Here's a question that'll make your head spin: if you're selling $50,000 worth of courses per year and paying 5% transaction fees, how much money are you literally giving away?

Answer: $2,500. Gone. Just like that.

Key Facts

• Transaction fees can cost creators $2,500-$5,000 annually - On $50,000 in course sales, 5% transaction fees equal $2,500 lost, while $100,000 in sales means $5,000 in unnecessary fees

• Zero transaction fee platforms save 3-8% per sale - While most major platforms charge 3-8% transaction fees, platforms like Teachery charge 0% on all plans, maximizing creator profits

• Lifetime deals can eliminate recurring platform costs - Teachery's $550 lifetime deal means no monthly fees forever, compared to competitors charging $100-$300+ monthly for similar features

• Payment processor fees are unavoidable at 2.9-3.5% - Even zero transaction fee platforms still require payment processing through Stripe or PayPal, which charge 2.9-3.5% per transaction

Now imagine you're selling $100,000 per year. That's $5,000 walking out the door for absolutely no reason other than "that's just how some platforms work."

Transaction fees are the hidden profit killer that most course creators don't think about when choosing a platform. You get excited about features, design options, and marketing tools. But those percentage-based fees? They compound into massive amounts of lost revenue over time.

The good news? Several excellent course platforms charge exactly 0% in transaction fees. You keep every penny of your sales (minus standard credit card processing, which everyone pays).

Let's break down which platforms won't take a cut of your hard-earned revenue and help you choose the one that makes the most financial sense for your business.

Why Transaction Fees Matter More Than You Think

Most course creators focus on monthly subscription costs when comparing platforms. That's a mistake. Transaction fees almost always cost more than the monthly fee over time.

Let's do some real math. Say you're choosing between two platforms:

• Platform A: $39/month + 5% transaction fees

• Platform B: $89/month + 0% transaction fees

At first glance, Platform A looks $50 cheaper per month. But here's what actually happens:

If you sell $5,000/month in courses:

• Platform A total cost: $39 + $250 (5% of $5,000) = $289/month

• Platform B total cost: $89/month

Platform B is actually $200 cheaper every single month. Over a year, that's $2,400 in savings.

If you sell $10,000/month:

• Platform A: $39 + $500 = $539/month

• Platform B: $89/month

Now Platform B saves you $450 every month, or $5,400 per year.

The more successful your courses become, the more transaction fees hurt. It's like being penalized for success.

Even worse? Some platforms charge 10% transaction fees on their free plans. Sell $3,000 worth of courses and you're handing over $300 for the privilege of using their platform.

Real talk: If you're serious about selling courses, platforms with 0% transaction fees aren't just nice to have. They're essential for long-term profitability. Teachery's lifetime deal lets you avoid monthly fees AND transaction fees forever, but we'll get to that in a minute.

The Best Course Platforms With 0% Transaction Fees

Here are the platforms that won't take a percentage of your sales. We've listed them in order of overall value for most course creators.

1. Teachery - 0% Fees Always, Starting at $49/Month

Teachery charges 0% transaction fees on every plan, period. No fine print, no asterisks, no "upgrade to remove fees" nonsense.

Pricing:

• Monthly: $49

• Annual: $470 (saves about 20%)

• Lifetime: $550 one-time payment

Why Teachery stands out:

The design customization is unmatched. While other platforms lock you into templates that make every course look identical, Teachery lets you customize colors on every element, upload custom fonts, and create flexible layouts. Your course will actually look like your brand.

But here's the real kicker: the lifetime deal. Pay $550 once and own Teachery forever. No monthly fees, no transaction fees, no price increases. Ever.

Let's do the math on this. Kajabi costs $89/month minimum. Over two years, that's $2,136. Teachery's lifetime deal is $550. You save $1,586 in just two years, and then it's free forever.

Best for: Creators who want beautiful course design, hate monthly fees, and plan to be in the course business for the long haul. The lifetime deal makes this a no-brainer for most serious course creators.

Features include: Unlimited courses and students, custom domains, landing pages, affiliate management, drip content, course completion certificates, and support for video, audio, text, and file downloads.

2. Thinkific - 0% Fees on Paid Plans ($49+/Month)

Thinkific charges 0% transaction fees once you upgrade to a paid plan, starting at $49/month.

Pricing:

• Free plan: Limited features + transaction fees apply

• Basic: $49/month, 0% fees

• Start: $99/month, 0% fees

• Grow: $199/month, 0% fees

What's good about Thinkific:

Strong feature set with built-in communities, live lesson capabilities, and robust student engagement tools. The platform is solid and reliable, with good customer support.

