ChatGPT answers, unedited

If your priority is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while keeping platform fees close to zero, I’d evaluate platforms in three buckets:

1. Low monthly cost + no revenue share
2. All-in-one tools (courses + email + funnels)
3. DIY stack (lowest fees, more setup)

A key distinction: “no platform fees” usually means no percentage taken by the course platform. You’ll still typically pay payment processing fees from Stripe/PayPal. Course Profit Lab

Platforms worth evaluating

SavingSec Course Profit Lab## My shortlist by business model

If you’re selling $100–$2,000 workshops and courses

Evaluate:

• Thinkific — strong balance of course delivery, payments, and scalability. Webflow
• Podia — good if you want fewer moving parts (course + digital products + email). PickLogic
• Systeme.io — attractive if funnels and email automation matter as much as the course itself. CourseMargin

If live workshops are your main product

Look for:

• Zoom integration
• cohort scheduling
• reminders/email automation
• replay hosting
• discussion/community features

Good candidates:

• Mighty Networks for community-driven cohorts
• Thinkific for a more traditional course business
• Podia for simpler creator workflows

SavingSec### If you want the absolute lowest overhead

A DIY stack can be cheaper:

• Website/landing page: WordPress, Webflow, or similar
• Payments: Stripe
• Live delivery: Zoom
• Video hosting: Vimeo, YouTube unlisted, or cloud storage
• Email: MailerLite, ConvertKit, etc.
• Course area: a lightweight LMS plugin

You keep more control, but you’re responsible for stitching everything together.

A practical evaluation checklist

Before choosing, test:

• Can I sell a $500 workshop without losing a percentage?
• Can students access recordings automatically?
• Can I run cohorts with dates, reminders, and Zoom links?
• Can I export my customer list?
• Can I add email automation without another expensive tool?
• Does checkout support coupons, payment plans, and taxes?

For many solo creators, I’d start by comparing:

1. Thinkific (course-first)
2. Podia (simple creator business)
3. Systeme.io (marketing-first)
4. Mighty Networks (community/cohort-first)

That gives you four different approaches without spending much upfront. SavingSec CourseMargin

For many solo creators, I’d start by comparing:

1. Thinkific (course-first)
2. Podia (simple creator business)
3. Systeme.io (marketing-first)
4. Mighty Networks (community/cohort-first)

That gives you four different approaches without spending much upfront. SavingSec CourseMargin

If your priority is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while keeping platform fees at or near zero, I’d evaluate these first:

Current 2026 pricing comparisons show Systeme.io and Thinkific among the lowest-cost ways to get to 0% platform transaction fees, while LearnWorlds, Teachable, and Podia require a higher tier to eliminate their platform fee. You'd still pay normal payment-processing fees such as Stripe's fee; "0% platform fee" doesn't mean free payment processing. CreatorFees Ruzuku CourseProfit Lab

My shortlist for your particular model

1. Systeme.io — investigate first if budget is the overriding concern.
Its free plan and inexpensive paid tiers combine courses, funnels, email marketing, payments, and webinar functionality. Current comparisons list its Webinar plan around $47/month and its paid plans with 0% platform transaction fees. CourseMargin

2. Thinkific — investigate if the course experience matters most.
It's more purpose-built as an LMS than Systeme.io. Current pricing comparisons put Basic around $40/month on annual billing, with no platform transaction fee when using Thinkific Payments where available. CourseProfit Lab

3. Ruzuku — particularly interesting if your business revolves around live workshops.
Ruzuku's pricing model has 0% platform transaction fees, and its feature set is oriented toward teaching rather than primarily marketing funnels. Ruzuku

4. LearnWorlds — worth considering for a more sophisticated course product.
It's particularly geared toward interactive learning, assessments, and richer course experiences. The inexpensive Starter tier has a per-enrollment charge, so I'd look at Pro Trainer if eliminating platform fees is important. Ruzuku

One important distinction

I'd separate "no platform transaction fee" from "no platform fee whatsoever."

For example, a $40/month platform with 0% transaction fees can be considerably cheaper than a $0/month platform taking 5–8% of every sale once you're selling several thousand dollars per month. Conversely, if you're just testing your first workshop, the free/cheap plan can make more sense. CourseMargin

If you tell me your workshop price, evergreen-course price, expected monthly sales, and whether you need Zoom integration/email marketing/community, I can calculate the approximate monthly cost for 4–5 platforms and narrow this down to the most economical setup.

If your priorities are live workshops + evergreen courses + low fixed cost + no platform transaction fee, I’d evaluate these first:

*Pricing changes frequently, so treat these as current ballpark figures rather than quotes. Recent 2026 comparisons show substantial differences depending on annual billing and payment processor. Course Profit Lab Podia

My shortlist for your particular model

1. Systeme.io — evaluate first if keeping costs extremely low matters.
Its free tier and inexpensive paid tiers combine course delivery, funnels, email marketing and webinar functionality. Recent 2026 pricing comparisons report 0% platform transaction fees. CourseMargin Don't Do It Yourself

2. Thinkific — evaluate if the courses themselves are the centerpiece.
It's more purpose-built around structured online learning. Current comparisons put Basic around $40/month on annual billing with 0% platform transaction fees when using its native payment system. Course Profit Lab Teachable

3. Podia — evaluate if you want simplicity.
It's particularly interesting if you want courses + live webinars/workshops + digital products + email + website without assembling lots of separate software. Its higher tier removes the platform transaction fee. Podia

4. Payhip — evaluate if you're still validating the business.
Its free-forever model means essentially no fixed platform cost; the tradeoff is a 5% transaction fee. It supports online courses, coaching, memberships and digital products. Tool Income Lab

One important distinction

"No platform fees" doesn't mean no payment fees. Even a 0% platform-fee service will generally still involve Stripe/PayPal/card-processing costs. For example, Stripe's commonly quoted U.S. online-card rate is around 2.9% + $0.30, though your actual rate can differ. CourseMargin

For a business selling, say, a $300 live workshop and a $500 evergreen course, I'd pay particular attention to transaction fees because even a 5–8% platform fee becomes meaningful as sales grow.

If you tell me your expected price for the workshop, price for the evergreen course, and roughly how many sales/month you expect, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Systeme.io vs Thinkific vs Podia vs Teachable vs Payhip at your numbers.

If your goal is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while keeping platform fees near zero, I’d evaluate platforms based on whether they charge:

• a monthly subscription only (best for keeping more revenue)
• a percentage of each sale (gets expensive as you grow)
• extra fees for live delivery, communities, email marketing, or checkout tools

A few inexpensive options worth comparing:

My shortlist by scenario

1. You already have an audience (email list, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.)

Evaluate:

• Thinkific
• LearnWorlds

You’ll likely save money by owning your checkout and avoiding marketplace revenue sharing. Webflow

2. You’re running live workshops first, then turning recordings into evergreen courses

Evaluate:

• Ruzuku
• Thinkific
• Podia

A common low-cost stack is:

• Zoom or Google Meet → live workshop delivery
• course platform → recordings, worksheets, student access
• Stripe → payments

3. You want the absolute lowest upfront cost while testing

Evaluate:

• Gumroad
• Systeme.io

These can get you selling before committing to a monthly platform bill. SavingSec CourseMargin

4. You expect meaningful sales volume ($5k+/month)

Prioritize:

• Thinkific
• Teachable higher tiers
• LearnWorlds

At higher revenue, even a 5–10% transaction fee can cost more than a monthly subscription. CourseMargin

A practical low-cost setup I’d test first

Lean creator setup

• Landing page + email: Systeme.io or your existing website
• Payments: Stripe
• Live workshops: Zoom
• Course hosting: Thinkific or LearnWorlds

Community-driven workshop business

• Course platform + community layer (for example, a dedicated community platform later when revenue justifies it)

Before choosing, calculate your break-even point:

Monthly platform cost ÷ average profit per sale = sales needed to justify the subscription

For example, a $50/month platform is usually cheaper than giving away 10% of every $500 course sale.

If you tell me:

1. your expected course price ($50, $500, $2,000+),
2. whether workshops are live cohorts or one-off events, and
3. whether you need email marketing/community built in,

I can narrow this to the 2–3 best fits.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean 0% platform transaction fee (while accepting that Stripe/PayPal will still charge normal payment-processing fees), there are a few inexpensive options worth evaluating.

My shortlist

Current 2026 comparisons show Systeme.io and Thinkific as particularly compelling for keeping platform fees at zero, while Gumroad's no-monthly-cost model comes with a substantial per-sale fee. CourseMargin Course Profit Lab

What I'd evaluate first

1. Systeme.io — best if you're bootstrapping

This would be my first look if you want live workshops + evergreen courses + landing pages + email/funnels without assembling a bunch of different tools. Its free tier has 0% platform transaction fees, with paid plans starting around $27/month; the ~$47 Webinar tier is particularly relevant to your live-workshop model. CourseMargin Oversite

2. Thinkific — best if the course itself is the priority

Thinkific is stronger if you want a polished LMS/course experience and expect to build a real course catalog. Its current entry-level paid pricing is around $40/month on annual billing, with 0% transaction fees when using Thinkific Payments. Live lessons are available on higher plans. Course Profit Lab Ruzuku

3. Podia — best for simplicity

Podia is attractive if you don't want to become an LMS administrator. It combines courses, digital products, email/marketing and sales pages in a relatively simple interface. The catch is that you need the higher-priced tier to get 0% platform transaction fees. CourseMargin Ruzuku

4. LearnWorlds — worth considering for premium courses

Particularly interesting if your evergreen courses need sophisticated video, interactive learning, assessments, certificates, etc. The inexpensive entry plan isn't truly fee-free, though, so I'd compare the economics at your expected sales volume. CourseMargin

One important distinction

You can't realistically get zero cost for payment processing. Even a platform advertising “0% transaction fees” generally still means Stripe/PayPal processing—roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per US online card transaction with standard Stripe pricing. CourseMargin CreatorFlow

So I'd optimize for:

0% platform fee + low monthly subscription + good live-event workflow.

If you tell me roughly (a) workshop price, (b) evergreen course price, (c) expected sales/month, and (d) whether you need Zoom integration, email marketing, and/or a community, I can narrow this to the 2–3 cheapest options for your specific business model and calculate what you'd actually keep per sale.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean you’re willing to pay Stripe/PayPal processing, but don’t want the course platform taking a percentage of every sale, I’d focus on platforms where the fee becomes 0% at a relatively low monthly price.

My shortlist

A few important current-price details:

• Podia: its lower Mover plan takes 5% per sale, but Shaker removes the transaction fee. Podia also supports courses, digital products, memberships, and other creator products. Podia Help Center Podia Help Center
• Teachable: Starter is $29/mo annually but charges 7.5%; Builder is $69/mo annually with 0% platform transaction fee. You still pay payment-processing fees. Teachable Teachable Help Center
• LearnWorlds: Starter is $24/mo annually but charges $5 per enrollment. Pro Trainer is $79/mo annually with 0% enrollment fees and includes live 1:1/group sessions. LearnWorlds LearnWorlds
• Thinkific: its current Basic plan is $40/mo annually, while Start is $82/mo annually and adds live cohorts/coaching and Zoom functionality. Its payment economics depend on whether you use Thinkific Payments or a third-party processor. Thinkific Thinkific Support

What I'd evaluate first

1. Podia — if you want inexpensive + simple

I'd start here if your business is essentially:

“I sell a live workshop, record it, turn it into an evergreen course, and sell both from my own website.”

It's relatively uncomplicated and combines website, checkout, email marketing, courses, digital downloads, and memberships. The important catch is that you need to get to the no-transaction-fee tier if you're serious about sales volume. Podia Help Center

2. Teachable — if you want a mature course-selling experience

The $69/month annual Builder plan is interesting because you get 0% platform transaction fees without jumping into a $100+ monthly plan. Teachable

For example, at $10,000/month in sales, avoiding a 5–7.5% platform fee can easily justify the subscription.

3. LearnWorlds — if the learning experience matters

This is the one I'd investigate if your workshops are going to become substantial courses with quizzes, learning paths, certificates, interactive content, etc. Pro Trainer is currently $79/month annually and removes the per-enrollment fee. LearnWorlds

One important distinction

There really isn't a legitimate way to sell online courses with literally zero fees.

Even a “0% platform fee” setup will generally have:

Platform subscription + Stripe/PayPal/card processing + possibly taxes/payment-related costs.

For example, LearnWorlds explicitly notes that payment processors charge separately; Teachable currently lists U.S. card processing at 2.9% + $0.30 on its Teachable Pay setup. LearnWorlds Teachable Help Center

So I'd optimize for zero platform commission, rather than zero fees altogether.

My ranking for your particular model

If you're primarily selling live workshops + turning the recordings into evergreen courses, I'd investigate in this order:

1. Podia — simplest and likely the best value.
2. Teachable Builder — best balance of price, polish, and course infrastructure.
3. LearnWorlds Pro Trainer — best if you want a more sophisticated learning experience.
4. Thinkific Start — particularly interesting if live cohorts/coaching are central.
5. systeme.io — worth considering if your priority is marketing funnels + email + selling, rather than having the world's best LMS.

If you tell me roughly (a) your expected monthly sales, (b) workshop price, (c) course price, and (d) whether you need Zoom/live-event registration built in, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and break-even point for these platforms rather than just comparing their advertised prices.

It's relatively uncomplicated and combines website, checkout, email marketing, courses, digital downloads, and memberships. The important catch is that you need to get to the no-transaction-fee tier if you're serious about sales volume. Podia Help Center

2. Teachable — if you want a mature course-selling experience

The $69/month annual Builder plan is interesting because you get 0% platform transaction fees without jumping into a $100+ monthly plan. Teachable

For example, at $10,000/month in sales, avoiding a 5–7.5% platform fee can easily justify the subscription.

3. LearnWorlds — if the learning experience matters

This is the one I'd investigate if your workshops are going to become substantial courses with quizzes, learning paths, certificates, interactive content, etc. Pro Trainer is currently $79/month annually and removes the per-enrollment fee. LearnWorlds

One important distinction

There really isn't a legitimate way to sell online courses with literally zero fees.

Even a “0% platform fee” setup will generally have:

Platform subscription + Stripe/PayPal/card processing + possibly taxes/payment-related costs.

For example, LearnWorlds explicitly notes that payment processors charge separately; Teachable currently lists U.S. card processing at 2.9% + $0.30 on its Teachable Pay setup.

Yes. If your priorities are live workshops + evergreen courses + very low platform fees, I’d focus on platforms that either charge 0% transaction fees or have a genuinely cheap free/low-cost tier. Payment processing (Stripe/PayPal) is separate and usually unavoidable.

