Are you a yoga teacher on the hunt for the ideal platform to host your online yoga subscription? Look no further! If you’re seeking the perfect platform that ticks all your boxes – from essential features to budget-friendly pricing – you’re in for a treat. I’ve dedicated an entire day to researching every viable option out there, and I’m excited to share with you the shortlist of the crème de la crème, saving you the hassle of endless digging.

Let’s dive in.

1: Showit x Memberspace

This dream team is my personal favourite combo to deliver on design, functionality and price. Showit gives you custom, gorgeous website capability while Memberspace provides security and payment gateways for a steal. Let’s dive into the nitty gritty: 

Price:

Showit subscription ($19/mo) + Memberspace transaction fee (5% on all sales – no subscription fee)

Use Cases:

• Can you create One-Off Payments (eg: an online course)? Yes.
• Can you create Subscriptions (eg: an online membership)? Yes.
• Can you create payment plans (eg: online course split into 3 payments)? Yes.

Pros:

• One of the most affordable options – Memberspace is FREE unless you make a sale – then it takes a 5% fee (which you can account for in your prices). 
• Because you’re building your course in Showit, you have complete control over the design. You can make it a lot more aesthetically pleasing and customised than the cookie-cutter styles of many other online platforms.
• You can use Showit to build your entire website, so you’re getting great bang for buck with $19/mo for your website AND course design. 
• Lots of payment options (one-off, subscription, payment plan) so you can create the exact offer you want.
• You can have unlimited members.

Cons:

• You’ll need to design everything yourself (or use a template or designer) – this isn’t for everyone!
• There is no built-in community area – you would need to have this somewhere else, like Facebook (free) or Circle (paid). 
• No live call capability (you would need to use something external like Zoom or Google Meet)

Psst! By the way…

Because I personally use and recommend both of these platforms, I’ve got some exclusive discounts for my community! Click here for a free month of Showit and click here for 10% off your first year of Memberspace.

2: Thrivecart Learn or Learn+

If you’re allergic to subscription fees, Thrivecart might be your new bestie! Although the upfront investment might seem like a lot, when you average it out over a year or two you’ll be saving. The downfall of that is that if you decide to move onto another platform, your investment is wasted. Let’s dive in: 

Price:

$495 (basic) or $690 (Learn+) – one-time payments with lifetime access.

Use Cases:

• Can you create One-Off Payments (eg: an online course)? Yes.
• Can you create Subscriptions (eg: an online membership)? Yes.
• Can you create payment plans (eg: online course split into 3 payments)? Yes.

Pros:

• One-time payment means you won’t be locked into a subscription payment (that creeps up on you and can change price). 
• Thrivecart Learn+ has a great affiliate management section – which allows your affiliates to sign up themselves and create unique referral links, and automatically tracks their sales and payouts. 
• Lots of payment options (one-off, subscription, payment plan) so you can create the exact offer you want.
• You can have unlimited members.

Cons:

• One-time payment is a big initial output – you take the risk that you might not like it long-term, and even though you’re promised “lifetime” access, Thrivecart could close within your lifetime.
• You don’t have much control over the design – it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing platform but it’s very functional.  
• This will only provide your checkout and course – you will need to design your website elsewhere. 
• There is no built-in community area – you would need to have this somewhere else, like Facebook (free) or Circle (paid). 
• No live call capability (you would need to use something external like Zoom or Google Meet)

3: Uscreen

Uscreen is like the Lululemon of the online platform worlds – chic, smooth and aesthetically pleasing. But like Lululemon, the price tag might be a little off-putting, especially if you’re new to the online world. Uscreen is used by some of the online pros (hello, Yoga with Adriene) – and for good reason! Let’s check it out: 

Price:

$99/mo + $0.99/sub/mo + 5% one time sales (Basic plan) or $199/mo + $0.85/sub/mo + 5% one time sales (Growth plan).

Use Cases:

• Can you create One-Off Payments (eg: an online course)? Yes.
• Can you create Subscriptions (eg: an online membership)? Yes.
• Can you create payment plans (eg: online course split into 3 payments)? Yes.

Pros:

• Uscreen Growth includes affiliate management.
• Lots of payment options (one-off, subscription, payment plan) so you can create the exact offer you want.
• You can have unlimited videos in the Growth plan and up to 50 in the Basic plan.
• It’s a very aesthetically pleasing, smooth design that looks very professional and is easy to navigate.
• Some of the top online yoga platforms are hosted on here.

Cons:

• It’s quite expensive, especially if you’re just starting out and not profiting yet.
• You don’t have much control over the design – but thankfully the platform is quite beautifully designed anyway.
• You will need to design your website elsewhere. 
• There is no built-in community area – you would need to have this somewhere else, like Facebook (free) or Circle (paid). 
• No live call capability in the regular plans (you would need to use something external like Zoom or Google Meet) – they offer an upgrade option to include this, but the price isn’t listed so I imagine it’s not cheap!!