The course creation tools are comprehensive, with options for quizzes, assignments, and certificates. If you need advanced student engagement features, Thinkific delivers.

The catch:

Less design flexibility than Teachery. Most Thinkific courses end up looking pretty similar because the customization options are limited.

Best for: Creators who need built-in community features and live lesson capabilities, and don't mind the ongoing monthly costs.

3. Kajabi - 0% Fees But Starts at $89/Month

Kajabi doesn't charge transaction fees, but their pricing starts high and goes higher.

Pricing:

• Kickstarter: $89/month

• Growth: $199/month

• Pro: $399/month

Kajabi's advantages:

It's the closest thing to an all-in-one platform. Built-in email marketing, funnel builder, website creation, and course hosting. If you want everything under one roof and budget isn't a concern, Kajabi covers all the bases.

The marketing automation is particularly strong. You can build complex email sequences and funnels without needing separate tools.

The reality check:

You're paying for features you might not need. If you already have email marketing sorted (ConvertKit, Mailchimp, etc.), you're essentially paying extra for redundant functionality.

At $89/month minimum, Kajabi costs more in one year ($1,068) than Teachery's lifetime deal ($550).

Best for: Established businesses that want everything integrated and have the budget for premium pricing. If you'll actually use the email marketing and funnel features, the convenience might be worth the cost.

4. Podia - 0% Fees on Paid Plans

Podia offers 0% transaction fees on their paid plans, with a focus on simplicity.

Pricing:

• Free plan: 8% transaction fee (ouch)

• Mover: $39/month, 0% fees

• Shaker: $89/month, 0% fees

Podia's appeal:

User-friendly interface and straightforward setup. You can sell courses, digital downloads, and memberships from the same platform.

The email marketing integration is decent, and they offer some community features on higher plans.

The limitations:

Design customization is basic. Your courses will look fine, but they won't stand out visually. The course creation tools are simpler than competitors, which can be good or bad depending on your needs.

Best for: Beginners who want something simple to start with and don't need extensive customization options.

Platforms That DO Charge Transaction Fees (Avoid These)

Not all course platforms are created equal. Some still charge transaction fees that'll eat into your profits. Here are the main offenders:

Teachable - 5% Fees on Basic Plan

Teachable's Basic plan costs $39/month but charges 5% transaction fees. Their Pro plan ($119/month) eliminates transaction fees, but now you're paying almost as much as Kajabi.

If you're selling $4,000/month in courses, you're paying $39 + $200 (5% fees) = $239/month total. That's more expensive than most 0% fee platforms.

Gumroad - Up to 10% Fees

Gumroad charges 10% on their free plan and 3.5% on paid plans. While it's simple for digital downloads, those percentages add up fast for course sales.

Sell $2,000 worth of courses and you're handing over $200 to Gumroad on the free plan. No thanks.

Udemy - Takes 50% Revenue Share

Udemy isn't technically a transaction fee, but they keep 50% of sales from their marketplace traffic and 3% of sales from your own traffic. Either way, you're losing significant revenue.

For serious course creators, Udemy should be treated as a marketing channel, not your primary platform.

The Real Cost Comparison Over Time

Let's look at total costs over 1, 2, and 3 years for different revenue levels. This includes monthly fees and transaction fees where applicable.

Scenario: $60,000 annual course revenue ($5,000/month)

Scenario: $120,000 annual course revenue ($10,000/month)

The numbers don't lie. Platforms with transaction fees get exponentially more expensive as your business grows. Teachery's lifetime deal becomes an absolute steal at any revenue level above a few thousand per year.

What About Credit Card Processing Fees?

Here's something important: every platform has credit card processing fees. This is separate from transaction fees.

Credit card processing typically runs 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through Stripe or similar processors. This applies to everyone - Teachery, Kajabi, Teachable, everybody pays it.

When we say "0% transaction fees," we mean the platform itself doesn't take an additional cut. You still pay standard credit card processing, but that's unavoidable no matter where you sell.

The platforms charging "transaction fees" are actually charging processing fees PLUS their own additional percentage. That's the part you can avoid by choosing the right platform.

Other Factors Beyond Transaction Fees

While transaction fees are crucial, they're not the only consideration. Here are other factors that matter:

Design and Branding Control

If your course looks like everyone else's, you're losing sales. Visual branding builds trust and perceived value. Teachery excels here with complete design control. Kajabi offers decent customization. Teachable and Thinkific are more limited.

