Teachable vs Gumroad
A head-to-head comparison for 2026 -- pricing, features, and which platform is better for different use cases.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Teachable | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $39/mo | Free |
| Transaction Fee | 5% (basic), 0% (pro) | 10% |
| Free Trial | 7 days | N/A (free) |
| Course Builder | Drag-and-drop | Basic |
| Best For | Dedicated course sellers | Testing ideas |
| Mobile App | Branded app | No |
Teachable -- Overview
Teachable is a dedicated course platform with a structured course builder, student dashboard, quizzes, certificates, and coaching products. The checkout experience includes upsells, order bumps, and coupons. Built specifically for educators and course creators.
At $39/month (Basic, 5% fee) or $119/month (Pro, 0% fee), Teachable is an investment in a course-specific platform. The course builder handles complex structures like drip content, prerequisites, and completion certificates.
Gumroad -- Overview
Gumroad is the simplest way to sell digital products. No monthly fee -- Gumroad charges 10% per transaction. Upload a file, set a price, share a link. Courses, ebooks, templates, software, music -- any digital product works. Setup takes minutes.
Gumroad's course features are basic compared to Teachable. No drip scheduling, no quizzes, no certificates, no student dashboard. You can structure content into sections but the experience is more like buying a digital product than enrolling in a course. For simple video courses or content bundles, Gumroad works. For structured educational experiences, Teachable is the right tool.
Key Differences
Course platform vs product marketplace. Teachable builds structured educational experiences. Gumroad sells digital files. If your course has lessons, quizzes, completion tracking, and certificates, Teachable. If your "course" is essentially a collection of videos or files that people buy and download, Gumroad.
Fee structures differ fundamentally. Teachable charges $39-119/month plus 0-5% per transaction. Gumroad charges $0/month plus 10% per transaction. At low volume, Gumroad is cheaper (no monthly fee). At high volume, Teachable is cheaper (lower per-transaction fee). The crossover is around $800/month in sales -- below that, Gumroad's $0 monthly wins. Above that, Teachable's lower percentage wins.
Brand and student experience favor Teachable. Teachable provides your own domain, branded student dashboard, and structured learning paths. Gumroad's checkout and delivery are functional but generic. For premium courses ($100+), Teachable's professional experience justifies higher prices.
The Verdict
Choose Teachable for structured courses with lessons, quizzes, certificates, and a professional student experience. Best for educators selling premium courses. Choose Gumroad for the simplest way to sell digital products with no monthly fee. Best for creators selling content bundles, simple video courses, or testing course demand.