One caution: 2026 pricing has changed a lot, and comparison sites disagree on some current plan details, so I’d verify the final price at checkout before committing. Podia CourseProfit Lab

My shortlist

Current comparisons put Systeme.io and Thinkific particularly high on cost efficiency, while Thinkific is stronger if the course itself is your main product. OnlineCourseTools CourseProfit Lab

What I'd evaluate first

1. Systeme.io — best if "cheap" is the overriding goal

This is the one I'd test first if you're starting from scratch. You can combine course hosting, landing pages, email marketing, sales funnels, payments and webinars rather than paying for several separate tools. Its free tier is unusually generous for this category. Don't Do It Yourself CreatorFees

The tradeoff is that it's more marketing/funnel-first than a beautifully designed learning-management system.

2. Thinkific — best balance for serious courses

I'd choose this if you expect the evergreen course to become the core business. It's much more purpose-built for structured courses, student management and learning experiences, while still supporting live teaching. Current pricing research puts its entry paid plan around $36–$40/month on annual billing with no platform transaction fee. CourseProfit Lab CourseStack Review

3. Podia — best for simplicity

Good if your business is something like:

Live workshop → recording → evergreen course → downloads → email list

It's relatively simple and combines several creator-business functions. The catch is that the cheapest tier may take a percentage of sales, so I'd compare the annual subscription against your expected sales rather than automatically choosing the cheapest plan. Tool Income Lab

4. LearnWorlds — worth testing if the learning experience matters

I'd put this on the shortlist if you want interactive video, assessments, certificates, a more sophisticated school experience, etc. It's potentially inexpensive at the entry level, but some lower tiers have per-enrollment fees, so "monthly price" isn't the whole story. CloudsPress

5. Teachable — convenient, but I'd be careful about fees

It's polished and easy to launch with, but the current entry-level transaction fee makes it less attractive if your explicit goal is keeping as much revenue as possible. Current comparisons report 7.5% on its Starter tier, with 0% beginning at a higher tier. Podia Don't Do It Yourself

One important distinction

If by "without platform fees" you mean literally zero percentage of every sale, I'd narrow your search to:

• Thinkific
• Systeme.io
• Higher-tier Podia
• Higher-tier Teachable
• LearnWorlds plans without enrollment fees

You will still generally pay Stripe/PayPal processing, e.g. the normal payment-processing percentage + fixed fee. That's different from the platform taking a cut. CourseMargin

My recommendation

If I were building your business today, I'd test Systeme.io vs. Thinkific first:

• Systeme.io → minimize monthly cost and get funnels/email/webinars in one place.
• Thinkific → prioritize a professional evergreen-course experience and predictable 0% platform transaction fees.

If you tell me roughly (1) workshop price, (2) evergreen course price, (3) expected monthly sales, and (4) whether you need Zoom integration/email marketing/community, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and tell you which 2–3 platforms are cheapest for your business rather than just comparing sticker prices.

What I'd evaluate first

1. Systeme.io — best if "cheap" is the overriding goal

This is the one I'd test first if you're starting from scratch. You can combine course hosting, landing pages, email marketing, sales funnels, payments and webinars rather than paying for several separate tools. Its free tier is unusually generous for this category. Don't Do It Yourself CreatorFees

The tradeoff is that it's more marketing/funnel-first than a beautifully designed learning-management system.

2. Thinkific — best balance for serious courses

I'd choose this if you expect the evergreen course to become the core business. It's much more purpose-built for structured courses, student management and learning experiences, while still supporting live teaching. Current pricing research puts its entry paid plan around $36–$40/month on annual billing with no platform transaction fee. CourseProfit Lab CourseStack Review

3. Podia — best for simplicity

Good if your business is something like:

Live workshop → recording → evergreen course → downloads → email list

It's relatively simple and combines several creator-business functions. The catch is that the cheapest tier may take a percentage of sales, so I'd compare the annual subscription against your expected sales rather than automatically choosing the cheapest plan. Tool Income Lab

4. LearnWorlds — worth testing if the learning experience matters

I'd put this on the shortlist if you want interactive video, assessments, certificates, a more sophisticated school experience, etc. It's potentially inexpensive at the entry level, but some lower tiers have per-enrollment fees, so "monthly price" isn't the whole story. cloudspress.com

5. Teachable — convenient, but I'd be careful about fees

It's polished and easy to launch with, but the current entry-level transaction fee makes it less attractive if your explicit goal is keeping as much revenue as possible. Current comparisons report 7.5% on its Starter tier, with 0% beginning at a higher tier.

One important distinction

If by "without platform fees" you mean literally zero percentage of every sale, I'd narrow your search to:

If your goal is live workshops + evergreen courses while keeping 100% of the sale revenue (aside from Stripe/PayPal processing), I’d focus on these:

Current comparisons put Systeme.io and Thinkific at the particularly attractive end for avoiding platform transaction fees; payment processing through Stripe/PayPal is still separate. OnlineCourseTools CourseProfit Lab

What I'd evaluate first

1. Systeme.io — best if keeping costs extremely low is the priority.
Its free plan can actually sell courses, while paid plans add more courses, funnels, email marketing and webinar functionality. Current 2026 comparisons report 0% platform transaction fees. OnlineCourseTools CourseMargin

2. Thinkific — my pick if the course itself is the core product.
It's more purpose-built as an LMS than Systeme.io. The important detail is that the 0% transaction-fee claim depends on using Thinkific Payments where available; using an external processor can change the economics. CourseProfit Lab Ruzuku

3. LearnWorlds — worth considering if your workshops evolve into a premium learning experience.
It's particularly strong for interactive/video-heavy courses. Its Starter plan has a $5 enrollment fee, but Pro Trainer and above remove the platform transaction fee. LearnWorlds

4. Podia — easiest/simple alternative.
I'd only choose it if you really value its simplicity and built-in creator-business tools. The cheaper tier has a transaction fee, so you'll want to compare the higher tier against Thinkific/Systeme.io based on your expected sales volume. Ruzuku

One important distinction

"No platform fees" doesn't mean no payment fees. Even with a 0% platform, you'll generally still pay Stripe/PayPal processing fees. CourseMargin

For example, if you sell a $500 workshop, a 5% platform fee costs you $25 every sale. At 20 sales/month, that's $500/month—enough that paying ~$40–$100/month for a genuinely 0%-platform-fee service can make much more sense.

My shortlist for you:
Systeme.io → Thinkific → LearnWorlds, in that order if low cost + live workshops + evergreen courses + no platform percentage are the priorities.

If you tell me roughly your workshop price, expected monthly sales, number of courses, and whether you need Zoom/live-video integration, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of these 3–5 options and tell you which is cheapest at your expected revenue.

If your priority is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while avoiding platform transaction fees, I’d focus on platforms that charge a flat monthly fee and let you keep the sale revenue (minus Stripe/PayPal processing).

My shortlist

1. Systeme.io — I'd evaluate this first

This is probably the strongest fit if "inexpensive + no platform fees" is your main criterion.

The free plan supports 1 course and 2,000 contacts, while the Startup plan is $17/month for 5 courses and 5,000 contacts. Systeme.io explicitly advertises 0% transaction fees on every plan; you'd still pay Stripe/PayPal processing fees. It also includes funnels, email marketing, webinars, automation, and course hosting. Systeme.io Systeme.io

That's unusually compelling if you're selling workshops through a funnel rather than simply wanting a course-hosting site.

I'd pick it if: you want one inexpensive system for landing page → email → checkout → workshop → evergreen course.

2. Thinkific — best if the course experience matters most

Thinkific is more purpose-built around online education. Its current Basic plan is $54/month monthly or $475/year, following a 2026 price increase. Thinkific Support

The important distinction is payment processing: Thinkific says that creators using Thinkific Payments avoid its third-party payment-gateway fee. Thinkific Support

It also has communities with live events, which makes it more interesting for a business combining courses + live teaching. Thinkific Support

I'd pick it if: you expect the evergreen course business to become the core product and want a more polished LMS.

3. Podia — easiest all-around creator experience

Podia is attractive because it combines courses, coaching, events, digital products, website, landing pages, email, and checkout in one place. Podia

But there's an important catch for your particular requirement: its $42/month Mover plan has a 5% transaction fee. The $84/month Shaker plan removes the Podia transaction fee. Podia Help Center Podia

So I wouldn't choose Mover if "no platform fees" is a hard requirement.

I'd pick it if: you'd rather pay ~$84/month for a very easy system than piece together several cheaper tools.

The interesting economics

Suppose you're selling a $300 workshop.

At 10 sales/month = $3,000/month:

• A 5% platform fee = $150/month
• A $17/month platform = $17/month
• A $0 platform = $0/month
• Stripe/PayPal processing still applies regardless.

So once you're selling even modestly, 0% transaction-fee platforms become much more attractive.

What I'd personally test

I'd narrow your evaluation to:

1. Systeme.io — start here; incredibly inexpensive and 0% platform fees.
2. Thinkific — test this against Systeme.io specifically for the student/course experience.
3. Podia Shaker — test if ease of use is worth the higher monthly cost.

I wouldn't start with Kajabi if "inexpensive" is important. It's a strong platform, but you're paying for a much broader premium marketing/creator ecosystem.

One other consideration: if your live workshops are the primary product and the evergreen course is something you sell afterward, I'd evaluate the platforms differently than if the evergreen course is your primary $300–$1,000 product. The ideal setup can change substantially based on that distinction.

I'd pick it if: you want one inexpensive system for landing page → email → checkout → workshop → evergreen course.

2. Thinkific — best if the course experience matters most

Thinkific is more purpose-built around online education. Its current Basic plan is $54/month monthly or $475/year, following a 2026 price increase. Thinkific Support

The important distinction is payment processing: Thinkific says that creators using Thinkific Payments avoid its third-party payment-gateway fee. Thinkific Support

It also has communities with live events, which makes it more interesting for a business combining courses + live teaching. Thinkific Support

I'd pick it if: you expect the evergreen course business to become the core product and want a more polished LMS.

3. Podia — easiest all-around creator experience

Podia is attractive because it combines courses, coaching, events, digital products, website, landing pages, email, and checkout in one place. podia.com

But there's an important catch for your particular requirement: its $42/month Mover plan has a 5% transaction fee. The $84/month Shaker plan removes the Podia transaction fee.

So I wouldn't choose Mover if "no platform fees" is a hard requirement.

I'd pick it if: you'd rather pay ~$84/month for a very easy system than piece together several cheaper tools.

The interesting economics

Suppose you're selling a $300 workshop.

At 10 sales/month = $3,000/month:

If your priority is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while avoiding platform revenue cuts, I’d focus on platforms that charge a flat monthly fee (or low fixed cost) and let you connect your own payment processor. You’ll still pay normal payment processing fees (for example, Stripe fees), but you avoid the extra “platform tax.” Ruzuku

Here are the inexpensive options I’d evaluate:

My shortlist by business stage

If you are testing your first paid workshop

• FreshLearn — inexpensive and includes more “business in a box” features. FreshLearn
• Ruzuku — good if teaching live cohorts is the core product. Ruzuku
• A simple stack: landing page + Stripe + Zoom + email list + course host.

If you already have an audience and expect regular sales

• Thinkific — strong balance of cost, course delivery, and scalability. Course Profit Lab
• LearnWorlds — worth evaluating if interactive learning (assessments, certificates, richer student experience) matters. SavingSec

If you want the lowest possible long-term fees

Consider a “stacked” approach:

• Website: WordPress/Webflow/etc.
• Checkout: Stripe
• Live delivery: Zoom
• Community: Circle/Discord/Slack
• Course hosting: LMS plugin or a low-fee host

This gives you ownership of your customer list and avoids being locked into a course marketplace.

Platforms I would be cautious about for your goal

• Kajabi: excellent all-in-one system, but usually expensive if your main goal is minimizing costs. Ruzuku
• Marketplace platforms like Udemy: useful for discovery, but they are not designed for maximizing ownership of your audience or revenue. Lesso

A practical evaluation checklist:

1. Can students buy without you paying a percentage of every sale?
2. Does it support live cohorts/workshops (calendar, Zoom integration, reminders)?
3. Can you export student emails and purchase data?
4. Does it support coupons, bundles, subscriptions, and payment plans?
5. Can you use your own domain and branding?

If you tell me your expected volume (e.g., 10 students/month vs 500 students/month), price point (e.g., $49 workshop vs $2,000 cohort), and whether you need community/coaching, I can narrow this to 2–3 best fits.

If your goal is live workshops + evergreen courses while minimizing platform fees, I’d focus on platforms where you either pay a predictable monthly fee or can use your own checkout/payment stack. “No platform fees” usually means avoiding revenue-share/transaction fees (you’ll still pay payment processing like Stripe/PayPal). CourseMargin

Here are the inexpensive platforms I’d evaluate:

My shortlist by business model

1. You’re selling $100–$1,000 workshops and courses

Evaluate:

• Thinkific — probably the cleanest “course business” starting point.
• Podia — better if you also want email marketing and digital downloads.
• LearnWorlds — better if student experience matters.

2. You’re just validating an idea

Evaluate:

• Gumroad — fastest path from idea → payment page.
• Systeme.io — if you want funnels and email automation early.

3. You run live workshops regularly

Look for:

• Zoom integration
• event reminders
• replay hosting
• email automation
• coupons/upsells
• certificates (if relevant)
• community features

A common low-cost stack is:

• Course host: Thinkific or Podia
• Live delivery: Zoom
• Email: built-in email or a dedicated email provider
• Payments: Stripe/PayPal
• Community: Circle, Discord, or platform-native community

Platforms I would probably skip initially

• kajabi.com — excellent, but often expensive for a first course business because you pay for a lot of marketing/business features. Creator Economy
• Marketplace platforms like udemy.com — useful for discovery, but you give up control over pricing, customer relationships, and margins. SavingSec

A practical evaluation set would be Thinkific vs Podia vs LearnWorlds vs Systeme.io. They cover most creator needs without immediately committing to a high monthly cost. Podia SMB Compare

If you tell me your expected price point (for example $49 workshop, $499 cohort, $2,000 certification) and whether you already have an audience/email list, I can narrow this to the cheapest setup that still scales.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean you’re okay paying Stripe/PayPal processing, but you don’t want the course platform taking a percentage of each sale, I’d focus on these:

*Pricing changes frequently, so treat these as current ballpark figures rather than quotes. Recent 2026 comparisons put Thinkific around $36–40/mo on entry paid plans, Podia around $33/mo, and Systeme.io as having a genuinely free tier with 0% platform transaction fees. Don't Do It Yourself CourseProfit Lab Thinkific

What I'd actually shortlist

1. Systeme.io — if keeping costs extremely low is priority #1

This is probably the first one I'd test. Its appeal isn't just course hosting: it combines landing pages + checkout + email marketing + funnels + courses. Current comparisons report a free tier with 0% platform transaction fees and paid plans starting around $27/month. Don't Do It Yourself CourseMargin

The tradeoff is that it's more of a marketing/funnel platform than a polished learning-management experience.

