Home › Stack Builder › Launch an online course (solo)

Launch an online course solo: cheapest tool stack

Sell an online course on your own: course platform, payments, an email list and a simple promotion routine.

Prices are official, dated and quoted (latest check 2026-10-18). Change any number and the stacks update. Ranking never depends on affiliate status.

Cheapest$63.52/mo0.1 h/week by handLowest monthly price that covers every category.

Balanced$63.52/mo0.1 h/week by handLowest price + your time (hours × your hourly value).

Most automated$63.52/mo0.1 h/week by handFewest manual hours; price breaks ties.

Course revenue per month: 1,980.0
Card processing per month: 63.4
Posts per month: 21.7

The three stacks

Cheapest stack

Category	Tool	What it does	$/month	Manual h/week
Course platform (incl. platform fees and card processing)	systeme.io affiliate Free	Course, funnels and email in one; 1 course, 2,000 contacts, 0% platform fee.	$63.42	0.0 h
Email list	Kit Free	Newsletter and landing pages, up to 10,000 subscribers.	$0.00	0.0 h
Promo writing	Gemini API Gemini 3.8 Flash, paid tier	Writes scripts/drafts automatically from a prompt template in your pipeline.	$0.10	0.0 h
Social scheduling	Buffer Free	Schedules posts; up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel.	$0.00	0.1 h
Total			$63.52/mo	0.1 h/week

Balanced stack

Category	Tool	What it does	$/month	Manual h/week
Course platform (incl. platform fees and card processing)	systeme.io affiliate Free	Course, funnels and email in one; 1 course, 2,000 contacts, 0% platform fee.	$63.42	0.0 h
Email list	Kit Free	Newsletter and landing pages, up to 10,000 subscribers.	$0.00	0.0 h
Promo writing	Gemini API Gemini 3.8 Flash, paid tier	Writes scripts/drafts automatically from a prompt template in your pipeline.	$0.10	0.0 h
Social scheduling	Buffer Free	Schedules posts; up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel.	$0.00	0.1 h
Total			$63.52/mo	0.1 h/week

Most automated stack

Category	Tool	What it does	$/month	Manual h/week
Course platform (incl. platform fees and card processing)	systeme.io affiliate Free	Course, funnels and email in one; 1 course, 2,000 contacts, 0% platform fee.	$63.42	0.0 h
Email list	Kit Free	Newsletter and landing pages, up to 10,000 subscribers.	$0.00	0.0 h
Promo writing	Gemini API Gemini 3.8 Flash, paid tier	Writes scripts/drafts automatically from a prompt template in your pipeline.	$0.10	0.0 h
Social scheduling	Buffer Free	Schedules posts; up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel.	$0.00	0.1 h
Total			$63.52/mo	0.1 h/week

Every option, per category

Sorted by price at your numbers. “Doesn’t fit” means a plan limit (users, minutes, subscribers…) is exceeded.

Course platform (incl. platform fees and card processing)

