Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
When I first started teaching online courses 10 years ago, Teachable was the obvious choice — a free forever plan, great customer service, and solid features. Then they got acquired. Customer service tanked. The free plan disappeared. Prices went up.
So, I did a deep dive into every free and affordable online course platform available right now in 2026, and I'm sharing everything I found in this video.
I cover dedicated LMS platforms, all-in-one tools like Kajabi and Kartra, and some options you're probably already paying for that can double as your course platform at no extra cost.
PLATFORMS COVERED:
- Squarespace Courses: squarespace.syuh.net/zxrNLr
- Wix: wix.com
- Shopify (with an app): shopify.com
- WordPress + LearnPress: learnpresslms.com
- SamCart: samcart.com
- ThriveCart: thrivecart.com
- Kit (formerly ConvertKit): partners.convertkit.com/ezf23916u2j7
- Mailerlite: mailerlite.com/a/gillianperkins
- System.io (best value!): systeme.io/?sa=sa027405504258371dfe4185f7f09804a9bde5ef02
- Skool: skool.com
- Gumroad: gumroad.com
- Thinkific: thinkific.com
- Zenler: newzenler.com
- Kartra: try.kartra.com/ixjb90n1e1d6
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why Teachable isn't the answer anymore
1:57 Platforms you might already pay for
2:14 Website builders: Squarespace, Wix, WordPress
5:00 SamCart & ThriveCart course features
6:20 Email platforms with course hosting
7:17 Dedicated course platforms overview
8:12 System.io — best free all-in-one
12:47 Skool — $9/month option
14:06 Gumroad — technically free, but...
17:10 Which platform should you choose?
🔹 FREE PRIVATE PODCAST 🎙️ If you want to build an online course but you don't have an audience yet — this is your next step. Sign up for my FREE private podcast series, Stuck at Zero: Why Your Online Business Isn't Making Any Money and What to Do About It: 👉 gillianperkins.com/stuck (Launching June 26, 2026)
🔹 Watch my free YouTube workshop to learn how to get your first 1,000 subscribers in just 3 months: creatorfasttrack.com/workshop-registration
🔹 Want to see exactly how my most profitable funnels work? Watch me break down one of my $100K sales funnel here: gillianperkins.com/bts
🔹 Get my Small Business 101 course for FREE: gillianperkins.com/free-training-small-business-101
// WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- what to focus on in the FIRST WEEK of starting an online business: youtu.be/O8wIhknoQpk
- 5 Practical Steps to Start Your First Business (as a Stay-at-Home-Mom): youtu.be/gvGLoRQUQe8
- Why I'm RADICALLY Changing My Business Model for 2025 (and maybe you should to...): youtu.be/SySD3KaMJ7E
// LINKS
Learn more about Gillian and find resources to build your online business:
gillianperkins.com
Follow Gillian on Instagram to get a BTS look at what it's like to be a digital entrepreneur: instagram.com/gillianzperkins
// FILMING EQUIPMENT
Main camera: amzn.to/3rhibrl
Clip-on lav mic: amzn.to/46DwN4n
Tripod: amzn.to/2w7sIJ6
Main light: amzn.to/3HHHhFX
Other lights: amzn.to/2OKhzEv
RBG light strip: amzn.to/3WmuPiR
NOTE: This description may contain affiliate links to products we enjoy using ourselves. Should you choose to use these links, this channel may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support!
When I first started teaching online courses 10 years ago, Teachable was the obvious choice — a free forever plan, great customer service, and solid features. Then they got acquired. Customer service tanked. The free plan disappeared. Prices went up.
So, I did a deep dive into every free and affordable online course platform available right now in 2026, and I'm sharing everything I found in this video.
I cover dedicated LMS platforms, all-in-one tools like Kajabi and Kartra, and some options you're probably already paying for that can double as your course platform at no extra cost.
PLATFORMS COVERED:
- Squarespace Courses: squarespace.syuh.net/zxrNLr
- Wix: wix.com
- Shopify (with an app): shopify.com
- WordPress + LearnPress: learnpresslms.com
- SamCart: samcart.com
- ThriveCart: thrivecart.com
- Kit (formerly ConvertKit): partners.convertkit.com/ezf23916u2j7
- Mailerlite: mailerlite.com/a/gillianperkins
- System.io (best value!): systeme.io/?sa=sa027405504258371dfe4185f7f09804a9bde5ef02
- Skool: skool.com
- Gumroad: gumroad.com
- Thinkific: thinkific.com
- Zenler: newzenler.com
- Kartra: try.kartra.com/ixjb90n1e1d6
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why Teachable isn't the answer anymore
1:57 Platforms you might already pay for
2:14 Website builders: Squarespace, Wix, WordPress
5:00 SamCart & ThriveCart course features
6:20 Email platforms with course hosting
7:17 Dedicated course platforms overview
8:12 System.io — best free all-in-one
12:47 Skool — $9/month option
14:06 Gumroad — technically free, but...
17:10 Which platform should you choose?
🔹 FREE PRIVATE PODCAST 🎙️ If you want to build an online course but you don't have an audience yet — this is your next step. Sign up for my FREE private podcast series, Stuck at Zero: Why Your Online Business Isn't Making Any Money and What to Do About It: 👉 gillianperkins.com/stuck (Launching June 26, 2026)
🔹 Watch my free YouTube workshop to learn how to get your first 1,000 subscribers in just 3 months: creatorfasttrack.com/workshop-registration
🔹 Want to see exactly how my most profitable funnels work? Watch me break down one of my $100K sales funnel here: gillianperkins.com/bts
🔹 Get my Small Business 101 course for FREE: gillianperkins.com/free-training-small-business-101
// WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- what to focus on in the FIRST WEEK of starting an online business: youtu.be/O8wIhknoQpk
- 5 Practical Steps to Start Your First Business (as a Stay-at-Home-Mom): youtu.be/gvGLoRQUQe8
- Why I'm RADICALLY Changing My Business Model for 2025 (and maybe you should to...): youtu.be/SySD3KaMJ7E
// LINKS
Learn more about Gillian and find resources to build your online business:
gillianperkins.com
Follow Gillian on Instagram to get a BTS look at what it's like to be a digital entrepreneur: instagram.com/gillianzperkins
// FILMING EQUIPMENT
Main camera: amzn.to/3rhibrl
Clip-on lav mic: amzn.to/46DwN4n
Tripod: amzn.to/2w7sIJ6
Main light: amzn.to/3HHHhFX
Other lights: amzn.to/2OKhzEv
RBG light strip: amzn.to/3WmuPiR
NOTE: This description may contain affiliate links to products we enjoy using ourselves. Should you choose to use these links, this channel may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support!
