Is there an option to host an online course on a one-time payment course platform vs monthly subscription deals? YES, THERE IS. Let’s dive into Teachery review for course creators.
Adding yet another monthly subscription on your to-do list is not always the right vibe.
But it can also be incredibly hard to find a one-time payment options when it comes to hosting online courses or selling digital products…
I have searched for YEARS and most of them are… well… not that great.
We have ThriveCart with Learn feature – it can be an okay platform to use but it’s far from providing any type of fun user experience. It’s great for checkouts and landing pages, it will do an okay job with your user interface but other than that it’s just… blah.
Then we have some unknown spaces like onlinecoursehost.com which as a life-time deal for only $99 on AppSumo. It can definitely be very tempting to jump in on this deal but again… the actual user experience is quite bleak.
And then comes in Teachery – a rather fresh-in one-time payment course platform. Let’s dive into Teachery review!
NOTE: As of now, January 2025, Teachery says that this is a limited-time lifetime deal which means that it may leave the building at any moment. I’ll keep an eye out for it, in case it does, and make sure to update this post asap. BUT even if it leaves, it’s worthwhile to get in on their list as they may revive the offer at any point, like for Black Friday deals.
Important note about any of the lifetime deal course platforms
Most lifetime deal course platforms I have ever seen online DO NOT have built-in video hosting. Video hosting for the platform is one of the biggest expenses, therefore platforms that have it built-in usually cost higher or operate on subscription base.
What does this mean for you?
If you opt-in for a platform without native video hosting, you will have to upload your videos elsewhere before uploading them into your products. The most popular and widely supported options are Youtube and Vimeo, many platforms also support Wistia and some will integrate your videos from any video hosting platform.
Practically this means that your videos will not be as protected and can be shared more easily. It’s also harder to manage the setup as you have to customize the player on your chosen platform as you upload your videos for a more brand-aligned look. Plus it adds another subscription fee either way – if you opt-in for a paid platform vs free unlisted videos on Youtube.
One-time payment course platform: Teachery review
How is Teachery different than other course platforms?
The creator of the space – Jason Zook – is one of those people who I’ve known in the online space since I got started with my business back in 2015. But why? I don’t know… His handle on social media is @jasondoesthings and honestly, that’s exactly how I’ve seen him in the space. He’s just always out there, doing something.
And so eventually, he has created this course platform Teachery.
One of the main things that make Teachery different from other course platforms is that the layout of the offer is… well… different.
Instead of a regular course space layout, you’re getting more of a creative space to play around and lay out your lessons in a grid format. You can see some samples of that on their website.
It is very course-offer focused and creating and selling other offers might not be as convenient but there’s always a workaround for that.
Overall their user experience is very playful and nice – and while these adjectives might not mean much on their own, that is exactly how I see this space! 🙂
Pros of using Teachery
Course optimized. If you are looking for a space to host an online course – it’s a great option! Plus it will provide a fresh experience for your students as it’s different than the usual course spaces. More fun and attention catching.
Highly customizable. You can use your brand colors, logo and domain – almost every part of the experience is fully customizable, including checkouts (which often are rather robust and simple on course platforms).
Provides all the key elements. You’re getting a landing page feature, thank you and checkout pages, as well as upsells, customizable student space and key welcome emails.
One-time payment platform. While this is definitely one of the key reasons you might want to be considering this platform for, it’s not the only great thing about the space 🙂
Cons of using Teachery
Can be challenging to start with. While the platform itself is rather simple, the overall user experience is a bit confusing as there are quite many customization options and it can be hard to understand what/where/how needs to be done.
Some customizations you see on their landing page are very hard to do or include extra steps. While it initially it looks very visually fun, it will take some time to actually get there!
Focused on course products. While there’s a workaround for uploading and selling other products or offers (like coaching spots), the core focus is on course-like products.
No built-in community feature (yet). I’ve heard a thing or two in the online space about them potentially creating a community space but as of now, there is just a product space available.
No built-in video hosting. As mentioned above, you will have to host your videos elsewhere before you upload them into Teachery.
Lack of landing page features. Yes, you can build simple landing pages and customize them quite alright. But overall the platform is not optimized for creating extensive landing pages.
Is Teachery the best course platform to go for?
There’s never just one right answer when it comes to choosing the best fit platform. Make sure to check out my free Digital Product Platform Guide for more insights!
It’s always a matter of what are the most important features for you.
Teachery vs ThriveCart Learn+
Both Teachery and ThriveCart currently offer one-time payment deal. On Teachery, you’re getting it all for only $550 while on ThriveCart Learn+ – to get the same level of features – you’d have to opt-in for upgrade at $690.
ThriveCart primarly is a checkout platform and they offer full flexibility and freedom in designing checkouts and landing pages. Eventually, they added Learn as part of their offer – Learn is a learning management system, basically a course space.
ThriveCart is great for the initial impression but not as efficient for further user experience – the course space is rather limited in its features and customization. And if you want to sell any other products on their basic plan, the backend can be really confusing as it’s incredibly simple and lacks many options.
Teachery, on the other hand, provides a more seamless and indepth user experience, both for you as a creator, as well as for your students.
It’s more creative and has a nicer user interface.
But if your focus is on selling various products and offers beyond just courses, opting in for ThriveCart might be the way to go.
Teachery vs Thinkific
Thinkific is a more focused and robust course space, compared to Teachery.
On Thinkific you can upload and sell various products, including courses, memberships, coaching offers and Live events. Plus – they also have built-in video hosting AND community spaces. They really tick all the boxes.
However, it is a subscription-based platform, without one-time payment option.
Thinkific is one of my personal favorites in the digital product space.
But if you know you’re focusing on course offer and you prefer one-time payment course platform – Teachery will be the way to go.
To learn more and stay connected:
- Connect with me on Instagram @coursecreationlab
- Join Savvy Offer Hub community for women digital product creators
- Listen to the Savvy Offer Hub podcast