Tool / plan	$/month	Evidence
systeme.io affiliate Free	$63.42	Price source Free: 2,000 contacts, 1 course; Startup $17/month: 5 courses; Webinar $47/month: 20 courses; Unlimited $97/month (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: systeme-io fact systeme/plans); 0% transaction fees on all plans (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: systeme-io fact systeme/fees); Stripe standard US rate: 2.9% + 30¢ per successful domestic card transaction (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: systeme-io fact stripe/us) Free: 2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, 1 course. Startup ($17/month): 5,000 contacts, 10 sales funnels, 5 courses. Webinar ($47/month): 10,000 contacts, 50 sales funnels, 20 courses Unlimited ($97/month) 0% transaction fees 2.9% + 30¢ per successful transaction for domestic cards Formula: `proc`
systeme.io affiliate Startup	$80.42	Price source Free: 2,000 contacts, 1 course; Startup $17/month: 5 courses; Webinar $47/month: 20 courses; Unlimited $97/month (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: systeme-io fact systeme/plans); 0% transaction fees on all plans (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: systeme-io fact systeme/fees); Stripe standard US rate: 2.9% + 30¢ per successful domestic card transaction (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: systeme-io fact stripe/us) Free: 2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, 1 course. Startup ($17/month): 5,000 contacts, 10 sales funnels, 5 courses. Webinar ($47/month): 10,000 contacts, 50 sales funnels, 20 courses Unlimited ($97/month) 0% transaction fees 2.9% + 30¢ per successful transaction for domestic cards Formula: `17+proc`
Payhip Plus	$132.02	Price source Free $0 + 5% fee; Plus $29/mo + 2%; Pro $99/mo, no transaction fee; same features, unlimited products (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: payhip fact payhip/plans) $ 0 /mo +5% transaction fee $ 29 /mo +2% transaction fee $ 99 /mo No transaction fee Unlimited products Formula: `29+rev*0.02+proc`
Teachable Builder	$152.42	Price source Builder: $89/mo monthly, $69/mo billed annually, 10 products (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: teachable fact teachable/builder) $89 $69/mo Billed annually 10 products Formula: `iff(annual,69,89)+proc`
Payhip Free	$162.42	Price source Free $0 + 5% fee; Plus $29/mo + 2%; Pro $99/mo, no transaction fee; same features, unlimited products (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: payhip fact payhip/plans) $ 0 /mo +5% transaction fee $ 29 /mo +2% transaction fee $ 99 /mo No transaction fee Unlimited products Formula: `rev*0.05+proc`
LearnWorlds Starter	$192.42	Price source Starter: $29 monthly, $24/mo billed annually, plus $5 per paid enrollment (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: learnworlds fact learnworlds/starter) 24 /month, billed annually 5 per paid enrollment 29 /month 5 per paid enrollment Formula: `iff(annual,24,29)+sales*5+proc`
Podia Mover	$211.42	Price source Mover: $49 monthly or $42/mo billed annually, 5% transaction fee, 50 products (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: podia fact podia/mover) $49/month billed monthly or $42/month billed annually. 5% transaction fee with up to 50 products Formula: `iff(annual,42,49)+rev*0.05+proc`
Skool affiliate Hobby	$213.00	Price source Hobby $9/month (10% transaction fee), Pro $99/month (2.9% transaction fee), unlimited courses (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: skool fact skool/plans); Pro: 2.9% + 30c up to $899, 3.9% + 30c above $900; Hobby 10% + 30c; Skool processes payments (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: skool fact skool/fees) Hobby $9/month 10% transaction fee Pro $99/month 2.9% transaction fee Unlimited courses 2.9% + 30c /transaction for transactions up to $899 USD. 3.9% + 30c /transaction for transactions above $900 USD. 10% + 30c /transaction for all transactions Formula: `9+rev0.10+sales0.30`
Kajabi Basic	$242.42	Price source Basic: $143/mo billed annually ($179 monthly), 5 products, 2,500 contacts (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: kajabi fact kajabi/basic); Kajabi Payments (US): 2.9% + $0.30 Basic, 2.8% + $0.30 Growth, 2.7% + $0.30 Pro; no revenue share (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: kajabi fact kajabi/payments) $143 /mo* Billed annually ($179/mo) 5 Products 2,500 Contacts Kajabi Payments* 2.9% + $0.30 2.8% + $0.30 2.7% + $0.30 Kajabi does not take a revenue share Formula: `iff(annual,143,179)+proc`
Teachable Starter	$250.92	Price source Starter: $39/mo monthly, $29/mo billed annually, 5 products, 7.5% transaction fee (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: teachable fact teachable/starter) Starter Basic tools for getting your business started $39 $29/mo Billed annually 7.5% transaction fee Formula: `iff(annual,29,39)+rev*0.075+proc`

Email list

Tool / plan	$/month	h/week	Evidence
Kit Free	$0.00	0.0 h	Price source Kit: Free $0 up to 10,000 subscribers (checked 2026-10-18, read on the official page 2026-10-18 (snapshot kit)) Free For creators just starting out $0 /mo Free—up to 10,000 subscribers Formula: `0`
beehiiv affiliate Free	$0.00	0.0 h	Price source beehiiv: Free $0 (up to 2,500 subscribers); Lite from $49/mo and Pro from $95/mo on yearly billing; 0% take rate on paid subscriptions (checked 2026-10-18, read on the official page 2026-10-18 (snapshot beehiiv)); Free: up to 2,500 subscribers (checked 2026-10-17, ListCost: beehiiv fact 0) Free The basics for creators just getting started. $0 Free forever Lite For those ready to grow faster and start monetizing. $49 /mo Yearly billing $95 /mo Yearly billing Subscribers, Free, Up to 2,500 Formula: `0`
Use the course platform's email Half an hour a week assumed for the less capable built-in tools.	$0.00	0.5 h	Price source Free: 2,000 contacts, 1 course; Startup $17/month: 5 courses; Webinar $47/month: 20 courses; Unlimited $97/month (checked 2026-10-18, CourseCost: systeme-io fact systeme/plans) Free: 2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, 1 course. Startup ($17/month): 5,000 contacts, 10 sales funnels, 5 courses. Webinar ($47/month): 10,000 contacts, 50 sales funnels, 20 courses Unlimited ($97/month) Formula: `0`
MailerLite Free	doesn’t fit		Price source Free: 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails (checked 2026-10-17, ListCost: mailerlite fact 0) 250 subscribers 2,500 monthly emails Formula: `0`