2. Thinkific — if your courses are the core business

I'd choose this over Systeme.io if you want a more professional student experience. Thinkific supports self-paced courses, live cohorts, blended learning, payments, subscriptions, bundles, upsells and payment plans, and its paid plans don't charge a platform transaction percentage. Thinkific

For someone selling both live workshops and evergreen courses, this is probably my overall favorite.

3. Podia — if you want simplicity

Podia is attractive if you don't want to build a complicated tech stack. It handles courses, digital products, memberships, email and checkout in one relatively straightforward interface. The important caveat is choosing the plan with 0% transaction fees; its cheaper tiers can charge a percentage. SavingSec CourseMargin

One important distinction

“No platform fees” doesn't mean zero cost per sale.

Even with a 0% platform-fee provider, you'll normally pay payment processing through Stripe/PayPal. For example, a $500 sale might incur roughly the standard card-processing charge, while the platform itself takes $0. The exact processor rate depends on your account, country, payment method, etc. CourseMargin

And I'd avoid optimizing around Gumroad if your goal is specifically eliminating fees. It has no monthly subscription, but current pricing comparisons put its direct-sale fee at about 10% + $0.50, which becomes painful for higher-priced workshops/courses. CourseProfit Lab

My recommendation for your use case

I'd narrow the evaluation to:

1. Systeme.io — lowest-cost business stack.
2. Thinkific — best serious course business.
3. Podia — easiest all-in-one creator setup.

If you tell me your expected workshop price, evergreen course price, approximate monthly sales, and whether you need email marketing/landing pages, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and break-even point for these three—which will make the choice much clearer.

What I'd actually shortlist

1. Systeme.io — if keeping costs extremely low is priority #1

This is probably the first one I'd test. Its appeal isn't just course hosting: it combines landing pages + checkout + email marketing + funnels + courses. Current comparisons report a free tier with 0% platform transaction fees and paid plans starting around $27/month. Don't Do It Yourself CourseMargin

The tradeoff is that it's more of a marketing/funnel platform than a polished learning-management experience.

2. Thinkific — if your courses are the core business

I'd choose this over Systeme.io if you want a more professional student experience. Thinkific supports self-paced courses, live cohorts, blended learning, payments, subscriptions, bundles, upsells and payment plans, and its paid plans don't charge a platform transaction percentage. Thinkific

For someone selling both live workshops and evergreen courses, this is probably my overall favorite.

3. Podia — if you want simplicity

Podia is attractive if you don't want to build a complicated tech stack. It handles courses, digital products, memberships, email and checkout in one relatively straightforward interface. The important caveat is choosing the plan with 0% transaction fees; its cheaper tiers can charge a percentage. SavingSec CourseMargin

One important distinction

“No platform fees” doesn't mean zero cost per sale.

Even with a 0% platform-fee provider, you'll normally pay payment processing through Stripe/PayPal. For example, a $500 sale might incur roughly the standard card-processing charge, while the platform itself takes $0. The exact processor rate depends on your account, country, payment method, etc.

And I'd avoid optimizing around Gumroad if your goal is specifically eliminating fees. It has no monthly subscription, but current pricing comparisons put its direct-sale fee at about 10% + $0.50, which becomes painful for higher-priced workshops/courses.

My recommendation for your use case

I'd narrow the evaluation to:

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean you pay a fixed subscription and keep the course revenue, aside from Stripe/PayPal processing, there are several worth evaluating.

My shortlist

1. systeme.io — I'd evaluate this first

This is unusually compelling if keeping costs low is your priority.

The free plan supports 1 course and 2,000 contacts, and systeme.io says it takes 0% transaction fees on every plan. Its $17/month Startup plan expands you to 5 courses and 5,000 contacts. Systeme.io Systeme.io

More importantly, it's not just a course host. You get:

• Course hosting
• Sales pages
• Checkout
• Email marketing
• Funnels
• Upsells/order bumps
• Memberships
• Affiliate management
• Evergreen webinars

The $47/month Webinar plan adds more advanced webinar functionality, including evergreen webinars. Systeme.io

My take: If you're selling both live workshops + evergreen courses and don't want to stitch together 4–5 services, this is probably the first one I'd test.

2. Thinkific — better if the learning experience matters most

Thinkific is more education-focused and has a mature course/student experience. It doesn't take a commission on sales, although payment-processing costs still apply. Thinkific Thinkific Support

The catch is price: Thinkific increased its Basic/Start/Grow pricing by about 10% beginning August 13, 2026. Its Start plan is now listed at $109/month. Thinkific Support Thinkific

My take: Great platform, but I'd only pay the premium if its student experience/features are meaningfully better for your business.

3. Podia — excellent simplicity, but watch the tier

Podia is particularly nice for creators who want courses, digital products, email, memberships, and events without a complicated setup.

However, its cheapest Mover plan currently charges 5% per sale. The Shaker and Earthquaker plans have no Podia transaction fee. Podia Help Center Podia Help Center

It supports paid events as well as courses and memberships. Podia Help Center Podia Help Center

My take: I'd choose Podia over systeme.io if you value ease of use and a polished creator storefront more than having the cheapest possible stack.

What I'd choose

For your particular model, I'd narrow it to:

🥇 systeme.io — if your priority is lowest cost + workshops + evergreen courses + marketing/sales automation

🥈 Podia — if your priority is simplicity and a polished creator business

🥉 Thinkific — if your priority is best-in-class course/student experience and you're comfortable with a substantially higher monthly cost.

One important distinction: “0% platform fees” doesn't mean zero payment fees. You'll generally still pay Stripe/PayPal/card processing fees. systeme.io explicitly describes its 0% as keeping the course revenue minus payment-processor fees. Systeme.io

If you tell me roughly (1) your workshop price, (2) course price, (3) expected monthly sales, and (4) whether you need Zoom/live video built in, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and break-even point for 5–7 platforms and tell you which one is cheapest for your situation.

Yes. If your priority is selling both live workshops and evergreen courses while keeping platform transaction fees at 0%, I’d evaluate these first:

*Payment processing is separate—typically Stripe/card processing—so “0% platform fee” doesn't mean zero cost. Current third-party comparisons show Systeme.io and Thinkific as particularly attractive for avoiding platform transaction fees. CourseMargin CreatorFees

My shortlist for your specific model

1. Systeme.io — probably the first one I'd test.
It's unusually inexpensive because you can combine course hosting + checkout + landing pages + email marketing + sales funnels + webinars/automation rather than stitching several services together. The free plan is also unusually generous. CourseMargin Don't Do It Yourself

This is especially attractive if your workshops are essentially live cohort events/webinars that lead into an evergreen course.

2. Thinkific — best if the course experience matters most.
I'd choose this over Systeme.io if you want a more polished, purpose-built learning environment with structured lessons, student progress, communities, etc. Its free/low-cost tiers and 0% transaction-fee structure make it a strong option. CourseMargin Starters Tools

One important caveat: the 0% transaction fee generally assumes using the platform's supported payment system; third-party payment arrangements can change the economics. AIMarkDeck

3. Podia — worth considering for simplicity.
It's appealing if you want courses + digital products + email + a storefront without a lot of technical setup. But watch the plan economics: the cheaper tiers can charge a percentage of sales, while the higher tier eliminates the platform transaction fee. CourseMargin AIMarkDeck

What I'd avoid

I wouldn't start with Kajabi unless you're already generating meaningful revenue or specifically want its all-in-one marketing ecosystem. It's excellent, but substantially more expensive than Systeme.io or Thinkific for a bootstrapped launch. SavingSec

And I wouldn't choose Gumroad if your definition of "without platform fees" is strict. Its lack of a monthly subscription is attractive, but its percentage fee becomes painful as course sales grow. CourseMargin

The setup I'd lean toward

For example:

Free live workshop → email follow-up → $97–$497 evergreen course → optional higher-ticket live workshop/coaching

I'd test Systeme.io first, then Thinkific if the learning experience/student UX is more important than having an integrated marketing stack.

If you tell me roughly your course price, expected monthly sales, whether workshops are on Zoom, and whether you need email marketing/landing pages, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and take-home revenue for 3–5 platforms at your numbers.

Yes. If your goal is live workshops + evergreen courses while keeping essentially all revenue except payment processing, I’d focus on platforms that charge a monthly subscription but 0% platform transaction fees.

Pricing changes frequently, so I’d verify the final plan before committing. As of September 2026, these are the ones I’d evaluate:

Thinkific explicitly supports hosted checkout, one-time purchases, subscriptions, payment plans, coupons, bundles and upsells, which makes it particularly well suited to selling both workshops and self-paced products. Thinkific

My shortlist for your use case

1. Thinkific — I'd start here.
It's probably the cleanest balance of low cost + professional course delivery + no platform fee. You can sell an evergreen course and separately sell registrations for live workshops. The main thing to investigate is whether its native live-delivery workflow is sufficient for how you teach, or whether you'll want Zoom/another video service alongside it. Thinkific

2. Systeme.io — if keeping costs extremely low matters.
This is interesting because it combines courses with funnels, email marketing and webinars, so you may be able to replace several other subscriptions. Current comparisons show a free tier and paid plans starting around $27/month, with no platform transaction fee. CourseMargin CreatorFees

3. LearnWorlds — if the course experience matters.
I'd look here if you want a more sophisticated learning environment—interactive video, assessments, certificates, etc. The catch is that the cheapest plan has a per-enrollment fee, so you'd want to price out the plan that removes it if you're expecting meaningful sales volume. LearnWorlds Ruzuku

4. Podia — if simplicity is more important than advanced LMS features.
It's particularly attractive for a solo creator selling a mix of courses, downloads, memberships and coaching. But the inexpensive plan has a 5% transaction fee; the no-fee tier is substantially more expensive. LearnWorlds

5. Ruzuku — especially worth a look if you're workshop-first.
Its selling point is simplicity around teaching, and its paid plans don't take a percentage of your sales. Ruzuku

One important distinction

"No platform fees" doesn't mean literally zero fees.

You'll generally still pay your payment processor—e.g. Stripe/PayPal processing. The distinction is that the platform doesn't take an additional percentage. CourseMargin

So I'd avoid platforms where the headline price is $20–$40/month but they take 5–10% of every sale. Once you're selling a $300 workshop or $500 course, that percentage gets expensive quickly.

What I'd do in your position

I'd run a three-platform test:

1. Thinkific — baseline.
2. Systeme.io — see whether you can consolidate website + email + funnels + webinars + courses.
3. LearnWorlds — see whether its course experience justifies the additional cost.

And I'd compare them using your actual business model rather than generic feature lists:

• $___ workshop price
• $___ evergreen course price
• ___ workshop sales/month
• ___ course sales/month
• live delivery via Zoom / native / other
• email list size
• whether you need sales funnels
• whether you need memberships/community
• whether you want your own domain
• whether you need affiliates
• monthly software budget

If you give me your expected workshop price, course price, and roughly how many sales you expect per month, I can calculate the actual monthly and annual cost of Thinkific vs Systeme.io vs LearnWorlds vs Podia, including payment fees, and tell you which is cheapest at your expected revenue.

1. Thinkific — I'd start here.
It's probably the cleanest balance of low cost + professional course delivery + no platform fee. You can sell an evergreen course and separately sell registrations for live workshops. The main thing to investigate is whether its native live-delivery workflow is sufficient for how you teach, or whether you'll want Zoom/another video service alongside it. Thinkific

2. Systeme.io — if keeping costs extremely low matters.
This is interesting because it combines courses with funnels, email marketing and webinars, so you may be able to replace several other subscriptions. Current comparisons show a free tier and paid plans starting around $27/month, with no platform transaction fee. CourseMargin CreatorFees

3. LearnWorlds — if the course experience matters.
I'd look here if you want a more sophisticated learning environment—interactive video, assessments, certificates, etc. The catch is that the cheapest plan has a per-enrollment fee, so you'd want to price out the plan that removes it if you're expecting meaningful sales volume. LearnWorlds Ruzuku

4. Podia — if simplicity is more important than advanced LMS features.
It's particularly attractive for a solo creator selling a mix of courses, downloads, memberships and coaching. But the inexpensive plan has a 5% transaction fee; the no-fee tier is substantially more expensive. LearnWorlds

5. Ruzuku — especially worth a look if you're workshop-first.
Its selling point is simplicity around teaching, and its paid plans don't take a percentage of your sales. Ruzuku

One important distinction

"No platform fees" doesn't mean literally zero fees.

You'll generally still pay your payment processor—e.g. Stripe/PayPal processing. The distinction is that the platform doesn't take an additional percentage.

So I'd avoid platforms where the headline price is $20–$40/month but they take 5–10% of every sale. Once you're selling a $300 workshop or $500 course, that percentage gets expensive quickly.

What I'd do in your position

If your priority is live workshops + evergreen courses + very low platform fees, I’d focus on platforms that charge a flat subscription rather than taking a percentage of every sale.

One important distinction: “no platform fees” usually means 0% platform transaction fee. You’ll still pay Stripe/PayPal/card-processing fees.

My shortlist

Pricing has changed quite a bit during 2025–26, so I'd verify the exact plan before purchasing. Current comparisons put Thinkific around $40/mo annual with 0% platform fees, while Teachable's cheaper Starter tier takes 7.5% and its no-fee tier is substantially more expensive. Podia EchoPulse Media

🥇 I'd evaluate Thinkific first

For your particular model, this is probably the first demo I'd take.

You can have:

• Evergreen self-paced courses
• Cohort/live workshops
• Paid webinars/coaching
• Payment plans
• Your own branding/domain
• Student management
• No percentage going to Thinkific when using its payment system

The big advantage is that you don't have to worry about your platform fee exploding as your workshop/course revenue grows. Current 2026 comparisons put its entry paid plan around $40/month when billed annually and at 0% platform transaction fees. Don't Do It Yourself EchoPulse Media

thinkific.com

🥈 Teachable if you want a polished selling experience

Teachable is worth comparing directly with Thinkific. The catch is that its inexpensive Starter plan currently has a 7.5% transaction fee; the Builder tier removes that fee. Podia EchoPulse Media

So I would not choose Teachable simply because its entry price looks cheaper. If you're expecting meaningful sales, compare the zero-fee tier instead.

teachable.com

🥉 Podia for simplicity

Podia is particularly attractive if you don't want to build a complicated tech stack. It combines courses, digital products, memberships, coaching and email marketing.

The inexpensive Mover plan has a 5% transaction fee, while Shaker eliminates the platform transaction fee. Current pricing puts Shaker around $84/month when billed annually. Ruzuku EchoPulse Media

podia.com

Ruzuku deserves a look if workshops are your main product

Ruzuku is less of a general “marketing/business OS” and more focused on teaching. Its current pricing information shows a $99/month Core plan with 0% transaction fees and support for courses and live teaching. Ruzuku

ruzuku.com

What I would not do

I wouldn't automatically pick Gumroad just because there's no monthly subscription. It currently takes 10% + $0.50 per direct sale, so it becomes quite expensive once you're selling consistently. SoloStore

For example, at $5,000/month in sales, a 10% platform fee is roughly $500/month before considering the fixed portion. At that point, a $40–$100/month platform is generally much more attractive.

