Pay once, not every month
Course platforms with
no monthly fee.
Every course platform we could find that you can pay for once, checked on each company’s own pages. What it costs, what it includes, and the catch. Checked 24 Sept 2026.
The short answer
Can you sell a course without a monthly fee?
If you only read one part of this page, read this.
- Yes, you can host and sell a course without a monthly fee. Knola is a one-time licence ($97 for Solo, $197 for Studio), and so are a few others: Teachery ($950 lifetime), Klasio (from $399) and ThriveCart ($495 lifetime).
- Most one-time options are hosting only: you still write, record and design everything yourself. Knola also builds the course with AI: the outline, the lessons, slides with speaker scripts, narrated video lessons in your own voice, ebooks and the sales page.
- Check three things before you buy any lifetime plan: whether it takes a cut of your sales, what happens if the company changes its plans, and whether you can export your content.
Every one-time option we found
What each costs, what it takes from your sales, and what it builds for you.
| Platform | One-time price | Fees on sales | AI builds the course | Slides + narrated video | AI ebooks | Hosting included | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KnolaOptional Pro, $37/mo | $97 or $197 once | 0% with your own checkout, 7.5% on Knola checkout | Solo includes 1 course, Studio 5. No community or email marketing yet. | ||||
| Teachery$49/mo or $470/yr | $950 lifetime | 0% | No AI. Its own terms make no promise to stay in business, and lifetime plans are not refundable. Teachery pricing | ||||
| KlasioFrom $49/mo | $399–$999 lifetime (from $1,499 on 1 Oct 2026) | 1–3% commission on lifetime plans | AI outlines and writing help only, no slides or video. Lifetime plans take a commission on every sale, and their prices rise sharply on 1 Oct 2026. Klasio pricing | ||||
| ThriveCartOr from $47/mo | $495 lifetime (Standard) | 0.35–0.5% when it collects sales tax (newer accounts) | Now leads with monthly plans; the lifetime licence is linked from its pricing page. A checkout tool first; its course AI is mostly marked “coming soon”. ThriveCart | ||||
| Tutor LMS (WordPress)Yearly plans too | From $499 lifetime | 0% | A WordPress plugin: you pay for hosting, keep WordPress updated and bring your own OpenAI key. Tutor LMS pricing |
No lifetime plan today: Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific, Podia, Skool, Circle, LearnWorlds, Heights and Zenler (for new customers). LearnDash is sold yearly. All prices from each company’s own pages, checked 24 Sept 2026. Deals and lifetime prices change often.
What a monthly plan adds up to
A typical $99-a-month course platform, against one Knola payment.
After 1 year
$1,188
on a $99/mo plan
$197Knola Studio, once
After 2 years
$2,376
on a $99/mo plan
$197Knola Studio, once
After 3 years
$3,564
on a $99/mo plan
$197Knola Studio, once
The AI is optional
Already made your course? Just host it on Knola.
The AI is there when you want it, never required. Bring the course you built, arrange it your way and sell it, for the same one-time fee.
- Upload your own videos, PDFs and files
- Write and arrange every lesson yourself in the editor
- Add quizzes, certificates and drip release
- Sell it with a checkout, order bumps and upsells
- Pay once and your course stays online.
What if a one-time platform shuts down?
It is the right question to ask. Lifetime plans have been cancelled before, usually after a company is sold. Here is how to protect yourself, and what we promise.
- 1
Can you export your content?
If you can download your lessons, files and student list, you are never trapped.
- 2
Does it take a cut of your sales?
A “lifetime” plan with a 7–10% commission can cost more than a subscription once you sell.
- 3
What do the terms promise?
Read what the licence covers and what happens if plans change. Some lifetime plans say they are not refundable.
Our promise
Pay once and your course stays online.
No monthly fee to keep it there. That is the whole deal.
- One paymentSolo $97 or Studio $197. No monthly bill, whether you sell or not.
- Your course stays onlineWe don’t take courses down from people who paid for a licence.
- Your work is never locked inExport your content as PDF, HTML or Markdown at any time.
- 30-day money-back guaranteeIf Knola is not for you, tell us within 30 days and we refund every penny.
Questions about one-time course platforms
Is there a course platform with no monthly fee?
Yes. Knola is a one-time licence: $97 for Solo or $197 for Studio. Pay once and your course stays online. Teachery, Klasio and ThriveCart also sell lifetime plans.
What is the best lifetime course platform?
It depends on how much of the work you want done for you. If you already have finished videos and only need hosting, a hosting-only lifetime plan can work. If you want the course, slides, narrated video lessons, ebooks and sales page built for you, Knola does that on a one-time licence.
Do I have to use Knola’s AI?
No. The AI is there when you want it, never required. If you have already made your course, upload your videos, PDFs and files, write and arrange the lessons yourself, add quizzes and certificates, and sell it with Knola’s checkout. It is the same one-time licence: pay once and your course stays online.
Does Knola take a cut of my sales?
Only if you use Knola’s checkout: 7.5% per sale on a licence. Use your own checkout (Stripe, Lemon Squeezy and others) and Knola takes nothing. Knola Pro ($37/month, optional) removes the fee on Knola checkout.
Is a one-time fee really cheaper than a monthly plan?
Usually, within months. A $99-a-month plan costs $1,188 a year. Knola Studio is $197 once. Use the cost calculator on our competitor pages to put in your own numbers.