Teachable killed its free plan in mid-2025. Then it raised prices — the Builder plan jumped 77%, from $39 to $69/month. And the Starter plan? It still charges a 7.5% transaction fee on every single sale.
At $1,000/month in course revenue, that’s $75 going straight to Teachable on top of your $29 plan fee. At $5,000/month, you’re handing over $375 just in platform cuts — before Stripe takes its 2.9% too.
No surprise thousands of creators are actively searching for Teachable alternatives in 2026. The good news: there are better options at every price point. Whether you want the cheapest fees, the best learning features, or a community-first experience — this guide covers all of it.
Why Creators Are Leaving Teachable in 2026
Teachable built its reputation on simplicity. You upload a course, set a price, and start selling. That’s still true. But the platform has evolved in a direction that’s hurting its core users:
- Free plan eliminated: New creators must start at $29/month (Starter) or get 14 days free then pay. No free tier at all.
- 7.5% transaction fee on Starter: That’s $1 in fees on a $14 course, $75 on $1,000 in sales. Cumulative and punishing at scale.
- Product and student limits: Starter caps you at 5 published products and 100 students. That’s not a beginner limit — it’s a growth blocker.
- Price hikes without added value: The Builder plan went from $39 to $69/month — a 77% increase that users noticed and complained about loudly.
- International card surcharges: Teachable adds 3.9% + 30¢ for international card transactions, quietly making global sales more expensive.
Here’s what the current Teachable pricing looks like in 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Price (Annual) | Transaction Fee | Product Limit | Student Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29/mo | 7.5% | 5 products | 100 students |
| Builder | $69/mo | 0% | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Business | $139/mo | 0% | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Enterprise | Custom | 0% | Unlimited | Unlimited |
The Starter plan is essentially a trap. The moment you hit any traction, you’re either paying 7.5% to Teachable or upgrading to Builder at $69/month. There’s no middle ground.
The 7 Best Teachable Alternatives in 2026
1. Thinkific — Best for Feature-Rich Courses Without Platform Fees
Thinkific is the most direct Teachable competitor. Same use case — self-paced courses, student management, certificates — but with a cleaner fee structure on higher plans.
Pricing (annual):
- Basic: $36/month
- Start: $74/month
- Grow: $149/month
The catch: Thinkific advertises 0% transaction fees, but if you use your own Stripe account (instead of Thinkific Payments), it charges a surcharge: 5% on Basic, 2% on Start, 1% on Grow. At $1,000/month on the Basic plan with your own Stripe, that’s an extra $50 going to Thinkific on top of Stripe’s fees.
What’s genuinely better than Teachable: Unlimited courses on every plan (Teachable caps you), stronger quiz and assignment tools, SCORM compliance for corporate training, and a 10,000 student cap that’s much more generous than Teachable’s Starter limit.
Best for: Educators and coaches who want more features per dollar than Teachable, and are OK using Thinkific Payments to avoid the surcharge.
2. Kajabi — Best All-in-One Platform (If Budget Isn’t the Concern)
Kajabi is the premium choice. It bundles courses, email marketing, website builder, community, coaching, and funnels into one platform. No transaction fees. No third-party tools required.
Pricing (annual):
- Kickstarter: $69/month (very limited)
- Basic: $143/month
- Growth: $199/month
- Pro: $399/month
The honest case: Kajabi looks expensive. But if you’re paying for Teachable + ConvertKit + Calendly + a website builder separately, Kajabi can actually be cheaper total. It’s an all-in-one play, not just a course platform.
What’s better than Teachable: Built-in email sequences, landing pages, pipelines (funnels), podcast hosting, digital downloads — Kajabi replaces your entire marketing stack. There are zero transaction fees on any plan.
What’s worse: The learning experience isn’t as clean as Teachable’s dedicated LMS features. If advanced quizzing, SCORM, or learning compliance matters, Kajabi falls short.
Best for: Established course creators doing $5,000+/month who want to consolidate tools and eliminate platform fees entirely.
3. LearnWorlds — Best for Interactive Learning Experiences
LearnWorlds is the most feature-dense learning platform on this list. It’s built for educators who want interactive video, advanced assessments, custom certificate builders, white-labeling, and a proper learning management system.
Pricing (annual):
- Starter: $24/month (but charges $5 per course sale)
- Pro Trainer: $79/month (0% transaction fees)
- Learning Center: $249/month
The Starter plan trap: $24/month looks cheap, but the $5-per-enrollment fee kills you at any volume. At 50 course sales/month, you’re paying $274 total ($24 + $250). The Pro Trainer plan at $79/month becomes cheaper almost immediately once you’re selling regularly.
What’s genuinely better than Teachable: Interactive video features (click-to-answer, overlays), SCORM/xAPI support, the best certificate builder in this list, custom mobile apps (on higher plans), and white-label options for agencies and B2B.
Best for: Educators building premium, interactive courses — especially for corporate clients or certification programs where the learning experience itself is the product.
4. Podia — Best for Zero-Fee Simplicity
Podia is the closest thing to a “no-surprises” course platform. No transaction fees, no per-enrollment charges, no hidden surcharges. What you see is what you pay.
