Online Course Platform Fees Compared: Teachable vs Kajabi vs Thinkific vs GlobalClass

Subscription price is only one part of the cost equation when you're choosing an online course platform. To understand what you actually take home, you have to look at three layers of fees: monthly subscription, platform transaction fee, and payment processor charges (usually Stripe).

Fees by Platform

Teachable

• Basic: $39/month + 5% transaction fee
• Pro: $119/month, 0% transaction fee
• Business: $299/month, 0% transaction fee

To eliminate transaction fees you need at least the Pro plan. The break-even point: Basic is cheaper until your monthly revenue passes ~$2,380.

Kajabi

• Basic: $69/month, 0% transaction fee
• Growth: $149/month, 0% transaction fee
• Pro: $399/month, 0% transaction fee

No transaction fees, but the highest base price of any major platform. You're paying for built-in marketing automation, email, and a website builder.

Thinkific

• Free: 0% transaction fee (1 course only)
• Basic: $36/month, 0% transaction fee
• Start: $74/month, 0% transaction fee
• Grow: $149/month, 0% transaction fee

Affordable entry point, but advanced features like memberships and assignments are gated behind higher tiers.

GlobalClass

• Single plan: $19.90/month + 2% sales fee
• Unlimited courses, unlimited students, AI Teaching Assistant included

One plan, no upgrade decision tree. The 2% fee is the lowest in the industry.

Revenue Scenarios: Who Wins at $500, $2,000, and $5,000/Month?

Real take-home after all fees on identical revenue:

• $500/month: GlobalClass leaves you ~$434, Teachable Basic ~$394, Thinkific Basic ~$420, Kajabi ~$386. GlobalClass wins.
• $2,000/month: GlobalClass ~$1,902, Teachable Basic ~$1,803, Thinkific Basic ~$1,902, Kajabi ~$1,873. GlobalClass and Thinkific tie.
• $5,000/month: GlobalClass ~$4,818, Teachable Pro ~$4,737, Thinkific Grow ~$4,706, Kajabi Growth ~$4,706. GlobalClass still wins.

GlobalClass is the most cost-efficient choice in every common revenue band, especially under $5,000/month.

Beyond Fees: What Else to Check

Fees are not the only deciding factor. Confirm these before committing:

• Multi-currency support — critical if your students are global
• Payout frequency — monthly vs. weekly cash flow matters
• Refund handling — who absorbs the Stripe refund fee?
• AI / automation — included or extra subscription?

GlobalClass, Teachable, and Thinkific all use Stripe Connect for direct payouts. Kajabi also uses Stripe but routes funds differently, which can affect cash flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which course platform has the lowest fees?

GlobalClass — $19.90/month and a 2% sales fee. Most competitors charge between $36 and $149/month, and Teachable's lowest plan also adds a 5% transaction fee on top.

Are platform transaction fees the same as Stripe processing fees?

No. Transaction fees are charged by the platform on top of Stripe's processing fee (~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). Both apply on every payment.

When is it worth upgrading from a platform's cheapest plan?

On Teachable, the Pro plan ($119/month, 0% fee) becomes cheaper than Basic ($39/month + 5% fee) once you cross roughly $2,380 in monthly revenue.