LearnDash vs Teachable: A Hands-On Comparison for Creators & Coaches

LearnDash is a WordPress-based LMS (Learning Management System) that empowers you to build courses right on your own site.

Whereas Teachable is a hosted, cloud-based online course platform designed for modern creators who want to build, manage, and sell courses without handling the backend tech.

Both are from the same genres, but their services are slightly different.

So, we have come up with a comparison blog, LearnDash vs Teachable, to give you a proper decision- which is gonna be worth using.

However, we are not going to give you a biased result. Thoroughly reading this blog will make you understand which one will suit you.

Also, an alternative is suggested, which is comparatively better than these two. For the name, you can check out the bottom (if you don't have time)

Let's Start with a Quick View of LearnDash vs Teachable

Though we have mentioned the definition in the introduction, eyes over this table will let you know the basics about those two platforms.

However, if you think you are short of time to read the full blog, you can go through the video version on YouTube.

But here's a note: We insist you read this whole blog to know LearnDash and Teachable better, without using them.

LearnDash vs Teachable: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Both LearnDash and Teachable are online course building + selling platforms, but due to being in different environments (WordPress and SaaS), they are matched with some common features (will mention them later).

Else, yes, both have exceptions too. We will show you.

Keep reading. 

1. Set up Compatibility & Ease of Use

Remember playing with puzzles or building blocks as a kid? The moment you opened the box, there was always that one big question: 'Where do I even start?'

Fast forward to today, and we're still asking that same question when we buy something new.

Any user, either you or me, who dives into a platform first question asked is: "How easy is it to actually get started?” 

After all, a platform should not only be a powerful one but also be worth setting up and using without headaches (most beginners prioritize this).

So, let's find what's in LearnDash. 

As you know, it's a WordPress-based LMS plugin, so you will have flexibility and control, but with a few extra steps. 

Note: A WordPress LMS, or Learning Management System, is a powerful tool that transforms your WordPress site into a robust platform for online learning.

You have to install WordPress, choose a hosting provider, pick a theme, maintain technical requirements, and then install the plugin itself. 

A lot of work to do, but once WordPress is in place, LearnDash's setup wizard helps you configure core settings like courses, payments, and access rules. 

If you don't start with the writings, here's a YouTube tutorial for an easy way to onboard LearnDash.

Watched?

Okay. So, the bottom line is- LearnDash's initial onboarding isn't as straightforward as a hosted solution (like Teachable; talk about it in a few seconds) because it assumes some familiarity with the WordPress ecosystem.

But, in contrast, the Teachable setup doesn't involve hosting, themes, or plugin installations- you have to simply create an account, and you're off to the races.

Here's a guide to start with Teachable.

The Teachable's interface includes a guided dashboard, and the setup guide lets you walk through creating a first product, setting pricing, and customizing the course experience step by step.

It has a drag-and-drop builder and an intuitive menu layout, making it a strong choice if you want to hit the ground running with minimal technical setup.

However, from real user comparisons and platform reviews, Teachable tends to be regarded as more beginner-friendly overall.

Here's a table to summarize the information about these two.

A variety of head-to-head analyses note that while LearnDash can be powerful, it usually requires more technical familiarity with WordPress, which can be a barrier for new course creators who just want a plug-and-play experience.

• Ultimately, if you value quick setup and less tech overhead, Teachable may feel smoother right out of the box. 

• On the other hand, if you're comfortable with WordPress and don't mind handling a few setup steps upfront, LearnDash gives you a higher degree of customization and ownership once it's ready.

2. Course Builder Customization

When it comes to building courses, not all course creators like you are looking for the same thing. Sometimes you want simple and fast, or maybe you want deep control and structure.

That's why LearnDash's course builder is built with flexibility in mind, whereas Teachable's course builder focuses on simplicity and speed.

Well, let's see what LearnDash says.

LearnDash includes a visual drag-and-drop tool that lets you structure your course by organizing lessons, topics, quizzes, and sections in a hierarchy that matches your teaching approach. 

You can add, remove, and rearrange elements with ease, and the entire layout is visible at a glance. This level of control is helpful for complex courses with nuanced structures or advanced learning paths. 

However, LearnDash also offers features like templates and an AI course outline builder to help you get started faster without losing customization options. And all of these are possible without writing a single line of code.

(But here's a reminder: WordPress comes with a built-in plugin code editor to satisfy users' customization in plugins. For this, you have to know coding or be a developer.)

On the other hand, Teachable's interface is intuitive for beginners and doesn't require technical configuration like LearnDash. 

The course creation is too casual.

• First, you have to add basic course details

• Then put a course thumbnail and a pricing plan (though these are optional)

• Third is to outline your course

• Finally, to set up the course, edit your curriculum, design it, and tweak the settings, that's it.

