In today’s digital world, knowledge is one of the most valuable assets you can sell. If you’re a coach, creator, or expert in any field, you’ve probably thought about packaging what you know into an online course. The good news is that you don’t need a huge budget to get started. In fact, there are free platforms that let you sell your online courses without paying upfront fees.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 platforms that help you sell online courses for free. Whether you’re just testing the waters or trying to scale on a budget, these platforms give you the tools to launch without breaking the bank.
Why Use Free Platforms to Sell Your Online Courses?
Before we jump into the list, let’s talk about why free platforms matter.
- Low Barrier to Entry: You don’t need a big budget to begin.
- Test Before You Scale: Perfect for creators who want to validate their course idea.
- Easy to Use: Most free platforms are beginner-friendly with simple setup processes.
- No Risk: If the course doesn’t perform well, you’re not losing money on platform fees.
Now, let’s get into the top 10 platforms that let you sell your online courses for free.
1. Teachable (Free Plan)
Teachable is one of the most popular platforms to sell your online courses. Their free plan allows you to create unlimited courses and enroll unlimited students, although they do charge a $1 + 10% transaction fee per sale.
Why it’s great:
- Drag-and-drop course builder
- Built-in email marketing
- Integrated payment processing
If you’re just starting and want a platform with professional polish, Teachable is a solid choice to sell online courses without upfront costs.
2. Thinkific (Free Plan)
Thinkific offers a generous free plan that lets you create up to one course and have unlimited students. The interface is intuitive and doesn’t require any coding skills.
Features:
- Zero transaction fees
- Quizzes and assessments
- Drip content scheduling
If you want a clean, easy way to sell your online courses with no hidden fees, Thinkific’s free plan is worth considering.
3. Gumroad
Gumroad isn’t just for digital products—it’s a great place to sell online courses too. You can upload your course content and sell it directly to your audience. It’s very straightforward, especially for creators who already have an audience on social media.
What makes it special:
- Simple product listing
- Flexible pricing
- Global payouts
Whether you’re selling a PDF course or video content, Gumroad makes it easy to sell your online courses with no monthly fees.
4. Podia (Free Community Plan)
Podia recently introduced a free plan that includes their online community feature and lets you sell your online courses via a “pay-what-you-want” model. While most advanced features are behind a paywall, this is a good entry point.
Highlights:
- No platform fees (just Stripe/PayPal fees)
- Can sell coaching and webinars too
- Mobile-friendly interface
This is perfect for creators who want to test a course idea before upgrading.
5. Selar
Selar is one of the most powerful African platforms to sell your online courses. Built with creators in Africa in mind, it allows you to accept payments in Naira, Cedis, Dollars, and more. You can upload videos, PDFs, host webinars, and even run subscriptions.
Why Nigerians love Selar:
- Supports local and international payments
- You can sell courses, ebooks, webinars, and more
- Offers upsells, affiliate marketing, and automation
- Integrated with Paystack, Flutterwave, and Stripe
If you want to sell online courses fast, Selar is a go-to option.
6. Nestuge
Nestuge is another rising Nigerian platform designed specifically to help creators sell their online courses. It offers course hosting, payment integration, and even live class scheduling.
Standout features:
- Built-in course player (video + PDF)
- Nigerian-friendly payment gateways
- Community support and progress tracking
- Works well for coaches, tutors, and teachers
If you want a simple, secure, and locally-built tool to sell online courses, Nestuge is one to try.
7. Google Classroom
While not built as a sales platform, Google Classroom can be adapted to sell online courses, especially for tutors and educators who want a simple delivery method. You’ll need to pair it with a payment system (like PayPal or Gumroad), but it’s free and familiar to many students.
Pros:
- Trusted by millions of educators
- Google Drive integration
- Easy communication and assignment grading
If your course is education-focused, this is a no-fuss way to get started.
7. Google Classroom
While not built as a sales platform, Google Classroom can be adapted to sell online courses, especially for tutors and educators who want a simple delivery method. You’ll need to pair it with a payment system (like PayPal or Gumroad), but it’s free and familiar to many students.
Pros:
- Trusted by millions of educators
- Google Drive integration
- Easy communication and assignment grading
If your course is education-focused, this is a no-fuss way to get started.
8. Notion + Stripe (DIY Stack)
If you enjoy building things yourself, you can create a course inside Notion and collect payments via Stripe. It’s not a traditional platform, but it’s 100% free except for Stripe fees.
How it works:
- Create course content in a Notion page
- Lock it with a paywall using tools like Potion or Super
- Collect payments through Stripe or LemonSqueezy
This is ideal for creators who want full control over their branding while they sell their online courses in a creative way.
9. Facebook Groups + Paystack/Stripe
For many new creators, using a Facebook Group as the delivery method for your course is surprisingly effective. Simply collect payments through Paystack or Stripe and invite buyers into a private group.
Benefits:
- Built-in audience
- Easy to host live sessions
- No hosting fees
It’s grassroots, but it works—especially if your content includes community or live teaching.
10. Trello + Email List
This is a DIY method where you use Trello (a free project management tool) as a course hub, then send access to buyers via email after payment.
Steps:
- Create Trello boards with your modules
- Collect payments via PayPal, Paystack, or Stripe
- Send Trello board access manually or via automation
If you’re creative and want to launch quickly, this method helps you sell your online courses in just a few steps.
Tips to Effectively Sell Your Online Courses (Even on Free Platforms)
Now that you know where to host your course, how do you actually sell your online courses? Here are some quick tips:
1. Build an Audience First
Leverage social media, email marketing, or YouTube to build a following before your launch.
2. Offer a Freebie
A free mini-course, guide, or checklist builds trust and helps you grow an email list of warm leads.
3. Use Testimonials and Social Proof
Even if it’s just beta students, gather feedback to boost credibility.
4. Make the Value Clear
People buy outcomes, not just videos. Make your course promise tangible and benefit-driven.
5. Start With a Low-Ticket Offer
If you’re still building trust, start with a mini-course priced between $7 and $47. This lowers the entry barrier and helps you test your content.
Choose the Right Platform to Sell Your Online Courses
You don’t need fancy tools or a big budget to start. With so many free options available, anyone can sell online courses today. The key is to start small, stay consistent, and grow over time.
Each platform listed here has its strengths. From Selar and Nestuge to global tools like Thinkific and Gumroad, these platforms make it easier than ever to turn your expertise into income.
At the end of the day, the best platform to sell your online courses is the one that matches your style, audience, and goals.
So don’t wait—pick a platform, start building, and get your course out into the world.
Which free platform will you try first?
Let me know in the comments or send me a message. I’d love to hear how you plan to sell your online courses and turn your knowledge into income.
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