Teachable Review
A comprehensive analysis of Teachable — the established online course platform trusted by 150,000+ creators and businesses to sell courses, coaching, memberships, and digital downloads. Owned by Hotmart, with major 2026 investment in Stripe-based payments, mobile, AI, and B2B education.
Visit Official Website| Platform Name | Teachable |
| Official Website | teachable.com |
| Launch Year | 2013 (as Fedora) |
| Headquarters | New York, USA |
| Parent Company | Hotmart (acquired 2020) |
| Platform Type | Online Course / Creator Education Business |
| Joining Fee | No permanent free plan; plans from $39/mo |
| Free Trial | 7 days |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Transaction Fee | Starter: 7.5%; Builder/Growth: 0% |
| Skill Requirement | Varies by course topic |
| Minimum Payout | No universal fixed minimum (processor-dependent) |
| Payment Methods (Creators) | Teachable Payments (Stripe), Stripe, PayPal |
| Affiliate Program | Yes (Builder plan and above) |
| Mobile App | iOS and Android (student-facing) |
| Supported Countries | 180+ (payment gateway availability varies) |
| KYC Required | Yes — via payment processor |
| Customer Support | Email, Chat (higher plans), Help Center |
| Security | SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA |
| Trust Score | 9.5 / 10 |
| Overall Rating | 4.3 / 5 |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Beginner Friendly | ||
| Earning Potential | ||
| Payment Reliability | ||
| Transparency | ||
| Customer Support | ||
| Long-term Reliability | ||
| Overall Rating |
Online Course Creators
Teachable excels at hosting and selling video courses with powerful course builder, quizzes, certificates, and drip content. Ideal for educators, coaches, and experts who want a robust yet user-friendly solution.
Coaches & Consultants
Teachable supports coaching products, allowing you to sell 1-on-1 or group coaching sessions, packages, and programs with scheduling and resource delivery.
Digital Product Sellers
Sell ebooks, templates, PDFs, and other digital downloads with automated delivery and secure checkout. Simple to set up and manage.
Membership & Community Builders
Teachable now supports memberships and community features, enabling creators to build recurring revenue and engage learners in one place.
B2B & Enterprise Educators
With new enterprise plans (from $6,000/year) and B2B features, Teachable is a strong choice for corporate training and customer education programs.
Creators Seeking Global Reach
Teachable Payments (built on Stripe) supports 41 countries, 35+ local payment methods, and automatic tax handling in 45+ markets — perfect for international sales.
Those Wanting a Full Website Builder
Teachable provides course pages and a basic site, but it's not a full website builder like Kajabi or WordPress. You'll need a separate website for extensive content marketing.
Creators Needing Advanced Marketing Funnels
While Teachable has upsells, order bumps, and coupons, it lacks the sophisticated funnel builder of ClickFunnels or Kajabi. You may need third-party tools for complex funnels.
Budget-Conscious Beginners
There is no permanent free plan, and Starter has a 7.5% transaction fee. If you're just testing, cheaper alternatives like Podia or even Gumroad might be more suitable.
Those Who Need Zero Transaction Fees from Day One
0% transaction fees are only available on Builder ($89/mo) and above. Starter users pay 7.5% per sale, which can add up.
Teachable is a leading online course platform that enables creators, educators, coaches, and businesses to build, market, and sell courses, coaching, memberships, communities, and digital downloads. Founded in 2013 as Fedora and later rebranded, Teachable was acquired by Hotmart in 2020 and now operates as part of a larger digital commerce ecosystem. The platform reports 150,000+ creators/businesses, 100M+ students served, and $10B+ earned by Teachable and Hotmart creators combined across 180 countries.
Unlike all-in-one platforms like Kajabi, Teachable focuses primarily on course creation and delivery, while still providing essential sales and marketing features such as email, upsells, order bumps, coupons, and affiliate management. It excels in its ease of use, robust course builder, and reliable payment infrastructure. In 2026, Teachable underwent major updates: a rebuilt Stripe-based payment system, enhanced mobile apps, AI initiatives, and expanded B2B/enterprise capabilities — signaling strong long-term investment.
