Short answer
The main ways to sell an online course without a monthly fee are pay-per-student platforms such as learnfrom.co ($4.99 per enrolled student, falling to $1.99 as you grow, with no transaction fees) and free-plan platforms that take a percentage of every sale, such as Payhip (5% on its free plan). Most other course platforms charge a recurring monthly subscription.
The three ways platforms charge you
- Subscription: a fixed monthly fee whether or not you have students. This is how most course platforms work.
- Percentage of sales: no monthly fee, but the platform keeps a share of every sale. Costs rise with your revenue and your course price.
- Pay per student: no monthly fee and no cut of your sales. You pay a flat fee each time a new student enrolls, and the rate drops as you grow.
Platforms with no required monthly fee
| Platform | How you pay | Monthly fee | Platform cost per sale | Student limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| learnfrom.co | Pay per student | $0 | $4.99 per student, dropping to $3.49 after 250 and $1.99 after 1,000. No transaction fee | Unlimited |
| Payhip | Percentage of sales | $0 on the free plan | 5% transaction fee on the free plan | Unlimited |
| Ruzuku | Free tier, then subscription | $0 for up to 5 students; $99/mo beyond that | — | 5 free |
| Klasio | Free tier, then subscription | $0 on the limited free plan; paid plans from $49/mo | — | 50 on the free plan |
Payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal charge their own processing fees on every platform listed here. Those fees are separate from, and in addition to, the figures above.
Which model is cheaper?
It depends on your course price. learnfrom's first-tier fee is $4.99 per student. A 5% cut of a course priced at about $100 costs the same. Below that price a percentage fee costs less per sale. Above it, a flat per-student fee costs less. A $20 product costs $1 on a 5% plan versus $4.99 per student. A $300 course costs $15 on a 5% plan versus $4.99 per student.
How to choose
- Selling low-priced products (under about $100): a percentage-of-sales platform can be cheaper per sale.
- Selling courses priced at $100 or more: pay per student keeps your platform cost flat as your price rises.
- Just validating an idea: a free tier works if you have only a few students. Check the student cap first.
- Wanting a branded site and unlimited courses: check whether custom domains and extra courses are included on the plan you pick. On learnfrom every feature is included.
Want exact numbers for your situation? Try the course pricing calculator or the course profit simulator.
Figures reflect the pricing we found on each platform's website as of October 2026. Plans change, so confirm current pricing before you decide.