Teachable is one of the most recognized platforms for selling online courses, but it is not the only option — and for many small business owners, it may not even be the best fit. Whether you have outgrown its pricing tiers, need more flexibility with your sales funnels, or simply want to keep more of your revenue, it makes sense to explore what else is available. This post walks you through three strong alternatives and what makes each one worth considering.
Thinkific: A Solid Choice for Course-Focused Businesses
If your primary goal is building and selling courses without a lot of technical hassle, Thinkific is one of the closest comparisons to Teachable on the market. It offers a free plan that lets you create up to one course and sell it to an unlimited number of students — something Teachable no longer provides at no cost. Paid plans start at a competitive rate and include features like quizzes, certificates, and custom domains.
Where Thinkific stands out is in its transaction fee structure. Unlike Teachable, which charges transaction fees on its lower-tier plans, Thinkific takes zero transaction fees across all plans. For a small business watching every dollar of margin, that difference adds up quickly as your student numbers grow.
Kajabi: Best for Businesses That Want an All-in-One System
Kajabi is a more expensive option, but it replaces several tools at once. Instead of paying separately for an email marketing platform, a website builder, a course platform, and a landing page tool, Kajabi bundles all of those features under one roof. For a small business owner who is currently juggling multiple subscriptions, consolidating into one platform can save both money and time.
Kajabi also has strong built-in marketing tools, including automated email sequences and pipelines that guide potential customers from first contact to purchase. If marketing and sales automation matter as much to you as course delivery, Kajabi is worth the higher monthly investment. The main downside is that the entry price point is steeper, so it works best once you have a consistent stream of course revenue coming in.
Podia: A Simple, Affordable Option for Getting Started
Podia is designed for creators who want to get up and running quickly without a steep learning curve. It supports online courses, digital downloads, and memberships all from one dashboard. The interface is clean and straightforward, which is a genuine advantage if you are not particularly technical.
Podia’s pricing is transparent and includes email marketing tools even on its base plan. Like Thinkific, it does not charge transaction fees. If you are earlier in your business journey and need something affordable and easy to manage, Podia gives you a lot of functionality without overwhelming you with options you will not use right away.
The right Teachable alternative depends on where your business is today and where you want it to go. If you are course-focused and cost-conscious, Thinkific is a natural first look. If you want to bring your marketing tools together, Kajabi earns its price tag. And if simplicity and affordability are your top priorities, Podia is hard to beat. Take advantage of the free trials most of these platforms offer before you commit — a short test drive will tell you more than any comparison chart.