Teachable now offers four pricing tiers: Starter ($39/mo), Builder ($89/mo), Growth ($189/mo), and Custom (contact sales). There is a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Transaction fees are 7.5% on Starter and 0% on Builder and higher. The platform supports multiple payment options including Teachable Payments (built on Stripe) and custom payment gateways.
Start a Free Trial or Choose a Plan
Sign up for a 7-day free trial. Choose from Starter ($39/mo), Builder ($89/mo), Growth ($189/mo), or Custom. Annual billing saves ~25% ($29, $69, $139 respectively). No credit card required for trial? (Usually requires card; verify current).
Build Your Course or Product
Use the drag-and-drop course builder to create modules, lessons, quizzes, and assignments. Upload videos, audio, PDFs, and other content. Add drip schedules, prerequisites, and certificates.
Set Up Your School & Payments
Customize your school's branding, add a custom domain, and configure payment processing via Teachable Payments (Stripe) or your own Stripe/PayPal. Set pricing, subscriptions, payment plans, and coupons.
Market & Sell
Use built-in email marketing, upsells, order bumps, abandoned cart recovery, and affiliate tools. Drive traffic via your own channels (social media, SEO, webinars, paid ads).
Get Paid
When a student purchases, payment is processed by Teachable Payments or your gateway. Choose payout frequency: daily (~2 business days), weekly, or monthly. Funds deposit directly to your bank.
Course Builder
Powerful drag-and-drop builder to create unlimited courses (on paid plans) with multimedia lessons, quizzes, assignments, and completion certificates. Supports video, audio, text, and downloadable files.
Drip Content & Prerequisites
Schedule content release over time and require students to complete certain lessons before accessing others. Ideal for cohort-style or structured learning.
Quizzes, Assessments & Certificates
Create auto-graded quizzes, short-answer assessments, and award certificates upon completion. Enhanced 2026 certificate features for professional training.
Sales & Checkout Features
Design high-converting sales pages, add order bumps, one-click upsells, coupons, bundles, and student referrals. Secure checkout with Stripe, PayPal, or Teachable Payments.
Memberships & Community
Offer recurring subscriptions and build community-based learning experiences. Membership usage has tripled on Teachable in recent years.
Teachable Payments (Stripe)
Rebuilt in July 2026 on Stripe infrastructure. Supports 41 countries, 35+ local payment methods, tax handling in 45+ markets, subscriptions, and flexible payout schedules.
Email Marketing & Automation
Built-in email marketing for announcements, abandoned cart recovery, and student communications. Integrates with external tools via Zapier and API.
Affiliate Program
Available on Builder plan and above. Creators set commission rates (1–100%), cookie windows (1–365 days), and manage affiliates with last-touch attribution.
Mobile Apps & Offline Learning
iOS and Android student apps with offline mode, push notifications, and improved download management. Enhanced throughout 2026.
AI & B2B Tools
Emerging AI features (AI Academy, adaptive assessments) and enterprise/B2B capabilities including corporate training and bulk distribution.
Teachable supports several product types. Below is a detailed analysis of the most profitable ways creators can generate income on the platform.
Online Courses
Create structured video courses on any topic. Teachable handles video hosting, quizzes, certificates, and progress tracking. The core product type and most popular use case.
Requirements: Expertise, video creation skills, marketing effort.
Advantages: High profit margins, scalable income, passive revenue potential.
Disadvantages: Upfront content creation time, competitive market.
Tip: Use drip content and certificates to increase perceived value and student engagement.
Coaching Programs
Sell 1-on-1 or group coaching packages, including scheduling, resource delivery, and client communication. Teachable's coaching product integrates with the course builder.
Requirements: Professional expertise, coaching skills, client management.
Advantages: High ticket prices, personalized service, strong client relationships.