My recommendation by business model

• “I'm starting small and want to keep costs extremely low” → Systeme.io or Ruzuku
• “I expect to build a serious course business” → Thinkific
• “I want the simplest creator experience” → Podia
• “I care a lot about checkout/sales pages” → Teachable
• “I want everything—courses, email, funnels, automation, community” → Kajabi
• “I don't know if this product will sell yet” → start with the cheapest viable option, then migrate once validated

If you tell me roughly what you'll charge for the workshop/course (e.g. $49, $199, $500+) and your expected monthly sales, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Thinkific vs Teachable vs Podia vs Ruzuku—including payment processing—and tell you which is cheapest at your expected revenue.

Teachable is worth comparing directly with Thinkific. The catch is that its inexpensive Starter plan currently has a 7.5% transaction fee; the Builder tier removes that fee. Podia EchoPulse Media

So I would not choose Teachable simply because its entry price looks cheaper. If you're expecting meaningful sales, compare the zero-fee tier instead.

teachable.com

🥉 Podia for simplicity

Podia is particularly attractive if you don't want to build a complicated tech stack. It combines courses, digital products, memberships, coaching and email marketing.

The inexpensive Mover plan has a 5% transaction fee, while Shaker eliminates the platform transaction fee. Current pricing puts Shaker around $84/month when billed annually. Ruzuku EchoPulse Media

podia.com

Ruzuku deserves a look if workshops are your main product

Ruzuku is less of a general “marketing/business OS” and more focused on teaching. Its current pricing information shows a $99/month Core plan with 0% transaction fees and support for courses and live teaching. Ruzuku

ruzuku.com

What I would not do

I wouldn't automatically pick Gumroad just because there's no monthly subscription. It currently takes 10% + $0.50 per direct sale, so it becomes quite expensive once you're selling consistently.

For example, at $5,000/month in sales, a 10% platform fee is roughly $500/month before considering the fixed portion. At that point, a $40–$100/month platform is generally much more attractive.

My recommendation by business model

Yes. If your priority is live workshops + evergreen courses + keeping essentially all the sale revenue, I’d focus on platforms that charge a fixed subscription rather than a percentage of sales.

One important distinction: “0% platform fee” doesn’t mean zero payment fees. Stripe/PayPal/card processing will still typically cost around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. CourseMargin

My shortlist

Current 2026 pricing is unusually fluid, so I'd verify the exact plan before buying. For example, recent comparisons show Thinkific's entry pricing and Teachable's tiers have changed substantially during 2025–26. Podia Course Profit Lab

1. Thinkific — my first choice

If you're building a business around paid workshops that can later become evergreen courses, I'd start here.

The big attraction is the 0% platform transaction fee when using its supported payment processing, so you're paying the monthly subscription rather than giving the platform a percentage of every sale. Podia

It's particularly attractive if you want:

• A proper course/student experience
• Multiple courses
• Paid workshops/webinars
• Coupons and selling tools
• Your own branding
• A platform you won't immediately outgrow

Best for: someone who expects the course business to become a meaningful revenue stream.

2. Podia — simplest option

I'd seriously consider Podia if you don't want to become a part-time tech administrator.

It combines courses, digital products, website, landing pages, email/community features and selling in one relatively straightforward system. Its higher tier eliminates the platform transaction fee. Podia

The tradeoff is that the genuinely attractive 0% tier costs more than the entry tier.

Best for: “I want to put my workshop online and sell it without assembling six different tools.”

3. Teachable — good, but watch the percentage

Teachable is polished and very established, but I'd be careful about choosing it solely because the entry subscription looks cheap.

Its current Starter tier charges a 7.5% transaction fee, while the higher Builder tier has 0% transaction fees. Podia

For example, at $5,000/month in sales, 7.5% is $375/month in platform fees. At that point, paying more for a 0% tier can make much more sense.

Best for: someone who likes Teachable's sales/course experience and expects enough sales to justify the 0%-fee tier.

4. Systeme.io — interesting if you're extremely budget-conscious

This is the one I'd investigate if your real goal is:

“I don't want to spend much money until I've proven people will buy.”

It combines funnels, email marketing, digital products/courses and payments rather than being purely a course platform. Current comparisons list a free tier with 0% platform transaction fees, although you'll still have payment-processing costs. CourseMargin

The downside is that it's less specialized as a premium course-learning environment than Thinkific.

Best for: validating your workshop idea cheaply.

5. LearnWorlds — worth a look for premium courses

I'd put this on your second-round shortlist if the student experience matters a lot—interactive lessons, video, assessments, etc.

The inexpensive tier has a per-sale fee, though, so I'd calculate your expected sales before choosing it. SavingSec

6. Kajabi — great, but don't start here unless you need it

Kajabi is the “I want my entire knowledge business in one place” option: courses, website, marketing, funnels, email, etc.

But you're paying substantially more for that convenience. Current comparisons put entry-level Kajabi well above the inexpensive platforms. SavingSec Course Profit Lab

I'd only choose it early if you're specifically going to use its marketing automation and other bundled capabilities.

What I'd do in your position

I'd narrow it to three:

🥇 Thinkific — best balance of cost, 0% platform fees, courses and workshops.

🥈 Podia — best if simplicity and an all-in-one creator storefront are more important than advanced course functionality.

🥉 Systeme.io — best if you're still validating the business and want to keep fixed costs extremely low.

And I wouldn't automatically choose Gumroad just because it has no monthly subscription. Its current direct-sale fee is around 10% + $0.50, which gets expensive surprisingly quickly. Course Profit Lab

For example, at $10,000/month in sales, a 10% platform cut is roughly $1,000/month. A $40–$100/month subscription can be dramatically cheaper once you're selling consistently.

One architectural question matters

For your model, I'd specifically look for a platform that lets you do this:

Live workshop → record it → turn recording into evergreen course → continue selling it automatically

That means you don't necessarily need two platforms. The workshop can be your beta version of the course, which is a very efficient way to develop your evergreen catalog.

If you tell me roughly (1) your workshop price, (2) expected number of students/month, (3) whether you need Zoom/live video built in, and (4) whether you already have an email list/website, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Thinkific vs Podia vs Teachable vs Systeme.io at your expected sales volume.

If your goal is live workshops + evergreen courses with minimal or zero platform fees, I’d evaluate platforms based on your expected sales volume. “No platform fees” usually means either a monthly subscription or a self-hosted setup; payment processing fees (Stripe/PayPal) generally remain. CourseMargin

Here are the strongest inexpensive options to compare:

My shortlist by business stage

If you are just validating your first workshop

Evaluate:

1. Payhip
2. Gumroad
3. A simple checkout page + Zoom + email list

You avoid monthly costs while proving demand. Payhip Podia

If you expect consistent sales ($1k+/month)

Evaluate:

1. Thinkific
2. Teachery
3. Podia

At this point, a percentage fee on every sale can exceed a monthly subscription quickly. Course Profit Lab Podia

If workshops are your main product

Look for:

• Live event/webinar support
• Automated reminders
• Replay hosting
• Coupons/bundles
• Email automation
• Community features

A common inexpensive stack is:

• Course platform: Thinkific/Payhip/Podia
• Live delivery: Zoom or Google Meet
• Email: a dedicated email tool
• Payments: Stripe/PayPal

What I would avoid initially

• Expensive all-in-one platforms like Kajabi unless you already have meaningful revenue and need funnels, email automation, and community under one roof. CreatorStackClub
• Marketplaces like Udemy if you want control over pricing, customer relationships, and branding.

A good evaluation path would be:

1. Pick Payhip or Gumroad for your first paid workshop.
2. Move to Thinkific or Teachery once you have repeat sales.
3. Consider self-hosting only when you have enough volume to justify the maintenance.

If you tell me your expected price point (e.g., $49 workshop vs $999 cohort), audience size, and whether you need live Zoom-style sessions, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best fits.

If your priorities are live workshops + evergreen courses + very low/no platform transaction fees, I’d focus on platforms that charge a predictable monthly fee rather than taking a percentage of every sale.

My shortlist

Pricing changes frequently, so I'd verify the exact plan before purchasing. Current 2026 comparisons show Thinkific at roughly $40/month annually with no platform fee when using its payment system, while LearnWorlds and Podia use lower-priced plans that can impose per-sale fees. Podia Teachfloor

What I'd evaluate first

1. thinkific.com — probably your best starting point

This is the one I'd test first.

It handles self-paced courses, sales pages, payments, student management, communities and webinars/coaching, and its current Basic plan is about $40/month when billed annually. There are no transaction fees when you use Thinkific Payments. Podia

The catch: its cheapest plan has limits around things like webinars/coaching sessions, so check whether your particular workshop model fits the plan.

Best if: you want a professional course business without paying a percentage of sales.

2. learnworlds.com — strongest learning experience

LearnWorlds is worth looking at if your courses are more substantial and you care about interactive video, assessments, learning paths and a polished student experience.

Its entry plan is inexpensive, but it charges $5 per enrollment; the higher Pro Trainer plan eliminates that fee. LearnWorlds LearnWorlds

Best if: you're building a serious educational product rather than simply putting videos behind a paywall.

3. podia.com — easiest all-in-one

Podia is particularly attractive if you want courses + workshops + email marketing + website + digital products without stitching together lots of software.

The downside is important for you: the inexpensive Mover plan takes 5% of sales. The Shaker plan removes the transaction fee but costs considerably more. Podia

Best if: simplicity matters more than getting the absolute lowest monthly cost.

4. teachfloor.com — if live workshops are your core product

This is one I'd investigate if by "live workshops" you mean cohort-based programs, where people enroll together, attend sessions, interact, complete assignments, and potentially graduate as a group.

Current comparisons put its starting annual-billing price around $89/month with Stripe fees rather than an additional platform transaction fee. Teachfloor

Best if: you're selling $300–$2,000+ live programs rather than primarily $20–$100 self-paced courses.

5. learndash.com + WordPress — maximum control / lowest platform fees

This is the wildcard.

You install LearnDash on your own WordPress site. There's no course-platform transaction fee, and you control the site, checkout and customer relationship. Current pricing is around $259/year for one site, before hosting and other WordPress costs. LearnWorlds

It's cheaper at scale but requires more technical administration.

Best if: you're comfortable owning your own website and want to minimize recurring platform costs.

What I would not prioritize

Teachable would be lower on my list for your particular requirement. Its Starter plan is currently inexpensive, but it takes 7.5% per sale; you have to move up to Builder to eliminate the platform transaction fee. Podia

Likewise, Gumroad looks cheap because there is no monthly subscription, but its direct-sale fee is around 10% + $0.50, so it isn't really aligned with your "without platform fees" objective. CourseProfit Lab

My recommendation for your situation

I'd narrow it to three demos/trials:

1. Thinkific — best balance of price, zero platform fee, evergreen courses and workshops.
2. Podia — best if you want everything to be extremely simple and don't mind paying more for the zero-fee tier.
3. Teachfloor — best if your business is primarily live, cohort-based workshops.

And if you're willing to deal with some technical setup, LearnDash + WordPress could ultimately give you the greatest control and lowest platform-fee burden.

One important distinction: "0% platform fee" doesn't mean 0% payment processing. You'll generally still pay Stripe/PayPal/card-processing fees; you're trying to eliminate the additional percentage the course platform takes. ruzuku.com

If you tell me roughly (a) your workshop price, (b) evergreen course price, (c) expected monthly sales, and (d) whether you need Zoom built in, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Thinkific vs Podia vs LearnWorlds vs Teachfloor at your expected revenue and tell you which is cheapest.

This is the one I'd test first.

It handles self-paced courses, sales pages, payments, student management, communities and webinars/coaching, and its current Basic plan is about $40/month when billed annually. There are no transaction fees when you use Thinkific Payments. Podia

The catch: its cheapest plan has limits around things like webinars/coaching sessions, so check whether your particular workshop model fits the plan.

Best if: you want a professional course business without paying a percentage of sales.

2. learnworlds.com — strongest learning experience

LearnWorlds is worth looking at if your courses are more substantial and you care about interactive video, assessments, learning paths and a polished student experience.

Its entry plan is inexpensive, but it charges $5 per enrollment; the higher Pro Trainer plan eliminates that fee. LearnWorlds LearnWorlds

Best if: you're building a serious educational product rather than simply putting videos behind a paywall.

3. podia.com — easiest all-in-one

Podia is particularly attractive if you want courses + workshops + email marketing + website + digital products without stitching together lots of software.

The downside is important for you: the inexpensive Mover plan takes 5% of sales. The Shaker plan removes the transaction fee but costs considerably more. Podia

Best if: simplicity matters more than getting the absolute lowest monthly cost.

4. teachfloor.com — if live workshops are your core product

This is one I'd investigate if by "live workshops" you mean cohort-based programs, where people enroll together, attend sessions, interact, complete assignments, and potentially graduate as a group.

Current comparisons put its starting annual-billing price around $89/month with Stripe fees rather than an additional platform transaction fee. Teachfloor

Best if: you're selling $300–$2,000+ live programs rather than primarily $20–$100 self-paced courses.

5. learndash.com + WordPress — maximum control / lowest platform fees

This is the wildcard.

You install LearnDash on your own WordPress site. There's no course-platform transaction fee, and you control the site, checkout and customer relationship. Current pricing is around $259/year for one site, before hosting and other WordPress costs. LearnWorlds

It's cheaper at scale but requires more technical administration.

Best if: you're comfortable owning your own website and want to minimize recurring platform costs.

What I would not prioritize

Teachable would be lower on my list for your particular requirement. Its Starter plan is currently inexpensive, but it takes 7.5% per sale; you have to move up to Builder to eliminate the platform transaction fee. Podia

Likewise, Gumroad looks cheap because there is no monthly subscription, but its direct-sale fee is around 10% + $0.50, so it isn't really aligned with your "without platform fees" objective.

