ChatGPT answers, unedited

If your priorities are low cost + 0% platform commission + international selling + payment options that can work in developing countries, I’d put systeme.io at the top of the list.

One important distinction: “0% platform fees” does not mean 0 payment-processing fees. Stripe, PayPal, etc. will still charge their own fees.

My shortlist

🥇 1. Systeme.io — my first choice

This is unusually well suited to a creator in a country with limited payment infrastructure.

Its free plan has 0% transaction fees, and its payment integrations currently include Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, Flutterwave, Mercado Pago, Paystack, Xendit, and others. systeme.io

That matters because you aren't forced to rely exclusively on Stripe. For example, if Stripe isn't available in your country, another supported gateway may be.

The free plan also includes one course and up to 2,000 student contacts, while paid plans expand the course limits. systeme.iowww.lemonsqueezy.com

Why I'd choose it: you can start at $0, keep 100% of the sale apart from payment-processor fees, and have your course, landing pages, email marketing, funnels and affiliate system in one place.

🥈 2. Payhip — excellent if you want simplicity

Payhip is very easy to get started with and supports multiple payment gateways. It says PayPal is available in 200+ countries and Stripe in 45+ countries, while it has continued adding regional gateways. payhip.com

However, its free plan takes 5% per sale. The $99/month Pro plan is the one with 0% Payhip transaction fees; you still pay Stripe/PayPal processing fees. payhip.com

So I'd use Payhip if you value simplicity more than minimizing fees from your very first sale.

🥉 3. Thinkific — better LMS, but not ideal for your budget

Thinkific is considerably more sophisticated as a course-learning platform, but its current Basic plan is $54/month ($40/month billed annually). www.thinkific.com

It doesn't take a commission on sales when using its own payment system, but payment-processing fees still apply, and Thinkific Payments isn't available everywhere. Its current supported-country list is concentrated in places such as the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. support.thinkific.com

For someone in a developing country with limited payment options, I'd choose systeme.io before Thinkific unless you specifically need Thinkific's advanced LMS features.

What I'd avoid initially

Podia is good, but the no-transaction-fee plan is currently $89/month, so I don't think it makes sense for a new creator trying to keep costs extremely low. www.podia.com

Lemon Squeezy is attractive for global digital sales because it handles taxes and supports many currencies, but it charges 5% + $0.50 per transaction, with possible additional fees. www.lemonsqueezy.com So it doesn't meet your “no platform fees” requirement.

My recommendation

I'd start with:

Systeme.io free → connect the payment gateway(s) actually available in your country → launch your first course → upgrade only when you hit a genuine limitation.

The payment gateway available in your specific country is actually the most important factor here. A platform can advertise “global payments” while still being unable to pay you in your country.

If you tell me which country you're based in, I can check the currently available payment gateways there and give you the 3 cheapest course-platform/payment combinations, including which ones let students pay by card, PayPal, mobile money, bank transfer, or local payment methods.

Yes—but there’s an important distinction: “no platform fee” usually still means you pay the payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, etc.). For someone starting in a developing country, payment availability is often more important than the course software itself.

My top picks

🥇 Payhip — probably your best starting point

Payhip

Payhip is particularly interesting for your situation because it supports 13 payment processors, including PayPal, Stripe, Paystack, Flutterwave, Xendit, Midtrans, Razorpay, PayU, PayTabs, Mercado Pago and others. That gives creators in countries where Stripe isn't available considerably more options. help.payhip.com

The catch: the free plan takes 5% per sale. Its $99/month Pro plan removes Payhip's transaction fee, although your payment processor still charges its own processing fee. payhip.com

So I'd start on Free, validate your course, then move to Pro once your monthly sales make the $99 worthwhile.

🥈 Thinkific — better if you want a traditional “online school”

Thinkific is stronger for a polished, dedicated course-learning experience. Current 2026 comparisons show 0% transaction fees on appropriate paid plans/payment arrangements, but payment availability depends heavily on your country, so I'd verify that your local payout method works before committing. www.savingsec.comwww.ruzuku.com

Thinkific

🥉 Ruzuku — worth considering for a tiny launch

Ruzuku currently advertises a free plan with 0% transaction fees, limited to five participants, with paid plans also at 0%. www.savingsec.comwww.ruzuku.com

Ruzuku

The limitation for you is again payments: zero platform fees don't help if your country can't receive payouts through its supported processor.