Disadvantages: Time-intensive, limited scalability (unless group coaching).
Tip: Bundle coaching with a course to create a high-ticket offer.
Digital Downloads
Sell ebooks, templates, audio files, checklists, and other digital products with automated delivery and secure checkout. Low overhead and instant fulfillment.
Requirements: Ability to create valuable digital resources.
Advantages: Easy to create, no inventory, passive income.
Disadvantages: Lower price points usually, competition from free resources.
Tip: Use order bumps to add a low-cost download to a course purchase.
Memberships & Communities
Offer recurring subscriptions for ongoing content access, community, or coaching. Teachable supports subscriptions and built-in community features, making it viable for membership businesses.
Requirements: Consistent content creation, community management.
Advantages: Recurring revenue, customer loyalty.
Disadvantages: Requires ongoing effort, churn management.
Tip: Combine community with courses to increase retention and value.
Bundles & Upsells
Increase average order value by bundling products, offering order bumps, and creating upsells. Teachable's checkout supports these features natively.
Requirements: Multiple products, strategic pricing.
Advantages: Higher revenue per customer, better ROI on traffic.
Disadvantages: Requires product portfolio, setup time.
Tip: Create a low-ticket entry product and upsell to a high-ticket course or coaching program.
Affiliate Marketing (as a Creator)
Use Teachable's built-in affiliate system (Builder+) to recruit affiliates who promote your products for a commission. You control rates (1–100%) and cookie duration (1–365 days).
Requirements: Existing audience or network, commission budget.
Advantages: Leverage others' audiences, performance-based cost.
Disadvantages: Requires management, commission payouts (manual unless automated via BackOffice).
Tip: Offer a generous commission (30–50%) to incentivize affiliates and provide them with marketing materials.
Getting started with Teachable is straightforward. Here's the step-by-step process:
Visit the Website
Go to teachable.com and click "Start Free Trial" or "Pricing". Choose a plan: Starter, Builder, Growth, or Custom. The trial lasts 7 days, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Create Your Account
Sign up with your email, name, and password. You'll likely need to enter payment details for the trial (verify current requirements).
Set Up Your School
Customize your school name, theme, and logo. Add a custom domain (available on all paid plans) or use the Teachable subdomain.
Create Your First Product
Build a course, coaching program, or digital download. Add content, set pricing, and configure checkout. Connect Teachable Payments (Stripe) or your own gateway.
Publish & Promote
Publish your product and start marketing. Use built-in email, upsells, and affiliate tools. Drive traffic via social media, SEO, webinars, or paid ads.
Teachable's admin dashboard is clean and intuitive, providing a centralized hub for managing your courses and business. Key sections include:
Courses
Create and manage courses, lessons, quizzes, and content. Access the course builder, drip settings, and pricing.
Students
View and manage student enrollments, track progress, send emails, and segment users. Active student limits vary by plan.
Sales & Payments
Monitor revenue, transactions, refunds, and payment settings. Choose payout frequency (daily/weekly/monthly) and manage tax settings.
Site & Branding
Customize your school's appearance, pages, navigation, and domain. Manage SEO settings and integrations.
Marketing
Access email tools, coupons, order bumps, abandoned cart emails, bundles, and affiliate program (Builder+).
Analytics
Track revenue, student engagement, completion rates, and course performance. Export reports for deeper analysis.
Teachable Payments (Stripe)
Built-in payment processing rebuilt on Stripe infrastructure (July 2026). Supports 41 countries, 35+ local payment methods, tax handling in 45+ markets, subscriptions, and flexible payouts. Choose daily, weekly, or monthly payout schedule. No reserve held on earnings.
Custom Payment Gateway (Stripe/PayPal)
Connect your own Stripe or PayPal account. Available worldwide. Transaction fees still apply on Starter (7.5%) but not on Builder+. Payouts according to your processor's schedule.