Promo writing

Tool / plan	$/month	h/week	Evidence
Gemini API Gemini 3.8 Flash, paid tier Price doubles on 1 Jan 2027 ($1.50 / $7.50 per 1M tokens).	$0.10	0.0 h	Price source Gemini 3.8 Flash, paid tier: $0.75 per 1M input tokens, $3.75 per 1M output tokens through 31 Dec 2026 (doubles from 1 Jan 2027). Free tier: free of charge. (checked 2026-10-18, read on the official page 2026-10-18 (snapshot gemini-pricing)) $0.75 through December 31, 2026. $1.50 starting January 1, 2027. $3.75 through December 31, 2026. $7.50 starting January 1, 2027. Formula: `units_month(llm_in0.75+llm_out*3.75)/1e6`
Claude Pro Usage limits apply.	$20.00	0.4 h	Price source Claude Pro: $20 billed monthly, $17/month with annual billing (checked 2026-10-18, read on the official page 2026-10-18 (snapshot claude)) $17 Per month with annual subscription discount ( $200 billed up front). $20 if billed monthly. Formula: `iff(annual,17,20)`
Jasper Pro (1 seat)	$69.00	0.4 h	Price source Pro: $59/month billed yearly or $69/month billed monthly (checked 2026-10-18, AI writing calculator (aiwritercost): jasper fact jasper/1) Pro: $59/month billed yearly or $69/month billed monthly (cancel anytime) Formula: `iff(annual,59,69)`
Gemini API Gemini 3.8 Flash, free tier Rate limits apply; content may be used to improve Google's products. Off unless you allow free tiers.	doesn’t fit		Price source Gemini 3.8 Flash, paid tier: $0.75 per 1M input tokens, $3.75 per 1M output tokens through 31 Dec 2026 (doubles from 1 Jan 2027). Free tier: free of charge. (checked 2026-10-18, read on the official page 2026-10-18 (snapshot gemini-pricing)) $0.75 through December 31, 2026. $1.50 starting January 1, 2027. $3.75 through December 31, 2026. $7.50 starting January 1, 2027. Formula: `0`

Social scheduling

Tool / plan	$/month	h/week	Evidence
Buffer Free	$0.00	0.1 h	Price source Free: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user (checked 2026-10-18, Social scheduler calculator (schedulercost): buffer fact buffer/free) Free Free forever Connect up to 3 channels 10 scheduled posts per channel - refill anytime Formula: `0`
Publer Free	$0.00	0.1 h	Price source Free: 1 user, 3 social accounts (except X), 10 scheduled posts per account (checked 2026-10-18, Social scheduler calculator (schedulercost): publer fact publer/free) 3 social accounts (except 𝕏) 10 scheduled posts per account Formula: `0`
Post by hand Native apps	$0.00	0.4 h	No tool to buy.
Publer Professional	$15.00	0.1 h	Price source Per social account: Professional $5/mo ($4 billed yearly), Business $10/mo ($8 billed yearly), in US dollars (checked 2026-10-18, Social scheduler calculator (schedulercost): publer fact publer/prices) Price in US Dollars: $5.00 / month Price in US Dollars: $10.00 / month Price in US Dollars: $4.00 / month billed yearly Price in US Dollars: $8.00 / month billed yearly Formula: `(channels-floor(channels/10))*iff(annual,4,5)`
Buffer Essentials	$18.00	0.1 h	Price source Monthly billing: Essentials $6, Team $12 per channel a month (checked 2026-10-18, Social scheduler calculator (schedulercost): buffer fact buffer/monthly); Yearly billing: Essentials $5, Team $10 per channel a month ($60 / $120 a year) (checked 2026-10-18, Social scheduler calculator (schedulercost): buffer fact buffer/yearly) Essentials Recommended $6 /month 1 channel · Billed monthly Team $12 /month 1 channel · Billed monthly Essentials Recommended $5 /month 1 channel · $60 billed yearly (save 2 months) Team $10 /month 1 channel · $120 billed yearly (save 2 months) Formula: `channels*iff(annual,5,6)`
SocialPilot Essentials	$30.00	0.1 h	Price source Billed monthly: $30, $50, $100, $200 (checked 2026-10-18, Social scheduler calculator (schedulercost): socialpilot fact socialpilot/monthly); Accounts 7 / 15 / 25 / 50; users 1 / 3 / 6 / unlimited; extra account $4/mo, extra user $5/mo (checked 2026-10-18, Social scheduler calculator (schedulercost): socialpilot fact socialpilot/limits) Essentials Built for professionals who work independently. $30 /mo Billed monthly 7 Social Media Accounts 1 User 15 Social Media Accounts 3 Users 25 Social Media Accounts 6 Users 50 Social Media Accounts Unlimited Users Extra Accounts – $4 per month Additional User – $5 per month Formula: `30`

Not covered (yet)

Video recording and editing of the lessons.
Ads.

Affiliate disclosure: links marked “affiliate” may earn Built & Stuck a commission at no extra cost to you. They are chosen after the ranking is computed and never affect it. Manual-hours figures are estimates from the assumptions above, not measurements.

Questions

What is the cheapest course platform for a first course?

At low sales a free plan with a percentage fee is cheapest; as sales grow a flat plan with 0% fee wins. The calculator includes platform fees and card processing at your sales.

Are card processing fees included?

Yes: 2.9% + $0.30 per sale (US domestic cards) is added on every platform, except Skool whose own fee already includes processing.

Do affiliate links change the ranking?

No. The ranking only uses price, manual hours and your hourly value. Some tools have a marked affiliate link; the calculation never reads it.