One I'd not recommend for your specific goal

Gumroad is extremely easy to start with and handles international sales taxes as merchant of record, but it charges 10% + $0.50 per direct transaction (and 30% for marketplace-discovery sales). That's quite expensive when you're trying to maximize income from a developing-country business. help.payhip.comwww.savingsec.comwww.ruzuku.comgumroad.com

Gumroad

What I'd do in your position

Start with Payhip Free → connect every payment gateway available in your country → launch your first course → upgrade to Payhip Pro only after sales justify $99/month.

The really important question is which country you're in. Payhip's gateway list varies considerably by country—for example, PayPal covers 200+ markets, while Stripe is available in 40+ countries, and Payhip also offers regional processors such as Paystack, Flutterwave, PayU and Razorpay. help.payhip.com

If you tell me your country, I can narrow this down to the 3 cheapest platforms/payment combinations that you can actually receive money through, including local payment methods and payout options.

If by “no platform fees” you mean the platform itself takes 0% of each sale (while unavoidable payment-processor fees may still apply), the choices are surprisingly limited.

Best options for your situation

For a new creator with very little upfront capital, though, I wouldn't jump straight into a $99/month plan.

My recommendation: start with Payhip

Payhip is particularly interesting for creators in countries with limited payment infrastructure. Its free plan costs $0/month and includes unlimited products/revenue, but it charges 5% per transaction. Its Pro plan removes Payhip's transaction fee for $99/month. PayPal/Stripe processing fees still apply. payhip.compayhip.com

More importantly, Payhip supports actual online courses, including videos, quizzes, assignments, drip content, certificates, student accounts and payment plans. It also says it integrates with PayPal, Stripe and other payment gateways and handles relevant digital taxes. payhip.compayhip.com

So you could start at $0, validate that people will actually buy your course, and only move to the 0%-platform-fee plan once your sales justify it.

One I'd avoid for your specific requirement

Gumroad is attractive because there's no monthly subscription, but it doesn't meet your “no platform fees” requirement: its current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction, and Discover sales are 30%. gumroad.com

It can nevertheless be useful if your country has limited payment options, because Gumroad says creators can generally use it if they can receive PayPal, although payout methods vary by country. gumroad.com

The big issue: your country

“Works globally” is not the same as “you can receive payouts in your country.” Payment-gateway availability is likely to matter more than the course platform itself.

If you tell me which country you're in, I can narrow this down to 3–5 platforms that actually let creators in your country receive payments, including local/mobile-money options where available, and compare their real total fees.

For a new course creator in a developing country, I’d prioritize (1) no platform commission, (2) payment options that work in your country, (3) low/no monthly cost, and (4) easy setup. A “0% fee” platform usually still means you pay payment processor fees (Stripe, PayPal, local gateways, etc.), so check whether those processors are actually available to you.

Here are some strong low-cost options:

My recommendations by situation

If you have almost no budget

• Start with Ruzuku’s free option to validate your course idea. www.ruzuku.com
• Alternatively, use a simple website + payment link + private community (WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord) until revenue grows.

If you want a professional academy

• Consider FreshLearn or LearnHouse if their payment gateways support your country. freshlearn.comwww.learnhouse.app

If Stripe and PayPal are unavailable where you live
Look beyond “course platforms.” Your biggest challenge is probably payments, not course hosting. Consider platforms that support:

• local bank transfers
• mobile money
• regional gateways
• merchant-of-record services (where the platform handles payments and pays you)

Before choosing, check these 5 things:

1. Can students in your target countries pay easily?
2. Can you withdraw money to your bank/mobile wallet?
3. Does it support your currency?
4. Does it add a sales commission?
5. Does it require Stripe/PayPal only?

If you tell me your country and how you expect students to pay (bank card, mobile money, PayPal, bank transfer, etc.), I can narrow this to platforms that are realistically usable for you.

If your priorities are low cost + 0% platform fees + international sales + limited payment options, I’d narrow the field considerably.

My top picks

1. 🥇 systeme.io — my recommendation

For a new creator, this is probably the strongest fit.

