If you're searching for Teachable's free plan in 2026, the short answer is: it no longer exists. Teachable eliminated its free tier during a June 2025 pricing restructuring. The cheapest option is now the Starter plan at $29/month (annual billing) with a 7.5% transaction fee on every sale. Here's what changed, what your options are, and whether the alternatives are worth considering.
Does Teachable Have a Free Plan in 2026?
No. Teachable does not offer a free plan. In June 2025, Teachable restructured its pricing and removed the free tier entirely. New users can no longer sign up for a $0 plan. The pricing page now starts at the Starter plan ($39/month, or $29/month with annual billing).
This was part of a broader pricing overhaul that also raised costs for existing users on legacy plans. Many creators who had been on older, lower-priced tiers were migrated to the new pricing structure at significantly higher rates — a change that generated substantial criticism in online communities.
What the Old Free Plan Included (Before June 2025)
Before its removal, Teachable's free plan offered a limited version of the platform:
- 1 published course and 1 coaching product
- Up to 10 students
- Basic course builder with video, text, and file uploads
- Payment processing through Teachable Payments
- Community tab for student discussions
The catch was a $1 + 10% transaction fee on every sale. On a $100 course, Teachable took $11 before payment processing fees. On a $50 course, they took $6. This was one of the highest platform fees in the industry, and it meant the plan was never truly free for anyone generating revenue.
Additional limitations included no custom domain, no coupons or promotions, no drip content scheduling, no course completion certificates, Teachable branding on all pages, and only 1 third-party integration.
What About the Free Trial?
Teachable now offers a 7-day free trial on all paid plans. During the trial, you get full access to the plan's features — course builder, payment processing, community tools, and everything else included in the tier you select.
After 7 days, you're charged at the plan rate. There is no way to continue using Teachable without a paid subscription once the trial ends.
Seven days is tight for building and launching a course. It's enough to explore the interface and test the course builder, but not enough to enroll students, gather feedback, and make an informed decision about the platform. If you go this route, have your course content ready before starting the trial so you can focus on testing the platform itself.
The Cheapest Teachable Plan: Starter at $29/Month
The most affordable Teachable plan is now Starter, priced at $39/month (monthly) or $29/month (annual billing at $348/year). Here's what it includes:
- 1 published product (course, coaching, or digital download)
- 100 student limit
- Drip content, quizzes, and certificates
- Community and memberships
- iOS and Android student apps
- Coupons, upsells, and cart recovery
The major constraint: a 7.5% transaction fee on every sale. Sell a $200 course and Teachable takes $15 on top of payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 for US cards). At low volumes this is manageable, but it adds up quickly.
When Does the 7.5% Fee Become More Expensive Than Upgrading?
The next tier up is Builder at $69/month (annual) with 0% transaction fees. The math on when to upgrade is straightforward:
| Monthly Revenue | Starter Cost ($29 + 7.5%) | Builder Cost ($69 + 0%) | Better Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200/mo | $44 | $69 | Starter |
| $500/mo | $66.50 | $69 | About equal |
| $667/mo | $79 | $69 | Builder wins |
| $1,000/mo | $104 | $69 | Builder wins |
| $2,000/mo | $179 | $69 | Builder wins |
The breakeven is roughly $667/month in course revenue. Below that, Starter is cheaper. Above it, the 7.5% fee costs more than the $40/month difference to upgrade to Builder. At $2,000/month revenue, the Starter plan's fees alone ($150) exceed five times the base plan cost.
For a complete breakdown of all Teachable tiers, see our Teachable pricing and fees guide.
Platforms That Actually Have Free Plans
If you need a genuinely free way to start building and selling courses, a few platforms still offer free tiers:
- Ruzuku — Free plan with unlimited courses, up to 5 students, and zero transaction fees. No credit card required. You get the full course builder, community discussions, and student support included. When you're ready to grow past 5 students, paid plans start at $99/month with 0% transaction fees and unlimited students. (Ruzuku vs Teachable comparison)
- Thinkific — Free plan with 1 course and 0% transaction fees. More limited feature set than paid plans, but no per-sale platform fee. (Teachable vs Thinkific comparison)
- Podia — No free plan, but the Mover plan ($33/mo annual) with a 5% transaction fee is the closest low-cost entry point. Simpler than Teachable with a focus on digital products.
The key difference: Ruzuku's free plan charges zero transaction fees. Every dollar your students pay goes to you (minus standard payment processing). That's a fundamentally different model from Teachable's old free plan, which took $1 + 10% of every sale.
For a broader overview, see our 7 Best Teachable Alternatives in 2026 or take our 2-minute platform quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Teachable have a free plan in 2026?
No. Teachable eliminated its free plan in June 2025 as part of a pricing restructuring. The cheapest option is now the Starter plan at $29/month (annual billing) or $39/month (monthly). New users get a 7-day free trial, after which a paid plan is required.
What happened to Teachable's free plan?
Teachable removed the free tier during a June 2025 pricing overhaul that also raised prices for many existing users on legacy plans. The old free plan had allowed 1 course, 10 students, and charged a $1 + 10% transaction fee on every sale.
How long is Teachable's free trial?
Teachable offers a 7-day free trial on all paid plans. You get full access to the plan's features during the trial period. After 7 days, you're automatically charged at the plan rate unless you cancel.
Is there a course platform with a free plan and no transaction fees?
Ruzuku offers a free plan with unlimited courses, up to 5 students, and zero transaction fees. No credit card required. Thinkific also has a free tier with 1 course and 0% transaction fees.
When does Teachable's Starter plan become more expensive than Builder?
At roughly $667/month in course revenue, the 7.5% transaction fee on the Starter plan ($29/month annual) costs more than the $40/month difference to upgrade to the Builder plan ($69/month annual), which has 0% transaction fees.