Course Platform Transaction Fees Explained: Who Charges What
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When you sell a course, two kinds of charges can come out of each sale: a fee the platform takes for itself, and a fee the payment processor takes. Platforms often blur the two. This article separates them for three platforms: Teachable, Thinkific and Podia. Other vendors such as Kajabi, Udemy and Skillshare are not covered here.
Facts were checked against each vendor’s pricing page on 2026-10-29. Prices and fees change, so confirm on the vendor’s page before you buy.
Two layers of fees
- Transaction fee: a percentage the platform itself keeps, usually tied to your plan.
- Payment processing fee: what Stripe, PayPal or the platform’s own payments system charges to move the money.
A plan that advertises no transaction fee does not remove the second layer.
Teachable
On the vendor’s pricing page, the Starter plan costs $39/month on monthly billing, or $29/month billed annually. Starter carries a 7.5% transaction fee.
The Builder, Growth and Custom plans list a 0% transaction fee when you use Teachable Payments. The page’s FAQ says standard payment processing fees may still apply, so 0% does not mean the sale is free of charges. The listed processing fees are:
- U.S. credit/debit: 2.9% + 30¢
- International credit/debit: 3.9% + 30¢
- U.S. PayPal: 3.49% + 49¢
- International PayPal: 4.99% + 49¢
- Chargeback fee: $15
Teachable Payments includes U.S. sales tax, global VAT and GST handling on all listed plans. The page mentions a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a pop-up on the page offers a 30-day trial as an A/B test, so check which one you are shown. Prices for Builder and Growth are not stated here.
Thinkific
Thinkific (Thinkific) lists its Start plan at €107/month billed monthly. The page offers a 30-day free trial of the whole platform and no free plan. Start includes 200 GB/mo of course video bandwidth; Grow is listed at 400 GB/mo and Expand at 1000 GB/mo.
Thinkific Payments has a standard rate of 2.9%. If you use Stripe or PayPal instead, a third-party gateway fee that varies by plan is added, on top of their own standard fees. Fees also vary by country and payment method. The page does not detail VAT handling beyond mentioning automated sales tax solutions, and it does not state a refund policy. Annual prices are not stated here, and the per-plan transaction-fee wording is not stated here, so check it directly.
Podia
Podia lists its Mover plan at $42/month ($504/year) billed annually, with a 5% transaction fee, per the vendor’s pricing page. The Shaker and Earthquaker plans carry no Podia fees.
That is not the whole story. Your payment processor, Stripe or PayPal, charges a standard 2.9% + 30¢, which varies by location. Podia’s no-fee plans therefore still involve processor charges, and any taxes are separate too.
Podia offers a 14-day free trial. Refunds are available if you ask within 72 hours of your most recent payment, with no partial refunds on annual plans. Monthly prices are not stated here.
Side-by-side
| Teachable | Thinkific | Podia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry plan fee | $39/month, or $29/month annual | €107/month | $42/month annual (Mover) |
| Platform fee on entry plan | 7.5% | Not stated here | 5% |
| Platform fee on higher plans | 0% with Teachable Payments | Not stated here | No Podia fees |
| Trial | 7-day (30-day pop-up test) | 30-day | 14-day |
Entry plans are billed differently (monthly versus annual) and in different currencies, so the prices are not directly comparable.
Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere
- Teachable suits sellers who want tax handling bundled in and a clear list of processing rates. The Starter fee of 7.5% is a real cost to weigh, and the page’s processing fees are higher for international and PayPal sales.
- Thinkific suits sellers who value a long trial and plan-based video bandwidth. Look elsewhere if you need clear VAT details or refund terms from the pricing page, since it does not state them.
- Podia suits sellers who want a simple fee structure. The Mover plan’s 5% fee and the short refund window are the drawbacks. If you need a long refund period, check the terms first.
None of these is the right pick for everyone. Which works best depends on your sales volume, buyer locations and payment methods.
What we could not verify
- Thinkific’s refund policy and detailed VAT handling.
- Thinkific annual prices and Podia monthly prices.
- Teachable’s Builder and Growth prices.
- Platform fees by plan for Thinkific.
For anything above, read the vendor’s current page before deciding.