Its free plan includes one course, unlimited students, unlimited email sending, funnels, a members area, and 0% transaction fees. You pay the normal payment-processor fee charged by Stripe or PayPal, but systeme.io itself takes no percentage. systeme.iohelp.systeme.io

The particularly important part for someone in a developing country is payment flexibility: systeme.io supports Stripe and PayPal, and its Stripe integration supports buyers worldwide and numerous currencies/payment methods. help.systeme.io

Why I'd choose it: you can start at $0, validate one course, and only upgrade when you actually need more courses/contacts.

See systeme.io pricing

2. Thinkific — excellent, but check your country first

Thinkific is better if you want a more traditional, professional-looking online-school experience.

The catch is important: Thinkific Payments is only available to creators in a specific list of countries, mostly North America, Europe, Australia/NZ, Singapore and Hong Kong. Students themselves can be worldwide, but your business location has to qualify. support.thinkific.com

Also, "0% platform fee" doesn't mean payment processing is free. Thinkific Payments still charges payment-processing fees. support.thinkific.com

So for someone in a developing country with constrained payment infrastructure, I'd put systeme.io ahead of Thinkific unless Thinkific Payments/Stripe is confirmed to work where you live.

Check Thinkific payment-country support

3. WordPress + an LMS — best if local payment methods are critical

This is the option I'd investigate if Stripe and PayPal aren't available in your country.

You host WordPress yourself and connect an LMS/course plugin to whichever payment gateway is actually available locally—potentially a regional gateway, mobile-money provider, bank-transfer system, etc.

The platform itself doesn't need to take a percentage of your sales, but you'll have hosting, domain, and possibly LMS-plugin costs, plus payment-processing fees.

It's more technical, though, so I wouldn't start here unless your country's payment situation makes hosted platforms impractical.

One important distinction

Be careful with the phrase "no platform fees."

It normally means:

Platform takes 0% + payment processor still charges its normal processing fee.

For example, systeme.io explicitly says it takes 0% while Stripe/PayPal fees still apply. systeme.iohelp.systeme.io

That is very different from a platform like Payhip: its free plan is $0/month but takes 5% per sale, while its $99/month Pro plan removes that fee. payhip.com

So I wouldn't choose Payhip for your stated requirements.

My ranking for your situation

1. systeme.io → Start here
2. WordPress + local payment gateway → If Stripe/PayPal don't work in your country
3. Thinkific → If your country is supported and you want a more sophisticated course platform

If you tell me which country you're based in, I can check the actual payment gateways available there and identify the cheapest platform that lets your students pay internationally and lets you withdraw the money locally.

If your priorities are low upfront cost + 0% platform commission + international selling, the shortlist is surprisingly small. The key distinction is that 0% platform fee does not mean zero payment-processing fees—Stripe, PayPal, or another processor may still charge you, and availability depends heavily on your country. payhip.comsysteme.io

My top picks

1. Systeme.io — my first choice

Its free plan currently supports 1 course and 2,000 student contacts, and Systeme.io says it takes 0% transaction fees on all plans. You still pay whatever Stripe/PayPal charges. It also includes sales funnels, email marketing, course hosting, and automated lesson delivery, which means you don't need several separate tools. payhip.comsysteme.io

For someone starting in a developing country, that's particularly attractive because $0/month + 0% platform fee keeps your fixed costs extremely low.

2. Payhip — easiest alternative

Payhip is very beginner-friendly and supports courses, memberships, downloads, and coaching. However, its free plan takes 5% per sale, while the $99/month Pro plan is the one with 0% platform transaction fees. payhip.com

So I wouldn't choose Payhip if “no platform fees” is a hard requirement and you're just starting. At low sales volume, paying 5% may actually be cheaper than $99/month.

3. Thinkific — good once you're growing

Thinkific is more purpose-built around online education and can give you a more traditional “academy” experience. Current comparisons report 0% transaction fees on its relevant payment setup, but its paid plans make more sense once you have consistent sales. picklogic.co

One important issue for you: payment availability

“Works globally” is not the same as “works in every country.” Your biggest constraint may actually be whether Stripe, PayPal, or another supported payment processor can onboard a business/person in your country and pay out to your local bank.

For example, Systeme.io's 0% fee still leaves the payment processor's fees, and Payhip explicitly says PayPal/Stripe fees still apply. payhip.comsysteme.io

What I'd do in your situation

Start with Systeme.io's free plan if Stripe/PayPal (or its other available payment options) can pay you in your country.