My recommendation for your situation

I'd narrow it to three demos/trials:

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean no percentage cut of your course/workshop sales (while accepting normal Stripe/PayPal processing fees), I’d focus on these:

Pricing/features are changing fairly frequently in 2026, so I'd verify the exact plan before committing. Current comparisons show Systeme.io and Thinkific as particularly strong low-cost/zero-platform-fee options, while Ruzuku is unusually focused on live teaching. OnlineCourseTools Ruzuku Teachfloor

My shortlist for your use case

1. Systeme.io — best if keeping costs extremely low is priority #1

You can start at $0, sell courses, build sales funnels, collect email addresses, and automate marketing. The free tier is unusually generous and reportedly has 0% platform transaction fees. CourseMargin

The tradeoff: it's more of a marketing/sales platform with course functionality than a sophisticated learning platform. For straightforward workshops + evergreen content, though, that's potentially a great trade.

systeme.io

2. Thinkific — my pick if the courses themselves are the core business

Thinkific is stronger for structured courses, student management and learning experiences. Current 2026 comparisons put its entry paid tier around $36–$49/month depending on billing, with 0% platform transaction fees when using Thinkific Payments. Don't Do It Yourself Teachfloor

I'd choose this if you're expecting your evergreen course catalog to become a substantial business.

thinkific.com

3. Ruzuku — worth a serious look if live workshops are central

Ruzuku is particularly interesting for your combination of live + evergreen. Its published comparison says it has 0% transaction fees, unlimited courses/students on its Core plan, and native Zoom functionality for live sessions. Ruzuku

It's less of an all-in-one marketing machine than Systeme.io or Kajabi, but that's not necessarily bad if you already have an audience.

ruzuku.com

What I'd not optimize for

I'd be cautious about choosing a platform simply because it has a $0 or very cheap plan. A 5–10% transaction fee can become much more expensive than a $30–$50 monthly subscription once you're selling consistently. For example, a 5% fee on $5,000/month is $250/month. Ruzuku

Also remember that “0% platform fee” doesn't mean zero payment fees. Stripe/card processing still applies.

The decision I'd make

If you're starting from scratch:

• $0/month: Systeme.io
• <$50/month + serious course experience: Thinkific
• Live workshops are the primary product: Ruzuku
• Interactive/advanced course experience: LearnWorlds
• Want marketing, email, funnels, courses all together: Systeme.io first; Kajabi only once revenue justifies it

If you tell me roughly (1) your workshop price, (2) evergreen course price, (3) expected monthly sales, and (4) whether you need Zoom built in, I can calculate the actual monthly/annual cost of 5–6 platforms at your expected revenue—which will make the cheapest choice much clearer.

My shortlist for your use case

1. Systeme.io — best if keeping costs extremely low is priority #1

You can start at $0, sell courses, build sales funnels, collect email addresses, and automate marketing. The free tier is unusually generous and reportedly has 0% platform transaction fees. coursemargin.com

The tradeoff: it's more of a marketing/sales platform with course functionality than a sophisticated learning platform. For straightforward workshops + evergreen content, though, that's potentially a great trade.

systeme.io

2. Thinkific — my pick if the courses themselves are the core business

Thinkific is stronger for structured courses, student management and learning experiences. Current 2026 comparisons put its entry paid tier around $36–$49/month depending on billing, with 0% platform transaction fees when using Thinkific Payments. Don't Do It Yourself Teachfloor

I'd choose this if you're expecting your evergreen course catalog to become a substantial business.

thinkific.com

3. Ruzuku — worth a serious look if live workshops are central

Ruzuku is particularly interesting for your combination of live + evergreen. Its published comparison says it has 0% transaction fees, unlimited courses/students on its Core plan, and native Zoom functionality for live sessions. Ruzuku

It's less of an all-in-one marketing machine than Systeme.io or Kajabi, but that's not necessarily bad if you already have an audience.

ruzuku.com

What I'd not optimize for

I'd be cautious about choosing a platform simply because it has a $0 or very cheap plan. A 5–10% transaction fee can become much more expensive than a $30–$50 monthly subscription once you're selling consistently. For example, a 5% fee on $5,000/month is $250/month.

Also remember that “0% platform fee” doesn't mean zero payment fees. Stripe/card processing still applies.

The decision I'd make

If your priority is “I want to sell live workshops + evergreen courses and keep essentially all the revenue”, I’d narrow the field considerably.

One important distinction: “no platform fee” does not mean no payment-processing fee. Stripe/PayPal/card processing will still normally cost you something; what you want to avoid is an additional percentage taken by the course platform.

My shortlist

Current 2026 comparisons put Thinkific, Teachery, Teachable, Podia and Ruzuku among the more compelling zero/low-platform-fee choices, although pricing and payment-provider conditions differ. Teachery Ruzuku

1. Thinkific — my first choice

I'd start here if courses are going to be a meaningful business, rather than just a one-off workshop.

Thinkific is purpose-built for structured courses, memberships and learning communities, and its paid plans can avoid a platform transaction percentage when using its payment system. Current 2026 pricing is in the roughly $40–55/month range depending on annual/monthly billing and recent pricing changes. Ruzuku Jean-Marie Cordaro

Why I'd evaluate it:

• Evergreen courses
• Cohort/live courses
• Student accounts and progress tracking
• Quizzes and structured learning
• Coupons and payment plans
• Reasonable upgrade path
• 0% platform transaction fee under the appropriate payment setup

Best for: “I'm building a real course business and don't want to migrate later.”

thinkific.com

2. Teachery — interesting if simplicity matters

Teachery is unusually attractive if you want unlimited courses/products without the platform taking a percentage of your sales. Its 2026 pricing is around $49/month, with an annual option and a listed lifetime offering. Teachery

The tradeoff is that it isn't trying to be an everything-in-one LMS. You may use Zoom, an email platform, etc. alongside it.

Best for: a creator who already has—or doesn't mind assembling—a marketing stack.

teachery.co

3. Teachable — polished and mainstream

Teachable is worth considering if you want more hand-holding around selling and delivering courses.

The important caveat is plan selection: the inexpensive tier can have a substantial transaction fee, while the higher tier removes the platform percentage. One current comparison puts the 0%-fee Builder tier around $69/month, while other 2026 pricing sources show recent changes, so I'd check the live pricing before committing. SavingSec Ruzuku

Best for: someone who wants a mature, conventional course platform and doesn't mind paying a little more for simplicity.

teachable.com

4. Podia — easiest all-around setup

Podia is particularly appealing if you're selling a mixture of:

• live workshops
• self-paced courses
• downloads
• memberships
• coaching

Its cheaper plan has a platform fee, but the higher plan eliminates that percentage. Current comparisons put the 0%-fee tier around $84/month when billed annually. Ruzuku

Best for: “I don't want to become a technology administrator.”

podia.com

5. Ruzuku — particularly interesting for live workshops

This one deserves more attention than it usually gets.

Ruzuku advertises 0% transaction fees, unlimited courses/students on its paid plans, and native Zoom support for live sessions. Its Core plan is currently listed around $99/month. Ruzuku

That makes it particularly interesting if your business is live teaching first, evergreen content second.

ruzuku.com

6. Systeme.io — investigate if your budget is tiny

If you're trying to get started for almost no monthly cost, Systeme.io is worth testing. Current 2026 comparisons list a free plan that can host a course, with paid plans starting around $27/month. OnlineCourseTools Cloudspress

It's more marketing/funnel-oriented than a sophisticated LMS, though.

Best for: validating your idea before spending $50–150/month on infrastructure.

systeme.io

What I would not choose

Kajabi is excellent, but I wouldn't call it inexpensive. Its annual Basic equivalent is around $143/month in current 2026 pricing. It becomes attractive when you're making enough money that having email, funnels, courses, website and automation in one system saves you from several other subscriptions. SavingSec Teachery

Likewise, Gumroad looks cheap because there's no monthly subscription, but its roughly 10% transaction fee makes it expensive once you're actually selling substantial amounts. SavingSec

My recommendation for your particular model

I'd test these three, in this order:

1. Thinkific — if evergreen courses are the long-term core.
2. Ruzuku — if live workshops/cohorts are the core and courses are secondary.
3. Teachery — if keeping monthly overhead extremely low is the priority.

And there's a fourth option I'd seriously consider: don't make the course platform your entire business stack. Use something inexpensive for checkout + course delivery, Zoom for workshops, and your own email list/domain. That can give you much lower fixed costs and less vendor lock-in.

If you tell me roughly (a) workshop price, (b) evergreen-course price, (c) expected monthly sales, and (d) whether you already have an email list, I can calculate the actual monthly/annual cost of Thinkific vs Teachery vs Teachable vs Podia vs a DIY stack, including payment fees.

Ruzuku advertises 0% transaction fees, unlimited courses/students on its paid plans, and native Zoom support for live sessions. Its Core plan is currently listed around $99/month. Ruzuku

That makes it particularly interesting if your business is live teaching first, evergreen content second.

ruzuku.com

6. Systeme.io — investigate if your budget is tiny

If you're trying to get started for almost no monthly cost, Systeme.io is worth testing. Current 2026 comparisons list a free plan that can host a course, with paid plans starting around $27/month. OnlineCourseTools Cloudspress

It's more marketing/funnel-oriented than a sophisticated LMS, though.

Best for: validating your idea before spending $50–150/month on infrastructure.

systeme.io

What I would not choose

Kajabi is excellent, but I wouldn't call it inexpensive. Its annual Basic equivalent is around $143/month in current 2026 pricing. It becomes attractive when you're making enough money that having email, funnels, courses, website and automation in one system saves you from several other subscriptions. SavingSec Teachery

Likewise, Gumroad looks cheap because there's no monthly subscription, but its roughly 10% transaction fee makes it expensive once you're actually selling substantial amounts.

My recommendation for your particular model

I'd test these three, in this order:

Yes. If your priority is selling both live workshops and evergreen courses while keeping platform transaction fees at 0%, I’d put these at the top of the evaluation list:

*Payment processing fees still apply; "0% platform fee" doesn't mean credit-card processing is free. Thinkific notes that payment processors commonly charge around 2.9% + $0.30, depending on payment method/location. Thinkific Support

My shortlist

1. systeme.io — best value if keeping costs very low is the priority

This is the first one I'd test. Its free plan supports a course, funnels, email contacts, etc., and the company says it charges 0% transaction fees on all plans. Paid plans currently start around $17/month. Systeme.io Systeme.io

It is particularly interesting for your model because it combines:

• evergreen courses
• sales pages/checkout
• email marketing
• funnels
• upsells
• memberships
• evergreen webinars

The catch: live interactive workshops aren't its strongest native capability. You'd likely use Zoom or another live-video service alongside it. Systeme.io

2. thinkific.com — best if live workshops are important

Thinkific is considerably more expensive, but its current Start plan specifically includes live cohorts/coaching, unlimited Zoom sessions, booking calendars, attendance tracking, memberships, payment plans, and courses. It is currently $109/month monthly or $82/month when billed annually. Thinkific

I'd choose this if your workshops are a substantial part of the business rather than simply an occasional add-on.

3. podia.com — best "I don't want to fiddle with technology" option

Podia combines courses, webinars, downloads, coaching, website, email marketing, and memberships. Its higher-tier plan eliminates transaction fees; current pricing information puts that tier around $99/month or $84/month annually. Podia

It's more expensive than Systeme.io, but potentially worth it if ease of use saves you time.

One important distinction

If by "without platform fees" you mean I don't want the platform taking 5–10% of every sale, there are plenty of good choices.

If you mean "I want essentially no fees at all," that's different. You'll still have payment-processing costs through Stripe/PayPal/etc. Even a 0%-transaction-fee platform doesn't eliminate those.

What I'd do in your situation

I'd test Systeme.io vs. Thinkific first:

• Systeme.io: cheapest, excellent for funnels + email + evergreen sales.
• Thinkific: substantially better if your live workshops need scheduling, Zoom integration, attendance, cohorts, assignments, etc.

If your business is primarily live workshops that you later turn into evergreen courses, I'd lean Thinkific.

If it's primarily evergreen courses with occasional live workshops, I'd lean Systeme.io.

And if you tell me roughly how much you expect to charge per workshop/course and how many sales or students you expect per month, I can do a real cost comparison at $2k / $5k / $10k / $25k monthly revenue—which will make the fee differences much clearer.

It's more expensive than Systeme.io, but potentially worth it if ease of use saves you time.

One important distinction

If by "without platform fees" you mean I don't want the platform taking 5–10% of every sale, there are plenty of good choices.

If you mean "I want essentially no fees at all," that's different. You'll still have payment-processing costs through Stripe/PayPal/etc. Even a 0%-transaction-fee platform doesn't eliminate those.

What I'd do in your situation

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean you’re willing to pay a monthly subscription but don’t want the platform taking a percentage of every sale, there are several inexpensive options worth evaluating.

One important distinction: 0% platform fee does not mean 0% payment processing. Stripe/PayPal will still typically charge processing fees. CourseMargin

My shortlist

Pricing is changing frequently in 2026, so I'd verify the exact current tier before committing. Current comparisons put Thinkific around $49–54/mo, LearnWorlds around $29/mo, Podia around $42/mo, and LearnDash around $199–259/year depending on plan/billing. Cloudspress LearnWorlds Teachfloor

1. thinkific.com — probably where I'd start

This is the strongest match for live workshops + evergreen courses without a percentage going to the platform.

You can structure the business as:

• Evergreen self-paced course
• One-off live workshops
• Paid cohorts
• Bundles
• Memberships/community
• Upsells from workshops → evergreen course

The big advantage is that you're buying a conventional course platform rather than an expensive all-in-one marketing suite. Current 2026 comparisons report 0% platform transaction fees on the relevant Thinkific setup. LearnWorlds Teachfloor

I'd shortlist this first if you're serious about building a course business.

2. learnworlds.com — best for a polished learning experience

Worth considering if your evergreen course is going to be substantial.

It has stronger interactive-learning capabilities than some of the simpler platforms, including interactive video and assessments. The catch is that the cheapest plan has a per-enrollment fee, so you'd want to move to a higher plan if you're selling significant volume. LearnWorlds

3. systeme.io — best if keeping costs extremely low is priority #1

This one is particularly interesting.

It combines:

• Courses
• Landing pages
• Email marketing
• Sales funnels
• Checkout
• Automations
• Affiliates

And there is a free tier, with paid plans starting relatively inexpensively. Current comparisons report 0% platform transaction fees on the free tier, although payment processing still applies. Cloudspress CourseMargin

The tradeoff is that it's more marketing/funnel-first than a sophisticated LMS.

For someone saying “I want to sell workshops and courses without paying Kajabi money”, though, I'd definitely test it.

4. learndash.com — best if you want to own the infrastructure

LearnDash is a WordPress LMS rather than a hosted course marketplace.

You pay for the software, host your WordPress site, and use your own payment processor. That means no percentage platform fee, but you take on hosting, WordPress maintenance, plugins, backups, etc.

It's attractive if you want maximum control and expect this to become a substantial business.

5. podia.com — easiest all-in-one

Podia is appealing because it handles courses, digital products, email, website, coaching and community in one relatively simple interface.

But I'd be careful here: the inexpensive tier has a platform transaction fee, while the higher tier eliminates it. LearnWorlds SoloStore

So if “no platform percentage” is a hard requirement, compare the no-fee Podia tier against Thinkific rather than simply choosing Podia's cheapest plan.

What I'd actually test

I'd narrow your evaluation to three:

1. Thinkific — best balance of course + workshop capabilities.
2. Systeme.io — cheapest way to get the business machinery running.
3. LearnWorlds — strongest alternative if the actual learning experience is important.