Pricing (annual):
- Mover: $39/month — 0% transaction fees
- Shaker: $89/month — 0% transaction fees + affiliates
What Podia does well: Courses, digital downloads, webinars, and basic community features all in one place. The platform is genuinely beginner-friendly with a clean UI and zero learning curve. At $39/month flat with no transaction fee, it’s one of the most predictable pricing models in this space.
What Podia doesn’t do well: Advanced LMS features. No SCORM support, limited quiz types, basic certificates. If you need sophisticated assessment tools or a premium learning UX, Podia won’t cut it.
Best for: Solo creators who want a simple, low-cost home for courses + digital downloads without worrying about transaction fees eating into margins.
5. Skool — Best for Community-Driven Learning
Skool flipped the model: community first, courses second. Every course is wrapped inside a community space where students discuss, complete challenges, and earn gamification points. It’s a fundamentally different engagement model than traditional course platforms.
Pricing:
- Hobby: $9/month + 10% + 30¢ per transaction (very limited)
- Pro: $99/month — 0% fees on sales up to $899/transaction; 1% on sales above $899
The Skool difference: Courses on Skool have a 70%+ completion rate versus the industry average of under 15% for self-paced platforms. The social accountability and gamification actually work. Alex Hormozi publicly backed Skool in 2023, and the platform has grown significantly since.
What’s missing: No video hosting, no drip content, limited quiz tools, no certificates. You’re expected to host video externally (Vimeo, YouTube) and link in. Not ideal for corporate or certification-focused creators.
Best for: Creators with engaged audiences who want community + courses together, especially for coaching programs, masterminds, or anything where peer interaction drives results.
6. ThriveCart Learn+ — Best One-Time Payment Option
ThriveCart is primarily a checkout and cart tool, but its Learn+ add-on turns it into a legitimate course platform. The biggest selling point: it’s a one-time payment with no monthly subscription.
Pricing:
- ThriveCart Standard: $495 one-time (includes basic cart features)
- Learn+: $195 one-time add-on (or included in Pro at $690 one-time)
If you’re building long-term, the math is compelling. A $690 one-time payment versus $69/month on Teachable Builder means ThriveCart pays for itself in under 10 months — and then it’s free forever.
What you get: Unlimited courses and students, upsells and order bumps built into every checkout, strong funnel-building features, and no ongoing platform fee. The LMS features are solid but not as deep as LearnWorlds or even Teachable.
Best for: Course creators who hate recurring SaaS fees, or anyone who already uses ThriveCart for checkout and wants to add course hosting.
The Real Cost Breakdown at 3 Revenue Levels
Sticker price is almost never the real cost. Here’s what you actually pay on each platform at different revenue levels — platform fee + transaction fees combined.
At $500/month in course revenue
| Platform | Plan | Platform Fee | Transaction Fee | Total Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | Starter | $29 | $37.50 (7.5%) | $66.50 |
| Thinkific | Basic | $36 | $25 (5% Stripe surcharge) | $61 |
| Podia | Mover | $39 | $0 | $39 |
| Skool | Pro | $99 | $0 | $99 |
| LearnWorlds | Pro Trainer | $79 | $0 | $79 |
| Kajabi | Basic | $143 | $0 | $143 |
At $2,000/month in course revenue
| Platform | Plan | Platform Fee | Transaction Fee | Total Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | Builder (0% fees) | $69 | $0 | $69 |
| Thinkific | Basic (own Stripe) | $36 | $100 (5%) | $136 |
| Thinkific | Basic (Thinkific Pay) | $36 | $0 | $36 |
| Podia | Mover | $39 | $0 | $39 |
| Skool | Pro | $99 | $0 | $99 |
| Kajabi | Basic | $143 | $0 | $143 |
Key insight: At $2,000/month, Teachable Builder at $69 is actually competitive — but only after you’ve graduated from the Starter plan. If you start on Starter, you’re paying 7.5% until you manually upgrade. Many creators don’t realize they should upgrade immediately when they start selling.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Features That Actually Matter
| Feature | Teachable | Thinkific | Kajabi | LearnWorlds | Podia | Skool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ❌ (removed 2025) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 0% Platform Fees | ✅ Builder+ | ✅ (with Thinkific Pay) | ✅ | ✅ Pro+ | ✅ | ✅ Pro |
| Unlimited Students | ✅ Builder+ | ✅ (cap 10K) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App (Students) | ✅ All plans | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (white-label) | ❌ | ✅ |
| SCORM Support | ❌ | ✅ Plus+ | ❌ | ✅ Pro+ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Built-in Email Marketing | Basic | Basic | ✅ Full suite | Basic | ✅ Included | ❌ |
| Community Features | Basic | ✅ | ✅ | Basic | ✅ | ✅✅ Core feature |
| Affiliate Program | ✅ Pro+ | ✅ Grow+ | ✅ Growth+ | ✅ | ✅ Shaker | ✅ |
| Certificates | ✅ | ✅ Start+ | ✅ | ✅ Advanced | ❌ | ❌ |
| Digital Downloads | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Global Tax Handling | ✅ (Teachable Pay) | Partial | Partial | Partial | ❌ | ❌ |
The One Feature Most Comparison Articles Miss: Global Tax Compliance
Here’s something most “best course platforms” roundups ignore: if you sell to customers in the EU, UK, Australia, or Canada, you’re legally required to collect and remit VAT/GST on digital goods. This isn’t optional.
