Teachable
Teachable is the online course platform that has earned its reputation for getting creators from idea to enrolled student faster than any competing platform — with a course builder designed around content creation simplicity, a student experience that independent reviewers consistently describe as among the best in the category and a business track record of 150,000+ instructors earning over $2 billion through the platform. The course builder is deliberately streamlined. Add sections and lessons, upload video, add quizzes or assignments, set drip content schedules and publish. The platform handles the technical infrastructure while the creator focuses on content. For solopreneurs who are intimidated by the configuration complexity of Kajabi or the customisation depth of Thinkific, Teachable’s guided course creation workflow removes the friction that delays launch. The Builder plan at $69/month (annual) is the tier that most Teachable users land on — removing the 7.5% transaction fee that makes the Starter plan expensive at any meaningful revenue level, adding affiliate marketing tools, certificates and mobile apps for students. For a course creator generating $2,000/month from their course, the 7.5% Starter fee costs $150/month in platform fees alone — more than doubling the effective cost versus the $69/month Builder plan where transaction fees disappear. Coaching products are a native Teachable feature — allowing solopreneurs to sell coaching sessions alongside or separately from course products with integrated scheduling and video call links. The affiliate management system lets creators build a network of promoters who earn commissions on referred sales. Mobile apps for iOS and Android are included on Builder and above, providing students with a dedicated learning experience outside the browser. Teachable pays a 30% affiliate commission.
Pros
- Fastest course creation workflow — from idea to published course faster than any competing platform
- Native coaching products sell alongside courses without separate tools
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android included on Builder plan ($69/mo)
- Affiliate management system built in — recruit promoters to sell your course
- 150,000+ instructors, $2B+ creator earnings — proven platform with deep track record
Cons
- Starter plan 7.5% transaction fee — costs more than it appears at any meaningful revenue level
- Teachable discontinued free plan in June 2025 — Starter at $39/mo is now the entry point
- No built-in email marketing or funnel builder — requires external tools
- Community features less developed than Circle, Skool or Mighty Networks
- Migration export tools less straightforward than Thinkific
Teachable Review 2026 — The Fastest Platform to Launch Your First Online Course
Teachable is the course platform that prioritises speed from idea to launched, paying course business above everything else. With 150,000+ instructors and $2 billion+ earned through the platform, it has a proven track record that few alternatives can match. For solopreneurs launching their first course who want to publish and sell as quickly as possible without technical friction, Teachable remains the most straightforward path to a live, selling course product.
The Transaction Fee Trap — The Most Important Pricing Reality
Before evaluating Teachable’s features, the transaction fee structure deserves honest attention because it is the most significant factor in whether Teachable is cost-effective for any given creator. The Starter plan at $39/month charges a 7.5% transaction fee on every sale. On its face, $39/month looks affordable. In practice, a creator generating $2,000/month in course revenue pays $150/month in platform fees on top of the $39 subscription — an effective monthly cost of $189/month, which is more expensive than Kajabi’s Basic plan.The Builder plan at $69/month (annual) removes the transaction fee entirely and adds affiliate marketing, mobile apps and certificates. For any creator generating more than approximately $400/month in revenue, the Builder plan is immediately more cost-effective than the Starter plan. Teachable discontinued its free plan in June 2025 — the Starter at $39/month (annual) is now the entry point.
The Course and Student Experience
The course builder is Teachable’s core strength. The interface is among the most intuitive in the category — adding lessons, structuring curriculum, setting drip schedules and configuring quizzes requires no technical knowledge. The student-facing course experience is consistently described as beautiful and polished, which matters because the learning environment reflects on the creator’s brand and directly affects course completion rates and student satisfaction reviews.Native coaching products allow selling coaching sessions directly through the Teachable dashboard with integrated video meeting links. For coaches who sell a course and 1-to-1 sessions, this combined product capability eliminates the need for a separate coaching booking tool.
Where Teachable Falls Short
No built-in email marketing or funnel builder — external tools are required for marketing automation. Community features are less developed than Circle or Skool. The Starter plan’s 7.5% transaction fee is the category’s most significant pricing trap for creators who don’t calculate the effective cost at their revenue level.
Our Verdict
Teachable is right for solopreneurs who want the fastest, simplest path to a published course and can afford the Builder plan at $69/month. Calculate your monthly revenue projection and compare the Starter plan’s effective cost (subscription + transaction fees) against the Builder plan before deciding which tier to start on.