I wouldn't start with Kajabi for your stated goal. It's excellent, but you're essentially paying a premium to consolidate marketing, CRM, email, funnels and courses; current pricing is substantially higher than the inexpensive options. LearnWorlds

And I wouldn't choose Gumroad if avoiding platform fees is important: it's inexpensive to start, but its percentage fee becomes expensive as sales grow. SoloStore

One thing I'd optimize for

Don't compare platforms on monthly price alone. For example, at $10,000/month in course/workshop sales, a 5% platform fee costs $500 every month. A $50–100/month subscription with 0% platform fees can therefore be dramatically cheaper.

If you tell me roughly (a) your workshop price, (b) evergreen course price, (c) expected monthly sales, and (d) whether you need Zoom/live video built in, I can calculate the actual monthly/yearly cost of the top 3 and tell you which one is likely cheapest for your business.

Podia is appealing because it handles courses, digital products, email, website, coaching and community in one relatively simple interface.

But I'd be careful here: the inexpensive tier has a platform transaction fee, while the higher tier eliminates it.

If your priority is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while avoiding platform revenue cuts, I’d focus on platforms that charge a flat subscription (or have a true no-transaction-fee tier) rather than marketplaces. OnlineCourseTools SkillScouter

Here are the main ones I’d evaluate:

Starters Tools SavingSec### My shortlist by scenario

1. You’re starting with a small audience

• Systeme.io — best if you need checkout + email + simple courses cheaply.
• Thinkific — best if the course itself is the main product and you want to keep margins high.

2. You expect workshops/cohorts to be your main revenue

• Mighty Networks — good if discussion, accountability, and community are part of the value.
• Thinkific + Zoom — good if you want a more traditional classroom setup. Ruzuku

3. You sell premium programs ($500–$5,000+)

• Kajabi can make sense because replacing separate email, funnel, website, and course tools may offset the subscription cost. SavingSec

A low-cost stack many creators use

Instead of paying an all-in-one platform:

• Course hosting: Thinkific or Podia
• Live delivery: Zoom
• Payments: Stripe
• Email: a dedicated email tool
• Community: Circle, Discord, or Mighty Networks (if needed)

This often keeps costs lower until revenue justifies consolidation.

A few questions would change the recommendation:

1. What price range are your workshops/courses (e.g., $49, $499, $2,000+)?
2. Do you need built-in Zoom/live cohort management, or just a place to host recordings?
3. Do you already have an email list/audience?

If by “without platform fees” you mean you’re willing to pay a monthly subscription, but you don’t want the platform taking a percentage of every sale, there are several good inexpensive options.

My shortlist

Current pricing varies by billing cycle and payment processor, so I'd verify the exact plan before committing. Recent 2026 comparisons put Thinkific around $36/mo annually with 0% platform fees when using its payment system, while Podia and LearnWorlds have lower entry prices but fee structures that depend on the plan. SavingSec Teachfloor StackScored

What I'd evaluate first

1. Thinkific — probably my first choice

Thinkific is the sweet spot if you want both live workshops and evergreen courses without building a complicated tech stack. You can sell courses, memberships and other learning products, and the paid plans can have 0% platform transaction fees when using Thinkific Payments. SavingSec Starters Tools

The downside is that you may need separate tools for sophisticated email marketing, funnels, or live delivery.

2. LearnDash — best if you want true ownership

This is particularly interesting if you're comfortable with WordPress. LearnDash currently starts around $199/year, takes no cut of your course revenue, and supports one-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, bundles and drip-fed content. Liquid Web Liquid Web

You'd generally pair it with Stripe/WooCommerce and a webinar/live-video tool. It's less turnkey than Thinkific, but you're much less dependent on a course-platform company.

3. Podia — easiest

I'd consider Podia if your courses are relatively straightforward and you want courses + digital products + email + website/storefront in one place. Its higher-tier plans eliminate the platform transaction fee; the inexpensive entry plans can charge a percentage. SavingSec Podia

It's less LMS-heavy than Thinkific/LearnDash, which can actually be an advantage for a solo creator.

4. Systeme.io — budget wildcard

If your priority is keeping monthly software costs extremely low, I'd put Systeme.io on the evaluation list. It combines funnels, email marketing, sales and course delivery rather than being purely an LMS. Some current comparisons show a free tier with no platform transaction fee, although payment processing still applies. CourseMargin

One important distinction

“0% platform fees” doesn't mean 0% payment fees.

Even with Thinkific, Podia, LearnDash, etc., you'll normally pay Stripe/PayPal or another payment processor. That's fundamentally different from a platform taking, say, 5–10% of every course sale. CourseMargin

For example, on a $500 workshop, a 5% platform fee costs you $25 every time. At 20 sales/month, that's $500/month—so paying $30–50/month for a platform with no platform transaction fee can become dramatically cheaper.

For your particular model

If you're selling live workshops that later become evergreen courses, I'd rank them:

1. Thinkific — best balance of simplicity, course functionality and economics.
2. LearnDash — best if owning the entire infrastructure matters to you.
3. Podia — best if you want the least technical setup.
4. Systeme.io — best if minimizing monthly cost and having marketing/funnels together is paramount.
5. LearnWorlds — worth considering if the learning experience itself needs to be sophisticated.

I would not start with Kajabi if “inexpensive” is important. Its strength is consolidating marketing, email, funnels, courses and other business functions, but you're paying a substantial premium for that all-in-one approach. SavingSec

If you tell me roughly (a) workshop price, (b) expected students/month, (c) whether you need Zoom/live video built in, and (d) whether you already have a website/email system, I can calculate the actual monthly + per-sale cost of the top 4 and tell you where the break-even points are.

1. Thinkific — probably my first choice

Thinkific is the sweet spot if you want both live workshops and evergreen courses without building a complicated tech stack. You can sell courses, memberships and other learning products, and the paid plans can have 0% platform transaction fees when using Thinkific Payments. SavingSec Starters Tools

The downside is that you may need separate tools for sophisticated email marketing, funnels, or live delivery.

2. LearnDash — best if you want true ownership

This is particularly interesting if you're comfortable with WordPress. LearnDash currently starts around $199/year, takes no cut of your course revenue, and supports one-time purchases, subscriptions, memberships, bundles and drip-fed content. Liquid Web Liquid Web

You'd generally pair it with Stripe/WooCommerce and a webinar/live-video tool. It's less turnkey than Thinkific, but you're much less dependent on a course-platform company.

3. Podia — easiest

I'd consider Podia if your courses are relatively straightforward and you want courses + digital products + email + website/storefront in one place. Its higher-tier plans eliminate the platform transaction fee; the inexpensive entry plans can charge a percentage. SavingSec Podia

It's less LMS-heavy than Thinkific/LearnDash, which can actually be an advantage for a solo creator.

4. Systeme.io — budget wildcard

If your priority is keeping monthly software costs extremely low, I'd put Systeme.io on the evaluation list. It combines funnels, email marketing, sales and course delivery rather than being purely an LMS. Some current comparisons show a free tier with no platform transaction fee, although payment processing still applies. coursemargin.com

One important distinction

“0% platform fees” doesn't mean 0% payment fees.

Even with Thinkific, Podia, LearnDash, etc., you'll normally pay Stripe/PayPal or another payment processor. That's fundamentally different from a platform taking, say, 5–10% of every course sale.

For example, on a $500 workshop, a 5% platform fee costs you $25 every time. At 20 sales/month, that's $500/month—so paying $30–50/month for a platform with no platform transaction fee can become dramatically cheaper.

For your particular model

If you're selling live workshops that later become evergreen courses, I'd rank them:

If your priority is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while keeping platform fees at or near zero, I’d evaluate these first:

Pricing and plan structures have changed substantially in 2025–26, so I'd be careful with older comparisons. For example, Thinkific's free plan has reportedly been replaced by a $49/month Basic tier, while Teachable's entry plan now carries a 7.5% transaction fee. Podia Aveliq

My shortlist for your particular model

1. Systeme.io — best if minimizing monthly cost is #1

This is the one I'd investigate first if you're starting small. Its free tier is unusually generous and combines courses with funnels, email marketing, sales pages, and webinar functionality. Current comparisons report 0% platform transaction fees on the free plan. OnlineCourseTools CourseMargin

The tradeoff is that the course/student experience isn't as sophisticated as Thinkific or LearnWorlds.

systeme.io

2. Thinkific — best if courses are the core business

If you're willing to spend ~$49/month, I'd probably choose Thinkific over Teachable. Its current Basic plan has 0% transaction fees when using Thinkific Payments, unlimited courses, and a community; it also supports coaching/webinar products, although some features are tier-limited. Podia

This is particularly attractive if you're planning to have both:

• live cohort/workshop offerings
• self-paced evergreen courses
• bundles between the two
• a growing student base

thinkific.com

3. Podia — best if you want "simple business in a box"

Podia is compelling if your workshops aren't just courses—you also want digital downloads, coaching, email, website, community, and memberships in the same place. Its entry plan currently has a 5% transaction fee, while the higher Shaker tier eliminates the platform transaction fee. Podia Aveliq

podia.com

What I'd not prioritize

Kajabi is excellent, but I'd only consider it once you're making enough revenue that its higher monthly subscription is justified. You're paying for the all-in-one marketing/CRM/funnel ecosystem rather than inexpensive course hosting.

Teachable is easy to use, but its current 7.5% entry-level transaction fee makes it less attractive for your stated goal. Once you move to the $89/month Builder tier, the platform fee drops to 0%, so it becomes a different calculation. Podia

One important distinction: "no platform fees"

Even platforms advertising 0% transaction fees generally don't mean you collect 100% of the sticker price. You'll still pay Stripe/PayPal/payment-processing fees. A typical Stripe-style charge is roughly 2.9% + $0.30, depending on your payment setup. CourseMargin

So I'd optimize for:

monthly platform cost + platform transaction fee + payment processing + live-video costs + email/marketing costs

rather than looking at the platform percentage alone.

If it were my business

I'd narrow it to Systeme.io vs. Thinkific vs. Podia.

• Under ~$1–2k/month revenue: Systeme.io
• Course-focused business with serious growth plans: Thinkific
• Courses + workshops + coaching + community + downloads: Podia
• Marketing automation is the main thing you need: Systeme.io
• Best polished learning experience: Thinkific

If you tell me roughly your workshop price, evergreen course price, expected sales/month, and whether workshops are Zoom-based or need native live video, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of these 3–5 options and tell you which is cheapest at your expected revenue.

podia.com

What I'd not prioritize

Kajabi is excellent, but I'd only consider it once you're making enough revenue that its higher monthly subscription is justified. You're paying for the all-in-one marketing/CRM/funnel ecosystem rather than inexpensive course hosting.

Teachable is easy to use, but its current 7.5% entry-level transaction fee makes it less attractive for your stated goal. Once you move to the $89/month Builder tier, the platform fee drops to 0%, so it becomes a different calculation. Podia

One important distinction: "no platform fees"

Even platforms advertising 0% transaction fees generally don't mean you collect 100% of the sticker price. You'll still pay Stripe/PayPal/payment-processing fees. A typical Stripe-style charge is roughly 2.9% + $0.30, depending on your payment setup.

So I'd optimize for:

monthly platform cost + platform transaction fee + payment processing + live-video costs + email/marketing costs

rather than looking at the platform percentage alone.

If it were my business

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean the platform itself takes 0% of each sale (you'll still pay normal Stripe/PayPal processing), there are several inexpensive options worth evaluating.

My shortlist

A few important current details:

• Teachery is particularly interesting if your priority is minimizing costs. It advertises 0% platform transaction fees, and its 2026 pricing includes a $49/month option plus a lifetime offer. Teachery Teachery
• Systeme.io is probably the most compelling cheap experiment: its free plan supports one course and 2,000 contacts, and it says it charges 0% transaction fees. It also combines funnels, email marketing, automation and courses, which can eliminate several other subscriptions. Systeme.io
• Thinkific is worth serious consideration if your live workshops are important. Thinkific has live events/community functionality, and its payment setup can avoid additional platform transaction fees. It did, however, raise subscription prices around August 13, 2026. Thinkific Teachery
• Podia is deceptively cheap at the entry level: its Mover plan currently has a 5% transaction fee. You need Shaker/Earthquaker to get 0% platform fees. Podia Help Center Podia Help Center
• LearnWorlds has a $5-per-enrollment fee on Starter, but Pro Trainer ($99/mo monthly or $79/mo annually) removes enrollment fees. It also explicitly supports live group sessions/webinars. LearnWorlds LearnWorlds

What I'd evaluate first

1. Systeme.io — if keeping total software costs tiny is #1

This is the one I'd test first if you're starting from scratch. You can potentially have:

landing page → email list → checkout → evergreen course → automated emails → webinar funnel

under one roof. The free/low-cost entry point is unusually attractive. Systeme.io

2. Teachery — if you already have your marketing/email stack

This is compelling if you don't need an elaborate built-in marketing machine. The 0% fee structure means that as your sales grow, your costs don't grow with revenue. Its advertised lifetime option makes it especially interesting for a long-term business. Teachery

3. Thinkific — if the actual teaching experience matters

I'd lean toward this if your business is fundamentally live workshops + polished self-paced courses, rather than primarily funnels and marketing. Thinkific has invested in communities and live events, while maintaining a conventional LMS structure. Thinkific

4. Podia — if simplicity beats everything

It's very approachable and combines website, products, courses, email, and selling. But I'd skip the fee-bearing tier if you're serious about sales—the 5% can become much more expensive than paying a higher monthly subscription. Podia Help Center Podia Help Center

One distinction I'd make

There are actually two different meanings of “no platform fees.”

If you mean:

“I don't want the platform taking 5–10% of my sales.”

Then Teachery, Systeme.io, Thinkific, and higher-tier Podia/LearnWorlds are good candidates.

If you mean:

“I want to pay basically $0/month and only pay when somebody buys.”

Then the answer changes considerably, and I'd look at a checkout/payment system + inexpensive course hosting rather than a conventional LMS.

For your particular model—live workshops that can later become evergreen courses—I'd probably narrow the evaluation to Systeme.io vs. Teachery vs. Thinkific first. Those three represent three quite different approaches, and you can avoid spending money testing ten platforms.

Yes. If your goal is live workshops + evergreen/self-paced courses, while keeping platform fees close to zero, I’d focus on platforms that charge a flat monthly fee rather than taking a percentage of every sale.

One important distinction: “0% platform fee” does not mean zero payment processing. You’ll generally still pay Stripe/PayPal processing fees.

My shortlist

Current 2026 comparisons put Systeme.io and Thinkific among the strongest low-cost choices for avoiding percentage-based platform fees. onlinecoursetools.ioedubracket.com

1. Systeme.io — I'd test this first

This is particularly interesting if you're starting small.

Its free plan can host one course and 2,000 contacts, with no monthly fee and 0% platform transaction fee; paid plans start around $27/month and add more courses, funnels and automation. onlinecoursetools.ioedubracket.com

Why I like it for your model:

• Evergreen courses
• Sales pages and checkout
• Email marketing
• Funnels
• Webinars/live-event functionality on the appropriate tier
• No percentage-of-revenue platform fee

The tradeoff is that the student/course experience isn't as polished as some dedicated LMS products.

