E-commerce Software
Podia
All-in-one platform for selling courses, digital downloads, and communities — no free plan, but a full-featured trial.
Solo / FreelancerSmall businessGlobal
Last reviewed Jul 17, 2026 · Pricing verified Jul 17, 2026
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DEV-TOP · horizontalOur take
Best for course creators and community builders who want courses, downloads, community, and email marketing genuinely unified in one product — the entry Mover tier's 5% transaction fee is a real cost that only goes away by upgrading to Shaker.
Choose this if...
- Course creators who want courses, community, and email marketing in one subscription
- Creators who value predictable flat pricing over Gumroad-style per-transaction fees at real volume
Look elsewhere if...
- Your sales volume is low/unpredictable — Gumroad's zero-monthly-fee model carries less financial risk
- You only need simple digital downloads — Payhip or Sellfy may be cheaper for that narrower use case
Visit Podia
This is a direct link to Podia— we don't currently earn anything from it.
Pricing
Verified Jul 17, 2026 against Podia's own pricing page.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mover | 42 USD/mo | 42 USD/yr | $504/yr billed annually; 5% Podia transaction fee; 100 email subscribers, 50 products, 500 videos, 25 community spaces |
| Shaker | 84 USD/mo | 84 USD/yr | $1,008/yr billed annually; 0% Podia transaction fee; 500 email subscribers, 150 products, 1,000 videos, 100 spaces, 1 assistant seat, affiliate marketing, Zapier |
| Earthquaker | 150 USD/mo | 150 USD/yr | $1,800/yr billed annually; 0% Podia transaction fee; 1,000 email subscribers, unlimited products/videos/spaces, unlimited assistant seats |
Free tier reality
There's no permanent free plan. No permanent free tier — a 30-day free trial gives full access to all features before you must choose a paid plan. The entry Mover plan still charges a 5% Podia transaction fee on top of standard Stripe/PayPal processing; that fee only disappears on Shaker and above. Prices shown are the flat annual-billed rate (Podia doesn't publish a separate, higher month-to-month rate on its pricing page).
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DEV-MID · rectanglePros
- Genuinely all-in-one: courses, downloads, community, and email marketing without stitching tools together
- 0% transaction fee on Shaker and Earthquaker tiers
- 30-day full-featured free trial to evaluate before paying
Cons
- No permanent free tier — must commit to a paid plan after the trial
- Entry Mover tier still carries a 5% transaction fee on top of processor fees
- Subscriber/product caps on Mover and Shaker force upgrades as a creator's audience grows
Key features
- Sell courses, digital downloads, and memberships from one platform
- Built-in paid community/spaces feature
- Email marketing included at every paid tier
- Affiliate marketing program tools (Shaker and above)
- Upsells and Zapier integration on higher tiers
Integrations
- VERIFY
Platforms
- web
Regional fit
Available globally; payment processing via Stripe/PayPal standard rates apply regardless of region.
- Global
Best for
Alternatives
Shopify
Pick this instead if: New and growing D2C brands that want the largest app/theme ecosystem and least platform risk
Square Point of Sale
Pick this instead if: Small retailers and food businesses wanting an all-in-one POS + payments + hardware bundle
WooCommerce
Pick this instead if: Existing WordPress sites that want to add a store without switching platforms
Toast
Pick this instead if: Full-service and quick-service restaurants needing kitchen display and online ordering built in
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Podia FAQ
Questions about this tool
Is Podia free?
No — Podia doesn't have a permanent free plan. No permanent free tier — a 30-day free trial gives full access to all features before you must choose a paid plan. The entry Mover plan still charges a 5% Podia transaction fee on top of standard Stripe/PayPal processing; that fee only disappears on Shaker and above. Prices shown are the flat annual-billed rate (Podia doesn't publish a separate, higher month-to-month rate on its pricing page).
How much does Podia cost?
From 42 USD/mo. We verify pricing directly against Podia's own pricing page — see the pricing table above for the full breakdown of plans, and check the verified date before making a decision, since software pricing changes often.
Who is Podia best for?
Course creators who want courses, community, and email marketing in one subscription Creators who value predictable flat pricing over Gumroad-style per-transaction fees at real volume
Who should avoid Podia?
Your sales volume is low/unpredictable — Gumroad's zero-monthly-fee model carries less financial risk You only need simple digital downloads — Payhip or Sellfy may be cheaper for that narrower use case
Does Podia work well outside the US?
Available globally; payment processing via Stripe/PayPal standard rates apply regardless of region.
What are the best alternatives to Podia?
Worth comparing: Shopify, Square Point of Sale, WooCommerce, Toast. See the Alternatives section above for why you might pick one of these instead.