That gives you:

• $0 monthly platform cost
• 0% platform commission
• Course hosting
• Sales pages/funnels
• Email marketing
• Payment plans
• Room to validate your first course before paying for software

Then upgrade only after your course is making enough money to justify it.

If you tell me which country you're in, I can narrow this down to platforms whose payment gateways and payouts actually work there, including options that support local/mobile-money payments.

If by “no platform fees” you mean the course platform itself takes 0% of each sale (while payment processors like Stripe/PayPal may still charge their normal processing fees), the options narrow considerably.

My shortlist

What I'd choose as a new creator

If you have very little money upfront: I'd actually start with Gumroad, despite the fee. There is no monthly subscription, and Gumroad currently supports direct bank payouts in a large number of developing-market countries—including Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and others. gumroad.com

If you already have enough sales to justify a subscription: Payhip Pro is more attractive because it explicitly has no transaction fee and supports multiple payment gateways. Its free plan, however, charges 5%, so don't confuse “free to start” with “zero platform fee.” payhip.compayhip.com

If you want a more sophisticated traditional course platform: Teachable Builder is a solid option, but $89/month is a lot for someone validating their first course. support.teachable.comwww.teachable.com

One important caveat

For someone in a developing country, payment availability matters more than the course platform. A platform can advertise “global payments” while its payout processor doesn't support your country.

If you tell me your country, I can check the current payment gateways/payout options available there and give you 3–5 platforms that you can actually receive money from, ranked by total cost.

Yes. For your situation, I’d prioritize 0% platform transaction fees + payment gateways that are actually available in your country. “No platform fee” does not mean zero payment-processing fees—you’ll still usually pay Stripe/PayPal or another processor.

My top picks

🥇 1. Systeme.io — my first choice

This is the one I'd investigate first.

Its free plan lets you build and sell a course, and Systeme.io says it takes 0% transaction fees on all plans. It supports Stripe and PayPal, with the payment processor charging its normal fees. The free plan includes one course and 2,000 contacts according to its current course documentation. systeme.io

Start with Systeme.io

Why it fits your situation:

• $0 monthly to start
• 0% platform commission
• Course hosting
• Checkout/payment plans
• Email marketing
• Sales funnels
• Affiliate functionality
• You don't need to buy several separate tools

The big question is whether Stripe or PayPal can pay out to your country. If neither is available where you live, the platform itself isn't enough.

🥈 2. Payhip — easiest alternative

Payhip is attractive because it's extremely simple. However, its free plan charges 5% per transaction. Its $29/month Plus plan charges 2%, while the $99/month Pro plan has 0% Payhip transaction fees. Stripe/PayPal fees still apply. payhip.com

Payhip pricing

So I wouldn't choose Payhip if “no platform fees” is a hard requirement at launch—unless you're willing to pay $99/month.

🥉 3. Teachable — good later, not necessarily now

Teachable's current Starter plan is $29/month when billed annually but takes 7.5% per transaction. Builder starts at $69/month annually and has 0% platform transaction fees. Payment-processing fees remain. support.teachable.com

Teachable pricing

It's a good choice once you're generating enough sales to justify the subscription, but I wouldn't make it my first choice for a cash-constrained new creator.

What I'd avoid for now

Gumroad is tempting because there is no monthly subscription, but it takes 10% + $0.50 per direct sale, and marketplace-discovery sales can be 30%. gumroad.com

That's expensive once you start selling at volume.

Thinkific is also more expensive than it initially appears. Its current Basic plan is $54/month monthly or $40/month equivalent annually after its August 2026 price increase, and payment fees depend on how you process payments. More importantly, Thinkific Payments is currently available only in a specific set of countries, including the US, UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and others—not every developing-country market. support.thinkific.com

The important issue for you: payment availability

If you're in a developing country, the payment gateway is actually more important than the course platform.

For example, a platform can advertise “global payments,” but if its only practical payout methods are Stripe and PayPal and neither supports merchants in your country, you can't actually use it.

I'd therefore rank your priorities:

1. Can I receive payouts in my country?
2. Does it accept payment methods my international students can use?
3. 0% platform transaction fee
4. $0–$20/month startup cost
5. Course-hosting/marketing features

My recommendation

If you're starting with very little money:

Start with Systeme.io's free plan. It gives you the strongest combination of $0 upfront + 0% platform fee + course hosting + marketing tools. systeme.io

Then, before building the entire course there, verify that its supported payment gateways can actually pay out to your country.