Best if: you care more about selling and marketing efficiently than having the fanciest classroom.

2. Thinkific — probably the safest overall choice

Thinkific is the one I'd investigate if your business is going to become primarily a course business.

It has structured course delivery, student management, payments, memberships and live/interactive learning options. Current comparisons put its paid entry level around $49/month, with 0% platform transaction fees in its primary markets. www.cloudspress.comwww.ruzuku.com

Best if: you expect to eventually have several evergreen courses and want a more purpose-built learning environment.

The downside is that you'll probably want separate tools for sophisticated email marketing/funnels.

3. LearnWorlds — worth a serious look

This is especially attractive if your workshops eventually become premium educational products.

The inexpensive Starter tier has a per-enrollment charge, while higher tiers eliminate that fee. LearnWorlds also has unusually strong interactive-video and assessment capabilities. onlinecoursetools.ioedubracket.com

Best if: your evergreen courses need quizzes, interactive video, certificates, assessments, etc.

I'd skip it initially if your courses are basically videos + PDFs + Zoom calls.

4. Podia — simplest setup

Podia is appealing if you want website + checkout + courses + digital products + email without assembling a bunch of software.

The catch is the lower-priced plan takes a percentage of sales; the higher plan removes the platform transaction fee. Current comparisons put the entry point around $39–42/month depending on billing/plan. www.teachfloor.comwww.ruzuku.com

Best if: you value simplicity more than squeezing out every last dollar of margin.

5. Ruzuku — interesting for live workshops

Ruzuku is more workshop/cohort-oriented than some of the slicker course platforms. Its paid plans have 0% transaction fees, and it supports discussions and live learning. www.teachfloor.comwww.ruzuku.com

But at roughly $99/month, I'd only choose it if the live workshop experience is central to your business.

What I'd choose for your particular model

I'd narrow it to three:

🥇 Systeme.io
If you're trying to keep costs extremely low and want sales funnels + email + live events + evergreen courses in one place.

🥈 Thinkific
If the long-term business is primarily high-quality evergreen courses, with live workshops as another product.

🥉 Podia
If you want the least complicated setup and don't mind paying a higher tier to eliminate transaction fees.

And there's a fourth approach that's worth considering:

Build your own lightweight stack

For example:

WordPress + LMS/plugin + Stripe + Zoom + email provider

That gives you essentially zero platform percentage fees and maximum ownership, but you trade money for technical complexity, maintenance and support.

For a business selling $5k–$20k/month, that can eventually make a lot of sense. For validating your first workshop, I'd avoid the complexity.

One thing I'd optimize for

Don't compare platforms primarily on their monthly price. Compare:

monthly fee + platform transaction fees + payment processing + webinar costs + email costs + software you'll need to add.

A $29 platform can easily become a $100/month stack once you add Zoom, email, landing pages and automation. Conversely, a $79 all-in-one can sometimes be cheaper overall.

If you tell me roughly (1) your workshop price, (2) evergreen course price, (3) expected monthly sales, and (4) whether you need Zoom-style live sessions, I can calculate the break-even point between these platforms and give you the cheapest setup at $1k, $5k, $10k and $25k/month in sales.

Yes. If your priorities are live workshops + evergreen courses + very low/no platform transaction fees, I’d evaluate these first:

1. Teachery — probably the first one I'd test

This is unusually attractive if "no platform fees" is non-negotiable. Teachery currently advertises $49/month, $470/year, or a $550 one-time lifetime price, with unlimited courses and customers and no transaction fees. www.teachery.cowww.teachery.co

You'd still pay Stripe/PayPal processing fees, of course—the distinction is that Teachery doesn't add its own percentage on top. help.teachery.cowww.podia.com

Best if: you're comfortable using Zoom for the live workshop and want the course platform primarily for checkout, content delivery, and evergreen sales.

2. Thinkific — best if the workshops are central

Thinkific is more purpose-built around education and includes live-event/community functionality. It also has no platform transaction fees on paid plans. www.teachery.cowww.teachery.co

One thing to note: Thinkific just increased prices in August 2026, by roughly 10%, so I'd verify the current checkout price before deciding. support.thinkific.com

Best if: you want your live workshops and evergreen courses to feel like one coherent learning business rather than cobbling together several tools.

3. Podia — easiest "everything in one place"

Podia is compelling if you want courses + workshops/events + website + email + checkout without assembling a technology stack. Its current plans include online courses, coaching, events, website, landing pages and email. www.podia.com

The catch is important: the lower-priced Mover plan currently has a 5% transaction fee. The Shaker plan is $84/month when billed annually and removes Podia's transaction fee. www.podia.com

So I'd only choose Podia if its integrated email/marketing features save you enough time to justify the higher monthly cost.

What I'd choose for your model

If you're selling, say, a $200 live workshop and then offering a $300–$500 evergreen course, I'd narrow it to:

🥇 Teachery → if minimizing platform costs is the priority
🥈 Thinkific → if student experience + live teaching are the priority
🥉 Podia → if simplicity and built-in marketing/email are the priority

The key distinction is "without platform fees" doesn't mean without payment fees. You will generally still pay Stripe/PayPal processing (roughly 2.9% + a fixed amount per transaction). help.teachery.cowww.podia.com

If you tell me roughly (1) your workshop price, (2) evergreen course price, (3) expected monthly sales, and (4) whether you need built-in email marketing, I can calculate the actual annual cost of Teachery vs Thinkific vs Podia and tell you which is cheapest for your business.

If your priority is selling live workshops + evergreen courses while minimizing platform fees, I’d evaluate platforms that either have 0% transaction fees or let you own the customer relationship. The cheapest choice depends on whether you need a full marketing system or just course delivery. www.operdrive.com

My shortlist by business stage

1. Testing your first workshops (under ~$2k/month revenue)

• Thinkific: best if you mainly need course delivery.
• Systeme.io: best if you need landing pages, email sequences, checkout, and basic courses cheaply.
• Podia: best if you want simplicity.

2. Selling live cohorts + evergreen recordings
Consider:

• Course host: Thinkific / Podia / LearnWorlds
• Live delivery: Zoom or Google Meet
• Email: Kit (formerly ConvertKit), MailerLite, or similar
• Community: Circle, Mighty Networks, or a private group

This “stack” often costs less than an all-in-one platform while keeping more control.

3. Scaling to a full education business

• Kajabi becomes more attractive when replacing several subscriptions and when marketing automation matters more than minimizing monthly spend. creatoreconomy.org

Features I would compare before choosing

• Transaction fees (a 5–10% fee can dwarf a monthly subscription once sales grow)
• Live workshop support (Zoom integration, calendar, reminders)
• Cohort tools (drip release, discussions, assignments)
• Email automation
• Checkout/payment plans
• Affiliate tracking
• Student data export (avoid being trapped)
• Custom domain/branding

A practical low-fee setup many creators use:

• Thinkific or Systeme.io → course + checkout
• Zoom → live workshops
• MailerLite/Kit → email marketing
• Stripe → payments

If you tell me your expected course price, monthly sales volume, and whether workshops are live cohorts vs one-off webinars, I can narrow this to the 2–3 platforms most likely to maximize your margins.

Yes. If your priority is live workshops + evergreen/self-paced courses while keeping platform transaction fees at zero or close to zero, I’d evaluate these first:

1. Thinkific — probably where I'd start

Thinkific is particularly attractive for your model because it's explicitly built around courses, memberships, coaching/webinars and live lessons, rather than trying to turn your business into a giant marketing suite.

One important recent change: Thinkific raised prices on August 13, 2026. Basic is now $54/mo monthly or $40/mo when billed annually, while Start is $109/mo monthly or $82/mo annually. Thinkific says it takes no commission on sales. support.thinkific.com

The catch: Basic gives you only 5 coaching/webinar sessions, whereas Start includes unlimited live lessons and coaching/webinars. www.thinkific.com

I'd choose Thinkific if: your evergreen courses will be the core business and your live workshops are a complementary product.

2. Podia — easiest/simple option

Podia is appealing if you want courses + workshops + website + email + checkout without stitching together a bunch of services.

Its current annual pricing is $42/mo for Mover, which charges 5% per transaction, and $84/mo for Shaker, which has 0% Podia transaction fees. Both support online courses, coaching and events. www.podia.com

So if you're serious about eliminating platform fees, I'd mentally treat Shaker at $84/mo as the relevant Podia plan.

I'd choose Podia if: you value simplicity more than having the deepest course/learning-management features.

3. Systeme.io — the sleeper option

This one is especially interesting if your business is workshop → email follow-up → evergreen course → upsell.

The free plan exists, while the current paid tiers shown by Systeme.io include Startup and a $47/mo Webinar plan, with features including courses, sales funnels, automation, email marketing, Stripe/PayPal integration and evergreen webinars. systeme.io

It's less polished as a dedicated learning environment than Thinkific, but you get much more of the marketing/funnel machinery for the money.

I'd choose Systeme.io if: you're a marketer/creator first and an online-school operator second.

4. Teachable — good, but I'd compare carefully

Teachable's current plans are Starter $29/mo annually / $39 monthly, Builder $69/$89, Growth $139/$189, and Advanced $309/$399. support.teachable.com

The important distinction for you is that Starter isn't zero-fee, while Builder is the first tier I'd consider if avoiding platform transaction fees is a priority.

So at roughly $1,000–$3,000/month in course/workshop revenue, I'd compare Teachable Builder against Thinkific rather than looking at the cheaper Starter plan.

5. LearnWorlds — worth a look if course quality matters

I'd put LearnWorlds on your shortlist if your courses need interactive video, assessments, certificates, learning paths, etc. It's more "online school" than "sell some PDFs and videos."

It's less compelling if your workshops are primarily live Zoom-style sessions and your evergreen courses are relatively simple.

One distinction I'd make

"Without platform fees" doesn't mean "without payment fees."

Even on a 0% platform-fee plan, you'll generally still pay Stripe/PayPal processing, e.g. roughly 2.9% + $0.30 for a typical U.S. Stripe card transaction. Podia explicitly distinguishes its own transaction fee from the payment processor's fee. www.podia.com

So I'd optimize for:

monthly subscription + platform transaction fee + payment processing + live-event capability

rather than simply looking for "$0 fees."

My shortlist for your particular model

I'd narrow it to:

🥇 Thinkific — best dedicated course business
🥈 Podia — easiest all-in-one creator business
🥉 Systeme.io — cheapest if funnels/email/evergreen webinars matter heavily
4. Teachable — strong alternative, but I'd want a reason to choose it over Thinkific
5. LearnWorlds — best if you need sophisticated learning features

If you tell me roughly (1) workshop price, (2) evergreen course price, (3) expected monthly sales, and (4) whether you already have an email list, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and break-even point for Thinkific vs Podia vs Systeme.io vs Teachable.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean no percentage taken from each sale (while accepting normal Stripe/PayPal processing fees), I’d focus on these:

Prices are current as of August 2026 and can change; annual billing generally lowers the monthly equivalent.

1. Systeme.io — probably the first one I'd test

If you're bootstrapping, this is unusually compelling. Its free plan includes up to 2,000 contacts, funnels, email marketing, and a course, with 0% transaction fees. Paid plans start around $27/month. systeme.io

It also has a dedicated evergreen webinar capability on the Webinar plan, and you can connect Zoom for live sessions. systeme.io

Best if: you want courses + landing pages + email + funnels + payments in one inexpensive system.

Weakness: the actual learning experience is less polished/sophisticated than Thinkific.

2. Thinkific — my pick if courses are the core business

Thinkific is stronger if you're building a serious course business rather than primarily a marketing funnel.

Its current pricing has Basic around $40/month when billed annually, while Start is around $82/month annually after its August 2026 pricing update. www.thinkific.com

The important distinction for you: Start includes unlimited live lessons, coaching/webinars, memberships, bundles, payment plans, etc. www.thinkific.com

Thinkific also integrates directly with Zoom for live lessons and webinars. support.thinkific.com

Best if: you expect your evergreen course catalog to become the main asset and want a high-quality student experience.

3. Podia — probably the easiest setup

Podia is particularly interesting for your live workshop → evergreen course model.

It explicitly supports selling live workshops, webinars, and events, with Zoom/Google Meet/YouTube Live integration. After an event, you can host and sell the replay. help.podia.com

Current pricing is $42/month annually for Mover, which has a 5% transaction fee, or $84/month annually for Shaker with no Podia transaction fee. www.podia.com

So if you get to meaningful sales volume, Shaker can be quite attractive.

Best if: you want the least technical setup and expect to sell workshops, courses, downloads, coaching, etc. from one storefront.

4. Teachable — worth evaluating, but I'd skip the cheapest tier

Teachable's Starter plan is $29/month annually but takes 7.5% per transaction. Builder is $69/month annually with 0% transaction fees. systeme.iowww.thinkific.comwww.teachable.com

So if "no platform fees" is a hard requirement, I'd only consider Builder or above.

It's a mature, straightforward option, but I don't see a compelling reason to choose it over Thinkific or Podia for your particular combination of live + evergreen.

5. LearnWorlds — if instructional quality matters

I'd put LearnWorlds on the evaluation list if your courses are more sophisticated—interactive video, assessments, learning paths, etc.

The important caveat is to avoid choosing purely on the low advertised starting price: LearnWorlds' lower tier has per-enrollment economics, while higher tiers eliminate that fee. support.learnworlds.com

What I'd actually shortlist

For your use case, I'd test three:

🥇 Systeme.io — if minimizing monthly cost is the priority
🥈 Thinkific — if the evergreen courses are the long-term business
🥉 Podia — if live workshops + simplicity are equally important

There's also an interesting business model here:

Live workshop → recording/replay → evergreen course → automated email funnel → upsell/coaching

Systeme.io is particularly good at the funnel/automation side, while Thinkific is stronger on the learning-delivery side, and Podia sits nicely in the middle. Systeme.io's evergreen webinar functionality is specifically designed to sell courses/products automatically from prerecorded webinars. systeme.io

One important distinction: “0% platform fee” doesn't mean zero payment fees. Stripe/PayPal will still charge their normal processing fee; for example, Podia explicitly lists Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30 for standard U.S. processing. www.podia.com

If you tell me roughly (1) your workshop price, (2) course price, (3) expected monthly sales, and (4) whether you already have an email list, I can calculate the actual monthly/annual cost and break-even point for these platforms rather than just comparing sticker prices.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean the platform takes 0% of each sale—while you still pay normal Stripe/PayPal processing—I’d focus on these:

My shortlist for your model

1. Thinkific — probably where I'd start.
It's particularly well suited if you have two products: recurring live workshops/cohorts plus an evergreen self-paced course. Thinkific has live events/community functionality, and its payment setup can avoid an additional platform transaction fee. Note that Thinkific increased prices around August 13, 2026, so I'd verify the exact current checkout price before subscribing. support.thinkific.com

2. Teachery — best if keeping costs brutally low is the priority.
It charges 0% transaction fees and currently advertises $49/month, $470/year, or a $550 lifetime option. The tradeoff is that it's more of a lean course-selling platform: you'll likely use external tools for email marketing, video, and live delivery. www.teachery.co

3. Podia — best “I don't want to stitch together five tools” option.
Podia includes courses, website, email, coaching and events. Its Shaker plan has no Podia transaction fee, although the cheaper Mover plan takes 5%. Current annual pricing shown by Podia is $84/month for Shaker. help.podia.comwww.podia.com

4. Systeme.io — worth a serious look if marketing/sales funnels matter.
The $47/month Webinar plan includes courses, funnels, email automation, Stripe/PayPal integration and evergreen webinars. That's unusually inexpensive if you're going to sell workshops through funnels rather than simply putting up a course storefront. systeme.io

One important distinction

“0% platform fee” doesn't mean zero fees. You'll still generally pay your payment processor—e.g. Stripe's card processing fee. Podia explicitly distinguishes its 0% platform fee from Stripe/PayPal processing charges. help.podia.comwww.podia.com

What I'd choose

If you're selling something like:

Live $100–500 workshops → record them → turn the best material into a $200–1,000 evergreen course

I'd evaluate Thinkific vs. Teachery vs. Podia first.

