Best course platforms for solo creators
A first course needs a checkout, a place to host videos and a way to reach students. These three platforms are the common choices; the right one depends mostly on your budget and whether you also want community or an all-in-one setup.
Prices and features come from each vendor's own pages, last checked Oct 26, 2026. We haven't finished hands-on testing of Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi yet, so this page compares published facts only. How we choose.
Quick comparison
| Teachable | Thinkific | Kajabi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $29/mo billed yearly | From $82/mo billed yearly | From $143/mo billed yearly |
| Free plan | No | No | No |
| Free trial | Free trial with a 30-day money-back guarantee (trial length shown inconsistently on the page) | 30-day free trial | Free trial (length not stated on the pricing page) |
| Fees and limits | Starter adds a 7.5% transaction fee. Card processing (for example 2.9% + 30¢ in the US) applies on all plans. | Thinkific Payments: 2.9% processing. Stripe and PayPal add a plan-dependent gateway fee. | Kajabi Payments (US): 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, lower on higher plans. Third-party processors add 0.5–2%. |
| Best for | Selling a first course or a handful of products | Creators building a course plus community | Creators replacing several tools (site, email, courses) with one |
| Website | Visit Teachable | Visit Thinkific | Visit Kajabi |
Our picks
Teachable
The lowest entry price here at $29 a month billed yearly, with unlimited students on every plan. Watch the 7.5% transaction fee on Starter; it drops to 0% on Builder.
- Selling a first course or a handful of products
- Creators who want unlimited students on every plan
- Sellers planning many products on the Starter plan
- Anyone wanting a free plan
Thinkific
Unlimited courses, downloads and coaching products on every plan, communities built in, and a 30-day free trial. It costs more to start, from $82 a month billed yearly.
- Creators building a course plus community
- Many courses or downloads on one plan
- Very small budgets
Kajabi
Courses, email, website and checkout in one place, with contacts included. It's the most expensive here, from $143 a month billed yearly, so it suits creators replacing several paid tools.
- Creators replacing several tools (site, email, courses) with one
- Established businesses with revenue to justify the price
- Beginners testing their first course on a small budget
How we chose
We compared these tools on:
- Entry price (billed yearly)
- Transaction fees on top of card processing
- Product and student limits
- Free trial or free plan
Order reflects fit for a one-person business, not commission. Our method.