4: Teachable

Teachable is the course newbie’s go-to. It’s simple, affordable with tiered pricing to meet you where you’re at, and pretty user friendly. Read on to see if it’s your perfect fit:

Price:

From Free ($1 + 10% transaction fee + processing fee) to $199/mo (various plan options).

Use Cases:

• Can you create One-Off Payments (eg: an online course)? Yes.
• Can you create Subscriptions (eg: an online membership)? Yes.
• Can you create payment plans (eg: online course split into 3 payments)? Yes.

Pros:

• Lots of different plan options, starting from free – so you can grow with the platform and feel comfortable upgrading as your member numbers and sales increase. 
• Lots of payment options (one-off, subscription, payment plan) so you can create the exact offer you want.
• All plans include quiz capability (basic to graded depending on plan) so you can test your students.
• Teachable Pro ($199/mo) includes affiliate management.
• You can have unlimited members in all plans except the Free one – Free includes up to 10 members. 
• You can have unlimited videos in all plans except Free.
• Live call capability on all plans except Free.

Cons:

• You don’t have much control over the design. The default design is simple and functional, but not very unique. 
• Free plan is limited to 10 members, 1 course and 10 videos.
• You will need to design your website elsewhere. 
• There is no built-in community area – you would need to have this somewhere else, like Facebook (free) or Circle (paid). 

5: Marvelous

From what I can tell, Marvelous seems to be the new kid on the block! It’s a female-founded, purpose-driven platform and I’m very intrigued to watch it grow. Check out the details below: 

Price:

From $39/mo – $149/mo.

Use Cases:

• Can you create One-Off Payments (eg: an online course)? Yes.
• Can you create Subscriptions (eg: an online membership)? Yes.
• Can you create payment plans (eg: online course split into 3 payments)? Yes on all plans from $104/mo.

Pros:

• Lots of different plan options, starting from $39/mo – so you can grow with the platform and feel comfortable upgrading as your member numbers and sales increase. 
• Lots of payment options (one-off, subscription, payment plan) so you can create the exact offer you want.
• Quiz capability on Pro Plan ($149/mo) so you can test your students.
• You can have unlimited members and courses in all plans.
• Live call capability is included on all plans.
• Some community areas are included, depending on the plan.

Cons:

• There is no affiliate management in any plan.
• You don’t have much control over the design. The default design is simple and functional.
• You will need to design your website elsewhere. 
• There are less user reviews available – Marvelous seems quite new to the market so it may still have some room to grow (which can be good and bad!) 

• No affiliate management
• You don’t have much control over the design. The default design is simple and functional.
• You will need to design your website elsewhere. 
• Less reviews available – seems quite new to the market so it may still have some room to grow (which can be good and bad!) 

6: Kajabi

The well-worn classic that everybody knows. Kajabi dominates the online space and has all the bells and whistles you could possibly need. But bells and whistles come at a cost and it’s not worthwhile for everyone! Read on to see if you’ve met your match:

Price:

From $149/mo.

Use Cases:

• Can you create One-Off Payments (eg: an online course)? Yes.
• Can you create Subscriptions (eg: an online membership)? Yes.
• Can you create payment plans (eg: online course split into 3 payments)? Yes on all plans from $104/mo.

Pros:

• Widely used with a huge range of features. Kajabi is designed to be a one-stop shop for every touchpoint of your marketing funnel (from sales pages to checkouts, email funnels, course pages, and more).
• Lots of payment options (one-off, subscription, payment plan) so you can create the exact offer you want.
• Quiz capability so you can test your students.
• Affiliate management is included on Growth plan ($199/mo).
• High member limit (1000 on Basic, 10,000 on Growth plan).
• You can have unlimited videos.
• Community area is included.

Cons:

• This is one of the most expensive options – which isn’t ideal if you’re just starting out or don’t need all the bells and whistles.
• You’re limited to 3 courses on Basic plan, or 15 on the Growth plan.
• There is no live call capability (you would need to use something external like Zoom or Google Meet)
• You don’t have much control over the design. The default design is simple and functional.

In Summary

If you were hoping to skip to the end and find a simple answer, I’m afraid I can’t help you there. These platforms are as unique and variable as their users, and it’s up to you to get clear on your priorities, and which platform can satisfy your non-negotiables. Personally, I’m a Showit x Memberspace girl, and I’m also very intrigued by Marvelous and look forward to seeing how it progresses. 

I hope this breakdown helps you find your perfect fit!

Not a design girly? I’ve got you!

Like the sound of Memberspace x Showit but not sure if you can pull off the design part? I’ve got website templates and online course templates just for you – check them out here.

Real Quick Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links that offer me a commission without any extra cost to you. These are the tools I wholeheartedly recommend for launching online courses.