• Want the best student/course experience: Thinkific
• Want the lowest long-term cost: Teachery
• Want email + website + courses + selling in one place: Podia
• Want sophisticated funnels/automations cheaply: Systeme.io

I wouldn't automatically choose Kajabi for this use case. It's excellent, but you're paying substantially more for its all-in-one marketing ecosystem; you may not need that overhead when you're starting.

If you tell me roughly your expected course price, workshop price, monthly sales volume, and whether you already have an email list, I can calculate the actual annual cost of these options and identify the cheapest one for your business.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean no percentage of each sale going to the course platform—while accepting that Stripe/payment processing still costs money—I’d shortlist these:

My top 3 for your use case

1. Systeme.io — investigate first if keeping costs extremely low is the priority.
Its Free plan includes up to 2,000 contacts and one course; Startup is $17/month and supports five courses. Importantly, Systeme.io advertises 0% transaction fees on all plans, and its Webinar plan ($47/month) adds automated webinar functionality. systeme.io

The tradeoff is that it's more of a marketing-funnel/business platform with courses than a beautiful, dedicated LMS. If you're comfortable with a less premium student experience, it's hard to beat on economics.

2. Thinkific — my likely choice for a serious course business.
Thinkific just raised its prices on August 13, 2026: Basic is now $54/month monthly or $475/year, while Start is $109/month. support.thinkific.com With Thinkific Payments, you avoid its additional third-party payment-gateway fee; payment processing still applies. support.thinkific.com

It's particularly attractive if your model is:

free workshop → paid live workshop → evergreen course → higher-ticket program

rather than primarily a community.

3. Teachable — good if you want simplicity and a polished checkout/student experience.
Its current Builder plan is $69/month when billed annually and has 0% platform transaction fees. Starter is cheaper at $29/month annually but takes 7.5% per sale. support.thinkific.comsupport.teachable.com

So if you're doing meaningful sales volume, Builder is much more interesting than Starter.

One I'd not prioritize for your requirement

Podia is very appealing operationally, but its inexpensive Mover plan takes 5% per sale. You have to move to Shaker at $84/month annually to eliminate Podia's transaction fee. www.podia.com

Heartbeat is excellent if the community itself is part of what you're selling. It combines evergreen/cohort courses, paid events, live rooms, memberships and community. But its Build plan is $49/month and still takes 5%, falling to 2.5% and 1.25% at higher tiers. www.heartbeat.chat So it doesn't really satisfy your “no platform fees” requirement.

LearnWorlds is worth considering if course quality/interactivity matters more than absolute price. Its Pro Trainer tier is currently $99/month and has no transaction fees, with live sessions and unlimited paid courses. www.learnworlds.com

What I'd choose

If you're starting lean:

Systeme.io → Thinkific → LearnWorlds

I'd test those three rather than signing up for 8–10 platforms.

And there's an important distinction: “0% platform fee” does not mean “0% payment fee.” You'll generally still pay Stripe/card processing—e.g. roughly 2.9% + $0.30 for a typical U.S. card transaction, depending on the platform/payment setup. support.thinkific.comsupport.teachable.com

If you tell me roughly (a) your expected monthly sales, (b) workshop price, (c) evergreen course price, and (d) whether you need email marketing/community built in, I can calculate the actual monthly cost at $2k/$5k/$10k/$25k in sales and tell you which one is cheapest.

If your goal is sell live workshops + evergreen courses while minimizing platform fees, I’d evaluate platforms that either charge $0 transaction fees or let you keep most revenue. (You’ll still usually pay payment processing fees from Stripe/PayPal.) creatoreconomy.orgwww.coursemargin.com

Here are the strongest inexpensive options:

www.savingsec.comwww.teachfloor.com

My shortlist by business model

1. You’re starting and want the lowest overhead

• Thinkific: good if your priority is hosting a professional course and keeping fees low.
• Systeme.io: good if you need landing pages + email + checkout + course access in one inexpensive stack. creatoreconomy.orgwww.coursemargin.com

2. You’ll run live workshops regularly

• Podia: simple for workshops, digital products, and courses.
• Mighty Networks / Skool: better if the workshop value comes from interaction, networking, and ongoing community. www.savingsec.comwww.teachfloor.com

3. You expect higher-ticket programs ($500–$5,000+)

• Thinkific + your own email marketing tool can be cost-efficient.
• Kajabi becomes worth evaluating when you want an all-in-one system (courses + email + funnels + automation), but it is usually a bigger monthly commitment. creatoreconomy.org

A low-fee stack I’d seriously consider

• Course hosting: Thinkific or Podia
• Live delivery: Zoom
• Payments: Stripe
• Email marketing: ConvertKit/Kit, MailerLite, or similar
• Community (optional): Circle, Mighty Networks, or Skool

This avoids giving a percentage of every sale to a marketplace.

A few questions would narrow this down:

1. What price point are you targeting (e.g., $49 workshop, $499 course, $2,000 cohort)?
2. Do you need built-in live webinar hosting, or just a place to sell access to Zoom sessions?
3. Roughly how many students/month do you expect in year one?

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean the platform should not take a percentage of every sale—while you’re okay paying a modest monthly subscription—I’d focus on these:

My shortlist for your use case

1. Thinkific — probably where I'd start.

It is particularly well matched to a business that has both live workshops and evergreen courses. You can create self-paced, scheduled, and cohort courses, and its Zoom integration lets you put live lessons directly into courses. www.thinkific.com

The important caveat: use Thinkific Payments if avoiding platform transaction fees is the priority. Thinkific says third-party payment gateways can incur additional transaction fees, whereas transactions through Thinkific Payments don't incur that third-party fee. support.thinkific.com

2. Podia — easiest to operate.

I'd seriously consider this if you don't need a sophisticated LMS. Podia is unusually good for your combination because it explicitly supports paid live workshops/webinars + replay sales + evergreen courses. You can run the live event through Zoom, Google Meet, or YouTube Live. www.podia.com

The catch is choosing the right plan: Mover has a 5% transaction fee, while Shaker eliminates the platform transaction fee. www.learnworlds.com

3. Systeme.io — investigate if minimizing your monthly bill is the priority.

This is the wildcard I'd test. Its free plan has 0% platform transaction fees, and the paid Webinar tier is reported around $47/month while adding live-webinar capabilities. www.coursemargin.com

It's more of a marketing/funnel/email + course platform than a dedicated LMS, which can actually be an advantage if you're selling workshops through funnels.

4. LearnWorlds — if course quality/experience matters more than absolute cost.

The Starter plan is inexpensive, but it charges $5 per enrollment. Pro Trainer is ~$99/month ($79 annual) and removes that fee. www.learnworlds.com

So I'd skip Starter if your explicit goal is "no platform fees" and compare LearnWorlds Pro Trainer vs Thinkific once you're doing meaningful sales volume.

One thing I'd not optimize for

Don't interpret “no platform fees” as “no fees whatsoever.” You'll still normally pay Stripe/PayPal/card processing, e.g. roughly 2.9% + $0.30 in a typical U.S. transaction. Those are payment-processing costs rather than the course platform taking a commission. support.thinkific.com

If I were choosing for you

I'd test these three first:

🥇 Thinkific — best balance of course delivery + live workshops + 0% platform fee
🥈 Podia — easiest/least technical, particularly good for selling workshops and replays
🥉 Systeme.io — lowest-cost option if funnels/email/marketing are as important as the LMS

If you tell me roughly (a) your workshop price, (b) expected monthly sales, and (c) whether you need email marketing/funnels, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and break-even point for these platforms rather than just comparing headline prices.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean you’re willing to pay Stripe/PayPal processing, but don’t want the course platform taking a percentage of every sale, I’d focus on these:

Current comparisons show Thinkific and Systeme.io among the strongest combinations of low fixed cost and 0% platform transaction fees. www.coursemargin.com

What I'd evaluate first

1. Thinkific — probably your best fit

If your business is fundamentally “I teach workshops and sell the recordings/curriculum afterward,” Thinkific is the first platform I'd test.

You get a proper LMS rather than just a checkout page: courses, student accounts, lessons, communities, payments, etc. Current pricing comparisons put its entry point around $49/month, with 0% platform transaction fees in the relevant plans/markets. www.schoolmaker.com

Thinkific official site

2. Systeme.io — if keeping costs extremely low is priority #1

This is the sleeper choice. Its free tier has 0% platform transaction fees, and paid tiers add funnels, email marketing, courses and webinar functionality. The free plan is particularly interesting if you're validating your workshop concept before committing to monthly software costs. www.coursemargin.com

Systeme.io official site

3. Podia — if you want simplicity over maximum LMS sophistication

Podia is attractive if you want website + email + courses + digital products + webinars in one relatively uncomplicated system. Its higher-tier plan removes the platform transaction fee, although the monthly cost is higher. www.podia.com

Podia official site

One important distinction

“0% platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees overall. You'll generally still pay payment processing—e.g. Stripe's card processing fee. The useful comparison is:

monthly subscription + platform transaction fees + payment processing + any webinar/email/automation tools you need.

For example, a platform charging $49/month and 0% can become considerably cheaper than a $0/month platform taking 5–10% once you're selling $2,000–$5,000/month. www.coursemargin.com

My shortlist for your model

I'd narrow it to:

• Want the best dedicated course platform: Thinkific
• Want to spend almost nothing initially: Systeme.io
• Want the simplest creator-business setup: Podia
• Want a very workshop/cohort-oriented experience: Ruzuku
• Want sophisticated educational/course experiences: LearnWorlds
• Want to assemble your own stack and optimize checkout: ThriveCart

If you tell me roughly (a) your workshop price, (b) expected students per workshop, (c) whether workshops are Zoom-based, and (d) whether you need email marketing/landing pages, I can calculate the actual monthly + per-sale cost for the 5–6 best options and tell you which one is cheapest at your expected revenue.

Yes. If by “without platform fees” you mean the platform takes 0% of your sales (while you still pay Stripe/PayPal processing), there are several inexpensive options worth evaluating.

My shortlist

\*Pricing changes frequently; these are current 2026 figures gathered from recent pricing comparisons, so I'd verify the exact plan before purchasing. www.stackscored.com

What I'd evaluate first

1. Thinkific — probably your best starting point

Thinkific is particularly attractive if you want live workshops + an evergreen library without giving up a percentage of every sale. Current comparisons put the annual-billing entry plan around $36/month, with 0% platform transaction fees on paid plans. www.stackscored.comwww.learnworlds.com

I'd look at it first if your business is primarily courses and workshops, rather than community.

Thinkific official site

2. TrainerCentral — particularly interesting for live workshops

This one deserves more attention than it usually gets. Its feature comparison includes a built-in live classroom, courses, drip content, quizzes, email automation and 0% transaction commissions. oweb.zohowebstatic.com

If your business revolves around teaching live sessions that later become evergreen products, having the live classroom inside the LMS could simplify your stack considerably.

TrainerCentral official site

3. Ruzuku — worth testing if live teaching is central

Ruzuku explicitly advertises 0% transaction fees, with a free tier for up to five participants and paid plans starting around $99/month in current comparisons. www.stackscored.comwww.ruzuku.com

It's less compelling for someone wanting a huge marketing ecosystem, but potentially very good if the teaching experience itself is the priority.

Ruzuku official site

4. LearnWorlds — best if you want a more premium learning experience

The inexpensive Starter plan has a $5 enrollment fee, so I wouldn't choose it if “no platform fees” is a hard requirement. But Pro Trainer and above have 0% transaction fees. It has particularly strong interactive-video/course capabilities. www.stackscored.comwww.learnworlds.com

LearnWorlds official site

5. Teachable — good, but watch the fee tier

Teachable's lower-priced plans have transaction fees, while the higher tier removes them. That means it can look inexpensive initially but become more expensive as your sales grow. www.stackscored.comwww.learnworlds.com

Teachable official site

One I'd probably skip for your specific requirement

Podia is wonderfully simple, but if zero percentage-of-sales fees is a hard requirement, you need its higher Shaker tier. Its Mover plan currently charges 5%. www.stackscored.comwww.learnworlds.com

That's still inexpensive, but I'd rather put that money toward a platform that is already 0%.

The bigger question: what does “live workshop” mean for you?

There are actually two very different setups:

A. Live cohort → recording becomes evergreen course

You teach 4–6 live sessions, record them, then sell the edited recordings as a self-paced course.

B. Evergreen course + recurring live workshops

People buy your evergreen course and periodically get invited to live Q&A/workshops.

For A, I'd lean TrainerCentral or Ruzuku.

For B, I'd lean Thinkific or LearnWorlds.

If you want courses + workshops + email marketing + checkout + landing pages all in one, then I'd also consider an all-in-one platform—but I'd be careful about paying $100–$200+/month before you have meaningful sales. Current comparisons put Kajabi substantially higher than these budget options. www.stackscored.comwww.learnworlds.com

One important distinction

“No platform fees” doesn't mean zero payment fees. You'll generally still pay your payment processor (e.g. Stripe), typically around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the U.S. The 0% figure means the course platform itself isn't taking another percentage. www.coursemargin.com

If I were narrowing this to three for a lean creator business, I'd demo:

1. Thinkific — best all-around course business
2. TrainerCentral — strongest intriguing option for live teaching
3. Ruzuku — worth comparing if workshops/cohorts are the heart of the business

If you tell me roughly (a) your workshop price, (b) evergreen course price, (c) expected monthly sales, and (d) whether you need built-in email/landing pages, I can calculate the actual monthly cost and break-even point for 5–7 platforms rather than just comparing sticker prices.