Teachable handles this via Teachable:pay — it automatically calculates and remits taxes in supported countries. That’s genuinely useful. But most alternatives either don’t do this at all, or offload it to you.
The platforms that handle global tax compliance properly:
- Teachable — full tax handling via Teachable:pay
- Kajabi — partial tax collection in some regions via Kajabi Payments
- Thinkific — Thinkific Payments handles tax in supported regions
The platforms where you’re largely on your own for tax compliance:
- Podia — no built-in VAT handling; you need a third-party tax tool
- Skool — no tax compliance features
- LearnWorlds — partial support; limited for non-EU sellers
If you’re a solo creator selling mostly to US audiences, this is less critical. The moment you start selling globally, it matters enormously. A Merchant of Record solution handles all of this automatically — Fungies.io, for instance, manages VAT/GST collection and remittance in 100+ countries so you don’t have to think about it.
Which Teachable Alternative Should You Choose?
There’s no universal “best” here. It depends entirely on what you’re building:
| Your Situation | Best Alternative | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Just starting out, tight budget | Podia Mover ($39/mo) | Zero transaction fees, no limits, simple to learn |
| Want best value, more features | Thinkific Basic ($36/mo) | Cheaper than Teachable, unlimited courses, use Thinkific Pay for 0% fees |
| Building a premium course business | LearnWorlds Pro Trainer ($79/mo) | Interactive video, certificates, SCORM, white-label ready |
| Community is the product | Skool Pro ($99/mo) | Best engagement model, gamification, community-first design |
| Want all-in-one (no extra tools) | Kajabi Basic ($143/mo) | Replaces email, website, funnels — net cost may be lower |
| Hate monthly SaaS fees forever | ThriveCart Learn+ (~$690 one-time) | Pays for itself vs Teachable in under a year |
| Selling digital products + courses globally | Fungies.io + any platform | Handle payments, VAT, and global checkout separately for max control |
Key Takeaways
- Teachable’s 7.5% Starter fee is a deal-breaker at scale. At $1,000/month in revenue, you’re paying $75/mo just in platform cuts. Upgrade to Builder or switch platforms.
- Thinkific is the most comparable alternative — more features, similar pricing, zero fees if you use Thinkific Payments. The only gotcha is the Stripe surcharge if you insist on your own account.
- Podia wins on predictability. $39/month flat, zero transaction fees, no surprises. Not the most feature-rich, but one of the most honest.
- Skool’s engagement model is real. 70%+ course completion vs the industry average of ~15% is a meaningful differentiator for creators who care about student outcomes.
- Global tax compliance is underrated. If you’re selling internationally, make sure your platform (or a MoR layer) handles VAT/GST for you — or you’re creating legal exposure.
FAQ
What is the cheapest Teachable alternative with no transaction fees?
Podia’s Mover plan at $39/month has zero transaction fees and no hidden surcharges. It’s one of the most affordable options that doesn’t charge a cut of your revenue. Thinkific Basic at $36/month is even cheaper if you use Thinkific Payments (no Stripe surcharge).
Does Teachable still have a free plan in 2026?
No. Teachable removed its free plan in June 2025. The entry-level plan is now Starter at $29/month (billed annually), which includes a 7.5% transaction fee on all sales. There’s a 14-day free trial available but no permanently free tier.
Which Teachable alternative is best for selling internationally?
If global tax compliance matters to you, Teachable (via Teachable:pay), Kajabi, or Thinkific (via Thinkific Payments) are your safest bets — they handle VAT/GST collection in supported countries. For full 100+ country Merchant of Record coverage, consider pairing your course platform with a dedicated MoR solution like Fungies.io.
Is Skool a legitimate course platform or just for communities?
Skool is legitimate but opinionated. It’s designed for community-first programs — think masterminds, coaching groups, and memberships where peer interaction drives value. The completion rates are genuinely impressive. But if you need SCORM compliance, certificates, interactive video, or advanced assessments, Skool isn’t the right tool. It’s for creators who want engagement over content delivery.
Conclusion
Teachable became successful for good reasons: it’s genuinely easy to use, the student mobile app is excellent, and the all-in-one setup works for solo creators. But the pricing evolution — removing the free plan, the 7.5% Starter fee, the 77% Builder price hike — has pushed a lot of creators to look elsewhere in 2026.
The honest answer is: most of the alternatives here are better value at similar or lower price points. Thinkific and Podia undercut Teachable’s fees significantly. LearnWorlds beats it on learning features. Kajabi beats it on marketing. Skool beats it on engagement.
Pick based on what you’re actually building. If global tax compliance is in the mix, make sure your payment layer handles it — or use a proper Merchant of Record for that piece.
