Cheapest Online Course Platforms That Still Get Results

The cheapest online course platforms that still get results share one trait: they let you collect payments, deliver content, and keep students engaged without forcing you onto an expensive enterprise plan. This guide compares five platforms starting under $40/month — or even free — so you can launch your first course without overspending on infrastructure.

Photo: Cup of Couple (Pexels)

Why Platform Cost Matters More at the Start

Most new course creators earn nothing in month one. Locking into a $149/month platform before you’ve validated demand is a fast way to lose money on overhead before you make a single sale.

The good news: several platforms offer free tiers or starter plans that support a real launch. The catch is that each platform trades off something — a transaction fee here, a student limit there, a missing automation feature somewhere else.

Understanding those trade-offs upfront saves you from switching platforms six months in.

What “Still Gets Results” Actually Means

A low-cost platform earns its place if it can:

• Accept payments and deliver course content without breaking
• Send basic student emails (welcome sequences, completion nudges)
• Display your content cleanly on mobile
• Let you upsell or bundle courses as you grow

It does not need a built-in community forum, a native mobile app, or a white-label domain on day one. Those are growth features. Price them in later.

Cheapest Online Course Platforms That Still Get Results: The Shortlist

Here’s how the five strongest budget-friendly options stack up.

Prices as of mid-2025; check each platform’s pricing page for current offers.

1. Teachable — Best Free Start With a Clear Upgrade Path

Teachable’s free plan lets you publish one course, collect payments via Teachable’s checkout, and enroll unlimited students. The cost comes in the form of a 10% transaction fee on every sale.

Do the math before you commit: if your course sells for $97, Teachable takes $9.70 per sale on the free plan. At 10 sales, that’s $97 gone. Upgrading to the Basic plan at $39/month eliminates the transaction fee and adds email marketing integrations.

What works well:
– Course builder is genuinely beginner-friendly (drag-and-drop curriculum, video uploads)
– Built-in checkout handles VAT automatically for EU buyers
– Affiliate program management is included on Basic and up

What to watch:
– The free plan’s 10% fee adds up faster than the $39/month plan for anyone earning over ~$400/month
– Quizzes and certificates require the Basic plan or higher

Our take: Teachable is one of the cheapest online course platforms that still gets results for creators who want to test demand first, then upgrade once revenue justifies it.

2. Thinkific — Zero Transaction Fees From Day One

Thinkific’s free plan is notable because it charges no transaction fees at any tier — a meaningful difference from Teachable. You keep 100% of every sale minus Stripe/PayPal processing (typically 2.9% + $0.30).

The free plan limits you to one active course and one community. The $36/month Starter plan removes that cap and adds email student messaging and advanced pricing options (payment plans, subscription billing).

What works well:
– Drag-and-drop course builder handles video, PDF, audio, and live lesson links
– Built-in landing pages are solid for a free plan
– Thinkific Apps store adds integrations (Mailchimp, Zapier, ActiveCampaign) without requiring you to leave the platform

What to watch:
– Email marketing automation is minimal on lower tiers — you’ll need an external tool like Kit (formerly ConvertKit) for sequences
– Community features are newer and less polished than dedicated community tools

The Starter plan at $36/month is one of the most cost-effective ways to run multiple courses with zero platform transaction fees.

3. Podia — $9/Month and It Covers More Than Courses

Podia’s Mover plan starts at $9/month and covers online courses, digital downloads, and webinars under one roof. That breadth at that price point is rare.

The catch on the free plan is an 8% transaction fee. The $9/month Mover plan drops that to 0% and adds unlimited courses and digital products. If you sell a $200 course and a $29 workbook in the same month, both products live in one dashboard.

What works well:
– Podia’s student messaging feature (direct inbox to students) reduces support friction
– Built-in affiliate program on the Shaker plan ($39/mo) if you want referral-based growth
– Checkout customization is cleaner than many platforms at this price

What to watch:
– Course completion certificates aren’t available on lower plans
– Email marketing automations are basic compared to standalone tools like ActiveCampaign

Our take: For a creator who bundles a course with a workbook or template pack, Podia at $9/month is hard to beat on a per-dollar basis.

4. Systeme.io — The Genuinely Free Option That Covers the Full Funnel

Systeme.io offers a free-forever plan that includes courses, sales funnels, email marketing, and basic automation — all with 0% transaction fees. The free tier supports up to 2,000 contacts and unlimited course students.

