Fee-first verdict
Teachable reaches its fee-free break-even sooner.
Teachable Builder becomes cheaper than Starter above roughly $533 in monthly gross revenue. Podia Shaker becomes cheaper than Mover above $840. Feature fit still matters more than a small fee difference.
Published pricing
The four plans compared
| Platform and plan | Annual-plan equivalent | Platform transaction fee | Upgrade break-even |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable Starter | $29/month | 7.5% | Builder wins above ~$533 gross |
| Teachable Builder | $69/month | 0% | — |
| Podia Mover | $42/month | 5% | Shaker wins above $840 gross |
| Podia Shaker | $84/month | 0% | — |
Example economics
Lowest platform cost at three revenue levels
| Monthly gross | Lowest modeled plan | Platform cost | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | Teachable Starter | $66.50 | Podia Mover at $67 |
| $1,000 | Teachable Builder | $69 | Podia Shaker at $84 |
| $3,000 | Teachable Builder | $69 | Podia Shaker at $84 |
This isolates subscription and platform transaction fees. Payment processing is additional and is normally similar enough that it does not change the plan-level break-even calculation.
Beyond fees
Choose Podia for consolidation; inspect Teachable for course operations
Podia may fit when
- You want courses, downloads, community, and email in one place.
- You prefer a simpler product lineup and creator-business workflow.
- Shaker’s affiliate, PayPal, or Zapier tools replace other software.
Teachable may fit when
- Your business is centered primarily on courses and coaching.
- Integrated payment and student-management workflows matter.
- Builder’s lower fee-free price matters at growing sales volume.
Practical recommendation
Do not choose from subscription price alone
At $500 in monthly gross revenue, the modeled difference between Teachable Starter and Podia Mover is only fifty cents. At that level, features and workflow should decide. Once revenue grows, both fee-charging entry plans become harder to justify.
Use the calculator with your course price, sales volume, and payment processing rate before making a final decision.
Official sources
Verify current pricing and limits
Vendor links are currently direct and non-affiliate.