Most solo operators pick a course platform based on feature lists or interface design. Then they hit 200 students and realize they chose the wrong pricing model.
Course platforms use three billing structures: flat monthly fees, per-transaction percentages, and hybrid models that switch thresholds mid-growth. Each works beautifully at one scale and becomes expensive at another. The trick is knowing which breakpoint you’re approaching—and when to migrate before it costs you.
Flat fee vs. percentage: the crossover point
Teachable’s free plan takes 10% + $1 per transaction. The $59/month Basic plan drops that to 5%. The $159/month Pro plan eliminates transaction fees entirely.
If you sell a $99 course, Teachable’s free plan costs you $10.90 per sale. At 15 sales per month, that’s $163.50 in fees. The $159 Pro plan saves you $4.50—but only if you stay above that threshold every single month.
Podia charges $39/month with zero transaction fees at any volume. For the same 15 sales, you pay $39 flat. Teachable’s free tier costs you $163.50. That’s a $124.50 difference.
But scale to 100 sales per month. Podia still charges $39. Teachable Pro at $159 with no transaction fees costs $159. Now Podia wins by $120/month. The crossover happens around 18–20 sales per month for a $99 product on this comparison.
The math shifts with price point. A $29 course on Teachable’s free plan costs $3.90 per transaction. At 50 sales per month, that’s $195 in fees. Teachable Pro at $159 breaks even at 41 sales. Below that, you’re paying for a plan you don’t need yet.
Hybrid models hide the real cost
Thinkific’s free plan allows unlimited students but takes 10% + $1 per sale if you use their payment processing. Switch to the $49 Basic plan and fees drop to zero—but only if you bring your own Stripe account and pay Stripe’s 2.9% + $0.30.
That 2.9% never goes away. Thinkific’s $49 plan isn’t zero-fee; it’s shifted-fee. For a $99 course, Stripe takes $3.17. Add the $49 monthly platform cost, and your first 16 sales are just covering the subscription.
Kajabi charges $149/month with no transaction fees and includes email marketing, landing pages, and automation. If you’re paying for ConvertKit ($25/month) and Podia ($39/month) separately, Kajabi’s $149 starts looking reasonable at $64/month baseline. But only if you actually use the email tools. Most operators don’t migrate their list and end up paying for redundant infrastructure.
When to switch—and when to stay
Migration costs time. Expect two weeks to move a course with video hosting, email sequences, and payment workflows. If you’re within $30/month of breaking even on a new platform, wait. The opportunity cost of rebuilding usually outweighs the savings until the gap hits $50–75/month sustained over a quarter.
Transaction fees hurt most when your product price is low and volume is inconsistent. A $29 course selling 10 units one month and 60 the next makes flat-fee planning impossible. Percentage models smooth that volatility—you pay more in good months, less in slow ones.
Flat fees reward consistency. If you can count on 40+ sales per month, locking in a $99–159 plan with zero transaction fees caps your platform cost as a fixed line item. Your margin improves with every sale beyond breakeven.
The edge cases that break assumptions
Payment plan students count differently depending on the platform. Teachable charges transaction fees on each installment. Podia treats a payment-plan student as one enrollment and doesn’t re-bill you when the second charge processes. For a $297 course split into three $99 payments, that difference compounds.
Refund handling varies. Some platforms refund their transaction fee when a student requests a refund. Others don’t. If your refund rate sits above 8%, that leaked margin adds up.
Annual billing discounts look appealing but lock you in. Teachable offers two months free on annual plans. That’s $318 saved on the Pro plan—but only if you’re certain you won’t outgrow or downshift within 12 months. Most solo operators overestimate growth in year one and get stuck paying for capacity they don’t use until month nine.
Run your actual numbers. Take last quarter’s sales count, average product price, and refund rate. Model it against three platforms with different fee structures. The winner isn’t always the one with the best brand or the sleekest interface—it’s the one that costs least at your actual volume, today and six months from now.
What’s your current course platform costing you per student? Reply with your numbers—I’ll run the comparison and tell you if you’re leaving money on the table.