Fee-first verdict
Teachable wins simpler fee-free selling. LearnWorlds wins instructional depth.
LearnWorlds Starter is the lowest-cost way to test a small number of paid enrollments. Teachable Builder becomes the cleaner fee choice as volume grows: $69 per month on annual billing with no Teachable transaction fee. LearnWorlds Pro Trainer costs $79 but adds the richer learning tools that make the platform distinctive.
Published pricing
The four plans that shape this comparison
| Platform and plan | Annual-plan equivalent | Platform charge | Key limit or strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| LearnWorlds Starter | $24/month | $5 per paid enrollment | Unlimited paid courses; restricted learning and site tools |
| LearnWorlds Pro Trainer | $79/month | No enrollment fee | Certificates, subscriptions, learning paths, and richer assessment tools |
| Teachable Starter | $29/month | 7.5% transaction fee | Five published products and 100 active students |
| Teachable Builder | $69/month | No Teachable transaction fee | Ten published products, 1,000 active students, and affiliate tools |
USD annual-plan equivalents checked August 7, 2026. Normal payment processing, recurring-payment service fees, taxes, currency conversion, and optional add-ons are separate.
A $149 course model
Sales volume changes the fee winner quickly
These examples include subscription and platform charges but exclude normal payment processing. They are a fee comparison, not a complete product recommendation.
| Monthly sales | LearnWorlds Starter | LearnWorlds Pro | Teachable Starter | Teachable Builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 sales ($745 gross) | $49 | $79 | about $85 | $69 |
| 10 sales ($1,490 gross) | $74 | $79 | about $141 | $69 |
| 20 sales ($2,980 gross) | $124 | $79 | about $253 | $69 |
Bold marks the lowest modeled platform cost in each row. At this course price, LearnWorlds Starter leads the five-sale example; Teachable Builder leads at ten and twenty sales.
Learning experience
LearnWorlds gives instructional teams more control
Choose LearnWorlds when
- Interactive video and detailed assessments define the course.
- Certificates, learning paths, private programs, or SCORM content matter.
- You need a more configurable academy rather than a simple creator storefront.
- Training quality and learner analytics justify a steeper setup curve.
Choose Teachable when
- You want courses, coaching, downloads, memberships, and bundles in one creator workflow.
- Integrated global payments and tax handling reduce operational work.
- Student mobile apps, upsells, order bumps, and cart recovery matter early.
- You value a faster launch more than advanced LMS controls.
Plan traps
The entry plans make different compromises
| Requirement | LearnWorlds implication | Teachable implication |
|---|---|---|
| Free lead course | Pro Trainer is the practical minimum | Available on Starter |
| Certificates | Pro Trainer or higher | Included across the current paid plans |
| Subscriptions and memberships | Pro Trainer or higher; Stripe is required for subscriptions | Included across the current paid plans |
| Growing product catalog | Unlimited paid courses on Starter | Five products on Starter; ten on Builder |
| Built-in affiliate management | Confirm the required plan and workflow | Builder or higher |
International creators
Compare the complete money path, not just checkout
LearnWorlds documents Stripe, PayPal, and Shopify payment routes. Teachable promotes integrated global payments and tax handling, but account eligibility and payout options still vary. A platform can accept a student's payment without offering the same settlement route to every creator.
Before choosing either platform, verify the gateway available to the actual account, settlement country and currency, payout schedule, tax workflow, reserve rules, and any separate payment-service fee.
Frequently asked
LearnWorlds vs Teachable questions
Which platform is cheaper for a first paid course?
LearnWorlds Starter can be cheaper at low enrollment volume because its subscription starts at $24 per month annually. Its fixed $5 charge grows with every enrollment, while Teachable Starter uses a 7.5% revenue fee and Builder uses a flat $69 fee.
Which platform is better for certificates and assessments?
Teachable includes certificates and structured course tools on its current paid plans. LearnWorlds Pro Trainer is the stronger choice when advanced assessments, interactive video, learning paths, or deeper instructional control are central.
Does Teachable Builder charge transaction fees?
Teachable lists a 0% base transaction fee on Builder. Payment processing and certain commerce-service fees can still apply.
When should I choose LearnWorlds Pro Trainer?
Choose it when the learning experience requires its richer tools, or when monthly paid enrollments reach twelve and its removal of Starter's $5 fee makes it cheaper on fee math.
Official sources
Verify current pricing and regional eligibility
Pricing, limits, and feature claims were checked against official LearnWorlds and Teachable pages on August 7, 2026.
Vendor links are currently direct and non-affiliate.