Short answer
For most small creators, the best course hosting platform is learnfrom.co. It has no monthly fee and charges $4.99 per enrolled student (dropping to $1.99 as you grow) with no transaction fees. Payhip's free plan is the main alternative if you accept a 5% fee on each sale. Teachable, Podia and Thinkific are subscription platforms, Skool and Mighty Networks suit community-led courses, and Kajabi is the most expensive option for a small business. Prices reflect each platform's published pricing as of October 2026, so check them again before you commit.
What to look for in a course hosting platform
- Pricing model: a monthly subscription, a percentage of sales, or a flat fee per student.
- Transaction fees: some platforms take 2% to 10% of each sale on top of the plan price.
- Limits: student, course or contact caps can push you onto a higher plan as you grow.
- Custom domain: check whether it's included on your plan or only on higher tiers.
- Payments: check whether you're paid directly through your own Stripe or PayPal account.
Course hosting platforms compared
| Platform | Pricing model | Starting price | Platform fee on sales | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| learnfrom.co | Pay per student | $0 per month; $4.99 per new student, $3.49 after 250, $1.99 after 1,000 | None | Creators who want no monthly bill |
| Payhip | Free plan or subscription | Free; Plus $29/mo | 5% on Free, 2% on Plus | Courses plus digital downloads |
| Teachable | Subscription | $29/mo (Starter) | 7.5% on Starter, 0% from $69/mo | Student apps and affiliate tools |
| Podia | Subscription | $33/mo | On lower plans | A storefront with built-in email |
| Thinkific | Subscription | €36/mo (Basic) | None on paid plans | Learning paths and business features |
| Skool | Subscription | $9/mo (Hobby) | 10% on Hobby | Community-first memberships |
| Mighty Networks | Subscription | $79/mo | 2% on Launch | Communities with native apps |
| Kajabi | Subscription | $143/mo billed annually | 0.5% to 2% on third-party payments | An all-in-one marketing suite |
Stripe, PayPal and other payment processors charge their own processing fees on every platform. Those come on top of the figures above.
What the starting plans cost per year
These totals use each platform's starting plan for a full year. They don't include transaction fees, overage charges or upgrades to a higher plan.
| Platform | Starting plan | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| learnfrom.co (100 new students) | Pay per student | $499 |
| Payhip | Free | $0 |
| Skool | Hobby, $9/mo | $108 |
| Teachable | Starter, $29/mo | $348 |
| Podia | $33/mo | $396 |
| Thinkific | Basic, €36/mo | €432 |
| Mighty Networks | Launch, $79/mo | $948 |
| Kajabi | Basic, billed annually | $1,716 |
A $29/month plan costs $348 per year. Pay per student costs less than that until about 69 new students enroll in a year. Above that, a low-cost subscription can be cheaper, so the right choice depends on how many students you expect.
Which course hosting platform fits you
- You're launching your first course: pick a platform with no monthly fee, such as learnfrom.co or Payhip's free plan, so you don't pay before you have students.
- Your course costs $100 or more: a flat per-student fee stays the same as your price rises, while a percentage fee grows with it.
- Your community is the product: Skool or Mighty Networks are built around discussions and memberships.
- You need learning paths or corporate training features: Thinkific has features for structured programs.
- You want email marketing, funnels and coaching in one place: Kajabi or Podia may be worth paying for.
What to check before you commit
- The current pricing page, since platforms change their plans and fees.
- Which plan includes the transaction fee you'll pay, and whether it applies to your own payment provider.
- Student, course and contact limits on the plan you'll actually use.
- Whether a custom domain and video hosting are included or billed separately.
For a closer look at the cheapest option, read the cheapest way to sell an online course, or compare learnfrom and Kajabi side by side.
How learnfrom.co hosts your courses
- No subscription: creating and publishing courses is free. You pay when a new student enrolls.
- No transaction fees: you're paid directly through your own Stripe or PayPal account.
- Unlimited courses and students: every feature is included in the per-student price, including custom domains.
- Your own domain: you can sell courses on your own domain so students see your brand.
Estimate your own numbers with the course profit simulator, or see the full pricing details.
Figures reflect the pricing we found on each platform's website as of October 2026. Plans change, so confirm current pricing before you decide.