Short answer
Hosting an online course costs nothing upfront on learnfrom.co. You pay $4.99 per enrolled student, dropping to $3.49 after 250 students and $1.99 after 1,000, so 100 students cost $499 in total. Subscription platforms charge a fixed monthly fee from $9 to $143, which is $108 to $1,716 a year before transaction fees. Payment processing fees from Stripe or PayPal apply on every platform.
Three ways course hosting is priced
- Monthly subscription: a fixed fee whether or not you have students. Most course platforms work this way.
- Percentage of sales: no monthly fee, but the platform keeps a share of every sale.
- 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.
What learnfrom costs at different student counts
learnfrom's fee is charged once per enrolled student. The first 250 students cost $4.99 each, students 251 to 1,000 cost $3.49 each, and every student after 1,000 costs $1.99. Students get lifetime access.
| Students enrolled | Total platform cost | Average cost per student |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $49.90 | $4.99 |
| 50 | $249.50 | $4.99 |
| 100 | $499 | $4.99 |
| 250 | $1,247.50 | $4.99 |
| 500 | $2,120 | $4.24 |
| 1,000 | $3,865 | $3.87 |
| 5,000 | $11,825 | $2.37 |
What subscription platforms cost per year
These totals use each platform's starting plan for a full year. Entry plans often have limits that push you onto a higher plan.
| Platform | Starting plan | Per year | Transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skool | Hobby, $9/mo | $108 | 10% on Hobby |
| Teachable | Starter, $29/mo | $348 | 7.5% on Starter |
| Podia | $33/mo | $396 | On lower plans |
| Thinkific | Basic, €36/mo | €432 | None on paid plans |
| Mighty Networks | Launch, $79/mo | $948 | 2% on Launch |
| Kajabi | Basic, billed annually | $1,716 | 0.5% to 2% on third-party payments |
Where the break-even point is
A $29/month plan costs $348 per year. learnfrom costs less than that until about 69 new students enroll in a year. Beyond that, a low-cost subscription can be cheaper, so the right choice depends on how many students you expect.
Transaction fees add to the cost
Transaction fees are a percentage of each sale, so they grow with your revenue. This is the fee on 100 sales of a $200 course, before payment processing.
| Platform | Transaction fee | Fee on 100 sales of a $200 course |
|---|---|---|
| Skool | 10% | $2,000 |
| Teachable (Starter plan) | 7.5% | $1,500 |
| Payhip (free plan) | 5% | $1,000 |
| Kajabi (third-party payments, Basic plan) | 2% | $400 |
| Mighty Networks | 2% | $400 |
| learnfrom.co | None (flat per-student fee instead) | $499 total at $4.99 per student |
Costs people forget to count
- Payment processing: Stripe and PayPal charge their own fees on every platform.
- Plan limits: student, course or contact caps can force an upgrade as you grow.
- Video hosting: check whether it's included or billed separately.
How to estimate your own cost
Add up the platform cost, any transaction fees on your sales, and payment processing. Then compare the total against your course revenue. The course profit simulator does this with your own prices and student numbers.
Figures reflect the pricing we found on each platform's website as of October 2026. Plans change, so confirm current pricing before you decide.