If you tell me which country you're in, I can narrow this down to platforms that support your country's actual payment methods/banks, including options beyond Stripe and PayPal.

If your priorities are very low startup cost + 0% platform fees + payment options that work beyond Stripe/PayPal, I’d narrow it down considerably.

Best options

1. systeme.io — my top recommendation

This is probably the strongest fit for your situation.

• $0/month free plan
• 0% platform transaction fee
• Course hosting, checkout, sales funnels, email marketing and memberships are built in. systeme.io
• It supports Stripe and PayPal, but also gateways that can be much more relevant in developing markets, including Flutterwave, Paystack, Razorpay and Xendit. systeme.io
• For example, its current Flutterwave integration supports African merchants and currencies including NGN, GHS, KES, RWF, UGX, ZAR, USD and several others. systeme.iohelp.systeme.io
• Its Razorpay integration is particularly useful for Indian merchants. help.systeme.io

Catch: 0% platform fee doesn't mean 0% payment-processing cost. Your payment gateway will still charge its own processing fee.

For a new creator with limited capital, I'd start here.

2. Payhip — easiest alternative

Payhip is extremely beginner-friendly and supports selling courses/digital products.

The free plan is $0/month but charges 5% per sale. Its $99/month Pro plan has 0% Payhip transaction fees, although Stripe/PayPal processing fees still apply. payhip.com

So I wouldn't choose Payhip if zero platform fees is a hard requirement from day one.

3. Gumroad — easy, but expensive at scale

Gumroad has no monthly fee, but charges 10% + $0.50 per direct transaction, and marketplace-discovered sales can cost 30%. gumroad.com

That's quite expensive for a course creator. For example, on a $100 course, you're giving up roughly $10.50 before considering other applicable costs.

I'd use Gumroad mainly if simplicity matters more than maximizing your margins.

4. Thinkific — good later, not my first choice

Thinkific is a much more established course-school platform, but it's considerably more expensive. Its Basic plan is now $54/month, following its August 2026 price increase. support.thinkific.com

It also has payment-processing considerations and third-party gateway fees depending on your country and setup. support.thinkific.com

I'd consider it once you've proven your course sells—not when you're trying to minimize risk.

What I'd do in your position

Start with systeme.io's free plan.

Your stack could be:

Course: systeme.io
→ Payment: whichever local gateway is available in your country (e.g. Flutterwave/Paystack/Razorpay/Xendit)
→ Marketing: systeme.io email + funnels
→ Video: YouTube unlisted/Vimeo/etc., depending on your content-protection needs

This is especially attractive because you don't have to wait until you can afford $30–$100/month in software subscriptions. The free systeme.io plan includes a course, and the company says it takes 0% of course sales. systeme.iosysteme.io

One important caveat: "works globally" is really two separate questions: Can international students pay you? and Can you, as a merchant in your specific country, receive the money? The second is the limiting factor. A platform may support Flutterwave, for example, while Flutterwave itself only onboards merchants in particular countries. systeme.iohelp.systeme.io

If you tell me your country, I can narrow this to the 3 cheapest platforms/payment combinations actually available to you, including local payment methods and payout options.

If your priorities are low cost + 0% platform fees + international selling, I’d narrow it down to these:

My top recommendation: Payhip

For a new course creator in a developing country, I'd start by investigating Payhip first. It has a proper course builder, memberships, quizzes, certificates, digital products, and storefront, and its free plan gives you all features. The catch is that the free plan takes 5%; its $99/month Pro plan removes the transaction fee entirely. payhip.com

The important part is payment availability in your country. A platform can advertise "global selling," but if neither Stripe nor PayPal can pay out to your bank, it doesn't solve your problem.

If you absolutely mean zero platform fee

Stan Store is attractive because it charges 0% per transaction, with the Creator plan at $29/month. You still pay Stripe/PayPal processing fees. help.stan.store

However, Stan's Stripe integration currently supports a relatively limited set of countries. Stan says that if your country isn't on its Stripe list, you can instead use PayPal if PayPal supports your country. help.stan.store

Ko-fi Gold is another inexpensive 0%-platform-fee option at $12/month, although I wouldn't choose it as the primary platform for a serious structured course—it is more of a creator storefront/membership tool. shop.ko-fi.com

The sleeper option: WordPress

If you're comfortable with a little more setup, WordPress + a free/low-cost LMS + a payment gateway available in your country can be the most globally flexible approach.