For more details, you can check the upper mentioned YouTube video or this Teachable doc.

However, you can organize your course into sections and lectures using a straightforward visual editor in Teachable. 

This drag-and-drop editor supports text, video, and downloadable assets, making creating and managing content easier for newer ones like you. 

Also, features like drip schedules, lesson prerequisites, progress tracking, and templates are built in to make a structured, predictable setup without extra work.

Well, there are more Teachable offers when creating a course.

You will be amazed to know that Teachable prioritizes simplicity with a straightforward course creation structure (Course > Section > Lecture/Content), which gives a clean, user-friendly experience. 

LearnDash, alternatively, offers deep, multi-level hierarchies (Course > Lesson > Topic > Quiz) to give you precise control. (This means you have to manually put information for each section, which seems like a hassle to build.)

Here's the star-table to glimpse the words we mentioned. 

So, the story is:

• LearnDash is ideal if you want deep control over course structure and long-term flexibility. 

• Teachable is better if you prefer a simple, fast builder that keeps things straightforward.

3. Coaching Facilities

In the LearnDash vs Teachable comparison, you will see that each platform supports coaching that reflects their core philosophies and underlying technologies.

Though we are giving you the info of LearnDash first, then Teachable, but here in this section, we are having it the other way. 

We are going to start with Teachable because it provides built-in coaching features, which are much more impressive than LearnDash.

Well. Teachable's coaching is built directly into the platform as a product type, meaning you can sell and manage coaching services just like you do courses. 

With Teachable's coaching tools, you can set up 1:1 sessions, schedule meetings, create milestones, and even communicate with clients without separate third-party apps. 

You(as a coach) can also integrate tools like Calendly and video conferencing for seamless scheduling and sessions, and incorporate coaching upsell products right inside lessons.

You know, Teachable flexes with its coaching feature. The customizable intake block and page editor give you the power to control who you onboard as a client.

On the flip side, talking about LearnDash is- it does not include a native feature in the same way Teachable does (due to being a WordPress-based LMS). 

Its coaching support is typically dependent on third-party add-ons or plugins. 

For example, addons like LearnDash Private Sessions allow instructors to offer private sessions or tutoring within the course environment, but this isn't a built-in part of LearnDash itself- it's an extension that must be installed and configured. 

In addition, other integrations and plugins (such as group management tools, community plugins like BuddyPress or Buddy Up, or scheduling systems) can be used to build coaching-style interactions, but these also require configuration and as well as often come with separate costs. 

So, the summary is:

• For creators and coaches who want to package coaching without complexity, Teachable's built-in coaching is a major advantage. 

• LearnDash can be used for coaching scenarios (if you are in WordPress), but you won't find a unified, built-in coaching product within the base LMS the way you will get on Teachable.

4. Marketing & Sales (+ E-Commerce) Features Comparison

In the LearnDash vs Teachable battle, both platforms empower you to sell courses, but they approach marketing automation, sales optimization, and promotional tools in very different ways.

LearnDash itself doesn't ship with a centralized marketing engine- instead, it relies on the extensibility of WordPress and third-party tools. 

You can sell courses using built-in payment integrations like Stripe and PayPal, and even set up subscriptions, memberships, bundles, and one-time purchases through plugins like WooCommerce, CartFlows, or other eCommerce tools. 

But the con you will find is- using those WordPress marketing plugins (for email automation, funnels, coupons, memberships, etc.) requires extra setup and sometimes additional costs.

However, free plugins also work well, which are from renowned developers. And some creators value these free plugins because they integrate closely with existing WordPress marketing stacks (not the premium ones as Teachable provides).

Teachable, on the other hand, is a hosted SaaS platform that was built specifically for online schools. It comes with a strong set of native sales and marketing tools right out of the box. 

You don't need to assemble plugins, manage integrations, or worry about technical setup to start selling (like LearnDash) here.

You can offer subscriptions and bundles of courses to your customers, which helps by increasing customer value and recurring revenue. 

The platform's lead magnets let you collect customer information and email addresses in exchange for free content. 

On the checkout side, Teachable supports order bumps and one-click upsells, along with coupons to drive conversions. There's also affiliate marketing management with commission tracking and payout tools built in.

For tracking and optimization, you can place tracking pixels to measure campaign performance. Plus, the recently added abandoned cart email feature helps you re-engage users who don't complete a purchase.

Want to scale your marketing workflows further?

Teachable also helps here. It integrates with email tools and CRMs like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and others. These features are all included directly in Teachable's marketing hub. 

[Note: You have seen that most of the features in LearnDash are comparatively lower in grades than Teachable due to its plugin dependency nature. This table is a glimpse]

So when comparing LearnDash vs Teachable for marketing and sales:

• Teachable wins for speed and convenience, because it includes a broad set of sales tools, funnel options, affiliate management, and conversion features without purchasing/ using separate plugins.

• LearnDash wins for flexibility, because you can stitch together powerful third-party tools (free or paid ones) on WordPress to support complex sales workflows- but it takes more time, planning, and technical setup.

5. Existing Common & Exception Features

We have just covered the basic features of LearnDash and Teachable, but there is more to come as advanced features (to make your course experience better).

However, both of them are equal with some common features that we did not mention in the previous. Let's see them first:

• Quizzes: Both allow you to create quizzes to assess learners. (LearnDash: Advanced quiz builder with multiple question types; Teachable: built-in quizzes)

• Certificates: Both platforms let you award certificates upon completion.

• Drip Content: Both can release lessons over a schedule (LearnDash natively; Teachable supports scheduling).

• Progress Tracking: Students can see their progress, and creators can view engagement.

• Payment Acceptance: Both support Stripe/PayPal for payments.

• Bundles & Packages: You can sell multiple courses together (Teachable native; LearnDash via addons/plugins).

• SEO Optimization: Both platforms support SEO to some degree (WordPress/SEO plugins for LearnDash; built-in page optimization for Teachable).

Now, Teachable is making a move forward for having

• Native marketing features like order bumps, automated tax handling, affiliate payouts, and sales pages.

• Built-in AI tools for curriculum creation, translations, and content assistance.

Whereas LearnDash beats only with the 

• Gamification section by supporting badges, certificates, points, leaderboards, and various engagement triggers. (Teachable also has this gamification, but few in number.)

Talking about the Customer Support

As you know, the features, your next concern will definitely be how it responds to the customers.

We know time is money, and not a single user likes to see themselves in trouble; that's why customer support matters.

From the LearnDash

LearnDash's support ecosystem is built around documentation, knowledge bases, and ticket-based assistance. 

You can access in-depth guides, step-by-step help articles, and troubleshooting resources directly from their support portal, which covers everything from installation to advanced features. 

If you need direct assistance from the LearnDash team, support tickets are the main channel. Users can open a ticket through the support form or account dashboard. 

But the con is- you will get the official support team from Monday through Friday (typically early morning to late afternoon EST), and they aim to help resolve issues related to technical problems, billing, or product functionality.

This seems harsh on the basis of 24/7 support. But yes, you will get the support of documentation and AI-powered Docsbot for 24/7.

Anyways, alongside official support, LearnDash encourages users to leverage community resources, such as its Facebook group for creators, and detailed blog content that often answers common questions or offers practical tips.

Alternatively, Teachable's support experience is structured around a centralized messenger interface, which replaces (or complements) traditional email/chat systems. 

Through this messenger, you can track conversations, attach files, and revisit your message history. 

And the best part is- you don't have to be in a queue for the response, and the response is quite faster than LearnDash. 

But yes, here's a similar con (also in LearnDash) is that- Teachable is also open on weekdays, Monday to Friday, 10 am-8 pm EST (which limits users' access to help.) 

However, having a limited time, users (regardless of plan) can access a complete Help Centre with detailed documentation, troubleshooting guides, and tutorials at any time.

Here's the table overview of what you will get in their support.

Pricing: The True Cost of Plugin vs SaaS

When you compare LearnDash vs Teachable, pricing isn't just about what you see on the surface; it's about how you pay and what you actually get over time as a creator or coach. 

Here, one platform operates as a plugin you will own, while the other is a hosted software service you subscribe to.

Here's LearnDash. It uses a WordPress plugin licensing model, meaning you pay a yearly fee for the right to use the software on your WordPress site.

As of now, LearnDash offers three main annual pricing tiers based on site licenses:

• 1 Site License — $199/year

• 10 Site License — $399/year

• Unlimited Site License — $799/year

But keep in mind that these prices are just for the plugin license. Since LearnDash runs on WordPress, it depends on third-party things. 

So if you want to use these third-party things, and not from outside of LearnDash, it serves several add-ons, too.

Or if you think you are in need of a more affordable price, you can also make it with LearnDash's bundle pack.

These packs are four in types, including for course creators, students, professionals, and the marketplace.

Teachable, by contrast, uses a tiered subscription model.

You pay monthly or annual subscription fees, and everything (hosting, security, updates, and support) is bundled into that plan.