Course Types and Industries

Different platforms work better for different types of courses. We've written specific guides for:

• How to Sell a Yoga Course Online

• How to Sell a Photography Course Online

• How to Sell a Cooking Course Online

• How to Sell a Music Course Online

• How to Sell a Fitness Course Online

The platform choice often depends on your specific industry needs and content format.

Ease of Use

A platform that's difficult to use will slow down your course creation and student onboarding. Teachery and Podia prioritize simplicity. Kajabi has more features but can feel overwhelming. Thinkific sits in the middle.

Customer Support

When things break (and they will), you need responsive support. Teachery offers personal support from the founders. Kajabi has solid support but can be slow during busy periods. Teachable's support quality varies.

Our Pick: Why Teachery Wins for Most Creators

After comparing features, costs, and long-term value, Teachery comes out ahead for most serious course creators. Here's why:

The Lifetime Deal Math

At $550 one-time, Teachery pays for itself compared to any monthly platform within 6-12 months. After that, it's pure profit savings.

Compare to alternatives:

• Kajabi: $1,068/year ongoing

• Thinkific: $588/year ongoing

• Teachery: $550 once, then $0 forever

Over 5 years, you save $2,390+ compared to Thinkific and $4,790+ compared to Kajabi.

Design Freedom

Your courses won't look like templates. Custom colors, fonts, and layouts mean your brand actually shows through. This builds trust and allows for premium pricing.

True 0% Transaction Fees

No fine print, no minimum revenue requirements. Every plan includes 0% transaction fees from day one.

Unlimited Everything

Unlimited courses, students, products, and custom domains. Most platforms nickel and dime you with limits.

Simplicity That Works

Teachery does course hosting extremely well without overwhelming you with features you don't need. It's focused and effective.

When NOT to Choose Teachery

Be honest about your needs:

• If you need built-in email marketing and will actually use it, Kajabi might be worth the premium

• If you need live lesson capabilities, Thinkific has better tools

• If you're just testing course creation and might quit in 6 months, a monthly platform provides more flexibility

But for most creators who are serious about building a course business, want design control, and plan to be in this for the long haul, Teachery's combination of 0% fees and the lifetime deal is unbeatable.

Making Your Decision

Transaction fees matter more than most creators realize. A 5% fee might not seem like much, but it compounds into thousands of dollars lost per year as your business grows.

The platforms with 0% transaction fees - Teachery, Thinkific, and Kajabi - all have their strengths. Your choice comes down to budget, feature needs, and long-term plans.

If you're serious about course creation and want to stop paying monthly fees forever, Teachery's lifetime deal is the obvious financial winner. You'll save money compared to any competitor within the first year, and then benefit from completely free hosting for life.

The question isn't whether you can afford the lifetime deal. The question is whether you can afford to keep paying monthly fees and transaction fees forever when there's a better option available.

Ready to stop giving away percentages of your revenue? Check out Teachery's pricing options and see how much you could save over the next few years. The lifetime deal won't be available forever, and the savings add up faster than you think.

Related Reading

• Teachery vs Teachable - 0% Fees Saves You $1000s

• Gumroad Fees 2026 - Compare 0% Fee Alternative

• Sell Drawing Courses for $49/mo - No Fees Setup

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best course platforms with no transaction fees in 2026?

Teachery, Thinkific, and LearnDash are among the top platforms offering zero transaction fees on their plans. Teachery charges $49/month with 0% transaction fees and unlimited everything, while Thinkific's higher-tier plans and self-hosted LearnDash also eliminate transaction fees.

How much money can I save by avoiding transaction fees on course sales?

On $50,000 in annual course sales, avoiding 5% transaction fees saves you $2,500 per year. If you're selling $100,000 annually, you'll save $5,000 by choosing a platform with zero transaction fees instead of one charging 5%.

Do I still pay payment processing fees on zero transaction fee platforms?

Yes, you'll still pay payment processor fees of 2.9-3.5% to companies like Stripe or PayPal even on zero transaction fee platforms. The platform itself just doesn't take an additional cut on top of the required payment processing fees.

Is Teachery really worth it compared to other no transaction fee platforms?

Teachery offers exceptional value with its $49/month pricing, zero transaction fees, and unlimited products, students, and landing pages. Their $550 lifetime deal eliminates recurring costs entirely, making it one of the most cost-effective options for serious course creators.