Affiliate Payouts
Manage affiliate commissions. With Teachable BackOffice, payouts can be automated on the first business day after a 30-day hold; otherwise, school owner pays manually. Available on Builder+.
International Payments
Teachable Payments supports local-currency settlement and adaptive pricing, making it easier to sell globally. Alternative gateways may have country restrictions.
Customer Purchase
When a student buys your product, payment is processed by Teachable Payments or your custom gateway and held in your merchant account.
Funds Settle
Funds settle according to your payout schedule: daily (approx. 2 business days after sale), weekly (every Thursday), or monthly (first business day).
Automatic Transfer
Teachable Payments automatically transfers settled funds to your connected bank account based on your selected schedule. No reserve held.
Manual Withdrawal (if using custom gateway)
If using Stripe/PayPal directly, you can manually initiate transfers from your processor dashboard.
Receive Funds
Funds arrive in your bank account. No universal fixed minimum withdrawal; initial payouts may take longer due to verification.
| Starter Plan | Daily/Weekly/Monthly via Teachable Payments | 7.5% transaction fee + processing |
| Builder Plan | Daily/Weekly/Monthly via Teachable Payments | 0% transaction fee + processing |
| Growth Plan | Daily/Weekly/Monthly via Teachable Payments | 0% transaction fee + processing |
| Custom Plan | Custom | 0% transaction fee + processing |
| Teachable Payments Processing (US) | — | ~2.9% + $0.30 (varies by country) |
| Stripe Processing (custom gateway) | — | ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
| PayPal Processing (custom gateway) | — | ~3.49% + $0.49 per transaction (US) |
| Payout Speed | 2 business days (daily), Thursday (weekly), 1st business day (monthly) | No reserve |
Teachable has a strong track record of payment reliability, with creators collectively earning billions on the platform. The rebuilt Teachable Payments (on Stripe) provides robust infrastructure, and creators have direct access to their funds with flexible payout schedules. Payment proof is widely available across social media and Teachable's success stories.
The platform's ownership by Hotmart, a large digital-commerce company, adds financial stability. Stripe's involvement as the underlying payment infrastructure further ensures secure and dependable processing. Teachable's 2026 emphasis on global payments and tax handling demonstrates continued investment in the payment experience.
Company Transparency
Teachable is privately held and part of Hotmart. It maintains a comprehensive help center, clear terms of service, and privacy policy. The company is transparent about pricing and features. Being part of a larger ecosystem provides additional stability.
Security Analysis
Teachable highlights SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, and CCPA compliance. Payment information is processed by Stripe/PayPal, never stored on Teachable's servers. The platform uses SSL encryption and two-factor authentication. Video content is hosted securely.
Platform Stability & Activity
As of August 2026, Teachable is highly active: it launched rebuilt payments in July 2026, rolled out AI Academy, enhanced mobile apps, and expanded B2B/enterprise offerings. There are no shutdown signals. The platform is strongly maintained.
- Active development in 2026 — Stripe-based payments, AI, mobile, B2B
- 0% transaction fees on Builder plan and above
- Strong course builder with quizzes, certificates, and drip content
- Multiple product types: courses, coaching, memberships, community, downloads
- Built-in email marketing, upsells, order bumps, and coupons
- Affiliate program (Builder+) with flexible commission and cookie settings
- Teachable Payments built on Stripe — 41 countries, 35+ local methods, tax handling
- Flexible payout schedules: daily, weekly, monthly
- Mobile apps with offline learning
- Enterprise/B2B capabilities
- Custom domain on all paid plans
- 30-day money-back guarantee and 7-day trial
- Security: SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA
- Large creator community and established brand
- No permanent free plan (only 7-day trial)
- Starter plan has 7.5% transaction fee
- Higher-tier plans can be pricey for beginners ($89–$189/mo)
- No full website builder — limited page customization
- No native advanced sales funnels (requires third-party tools)
- Customer support limited on lower plans (email only)
- No phone support
- Usage fees may apply under Fair Use Policy (exceptions apply)
- Affiliate program not available on Starter
- Some features (e.g., remove branding) only on Growth+
Teachable provides customer support primarily through email and a comprehensive help center. Response times vary: Starter and Builder users typically receive email support within 24–48 hours; Growth and Custom users get priority support with faster response times. Live chat is available on higher plans.
