Course Platform Transaction Fees Explained (2026 Guide)

Your first $10,000 in course sales feels amazing until you see the platform fees. Suddenly, that $500 monthly payment from a student becomes $475 after your platform takes their cut. On a $297 course, you're losing $14.85 per sale - and that adds up fast.

Key Facts

• Teachable charges 5% transaction fees on its Basic plan, while Teachery charges 0% on all plans

• On $50,000 in course sales, a 5% transaction fee costs you $2,500 per year

• Only 3 major course platforms charge 0% transaction fees: Teachery, Kajabi, and Thinkific

• Transaction fees are separate from monthly platform costs and payment processing fees

Here's the thing about transaction fees: they're not just a small percentage. They compound every single time someone buys your course. While you're focused on creating content and marketing, these fees are quietly eating into your revenue.

Let's break down exactly what you're paying and where.

What Are Course Platform Transaction Fees?

Transaction fees are a percentage that course platforms take from every sale you make. This is separate from your monthly platform fee and separate from payment processing fees (like Stripe or PayPal charges).

Here's how a typical sale breaks down:

• Course price: $297

• Payment processing (Stripe): -$8.92 (2.9% + $0.30)

• Platform transaction fee (5%): -$14.85

• What you keep: $273.23

That's $23.77 in fees on a single $297 sale. Scale that across hundreds of sales, and you're looking at thousands in fees.

Want to keep 100% of your course revenue after payment processing? try Teachery free for 14 days - we charge 0% transaction fees on every plan.

Payment Processing vs Transaction Fees

Don't confuse these two:

Payment processing fees go to Stripe, PayPal, or whoever handles the credit card transaction. These are unavoidable - someone has to process the payment. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction across most platforms.

Transaction fees go to your course platform. These are their cut of your sale on top of your monthly subscription. Some platforms charge them, others don't.

Course Platform Transaction Fees: The Complete Breakdown

Here's what every major course platform charges in 2026:

Platforms With 0% Transaction Fees

Teachery: 0% on all plans ($49/month, $470/year, or $550 lifetime)

Kajabi: 0% on all plans ($89-$399/month)

Thinkific: 0% on all paid plans ($49-$199/month)

Kartra: 0% on all plans ($119-$549/month)

Platforms That Charge Transaction Fees

Teachable:

• Basic Plan ($39/month): 5% transaction fee

• Pro Plan ($119/month): 0% transaction fee

• Business Plan ($299/month): 0% transaction fee

Podia:

• Starter Plan ($39/month): 5% transaction fee

• Mover Plan ($89/month): 0% transaction fee

• Shaker Plan ($199/month): 0% transaction fee

LearnWorlds:

• Starter Plan ($29/month): $5 per sale

• Pro Trainer Plan ($99/month): 0% transaction fee

• Learning Center Plan ($299/month): 0% transaction fee

Gumroad: 10% on free accounts, 3.5% on Pro accounts ($10/month)

Stan Store: 7.5% on all plans

The Real Cost of Transaction Fees

Let's do the math on what these fees actually cost you:

Annual Cost Scenarios

$25,000 in annual course sales:

• 5% transaction fee: $1,250 per year

• 7.5% transaction fee: $1,875 per year

• 10% transaction fee: $2,500 per year

$100,000 in annual course sales:

• 5% transaction fee: $5,000 per year

• 7.5% transaction fee: $7,500 per year

• 10% transaction fee: $10,000 per year

At $100k in annual revenue, a 5% transaction fee costs you more than most people's entire platform budget. That $5,000 could cover 8+ years of Teachery's monthly plan or 9+ lifetime deals.

The Compound Effect

Transaction fees hurt more than monthly fees because they scale with your success. As your course business grows, you pay more in fees. It's literally a penalty for doing well.

Compare this to platforms with 0% transaction fees:

Scenario: $50,000 in course sales

• Teachable Basic + 5% fee: $39/month + $2,500/year = $2,968 total

• Teachery monthly + 0% fee: $49/month + $0/year = $588 total

• Savings with Teachery: $2,380 per year

Sound familiar? You're essentially choosing between paying a platform fee that stays the same or one that grows with every sale you make.

Hidden Fees to Watch For

Transaction fees aren't the only costs that catch creators off guard. Here are other fees that can add up:

Affiliate Commission Fees

Some platforms charge extra when affiliates promote your course:

• Teachable: Additional 1% when affiliates make sales

• Podia: Additional 1% when affiliates make sales

• Teachery: 0% additional - affiliates are included

Payment Gateway Fees

These are unavoidable, but some platforms inflate them:

• Standard Stripe rate: 2.9% + $0.30

• Most platforms: Pass through standard rates

• Some platforms: Add markup on top of Stripe fees

Feature Upgrade Fees

Want to remove transaction fees? Many platforms force you into higher-priced plans:

• Teachable: Must upgrade from $39/month to $119/month to remove 5% fee

• Podia: Must upgrade from $39/month to $89/month to remove 5% fee

• LearnWorlds: Must upgrade from $29/month to $99/month to remove $5 per sale

The Transaction Fee Decision Framework

Use this framework to decide if transaction fees make sense for your business:

Step 1: Calculate Your Break-Even Point

Find the monthly revenue where the higher monthly fee equals the transaction fee savings.

