Teachable is one of the oldest and most popular online course platforms, trusted by thousands of creators worldwide from coaches and authors to YouTubers and entrepreneurs.
But in 2025, with so many alternatives like SchoolMaker, Kajabi, and Thinkific in the game, is Teachable still worth using? What does it do well, where does it fall short, and who should actually use it?
In this detailed review, we’ll break down everything you need to know: features, pricing, pros, cons, and whether or not Teachable is the right platform for your online business this year.
What is Teachable?
Teachable is an online platform that helps you create and sell digital courses and coaching services. Whether you want to launch a signature course, monetize a workshop, or build a passive income stream, Teachable gives you the tools to package your expertise and get paid for it.
It has been around since 2014 and has supported over 100,000 creators, making it one of the most recognizable names in the space.
Unlike some platforms that try to do everything (community, email, web hosting, etc.), Teachable focuses heavily on course delivery and monetization. It is simple, solid, and focused, perfect for creators who want to teach without getting overwhelmed by tech.
What Makes Teachable Stand Out in 2025?
Let’s take a look at the features that still make Teachable a top choice for course creators.
Clean and Simple Course Builder
Teachable’s course creation experience is one of the smoothest out there.
You get a drag-and-drop course builder that lets you upload videos, PDFs, images, and text, organize content into modules and lessons, add quizzes, downloadable files and completion certificates, enable student progress tracking, drip content over time and much more.
Even if you’ve never created a course before, Teachable’s interface makes it super easy to get started. You can also duplicate courses, schedule content release dates, and require lesson prerequisites to keep students on track.
Coaching Features
Aside from courses, Teachable also supports 1-on-1 coaching, which is a nice bonus for creators offering personalized services.
You can offer coaching packages, use built-in scheduling tools, collect client intake forms and communicate with students in-app. This makes Teachable especially useful if you are blending courses with coaching or want to start small with just a few clients.
Flexible Payment Options & Payouts
Teachable’s built-in checkout is one of its biggest selling points. It supports one-time purchases, payment plans, subscriptions, coupons and upsells.
Students can pay via credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Plus, with Teachable Payments, you can get paid quickly (often daily), and they handle tax collection (VAT, US sales tax, etc.) automatically, which saves a ton of time for international creators.
Back Office Tools Done For You
Teachable handles the backend admin most creators hate such as sales tax collection, EU VAT compliance, 1099-K tax forms, student receipts, affiliate payout tracking and more.
You don’t have to hire an accountant or worry about chasing down invoices, it is all built-in and automated.
Basic Website & Page Builder
Teachable lets you create a simple website to house your courses. It is not a full website builder like Wix or WordPress, but you can customize your homepage, sales pages, and thank-you pages, use your own domain, add custom sections like FAQs, testimonials, videos, etc. and choose from preset themes.
It is simple and clean but a bit limited if you want something super custom or flashy.
Email & Affiliate Tools
Teachable is not an email marketing platform, but it provides some basic email marketing features such as:
- Send basic email announcements to students
- Set up email triggers for course actions (e.g., completed lesson, enrolled student)
- Tag students and segment by behavior
And if you want to grow through word of mouth, there is a built-in affiliate system where partners can promote your course and earn commissions. This is a nice bonus that is already included in most plans.
Mobile-Ready Learning Experience
Teachable has a highly rated mobile app for both students and admins, the mobile web learning experience is fully responsive, meaning students can access your course from their phone, tablet, or desktop with no problem.
What Are the Downsides?
Teachable is solid, but there are a few things that might hold some users back.
Limited Community Features
Teachable provides tools to build a student community, so you don’t need to use a third-party tool like Circle but the community features are basic so not as comprehensive as what community focused tools like Circle and Mighty Networks offer. If you want advanced community features, you might need to pay for another separate community tool.
No Built-In Funnel Builder
While Teachable has great checkout and email basics, it does not have a visual funnel builder like Kajabi’s Pipelines or Systeme.io. So if you want to create complex customer journeys, you will need to use a tool like ConvertKit, MailerLite, or ActiveCampaign together with it.
Limited Customization Options
Teachable’s themes and design tools are easy to use, but not very flexible. You can’t move things around freely or deeply customize your site layout like you can on platforms like WordPress, Webflow, or even Podia.
Teachable Pricing in 2025: Is It Affordable?
Teachable offers competitive pricing, especially for solo creators and beginners.
Here’s are the 2025 pricing plans:
Teachable also offers Teachable Pay for faster payouts and BackOffice services (automated tax handling and affiliate payouts), which are included in most paid plans.
Pros and Cons of Teachable
Pros
- Super easy course creation
- Excellent for beginners
- Built-in coaching tools
- Clean checkout and payment system
- BackOffice handles tax and admin
- Affordable pricing options
- Built-in affiliate marketing
Cons
- No built-in communities
- No advanced funnel builder
- Limited design flexibility
- Not ideal for large businesses or complex funnels
Who Should Use Teachable?
Teachable is great for:
- First-time course creators
- Coaches who want to add digital products
- Educators with simple course structures
- Side-hustlers looking for a simple setup
- Anyone who wants to launch fast without being overwhelmed
It is ideal if your main focus is creating and selling online courses and coaching without needing an all-in-one platform.
Who Teachable Might Not Be For
You may want to look elsewhere if:
- You need advanced email or marketing automation
- You want advanced community features
- You require deep branding or design control
- You want everything (funnels, website, email, etc.) under one roof
If that’s you, tools like Kajabi, Podia, or Kartra might be a better fit.
Final Verdict: Is Teachable Worth It in 2025?
Yes, if you are focused on selling courses or coaching and want a simple, reliable platform to do it. Teachable might not have the flashiest tools or the most customization, but it nails what it was built for: delivering and monetizing educational content.
The interface is clean, the support is solid, and the features you get are polished and dependable. If you're just getting started, or even if you're a mid-level creator looking to scale without stress, Teachable is still one of the best platforms in 2025.
Teachable Alternatives to Consider
If you’re exploring other options, here are some strong alternatives:
- SchoolMaker: Great for course creators who want to drive more course sales
- Kajabi: All-in-one with email, funnels, courses, and communities (more expensive)
- Podia: All-in-one for courses, memberships, and downloads with simple pricing
- Thinkific: Similar to Teachable, more customization and enterprise tools
- Systeme.io: Free plan with funnels, email marketing, and course tools
FAQ
Can I create coaching offers on Teachable?
Yes. Teachable includes 1-on-1 coaching features with intake forms, scheduling, and payment collection.
Does Teachable offer a free plan?
Yes. The free plan includes 1 course and 1 coaching product with a $1 + 10% fee per sale.
Can I build a full website on Teachable?
Sort of. You can build a homepage and basic pages, but it is not a full-fledged site builder like WordPress.
Is Teachable good for beginners?
Definitely. It is one of the most user-friendly platforms for getting your first course online.
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