The help center contains extensive documentation, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides. Teachable also hosts webinars and maintains an active community. Phone support is not available.
Teachable delivers a polished and user-friendly experience, particularly for course creation. The admin dashboard is clean and intuitive. The course builder uses a modern drag-and-drop interface that is easy for non-technical users. The student-facing experience is excellent, with mobile apps, progress tracking, and certificates.
The platform's focus on simplicity means some advanced features are less robust than dedicated tools (e.g., website builder, funnels), but for its core purpose — creating and selling courses — it excels. The 2026 payment upgrade and mobile improvements have further enhanced the user experience.
- Online course creators who want a reliable, easy-to-use platform
- Coaches and consultants looking to package expertise into courses or coaching programs
- Digital product sellers (ebooks, templates) who want secure checkout
- Membership and community builders seeking recurring revenue
- B2B/enterprise educators needing corporate training solutions
- Creators who value strong payment infrastructure and global selling
- Those who want a platform with active development and long-term stability
- Creators who want a full website builder and advanced funnels (Kajabi may be better)
- Those on a tight budget who need a free plan (consider Podia or Gumroad)
- Users who need phone support
- Creators who want an all-in-one marketing suite with built-in email automation (Teachable's email is basic)
- High-volume sellers on Starter who want to avoid 7.5% transaction fees (upgrade to Builder)
Teachable creators' earnings vary widely based on niche, audience size, pricing, and marketing effectiveness. Unlike marketplace platforms, your earning potential is tied to your own traffic and conversion. The following estimates reflect realistic ranges based on creator reports and industry data.
| New Creator (first 6 months) | $0–$1,500/month |
| Part-time Creator (10–20 hrs/week) | $500–$3,000/month |
| Full-time Creator (30–40 hrs/week) | $3,000–$15,000/month |
| Established Creator with Email List | $10,000–$50,000+/month |
| Top Teachable Creators | $50,000–$300,000+/month |
| Entry-level Courses | Lower initial earning potential |
| High-ticket Coaching/Courses | Higher earning potential |
- Start on Starter, then upgrade — validate your idea, then move to Builder to remove the 7.5% fee once you have consistent sales.
- Use Teachable Payments — it simplifies payouts, tax handling, and supports local payment methods, improving conversion.
- Leverage upsells and order bumps — add complementary products at checkout to increase average order value.
- Build an email list — use lead magnets and integrate with external email tools for advanced automation.
- Create a free mini-course — use it as a lead magnet to attract students and upsell to a paid course.
- Offer payment plans — for high-ticket courses, allow installments to reduce friction.
- Utilize certificates and quizzes — increase perceived value and engagement, leading to more referrals.
- Set up an affiliate program — recruit affiliates on Builder+ to promote your course for a commission.
- Run webinars — use external webinar tools to sell your course to a live audience.
- Collect and showcase testimonials — social proof increases conversions.
- Continuously improve your course — update content to justify premium pricing and encourage repeat customers.
- Explore B2B/enterprise — if you have corporate clients, offer bulk training packages.
