How Much Should Course Platforms Cost in 2026
Pay $39-99 a month for credible course platforms in 2026. Teachable at $39 is the entry floor. Above $119 you are buying all-in-one bundles that need real revenue.
Rankings reflect documented features, public pricing as of the "Last Updated" date, and category positioning analysis. We apply a Commercial Gate: only tools we can earn a commission from (now or in the next 12 months) enter the ranking pool. When a non-monetizable tool is the right answer, we name it with a caveat. How rankings work · Editorial policy
Thinkific Basic
Pay $49 a month for Thinkific Basic if you want a serious course platform with no transaction fees. Pay $39 a month for Teachable Basic if you are launching your first course. Pay $99 a month for Skool if you are building a membership community. Above $119 (Kajabi) you are paying for all-in-one bundles that only justify themselves at $50K+/yr in course revenue.
Try Thinkific BasicAt a Glance
| Feature | Thinkific Basic | Teachable Basic | LearnWorlds Starter | Thinkific Pro | Kajabi Basic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49/mo | $39/mo | $29/mo + $5/sale | $99/mo | $119/mo |
| Monthly Price | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transaction Fees | - | - | - | - | - |
| Best Use Case | - | - | - | - | - |
| Best For | - | - | - | - | - |
Quick Comparison
Our Top Picks
Thinkific Basic
Serious course platform entry tier. Unlimited courses, no transaction fees, full white-label.
- No transaction fees on entry tier
- Full white-label with custom domain
- Unlimited courses
- PartnerStack 30% recurring 12mo
- Affiliate management gated to Pro plan
- Email marketing requires separate tool
Teachable Basic
Cheapest credible course platform. Best for first-time creators launching their first course.
- Cheapest credible entry tier
- Fastest time to launch first course
- Strong template library
- 5% transaction fee on Basic plan
- No PartnerStack affiliate
- Less customisation than Thinkific
LearnWorlds Starter
Cheapest entry price but $5 per-sale fee eats into low-priced course margins.
- Cheapest listed monthly price
- PartnerStack 30% recurring
- Strong interactive video on entry tier
- $5 transaction fee eats low-priced course margins
- Pro Trainer ($99) needed to drop transaction fee
Thinkific Pro
Step up from Basic when you need affiliates, advanced reporting, or memberships.
- Affiliate management built in
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Memberships and bundles
- Overkill without an affiliate programme
Kajabi Basic
All-in-one bundle: courses + email + landing pages + funnels. Only justifiable above $50K/yr course revenue.
- Bundles courses + email + landing pages + funnels
- Replaces multi-tool stack at one price
- Strong for established creators
- Highest entry price in the category
- No PartnerStack affiliate
- Overkill below $50K/yr course revenue
How This Was Tested
Pricing reflects public list prices on vendor websites as of April 2026. Annual billing assumed where vendors offer it. Transaction fees factored into total cost-of-ownership at standard course price points ($50, $200, $500).
Frequently Asked Questions
Course platforms in 2026 range from $29 a month (LearnWorlds Starter) to $119+ a month (Kajabi). Most creators land at $39-49 a month on Teachable or Thinkific Basic. Add transaction fees on lower-tier plans (5% Teachable, $5/sale LearnWorlds) and the real cost can be $5-10 per course sale.
Yes for serious course creators. The no-transaction-fee policy on Basic saves more than the $10 monthly premium over Teachable on courses priced above $200. Plus the white-label customisation pays back at scale.
Yes by paying for higher tiers. Teachable Pro ($119/mo), LearnWorlds Pro Trainer ($99/mo), and Thinkific Basic ($49/mo) all drop transaction fees. For volume creators, the higher monthly fee beats the per-sale percentage.
Generally no. Kajabi at $119 a month is overkill for beginners. Start with Thinkific Basic at $49 plus Brevo email at $9 for $58 total, vs $119 on Kajabi. Upgrade to Kajabi only once you cross $50K/yr in course revenue and the all-in-one bundle replaces a real multi-tool stack.
Sort of. Podia free tier covers basic course delivery without payment processing. Notion plus Stripe Checkout works for cohort courses. Neither offers the polish or feature depth of paid platforms. For paid course creators, the $39-49 a month for Teachable or Thinkific is worth it.