Teachable Review: Is It Worth It? (My Personal Insights)

In this review of Teachable, I’ll dive into its features, pricing options, payment methods, customer support, and more. I’ll highlight both the advantages and drawbacks based on my personal insights.

By the end of this review, you’ll have a clear understanding of what Teachable offers and what to anticipate when you register on the platform. Additionally, I’ll introduce some top alternatives to Teachable in case you want to explore other options.

Let’s begin exploring Teachable together!

What is Teachable?

Teachable is an all-in-one learning management platform created to assist course creators in developing and selling their online course content.

Originally founded in 2013 by Ankur Nagpal under the name Fedora, the platform underwent significant growth and transformation.

Within two years, Fedora expanded from a one-person team to a team of 15, leading to its rebranding as Teachable. This evolution included the incorporation of coaching services management alongside its core mission of simplifying course creation and delivery.

Teachable now offers comprehensive solutions ranging from course hosting to sales monitoring and payment processing.

As of 2024, the platform boasts over 100,000 instructors. Entrepreneurs have leveraged Teachable to sell courses and coaching products totaling over $500 million, reaching more than 18 million students worldwide.

How Teachable Stands Out from Other Providers?

Teachable stands out from other providers because it offers features specifically designed for new course creators, such as:

1. Intuitive Admin Interface: Simplifies the process of building your first course with its user-friendly interface.
2. Free Plan: While Teachable previously offered a free plan, it has been discontinued. Currently, Thinkific is the only course platform providing a free plan.
3. Built-in Payment Processing: Teachable Payments is the platform’s exclusive payment processing system.

These features aim to streamline the course creation journey for beginners.

Teachable Pricing and Plans

Teachable strives to be accessible to course creators by offering various pricing plans tailored to different needs:

Free Plan

Yes, Teachable provides a free plan ideal for those exploring the platform or testing the waters before committing.

Teachable offers paid plans structured into tiers, each offering additional perks compared to the lower tier. Regardless of the plan, all users can serve an unlimited number of students.

Basic Plan

This plan includes all features of the free plan and costs $59 per month or $39 per month with an annual subscription.

Alongside the free features, users only pay a 5% transaction fee, gain access to live group coaching, and can sell up to five products of each type (courses, coaching, and downloads).

Pro Plan

The most popular plan is $159 per month or $119 per month with an annual subscription. With no transaction fees, users can keep all their income.

Additional features include creating upsells, incorporating affiliate marketing, and removable branding for courses using their business’s logo and colors. This plan allows for selling up to 50 products of each type.

Pro+ Plan

This plan increases the product limit to 200 of each type. It costs $249 per month or $199 per month with an annual subscription.

Business Plan

Priced at $665 per month or $499 per month with an annual subscription, this plan targets large teams or education-based businesses.

It includes no transaction fees and allows for 20 admin-level users, custom user roles, advanced theme customization, and unlimited product creation of all types.

Key Features of Teachable

Here are some key aspects of Teachable that make it beneficial for new course creators:

• Intuitive Interface:

Teachable boasts a user-friendly admin panel that simplifies the course creation process, especially for beginners.

Its clean navigation and essential customization features ensure that users can easily navigate and customize their courses without feeling overwhelmed by unnecessary options.

• Built-in Payment Processing:

Teachable offers built-in payment processing through Teachable Payments, eliminating the need for users to set up accounts with third-party processors.

The platform’s transaction fees, comparable to industry standards like Stripe and PayPal (2.9% + 30 cents per transaction), make it convenient for creators to manage their finances.

Although there’s a nominal 25-cent fee per payout, it’s negligible for most users.

• Coaching Option:

Teachable provides coaching options for all paid members, making it an excellent choice for solo entrepreneurs seeking to sell digital coaching services online.

The platform simplifies the setup of sales pages and intake forms for coaches. Moreover, the 1:1 coaching space allows users to schedule sessions and communicate directly, streamlining the coaching process and reducing email exchanges.

• Circle.so Integration:

Teachable recently integrated with Circle.so, a community platform designed to enhance engagement and build relationships. With this integration, users can create free communities to expand their brand and generate leads.

Additionally, they can establish community spaces tailored to their cohort-based courses, facilitating course discussions and fostering accountability. The integration enables users to create standalone or connected communities seamlessly.

Pros and Cons of Teachable

Teachable offers numerous advantages for course creators, but like any platform, it also has its drawbacks. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Teachable Pros:

1. Diverse Plan Options: Teachable provides various plan options, including a free account for exploration. Each tier builds upon the features of the previous one, offering additional benefits to enhance the student experience. You can opt for monthly subscriptions or discounted annual plans based on your needs.
2. Easy Setup and Management: The platform offers design templates, tutorials, and tech support, making it straightforward to set up and manage your account, even for those with limited technical skills. Teachable automates many processes, such as payments, registrations, bookings, and site upgrades, allowing you to focus on delivering high-quality content.
3. Supports Various Content Formats: Teachable supports multiple content formats, including PDFs, images, videos, and audio files. This versatility enables you to create dynamic courses that cater to diverse learning styles, enhancing the overall learning experience for your students.
4. Built-in Payment System: Teachable eliminates the need for third-party payment systems, providing an integrated payment solution for added security. While you have the option to integrate popular payment portals if desired, Teachable’s system handles transactions, streamlining the management of incoming payments and payouts.