Platform Rules to Follow
General Safety Recommendations
- Enable two-factor authentication on Teachable and payment processor accounts
- Use a strong, unique password
- Regularly back up course content and email lists
- Monitor analytics and payment dashboards for anomalies
- Set clear refund policies to reduce disputes
- Keep integrations up to date
- Be cautious of phishing emails
| Platform | Transaction Fee | Difficulty | Min Payout | Best For | Trust Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | 7.5% (Starter) / 0% (Builder+) | Easy | No fixed min | Course creation | 9.5/10 |
| Kajabi | 0% revenue share | Easy–Moderate | No fixed min | All-in-one knowledge business | 9.5/10 |
| Thinkific | 0% | Easy | $0 | Course creation | 8.5/10 |
| Podia | 0% | Easy | $0 | Digital products & webinars | 8.0/10 |
| Kartra | 0% | Moderate | $0 | Advanced funnels & automation | 8.0/10 |
| ClickFunnels | 0% | Moderate | $0 | Sales funnels | 8.0/10 |
| Mighty Networks | 0% | Easy–Moderate | $0 | Community & memberships | 8.5/10 |
| WordPress + LMS | 0% | Hard | $0 | Full customization | 9.0/10 |
Is Teachable legit?
Yes. Teachable is a legitimate, established platform founded in 2013, owned by Hotmart, and used by 150,000+ creators/businesses. It is highly active with no shutdown signals.
Is there a free plan on Teachable?
No permanent free plan. Teachable offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
What are Teachable's transaction fees?
Starter plan: 7.5% per sale. Builder, Growth, and Custom plans: 0% transaction fee. Payment processing fees still apply.
What is Teachable Payments?
Teachable Payments is the built-in payment system rebuilt on Stripe infrastructure in July 2026. It supports 41 countries, 35+ local payment methods, tax handling in 45+ markets, and flexible payout schedules.
Can I sell coaching on Teachable?
Yes. Teachable supports coaching products, allowing you to sell 1-on-1 or group coaching packages with scheduling and resource delivery.
Does Teachable have a website builder?
Teachable provides course pages, sales pages, and a basic site builder, but not a full website builder. You can use a custom domain.
Can I run an affiliate program on Teachable?
Yes, on Builder plan and above. You control commission rates (1–100%), cookie windows (1–365 days), and manage affiliates. Payouts can be automated via BackOffice or handled manually.
Does Teachable have email marketing?
Teachable includes built-in email marketing for announcements, abandoned cart recovery, and student communications. For advanced automation, integrate with external tools.
Is Teachable good for beginners?
Yes, Teachable is beginner-friendly, but the cost and 7.5% Starter fee may be a hurdle. The 7-day trial allows you to test without commitment.
What is the difference between Teachable and Kajabi?
Teachable focuses on course creation and is more affordable, while Kajabi is an all-in-one platform with website, funnels, and advanced email. Teachable has 0% fees on Builder+, Kajabi has no revenue share but higher starting price.
Can I sell memberships on Teachable?
Yes, Teachable supports memberships and community features. Membership adoption has tripled on the platform.
Does Teachable have a mobile app?
Yes, student-facing iOS and Android apps with offline learning, push notifications, and improved performance.
What are Teachable's usage fees?
Teachable has a Fair Use Policy with usage fees for exceeding limits (e.g., active students, video storage). However, schools selling over $10,000/year through native gateways are generally exempt from additional usage fees.
Is Teachable suitable for B2B/enterprise?
Yes. Teachable has been expanding B2B/enterprise features with plans starting at $6,000/year (Core) and $12,000/year (Pro).
Does Teachable provide traffic or a marketplace?
No. Teachable is a platform, not a marketplace. You must drive your own traffic through marketing, SEO, social media, and other channels.
Final Verdict
Teachable is a stable, actively developed course platform that excels at helping creators sell educational products with confidence.
Teachable's strengths lie in its user-friendly course builder, strong payment infrastructure (rebuilt on Stripe in 2026), flexible payout options, and growing feature set including memberships, community, certificates, and B2B capabilities. The 0% transaction fee on Builder and above makes it cost-effective for serious sellers, though the Starter plan's 7.5% fee is a drawback for those just starting. The absence of a permanent free plan and limited marketing automation mean it's not the best fit for everyone, but for course creators who value simplicity, reliability, and long-term stability, Teachable is an excellent choice.
Teachable is highly recommended for educators, coaches, and digital product creators seeking a specialized, actively maintained platform with strong payment and mobile features.
Ready to Launch Your Online Course?
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