This is the platform most relevant if you want to avoid any monthly fee while you validate your course idea. The workflow looks like this: build a simple opt-in funnel → deliver a free mini-course → pitch the paid course → collect payment via Stripe or PayPal.

What works well:
– Free plan includes email broadcasts and basic automations (most platforms charge for this)
– Funnel builder is straightforward for simple launch sequences
– Upgrading to the Startup plan ($27/month) adds 5,000 contacts and 5 membership sites

What to watch:
– Course builder UI is functional but less polished than Teachable or Thinkific
– Design flexibility on landing pages is limited — templates are basic
– Best suited for direct-response style launches, not content-heavy learning experiences

Among the cheapest online course platforms that still get results, Systeme.io is the only one that gives you a full funnel plus email at zero monthly cost. That’s a real advantage for a brand-new creator with no revenue yet.

5. Kajabi — The Most Expensive “Budget” Option, But It Replaces Everything

Kajabi’s Basic plan starts at $55/month (billed monthly) or $39/month billed annually. That’s the most expensive entry point on this list, but it replaces your course platform, email marketing tool, landing page builder, and community software simultaneously.

If you’re currently paying $29/month for GetResponse, $30/month for a page builder, and $0 for a basic course host, you’re already close to Kajabi’s annual price — with more tools than you probably need.

What works well:
– Kajabi Pipelines automate the full student journey from opt-in to upsell
– Built-in podcasting, coaching, and community features mean fewer third-party subscriptions
– 0% transaction fees on all plans

What to watch:
– $55/month is a real commitment before you’ve validated demand
– Overkill for creators who only want to sell one or two courses

Our take: Kajabi belongs on this list because its cost per tool often beats paying separately for four or five tools. But it’s only the right call if you’ll actually use those extra features.

How to Choose Based on Where You Are Right Now

You have zero revenue and zero audience:
Start on Systeme.io’s free plan or Thinkific’s free plan. Both are $0/month and charge no transaction fees. Build your first course, test pricing, and upgrade only once you’ve made consistent sales.

You’ve made a few sales and want cleaner course delivery:
Teachable Basic ($39/mo) or Thinkific Starter ($36/mo) are the logical next step. Thinkific’s zero transaction fee gives it an edge if you’re selling at higher price points.

You sell courses plus other digital products:
Podia’s Mover plan at $9/month handles courses, downloads, and webinars in one place. It’s the most flexible low-cost option for multi-product creators.

You want one platform and are willing to invest once you’ve validated:
Kajabi at $55/month makes sense when you’re ready to consolidate tools and run automated pipelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest online course platform with no transaction fees?

Systeme.io and Thinkific both offer free plans with 0% transaction fees. Systeme.io adds email marketing and funnel building to that free tier, making it the most feature-complete free option available.

Can I actually make money on a free course platform?

Yes — but factor in transaction fees. Teachable’s free plan charges 10% per sale, which can cost more than a paid plan at low-to-mid volume. Thinkific and Systeme.io charge no transaction fees even on free tiers, so your only payment processing cost is Stripe’s standard rate.

How much do I need to earn before upgrading from a free plan?

A common rule of thumb: if your monthly transaction fees on a free plan exceed the cost of the next paid tier, upgrade. On Teachable, that break-even point is roughly $390/month in course revenue (10% fee vs. $39/month Basic plan).

Do any of these platforms include email marketing?

Systeme.io includes email broadcasts and basic automations on its free plan. Podia includes basic messaging. For more advanced segmentation and sequences, most creators pair their course platform with a dedicated tool like Kit or ActiveCampaign.

Is Kajabi worth the price for a beginner?

Generally no — not until you’ve validated your course idea and have consistent sales. Kajabi’s value comes from replacing multiple paid tools. At zero or low revenue, the $55/month overhead is hard to justify compared to free-tier options.

The cheapest online course platforms that still get results are not identical — each one trades cost for features in a different place. Systeme.io and Thinkific win on zero-fee free plans. Podia wins on multi-product flexibility at $9/month. Teachable wins on beginner UX with a clear upgrade path. Kajabi wins when you’re ready to consolidate.

Match the platform to your current revenue stage, not to where you hope to be in a year.

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