no price.

  1. Raphaela Wrede, one 60-minute sessionEUR 220
  2. Marian Kamenistak, one sessionEUR 395
  3. Marian Kamenistak, sparring, per monthEUR 790
  4. MentorCruise, mentor plans, up to, per month$690

    Listed range is $80 to $690

  5. Chaos to Clarity, per month, from$5,000

Source: Each provider's own pricing page, read November 2026

How long you commit

Self-study has no commitment. With coaching it varies, and many providers state nothing. This is what the ones that do say.

What providers say about commitment length

Quoted from the directory entries. Providers not listed here state nothing about terms.

States a minimum term

Chaos to Clarity
Three months
VPE Coach
Six months (most clients stay 12+ months)

States a usual term, not a minimum

Rational Partners
Typically an initial six-month engagement (not a stated minimum)
Anton Drukh
Starts with a 4 to 6 month retainer and continues as long as it is valuable (not stated as a minimum)
The CTO Playbook
Basecamp 6 weeks; Elevate 10 weeks; Ascent "ongoing or fixed sessions"

States no minimum

Marian Kamenistak
No minimum stated; a single session is available, and the sparring package says "Cancel anytime"
Raphaela Wrede
No minimum stated; the 3-module and 4-module programs can be extended to the full package later
MentorCruise
None stated; most engagements are month-to-month with 30 days’ notice

Source: Each provider's own pricing page, read November 2026

Which fits you

Which fits you

Match your situation to a starting point. You can do both, in either order.

The two are not exclusive. Many people read and use the tools first, then book a coach for the decisions a page cannot settle. The guide on how to choose a CTO coach covers the questions to ask, and the coach directory lists each provider's format, price and terms. Comparing with a paid program instead? Read CTO Coach vs CTO Academy.