Teachable Cons

Teachable has its drawbacks alongside its benefits. Here are some of the cons to consider: What are the disadvantages of Teachable?

• Challenging Site Builder: Many Teachable users find building pages challenging, particularly when it comes to designing one-click upsell pages. The small input boxes and limited copy-and-paste functionality can make customization difficult, especially for those without technical expertise. Advanced changes to templates may require the assistance of a web designer.
• Limited Customization Options: Teachable’s templated approach simplifies course creation but limits customization options. While creators can deliver diverse content, all pages have the same layout, making it challenging to differentiate from other course creators. The templated pages offer minimal customization, hindering the ability to stand out.
• Transaction Fees: Teachable imposes transaction fees on both free and basic plans, which can accumulate over time. While the rates may seem low initially, they can become significant over the long term. To avoid these fees, users must upgrade to more expensive plans, which may include features they do not require, resulting in a substantial price increase.

How to Set Up an Online Course on Teachable

Setting up an online course on Teachable is a great way to share your knowledge with others. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started:

1. Sign Up: Begin by signing up for a Teachable account. You can choose a plan that fits your needs and budget.
2. Create Your School: Once logged in, create your online school on Teachable. This will be the platform where your course will be hosted.
3. Course Creation: Click on the “Create a Course” button to begin crafting your course. Give your course a title and description to attract potential students.
4. Add Content: Start adding content to your course. You can upload videos, presentations, PDFs, quizzes, and more to engage your students.
5. Customize Your Course: Personalize the look and feel of your course by choosing a theme, adding your branding elements, and customizing the layout to match your style.
6. Set Pricing: Decide on the pricing for your course. You can offer it for free, set a one-time payment, or even create subscription plans for ongoing access.
7. Publish Your Course: Once everything looks good, it’s time to publish your course. Hit the “Publish” button to make it available to your students.
8. Promote Your Course: Spread the word about your course! Share it on social media, create blog posts, or even run ads to attract potential students.
9. Engage with Students: As students enroll in your course, engage with them through discussions, feedback, and Q&A sessions to enhance their learning experience.
10. Monitor Your Progress: Keep track of your course’s performance using Teachable’s analytics tools. Monitor enrollment, student progress, and revenue to optimize your course over time.

Remember, setting up an online course on Teachable is just the beginning. The real magic happens when you connect with your students and help them achieve their learning goals. Good luck!

Who Benefits Most from Teachable

Teachable is an ideal platform for educator-entrepreneurs looking to share their expertise with a global audience. Here’s why it’s perfect for various professionals:

1. Consultants: Reach clients worldwide without extensive marketing campaigns or travel commitments.
2. Coaches: Deliver coaching services globally with integrations like Zoom and Calendly for scheduling and billing.
3. Speakers: Conduct virtual presentations seamlessly through Teachable with Zoom integration.
4. Authors: Scale your business with built-in marketing tools, offering a balance between self-promotion and publisher reliance.
5. Trainers: Share knowledge and sell products through recorded workshops and live webinars integrated into Teachable schools. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, Teachable allows you to create professional course websites and incorporate your branding with a Pro subscription or above. Whether you’re a yoga instructor, musician, financial advisor, watercolor artist, or mountain climber, Teachable provides the perfect platform to share your expertise and passion with the world.

What Are Some Teachable Alternatives?

Looking to explore other options before deciding on Teachable? Let’s take a quick peek at three popular alternatives:

Skillshare

Skillshare is a widely recognized online learning platform offering thousands of courses across various industries. It’s user-friendly for creators and students alike, emphasizing communities and serving as a go-to platform for creatives.

However, it focuses more on the platform than on individual courses, limiting earning potential for creators.

Thinkific

Thinkific offers diverse payment plans, including a free option and three paid tiers: Basic, Start, and Grow. While its prices are slightly lower than Teachable’s, the features vary, so a detailed comparison is essential.

Thinkific doesn’t charge transaction fees, provides ample technical support, and offers user-friendly web design options.

Teachery

Teachery provides a straightforward approach to course creation, suitable for less tech-savvy creators. It offers visually appealing pages without extensive coding.

Teachery has a single payment plan without transaction fees or limitations on courses, enrollments, or payments. However, it may lack advanced customization options for more experienced creators.

Each platform has its strengths and caters to different user preferences. Consider your needs and priorities before making a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions