"0% commission" is one of the most commonly advertised claims in the course-platform market — and one of the most inconsistently applied. On several platforms, 0% commission only kicks in once you're on a specific (often mid-to-high) pricing tier; the entry-level plan still takes a cut.
This breaks down exactly which plan unlocks true 0% on each platform.
Quick answer: WeMakeSuccess charges 0% commission on its only plan — there's no tier gate. Thinkific, Teachable, and Podia all offer 0% commission, but only once you're past their entry-level tier. Skool and TagMango's free tiers both charge commission by design.
Which Plan Actually Gets You to 0% Commission?
| Platform | Entry Tier Commission | Plan Where 0% Kicks In | Price at That Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeMakeSuccess | 0% (single plan) | Every plan | ₹6,999/mo |
| Thinkific | 0% (US markets) | Basic plan onward | ~$49/mo |
| Teachable | 7.5% | Builder plan | ~$89/mo |
| Podia | 5% | Shaker plan | ~$84/mo |
| Kajabi | 0% (all paid tiers) | Every paid plan | ~$179/mo |
| Graphy | Commission on legacy plans | Paid USD plans | ~$49/mo |
| Skool (free tier equivalent) | 10% (Hobby) | Pro plan | $99/mo (2.9% still applies) |
| TagMango (free tier) | 10% | Paid Pro/Ultimate tiers | Varies |
Pricing and fee structures as of mid-2026, based on publicly listed plans — verify current terms before purchasing, as SaaS pricing pages change frequently.
Why "0% Commission" Claims Need a Second Look
The pattern across most platforms is the same: the plan advertised in marketing (often the cheapest one) is the one that still takes a cut, while the "0% commission" claim technically applies to a higher tier most new users haven't seen yet. Skool and TagMango are more upfront about this — their commission-charging tiers are explicitly the free/cheap entry point, not a fine-print exception.
WeMakeSuccess and Kajabi are the two platforms here with no tiered commission structure at all: every plan is 0%.
Is 0% Commission Always Cheaper?
Not necessarily — it depends on your sales volume. At very low or pre-revenue sales, a commission-based free tier costs less in absolute terms because there's no subscription fee at all.
The crossover point where a flat-fee, 0%-commission plan becomes cheaper depends on the specific commission rate and subscription price; for a 10% commission model versus a ₹6,999/month flat fee, that crossover lands around ₹70,000/month in sales. See the full worked example in our cost breakdown of running an online academy.
What to Check Beyond the Headline Commission Rate
- Does the 0% claim apply to payment processing fees too, or only the platform's own cut? Stripe/Razorpay processing fees (~2–3% on cards) apply regardless of platform commission.
- Is there a plan-tier catch? Confirm the specific plan you'd actually buy, not the cheapest plan listed on the pricing page.
- Are there caps that force an upgrade? Some 0%-commission plans cap active students or course count, effectively forcing a plan upgrade as you grow — which reintroduces cost at a different point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which course platforms charge zero commission on every plan, not just the top tier?
WeMakeSuccess and Kajabi both charge 0% commission across every available plan — there's no entry-level tier that still takes a cut. Thinkific, Teachable, and Podia all offer 0% commission plans, but only once you're on a specific (higher) tier; their cheapest plans still charge commission.
What's the catch with commission-based free plans?
There's no catch exactly — it's a deliberate trade-off. You pay nothing upfront, and the platform earns a percentage (commonly 5–10%) of your sales instead.
It's genuinely a good deal at low sales volume and becomes progressively more expensive than a flat-fee plan as your revenue grows.
Does 0% platform commission mean I keep 100% of every sale?
Not quite — payment processors (Stripe, Razorpay, and similar) still charge their own processing fee, typically around 2–3% for card payments and often close to 0% for domestic UPI transactions in India. "0% commission" refers specifically to the platform's own cut, not third-party payment processing.
Should I start on a commission plan and switch to flat-fee later?
It can make sense if you're pre-revenue or testing an offer, since a commission plan has no fixed cost while you validate demand. Once your sales are consistent and predictable, modeling your actual commission cost against a flat-fee platform's subscription price usually shows a clear point where switching saves money.
See exactly how WeMakeSuccess's flat-fee, 0%-commission model works on the zero-commission LMS page, or check current pricing on the pricing page.