If you’ve been feeling a mix of confusion, frustration, or even betrayal, we can tell you one thing with certainty: you are not the only one.
If you’re a course creator on Teachable, you probably got a jolt recently. The announcement of a brand-new pricing structure, rolled out mid-2025, has sparked debate and concern across the creator community.
And if you’ve been feeling a mix of confusion, frustration, or even betrayal, we can tell you one thing with certainty: you are not the only one.
Spend a few minutes on creator-focused Reddit threads or in expert breakdowns, and a clear picture emerges. The sentiment isn't just slightly negative; for many long-term users, it's a deal-breaker.
In this article, we explore the specific reasons behind the outcry and why this moment has become a tipping point for so many Teachable users.
The Core Issue: A Trust Deficit
Let’s cut to the chase. Our analysis shows that the overall sentiment around Teachable's May 2025 update is overwhelmingly negative and critical. While Teachable frames the update as a way to "lower transaction fees," the community has interpreted it as a significant price hike that simultaneously cuts features and imposes harsh new limits.
It’s a classic case of a company’s messaging being completely disconnected from the user’s reality. Here's a snapshot from Reddit:
A creator who has been with Teachable for 7 years said they'll have to pay almost 3x what they were paying just to support their existing courses and bundles, from $119/mo to $309/mo.
"That's absurd," the user said.
Why the Uproar? A Breakdown of the Pain Points
The community's frustration isn't vague. It's laser-focused on several specific changes that directly impact their businesses and bottom lines.
1. The "Pay More, Get Less" Model
This is the number one complaint. Users are reporting staggering price jumps, with some facing annual cost increases of over 200%. The new plans—Starter, Builder, and Growth—are replacing the old tiers, and here's how the math breaks down for creators:
- The New "Starter" Trap: The new Starter Plan at $29/mo now comes with a 7.5% transaction fee, a sharp increase from the previous Basic plan's 5%. Worse, it limits you to just one published product and 100 students.
- The Cost of 0% Fees: To escape transaction fees, you’re forced onto the "Builder" plan at $69/mo (annually)—a huge jump from the old $39/mo Basic plan. Even at that price, you're still capped at just 5 total products and 1,000 students, a detail widely discussed by users across the web.
Writing about this major change, PriceTimeline Reporter noted that Teachable is "introducing more restrictive product and student limits for cheaper plans."
2. The Betrayal: Forced Migration and No "Grandfathering"
This is perhaps the most significant source of anger. Teachable is breaking with the long-held software tradition of "grandfathering" loyal customers. Existing users are not being allowed to keep their current plans; they are being automatically migrated to the new, more restrictive structure between June and July 2025.
This forces creators into an impossible choice: accept a massive bill, start deleting courses and products to fit within the new limits, or undertake the massive project of migrating their entire business on short notice, a pain point detailed by multiple industry analysts. Writing for Purple Hippo, Tom Lorimer said:
"The student limits and product limits are simply awful ... This approach feels like a step backward for those of us trying to scale our businesses without being penalized."
3. Poor Communication and Feeling Devalued
Many users have expressed frustration with Teachable's handling of the rollout, reporting that their genuine concerns are being met with boilerplate AI responses from support.
This has amplified the feeling that Teachable is no longer listening to its community. The sentiment is clear: long-term customers feel they are being devalued, with the platform raising prices while simultaneously cutting back on the very features that allowed them to grow.
The Other Side of the Coin: Teachable's Official Stance
To be fair, let's look at Teachable's side of the story. Their official announcement highlights the elimination of transaction fees on the Builder, Growth, and Advanced plans. They also point to a positive operational change: starting in April 2025, they are removing the standard 45-day reserve hold on teachable:pay payouts, a clear cash flow win for creators.
However, for the vast majority of users, these points don't offset the immediate pain of higher subscription costs and restrictive new caps.
The Ripple Effect: A Platform Re-evaluation
This event has triggered a mass re-evaluation of the LMS landscape. Creators are now intensely comparing Teachable's alternatives, looking for a more stable partner.
- Thinkific is frequently cited as the most appealing alternative because it offers 0% transaction fees on all its paid plans, providing better value for those sensitive to variable costs, as noted by LMS industry experts.
- Kajabi is now being seriously considered by creators who are being forced onto Teachable's expensive high-tier plans. While historically pricier, its all-in-one marketing and funnel-building tools are now seen as justifying the cost compared to Teachable's reduced offerings.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Creator Trust
The backlash against Teachable's 2025 pricing is a powerful statement. Creators are business owners who require more than just software; they need a stable, predictable foundation. The moment that foundation is shaken, trust is broken, and they will look elsewhere.
This isn't just about a pricing change; it's about the fundamental need for a platform that will grow with you, not because of you.
There is A Better Way to Sell Your Courses
If you believe your business deserves a predictable foundation, it might be time for a new kind of partnership. FreshLearn was built on a promise to never put our creators through this. We offer a lifetime price-lock guarantee—the price you sign up for is your price forever. No surprises. No forced migrations.
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