You don't pay a platform percentage to WordPress. Your costs are mainly hosting, the LMS (if paid), and payment processing. This also lets you connect local bank-transfer gateways, mobile money, regional processors, PayPal, Stripe, etc., rather than being locked into one platform's payment ecosystem.

That's particularly valuable if you're in a country where Stripe isn't available.

One I'd not prioritize

Thinkific is excellent for courses, but its native Thinkific Payments service currently covers a defined list of countries including the US, UK, EU countries, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Norway—not most developing countries. support.thinkific.com Its plans have also become considerably more expensive: Basic is now $54/month monthly or $40/month equivalent annually following its August 2026 price increase. support.thinkific.com

What I'd do in your situation

If your country supports PayPal/Stripe: → Payhip initially, then move to Pro once sales justify $99/month.

If Payhip's payment options don't work in your country but PayPal does: → Stan Store is worth considering at $29/month and 0% platform fee.

If mainstream processors don't work reliably in your country: → WordPress + LMS + a local payment gateway is probably your best long-term solution.

And one important distinction: "0% platform fee" never necessarily means 0% total fees. You will generally still have payment-processing, currency-conversion, and potentially tax-related costs.

If you tell me your country, I can check the payment gateways actually available there and give you the 3 cheapest course platforms you can realistically receive money through, rather than recommending platforms that look global but won't pay out to you.

Yes. For your situation, I’d prioritize 0% platform transaction fees + payment gateways that work in developing markets, rather than simply looking for the cheapest course builder.

My top picks

🥇 1. systeme.io — my strongest recommendation

This is unusually good for someone starting with very little budget.

The free plan supports one course, up to 2,000 contacts, unlimited students, and 0% transaction fees. You still pay the underlying payment processor's fee, but systeme.io itself doesn't take a percentage of your sales. systeme.io

More importantly for your situation, systeme.io supports payment integrations including Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, Flutterwave, Xendit, and Mercado Pago. That gives it a major advantage over platforms that effectively require Stripe/PayPal. systeme.io

It also includes:

• Course hosting
• Checkout
• Sales funnels
• Email marketing
• Payment plans
• Coupons
• Affiliate program
• Upsells/order bumps

So you can potentially run your entire first course business from one account. systeme.io

Cost: Start at $0. The current paid plans shown by systeme.io are $27/month, $47/month and $97/month, with 0% transaction fees. systeme.io

Verdict: ⭐ Best choice if you're starting with almost no budget.

🥈 2. Payhip — excellent if payment availability is your biggest problem

Payhip is particularly interesting for international creators because it has been expanding its payment-gateway coverage. Its current gateway lineup includes Stripe (45+ countries), PayPal (200+ countries) and additional gateways. payhip.comsupport.thinkific.com

However, there's an important catch:

• Free: 5% Payhip fee
• Plus: 2%
• Pro: 0%
• Pro: $99/month

Payment processors such as Stripe/PayPal still charge their own fees. payhip.com

So I wouldn't choose Payhip Pro as a brand-new creator unless you already expect enough sales to justify $99/month.

Verdict: ⭐ Excellent payment flexibility, but less attractive when you're starting from zero.

🥉 3. Thinkific — better when you want a serious "school"

Thinkific is a stronger choice if you care about having a polished, dedicated learning environment with multiple courses.

Its payment system doesn't mean payments are free, though. Payment processors charge transaction fees, and Thinkific's own payment-processing rates vary by country and payment method. For example, its listed rates for several supported countries start around 3.9% + a fixed fee. support.thinkific.com

Verdict: Good platform, but I wouldn't make it my first choice when your priorities are extremely low cost and payment accessibility.

What I'd actually do in your position

I'd start with systeme.io's free plan.

Your setup could be:

Course videos → systeme.io → local/global payment gateway → student automatically gets access

And don't spend money on a fancy website initially.

The most important question, however, is your country. Payment availability is highly country-specific. A platform can advertise "global payments" while the particular gateway you need isn't available to you.

If you tell me which country you're in, I can narrow this down to the 3 platforms that actually accept payments from your country, including options such as mobile money, local bank transfers, Razorpay, Paystack, Flutterwave, etc.