Example: Teachable Basic vs Pro

• Pro costs $80/month more than Basic

• Pro has 0% fees, Basic has 5% fees

• Break-even: $80 ÷ 0.05 = $1,600/month in sales

If you sell more than $1,600/month, upgrade. If you sell less, stay on Basic.

Step 2: Consider Your Growth Trajectory

Transaction fees hurt more as you grow. If you're planning to scale, factor in future costs:

• Current sales: $500/month

• 12-month goal: $3,000/month

• Decision: Choose 0% transaction fees now to avoid paying more later

Step 3: Factor in Switching Costs

Changing platforms later means:

• Migrating content and students

• Updating payment links and affiliates

• Learning new tools and workflows

Real talk: It's easier to start on the right platform than switch later.

Step 4: Compare Total Cost of Ownership

Add up everything for a 12-month period:

• Monthly platform fee × 12

• Transaction fees (projected sales × fee percentage)

• Any additional feature costs

• Migration costs (if switching from current platform)

Smart Strategies to Minimize Transaction Fees

If you're stuck on a platform with transaction fees, here's how to reduce their impact:

Bundle Products to Increase Average Order Value

Transaction fees are percentage-based. A 5% fee on a $97 course costs $4.85. A 5% fee on a $497 bundle costs $24.85. But selling one bundle is more efficient than selling five individual courses.

Offer Payment Plans Strategically

Payment plans create multiple transactions, which means multiple fees. A $297 course paid in full has one 5% fee ($14.85). The same course split into three $99 payments has three fees ($14.85 total, same cost).

But payment plans increase conversion rates. Run the numbers to see if higher conversions offset the fee structure.

Time Your Platform Upgrades

If you're on Teachable Basic and approaching $1,600/month in sales, upgrade to Pro before you hit that threshold. Don't pay 5% fees on sales above your break-even point.

Use Direct Payment Methods

Some creators use direct invoicing through Stripe or PayPal for high-value sales. You pay payment processing fees but avoid platform transaction fees. This works for coaching packages or premium courses over $1,000.

Why Some Platforms Can Afford 0% Transaction Fees

Platforms like Teachery, Kajabi, and Thinkific charge 0% because their business model doesn't depend on skimming your sales. They make money from monthly subscriptions, not transaction volume.

Platforms that charge transaction fees often:

• Offer lower monthly prices to attract users

• Make up revenue through transaction fees

• Target creators who don't calculate total costs

It's the classic "free lunch" scenario. The monthly fee looks cheaper, but you pay more overall through transaction fees.

The Marketplace Model Exception

Platforms like Udemy and Skillshare charge high transaction fees (50-75%) because they provide the audience. You're not just using their platform - you're accessing their marketplace of students.

This can make sense for new creators who need discoverability. But once you have your own audience, those fees become expensive customer acquisition costs.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Your decision comes down to this: Do you want predictable costs or costs that scale with your success?

Choose platforms with transaction fees if:

• You're just starting and want lower upfront costs

• Your sales volume is consistently low (under $1,000/month)

• You need marketplace discoverability more than profit margins

Choose platforms with 0% transaction fees if:

• You're planning to scale past $1,500/month in sales

• You want predictable monthly expenses

• You have your own audience and marketing channels

• You value keeping more of your hard-earned revenue

We've seen this firsthand: creators who switch to 0% transaction fee platforms often wish they'd made the move sooner. The fees you save in year one often pay for the entire platform switch.

If you're ready to keep 100% of your course revenue (minus unavoidable payment processing), Teachery's Lifetime Deal at $550 means you'll never pay monthly fees or transaction fees again. Over two years, that's less than most platforms charge in transaction fees alone on $25,000 in sales.

The short answer is: transaction fees are optional. You just need to choose a platform that doesn't charge them. Your future self will thank you when you're keeping thousands more in revenue each year.

Ready to stop paying transaction fees on every sale? start your free Teachery trial today and see how much you could save.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What course platforms have no transaction fees?

Teachery, Kajabi, Thinkific, and Kartra charge 0% transaction fees on their paid plans. Teachery charges 0% on all plans including monthly ($49), annual ($470), and lifetime ($550). Kajabi starts at $89/month with no transaction fees.

How much do course platform transaction fees cost per year?

Transaction fees cost $1,250 per year on $25,000 in sales at 5% fees, or $5,000 per year on $100,000 in sales. Teachable's Basic plan charges 5% transaction fees, which costs $2,500 annually on $50,000 in course sales.

Are course platform transaction fees explained the same across all platforms?

No, transaction fee structures vary significantly. Some platforms charge a flat percentage like 5%, others charge per-transaction amounts like $5 per sale, and some charge 0%. Always check if fees apply to all plans or just lower-tier plans.

Can I avoid transaction fees by upgrading my plan?

Yes, many platforms remove transaction fees on higher-tier plans. Teachable removes 5% fees when you upgrade from Basic ($39/month) to Pro ($119/month). However, platforms like Teachery charge 0% transaction fees on all plans, including their cheapest option.