Systeme.io vs Teachable: Which One Should You Choose? (2026)

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By Stefan Vetter · Last updated: October 2026

If you’re comparing course and content platforms, Systeme.io and Teachable are both popular picks — but they’re built for very different budgets and use cases. Here’s how they actually stack up.

Systeme.io

A free plan with funnels, email, 1 course, and an affiliate program — Teachable has no free plan and takes a 7.5% cut of every sale on its Starter plan.

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Teachable

A long-established course platform trusted by large creators — but no free plan, a 7.5% transaction fee on Starter, and no email marketing or affiliates until $89/month.

Pricing Comparison

• Entry price · Systeme.io: $0/month (free forever) · Teachable: $39/month (Starter plan, billed monthly; $29/mo billed annually)

• Free plan · Systeme.io: Yes — funnels, email, 1 course, affiliates included · Teachable: No free plan — 7-day free trial only

• Email marketing included · Systeme.io: Yes, even on free plan · Teachable: No on Starter — custom/broadcast emails only from the Builder plan ($89/mo) up

• Sales funnels · Systeme.io: Yes, multi-step funnels on every plan including free · Teachable: No dedicated multi-step funnel builder — sales, checkout, and thank-you pages only

• Course hosting · Systeme.io: Yes, 1 course free / unlimited from $47/mo · Teachable: Yes, core feature on all plans

• Affiliate program management · Systeme.io: Yes, built in on every plan including free · Teachable: No on Starter — affiliate program only from the Builder plan ($89/mo) up

• Transaction fees · Systeme.io: None · Teachable: 7.5% on the Starter plan; 0% on Builder ($89/mo) and Growth ($189/mo)

The Real Cost Difference

A solopreneur starting out on Systeme.io’s free plan pays $0/month for funnels, email automation, and one course. Teachable has no free plan at all — its cheapest plan, Starter, runs $39/month ($468/year) billed monthly, and still takes a 7.5% cut of every sale, with no email marketing or affiliate program included. Only the pricier $89/month Builder plan removes the transaction fee and unlocks those features.

Quick take: Teachable's Starter plan takes 7.5% per sale with no email marketing or affiliates included. Systeme.io's free plan has all three, with 0% fees.

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Where Teachable Wins

To be fair: Teachable is a long-established, purpose-built course platform with polished course-building tools, quizzes, certificates, and a track record trusted by large course creators. If you’re scaling a serious course business and can absorb the higher plan costs, Teachable’s course-specific tooling is mature and reliable.

Where Systeme.io Wins

For beginners and solopreneurs who want to launch a course without a $39+/month bill (plus a 7.5% transaction fee, and no email marketing or affiliate tools until $89/month), Systeme.io’s free plan removes the biggest barrier: cost before revenue. You get funnels, email, one course, and affiliate management in one login, with 0% transaction fees.

Bottom Line

If you’re testing a course idea or just starting out, Systeme.io’s free plan lets you build and sell a course without spending a cent. If you’re an established creator who needs Teachable’s mature course-building tools and can afford $89+/month to get email marketing, affiliates, and 0% transaction fees, Teachable is a solid, reliable platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Teachable have a free plan?

No — only a 7-day trial. Paid plans start at $39/month.

Does Teachable's cheapest plan include email marketing?

7.5% on the Starter plan; 0% only from the $89/month Builder plan up.

You Won't Be the Only One

Systeme.io is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 2,100+ reviews on Capterra (checked September 2026), so you're not betting on an unknown tool. That matters when you're trusting a tool with your courses and customer data.

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Or see the full picture across all 10 platforms: Systeme.io vs Everyone.

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This page may contain affiliate links. If you sign up through this page, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Pricing shown reflects publicly listed rates as of September 2026 and may change — always check the provider's official pricing page before purchasing.