For a new course creator in a developing country, I would prioritize (1) no platform commission, (2) payment gateways that work in your country, (3) low upfront cost, and (4) ownership of your student list.

A key point: “0% platform fees” usually does not mean zero payment costs. Stripe, PayPal, or local payment processors may still charge their normal processing fees. www.learnhouse.app

Here are some good options:

My recommendations by situation

If you have almost no budget

1. Start with a platform that has a free tier:
   • Ruzuku (good for validating a course idea) www.ruzuku.com
   • YesCourse (simple setup) yescourse.com

If you already have students/audience

• Use a 0%-commission platform where students pay you directly:
  • LearnHouse www.learnhouse.appyescourse.com
  • FreshLearn freshlearn.com

If payment access is your biggest challenge
Before choosing a platform, check whether you can receive money through:

• Stripe
• PayPal
• Payoneer
• Wise
• Local bank gateways (for example, mobile money or regional processors)

A platform can advertise “global payments,” but if your country cannot open the required payment account, it will not help much.

A low-cost setup I would consider for a developing-country creator

1. Create your course content:
   • Videos hosted privately (or uploaded directly if supported)
   • PDFs/workbooks
   • Community via email, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord

2. Use a low/no-fee course platform initially.

3. Avoid marketplaces like large course marketplaces if your goal is building a business, because they often control pricing, customer access, or take a revenue share.

My shortlist for a first-time creator:

• Best overall low-cost start: Ruzuku or YesCourse
• Best if you can access Stripe: LearnHouse
• Best for scaling into a bigger academy: FreshLearn

If you tell me your country and which payment methods you can access (bank card, PayPal, mobile money, Payoneer, etc.), I can narrow this down to platforms that will actually pay you there.

If your priority is low upfront cost + 0% platform fees + the ability to accept international payments, I’d focus less on the course software itself and more on which payment processors you can actually access in your country.

My shortlist

1. Systeme.io — best overall starting point

Systeme.io

• Free plan at $0/month
• 0% platform transaction fees
• Unlimited students
• Course builder plus landing pages, email marketing, funnels and affiliate tools
• Supports Stripe and PayPal without an additional platform fee. systeme.io
• Particularly attractive if you have very little money to invest because you can build your sales funnel and email list without paying for several separate tools.

Caveat: Stripe/PayPal availability depends on your country. “Global” doesn't mean every payment method works in every country.

2. Ruzuku — best if you want a dedicated course platform

Ruzuku

• Free plan
• 0% platform transaction fees
• Unlimited courses
• Free plan allows up to 5 students, so you can validate your first course without spending money
• Accepts Stripe and PayPal, with the payment going directly to your account. www.ruzuku.com
• Paid Core plan is $99/month, so I'd use the free plan only for validation and consider upgrading once sales justify it. support.ruzuku.com

This is a particularly clean option if you don't need a large marketing/CRM system.

3. LearnHouse — interesting low-cost alternative

LearnHouse

• 0% platform fees
• Uses your own Stripe account
• Payments can be paid out directly to your bank
• Currently advertises availability in 40+ Stripe-supported countries. www.learnhouse.app

The important limitation is that 40+ countries isn't truly global, so I'd check your country before building around it.

What I'd choose

The big catch for developing countries

There isn't really a course platform that can magically make payments “global.” The payment processor is the bottleneck. For example, Stripe currently supports businesses in a defined list of countries rather than every country worldwide. stripe.com

So if you're in a country where Stripe isn't available, a platform advertising 0% fees may still be useless to you.

Also, don't confuse 0% platform fees with 0% payment fees. Stripe/PayPal will generally still charge processing fees. Ruzuku, for example, explicitly says its 0% means Ruzuku takes nothing; the processor's fee still applies. support.ruzuku.com

If you tell me your country, I can narrow this down to 3–5 platforms that actually accept payments there, including options using local payment methods/mobile money rather than just Stripe.

If you’re in a developing country, I’d prioritize payment reach and payout availability over having the fanciest course features. Also, “no platform fees” usually means the platform takes 0% of the sale—you’ll still pay Stripe, PayPal, or another payment processor.

