Teachable vs Circle
Teachable
White-label course platform for creators to build branded, owned online schools with full customization.
Solo course creators, educators, and coaches focused on course sales and student learning outcomes without heavy community engagement needs.
Circle
Community platform enabling creators to build engaged member communities with integrated courses, events, and memberships.
Creators prioritizing community stickiness, audience loyalty, and recurring memberships over one-time course sales; ideal for brands, coaches, and thought leaders with engaged follower bases.
Short Answer
Teachable is a course-building platform optimized for individual creators and course creators focused on education delivery, while Circle is a community-first platform designed for creators who want to build engaged communities alongside courses or memberships. Teachable excels at course monetization and automation, whereas Circle prioritizes member interaction and community engagement.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Teachable if you prioritize course monetization, want the lowest fees, need built-in email marketing, and serve students who primarily consume course content. Choose Circle if you're building a creator community where member-to-member interaction, direct messaging, and social engagement are central to retention and brand loyalty.
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Choose Teachable if
Solo course creators, educators, and coaches focused on course sales and student learning outcomes without heavy community engagement needs.
Choose Circle if
Creators prioritizing community stickiness, audience loyalty, and recurring memberships over one-time course sales; ideal for brands, coaches, and thought leaders with engaged follower bases.
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Teachable | Circle | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level Monthly Price(USD) | $39/month | — | — |
| Free Trial Length(days) | 14 days | — | — |
| Affiliate Commission Rate(percent) | Up to 30% | — | — |
| Monthly Platform Cost(USD) | $29–$299/month | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $39/month | — | — |
| Transaction Fee on Courses(%) | 2% + payment processor | — | — |
| Maximum File Upload Size(GB) | 4GB per lesson | — | — |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 14 days | — | — |
| Basic Plan Monthly Cost(USD) | $39/month | — | — |
| Transaction Fee (Primary Plans)(%) | 0% (Growth & Business) | — | — |
| Maximum Course Bundles per Site(bundles) | Limited bundling (estimated 5-10 practical bundles) | — | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $29/month | $99/month | -71% |
| Payment Processing Fee(%) | 2% + $0.30 | 3% + $0.30 | -33% |
| Revenue Commission Rate(%) | 37.5% on self-collected payments | — | — |
| Creator Revenue Retention(%) | 62.5% keep rate | — | — |
| Active Student Base(millions) | No built-in audience—you bring your own | — | — |
| Setup Time to First Sale(weeks) | 4–12 weeks (requires audience building) | — | — |
| Starting Price (Monthly)(USD) | $99/month | $99/month | — |
| Mid-Tier Price(USD) | $159/month (Plus) | $159/month (Plus) | — |
| Transaction Fee (Digital Products)(%) | 2% (payment processing only) | 2% (payment processing only) | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Key Differences
Teachable
Course creation and delivery
Circle
Community building with courses
Teachable
Basic discussion forums
Circle
Advanced social feed, direct messaging, groups🏆
Teachable
Unlimited courses and lessons
Circle
Unlimited courses and lessons
Teachable
$29 USD🏆
Circle
$99 USD
Teachable
2% + $0.30 per transaction🏆
Circle
3% + $0.30 per transaction
Teachable
Integrated email campaigns🏆
Circle
Requires third-party integration
Teachable
Limited (comments, forums)
Circle
Extensive (feed, chat, groups, events)🏆
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Teachable |  Circle |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level Monthly Price(USD) | $39/month | — |
| Transaction Fee (Entry Plan)(percent + fixed) | 5% | — |
| Monthly Platform Cost(USD) | $29–$299/month | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $39/month | — |
| Transaction Fee on Courses(%) | 2% + payment processor | — |
Show 10 more attributesBasic Plan Monthly Cost(USD) $39/month — Transaction Fee (Primary Plans)(%) 0% (Growth & Business) — Base Monthly Price(USD) $29/month $99/month Payment Processing Fee(%) 2% + $0.30 3% + $0.30 Revenue Commission Rate(%) 37.5% on self-collected payments — Creator Revenue Retention(%) 62.5% keep rate — Maximum Course Price(USD) Unlimited pricing control — Starting Price (Monthly)(USD) $99/month — Mid-Tier Price(USD) $159/month (Plus) — Transaction Fee (Digital Products)(%) 2% (payment processing only) — | ||
| Email Marketing Platform | Third-party integration required | — |
| Landing Page Builder | Not included | — |
| Community Features | Robust community hub built-in | — |
| Maximum File Upload Size(GB) | 4GB per lesson | — |
| Built-in Email Marketing | Requires integration (Mailchimp, etc.) | — |
Show 11 more attributesCohort-Based Learning Features Advanced (group discussions, schedules) — Integrated Email Marketing Yes, unlimited on Growth plan — Native Mobile Apps(null) Basic mobile web interface — Affiliate Program Tier System Basic single-tier commissions — Maximum Course Bundles per Site(bundles) Limited bundling (estimated 5-10 practical bundles) — Built-in Community Platform Yes, with discussion forums — API Access Available Yes, higher tiers only — Email Marketing Included No, third-party required — Course Quizzes & Assessments No, not available — Community Moderation Tools Advanced (approval, banning, roles) — Native Mobile App Yes, iOS and Android — | ||
| Maximum Student Capacity(students) | Unlimited | — |
| Student Capacity per Basic Plan(students) | Unlimited | — |
| Free Trial Length(days) | 14 days | — |
| Affiliate Commission Rate(percent) | Up to 30% | — |
| Email Marketing Tools | Advanced automation, segmentation included | — |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 14 days | — |
| API Availability | Full REST API with webhooks | — |
| Maximum Courses(count) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Community Discussion Rooms(count) | Basic forums only | Unlimited groups + social feed |
| Direct Member Messaging(binary) | No | Yes (unlimited DMs) |
| Event/Webinar Hosting(binary) | No (integrations only) | Yes (native events) |
| Native Email Marketing(binary) | Yes (integrated) | No (third-party only) |
| Mobile App Availability | Web only | iOS and Android |
| Active Student Base(millions) | No built-in audience—you bring your own | — |
| Setup Time to First Sale(weeks) | 4–12 weeks (requires audience building) | — |
| Custom Branding Support | Full white-label with custom domain | — |
CircleShow 10 more attributes
Show 11 more attributes
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
Teachable
Pros
- 2% payment processing fee (lowest in category) with no hidden costs
- Integrated email marketing and automation without third-party tools
- Generous course limits (unlimited) even on starter plan
- Affiliate program management built-in
- Strong course delivery features with drip-feed scheduling
Cons
- Minimal community engagement features—primarily one-directional course delivery
- Cannot rival Circle's social feed and member interaction capabilities
- Email support only on entry-level plans (live chat on higher tiers)
Circle
Pros
- Advanced community features (social feed, direct messaging, groups, events) foster member-to-member engagement
- Built-in events and webinar hosting with registration management
- Mobile app (iOS and Android) for on-the-go community access
- Powerful member moderation and community management tools
- Flexible monetization (courses, memberships, events) all in one platform
Cons
- Higher base pricing ($99/month vs Teachable's $29/month) increases minimum operational costs
- 3% payment processing fees (vs Teachable's 2%) add up on high-volume sales
- No native email marketing—requires Zapier or third-party email service integration
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Teachable is specifically designed for creators who want to focus purely on course creation and sales without community features. It's ideal for course-only businesses. If you later decide you need community, you'd need to add a separate tool or migrate to Circle.
Resources & Learn More
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Where to Buy
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