Pricing
subscription
Best For
Course creators focused on maximizing revenue who need built-in marketing and sales optimization tools
Rating
8.1/10
Last Updated
Mar 2026
TL;DR
Teachable has processed over $1 billion in course sales, and the marketing-centric approach is why. While Thinkific and LearnDash focus on the learning experience, Teachable optimizes for selling. Native affiliate programs, order bumps, one-click upsells, and sales page templates come built-in. The downside is the 5% transaction fee on the Basic plan ($59/month) that disappears on Pro ($159/month). If you're earning under $3,000/month, the Basic plan is fine. Over that, upgrade to Pro or the math doesn't work. The course builder itself is solid but not spectacular — where Teachable earns its keep is turning visitors into buyers.
What is Teachable?
The Course Platform That Prioritizes Selling
Teachable was built by Ankur Nagpal, a course creator who understood that making great content is only half the battle. Getting people to buy it is the other half. That DNA runs through every feature. The sales page builder, email marketing integration, affiliate management, order bumps, upsells, and coupon system aren't afterthoughts — they're core product.
When you create a course on Teachable, you also get a sales page with customizable templates. Add testimonials, countdown timers, pricing tables, and FAQs without touching code. The checkout flow is optimized with high conversion rates. Teachable's own data shows average checkout conversion rates above 4%, which beats most custom WordPress setups.
Marketing Tools That Actually Convert
The native affiliate program is a standout. Set commission rates, recruit affiliates, track sales, and manage payouts — all without a third-party plugin. For course creators who depend on affiliates for distribution, this is a genuine differentiator.
Order bumps let you add a complementary product at checkout ("Add the workbook for $19"). One-click upsells offer a higher-tier product immediately after purchase. These are conversion optimization techniques that most LMS platforms ignore completely. Teachable reports that creators using upsells see 15-30% increases in average order value.
Teachable Payments Changes the Game
In 2022, Teachable launched its own payment processing (powered by Stripe). Instead of connecting your own Stripe account, Teachable handles payments directly. The benefit? Instant payouts on Pro plans (instead of waiting for Stripe's standard schedule) and simplified tax compliance. The tradeoff is less control over your payment data.
The 5% Fee Problem
The Basic plan charges 5% per transaction on top of the $59/month subscription. At $5,000/month in sales, that's $250 in fees plus $59 = $309 total. The Pro plan at $159/month has zero transaction fees. At $5,000/month in sales, Pro saves you $91/month. The breakeven point is roughly $3,200/month in course sales — above that, Pro is cheaper.
Course Builder: Solid, Not Exciting
The course builder handles videos, text, quizzes, and downloads. It's clean and functional. But it lacks the interactivity of dedicated authoring tools. No branching scenarios. No H5P. Limited quiz question types compared to LearnDash. If your courses rely heavily on assessments or interactive content, you'll feel constrained.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class marketing tools — native affiliates, order bumps, upsells, and sales page templates drive real revenue
- Teachable Payments offers instant payouts on Pro plans with simplified tax compliance handling
- $1B+ processed in course sales proves the platform can handle scale and high transaction volumes
- Sales page builder with optimized checkout flow converts visitors at 4%+ without external landing page tools
- No technical skills required — the entire platform is managed, hosted, and updated by Teachable
Cons
- 5% transaction fee on the Basic plan ($59/mo) adds up fast — at $5K/mo in sales that is $250 in fees
- Course builder lacks interactive elements like branching scenarios, H5P, or advanced quiz types
- No SCORM or xAPI support rules it out for corporate training and regulated industry compliance
- Email marketing is basic — you still need ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or ActiveCampaign for serious campaigns
- Student community features are weaker than Thinkific or standalone platforms like Circle
Teachable Pricing
Basic
- Unlimited students
- Unlimited courses
- 5% transaction fee
- Custom domain
- Coupon codes
- Email marketing
- 2 admin-level users
Pro
- Everything in Basic
- 0% transaction fees
- Affiliate marketing
- Graded quizzes
- Unbranded website
- Course completion certificates
- 5 admin-level users
Pro+
- Everything in Pro
- Custom user roles
- Bulk enrollments
- Advanced reporting
- Priority support
- 20 admin-level users
Pricing last verified: March 25, 2026
Who is Teachable Best For?
- Course creators focused on maximizing revenue who need built-in marketing and sales optimization tools
- Affiliate-driven businesses that need native affiliate management without third-party plugins
- Non-technical entrepreneurs who want a fully managed platform with no code or hosting concerns
- High-revenue creators ($3K+/month) who benefit from zero transaction fees on the Pro plan
Technical Details
The Bottom Line
Teachable scores 8.1/10. It stands out for best-in-class marketing tools — native affiliates, order bumps, upsells, and sales page templates drive real revenue. Best suited for course creators focused on maximizing revenue who need built-in marketing and sales optimization tools. Keep in mind that 5% transaction fee on the basic plan ($59/mo) adds up fast — at $5k/mo in sales that is $250 in fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on editorial analysis