My shortlist

🥇 My first choice: Payhip

Payhip is particularly interesting for your situation because it supports a large number of payment gateways, rather than forcing you to rely exclusively on one processor. As of 2026, Payhip says it supports Stripe in 45+ countries, PayPal in 200+ countries, plus additional regional gateways. payhip.com

The catch: its free plan takes 5% per sale. The $99/month Pro plan removes Payhip's transaction fee, although Stripe/PayPal processing fees still apply. payhip.com

So if you're just starting, I wouldn't pay $99/month immediately. Start on the free plan, validate that people will actually buy, then move to Pro once the 5% becomes more expensive than $99/month.

🥈 Best if you need the lowest possible upfront cost: Systeme.io

Systeme.io has a free tier and advertises 0% transaction fees on memberships, while combining courses, funnels, email marketing and communities. systeme.io

It's worth considering if your budget is extremely tight, although I'd verify that its supported payment processor(s) can actually accept payouts in your country before building your whole business around it.

🥉 Best polished option: Teachable

Teachable is considerably more expensive, but its Builder plan is $69/month when billed annually and has 0% platform transaction fees. The Starter plan is cheaper ($29/month annually) but takes 7.5% per transaction. systeme.iosupport.teachable.comwww.teachable.comhelp.podia.com

It also specifically advertises global payments and tax handling, which can be valuable if most of your students will be overseas. systeme.iosupport.teachable.comwww.teachable.comhelp.podia.com

What I would not choose for your requirement

Gumroad is easy to start with, but it doesn't meet your “no platform fees” requirement: its direct sales fee is 10% + $0.50, before applicable processing costs. Its payout options can also be restrictive in countries outside its direct-deposit list. gumroad.com

Thinkific is excellent as an LMS, but its built-in Thinkific Payments is currently available only in a defined list of countries, mainly North America, Europe, Australia/NZ and several Asian financial centers. support.thinkific.com That makes it less attractive if you're actually based outside those supported markets.

Podia removes its own transaction fee on Shaker/Earthquaker, but its cheaper Mover plan takes 5%; Stripe/PayPal fees remain. Podia also notes some limitations around Stripe applications for accounts based in certain countries. help.podia.com

The important part for you

If you tell me your country, I can narrow this down dramatically. Payment availability varies enormously by country.

I can compare the 5–7 best platforms that actually let creators in your country receive money, including PayPal, Stripe, Payoneer, local bank transfer/mobile money, pricing, platform fees, payout methods, and which one I'd choose for a first course.

If “no platform fee” is the priority, I’d focus on platforms where you pay only the unavoidable payment-processor fee (Stripe, PayPal, local gateway, etc.). A true 0% platform fee does not mean receiving 100% of the sale—you’ll generally still pay payment-processing and possibly currency-conversion fees. www.coursemargin.comsupport.thinkific.com

Best options for your situation

1. Thinkific — best course-focused option

• Has a free plan, so you can start without a monthly subscription.
• Its own platform transaction fee can be 0%, depending on the payment setup.
• Big caveat for a developing-country creator: Thinkific Payments is currently available only in a defined list of countries, largely North America, Europe, and several Asia-Pacific markets. support.thinkific.com
• If your country isn't supported for Thinkific Payments, you'll need to investigate which third-party gateways are available to you and what additional fees apply.

2. Podia — simple, but check the free-tier economics

Podia is attractive if you want courses plus digital downloads, email marketing, and a simple storefront. Its paid plans can have 0% platform transaction fees, but the cheapest/free options may impose a percentage fee. www.savingsec.com

3. Teachable — strong international payment infrastructure

Teachable Payments supports creators in 41 countries and offers local-currency payouts and 35+ local payment methods. It also lets creators connect their own Stripe account in countries where that's available. support.teachable.com

The downside: its cheapest plans aren't necessarily 0%-fee, so I'd only choose it if its payment coverage is substantially better in your country. www.savingsec.com

What I'd do in your position

For a creator in a developing country, payment availability matters more than the headline platform fee. You don't want to build your course business on a platform whose checkout can't actually pay you.

I'd shortlist:

I wouldn't recommend Gumroad if your primary goal is keeping fees near zero: its lack of a monthly subscription is appealing, but the 10% + $0.50 transaction charge is significant for a course business. www.savingsec.com

Most important: tell me which country you're in and whether your students will pay by bank transfer, mobile money, debit/credit card, PayPal, or another local method. I can then narrow this to the 3 platforms you can actually receive money through, including their current fees and payout options.