However, the REGULAR Teachable pricing plans(attached image is in offer) include:

• Starter – $39/month (or ~$29/month billed annually) with a 7.5% transaction fee

• Builder – $89/month (or ~$69/month annually) with 0% transaction fees

• Growth – $189/month (or ~$139/month annually) with 0% transaction fees

• Advanced – $399/month (or ~$309/month annually) with 0% transaction fees

All of these plans offer features like unlimited integrations, SEO-optimized pages, cart recovery, upsells, subscriptions, and affiliate programs, which are included at each paid tier. 

But higher tiers unlock more published products, features, and admin capabilities without per-sale fees.

Additionally, Teachable includes flexible pricing options per product. Their Starter plan (aimed at small creators) includes transaction fees, while higher plans eliminate them (mentioned in the plans).

But here's a NOTE: While Teachable is comparatively better at pricing than LearnDash, this blog on Teachable pricing may change your decision.

What People Say about the LearnDash & Teachable

You always see the marketing words to highlight the platform, but the real story can be seen when you know what users are saying. 

As G2 and Trustpilot are trusted sources most people rely on, we've included this section to give you more authentic faces from these platforms.

From Trustpilot Review Platform

Here on Trustpilot, LearnDash has a 4.6/5 rating based on 191 reviews, while Teachable has a 3.1/5 rating based on 989 reviews.

LearnDash Words

LearnDash holds 83% of 5 stars- a clear signal that most customers are not just satisfied but enthusiastic about the product and support they receive.

So, here are the POSITIVE things that users talk about most

• LearnDash provides exceptional customer support. Users frequently highlight responses that are quick, helpful, and patient, even for non-technical customers.

• Many consumers praise LearnDash for its robust features and flexibility in course management. They mentioned that it’s easy to organize complex course structures and manage a wide range of content effectively.

• Some reviewers cite LearnDash for long-term stability, continual updates, and support responsiveness even after several years of usage.

While the majority are positive, there are still some LOWER-RATED reviews that point to legitimate concerns:

• A few customers said that support took longer (as it has NO 24/7 support flexibility) than expected, especially over weekends or very busy periods.

• Some reviewers note that the knowledge base and tutorials feel less complete and sometimes aren't as clear as they could be for new users.

From the Teachable

Across nearly 1,000 ratings, you'll find Teachable's Trustpilot reviews (in 2025) paint a mixed picture, highlighting what users appreciate and what frustrates them. 

Let's see first what people APPRECIATE most about Teachable

• Many reviewers describe Teachable as a simple, intuitive platform that makes it easy for creators, especially beginners, to set up and sell courses. 

• We found several positive reviewers specifically mentioning good communication and helpful responses, even in stressful situations like accidental charges or setup questions.

• A number of users report years of positive experience on the platform, noting that it reliably delivered course delivery and student experience over long periods without major issues. 

Now showing the reasons why some users give LOW RATINGS:

• Users complain that pricing was changed mid-subscription, forcing them into higher-cost plans with more features than they need, which feels like a worse value over time.

• Multiple reviewers specifically mention the removal of human live chat support and reliance on AI or automated messaging. This scenario makes users feel stuck with unresolved problems due to not reaching a real person quickly.

• A few users report slow responses and difficulty getting refunds, which leaves them feeling misled or ignored.

• There's a strong sentiment among mid-range reviewers (3-star) that Teachable is easy to use but expensive, especially after recent price hikes.

From G2 Review Platform

In G2, if you go to the profile, you will find it has a 4.2/5 rating based on a large sample of 49 reviews, whereas Teachable makes a way with the same 49 reviews, but the rating is 3.9/5.

LearnDash

LearnDash holds an average rating based on verified reviews from small business users and LMS implementers.

Here are listed what users find POSITIVE about LearnDash:

• Users consistently cite its ability to handle complex course structures, advanced quizzing, and robust lesson hierarchies without being tied to a proprietary hosted platform. 

• Some reviewers specifically praise the customer support staff for being knowledgeable and responsive, especially when navigating plugin conflicts or figuring out which add-ons match their needs.

Not all support experiences are positive. On the other hand, CONS are also served:

• Some reviewers describe support that didn't solve more complex issues- particularly where plugin conflicts or site-specific technical problems were involved. 

• Multiple reviewers mention that while LearnDash can be easy for WordPress power users, it's not always intuitive for beginners; there's a bit of a learning curve before you can use features effectively. 

• A few users feel the pricing is high relative to the technical effort required, especially once you begin adding third-party plugins or premium add-ons. 

Teachable

When you dig into Teachable's reviews on G2, the overall sentiment lands in the mixed-to-positive range with an average score.

Here are the POSITIVES:

• Several users praise how straightforward it is to upload content, structure lessons, and launch a course without deep tech skills.

• Some reviews excel with how Teachable handles hosting, delivery, and student access all in one place. No need to manage servers, plugins, or infrastructure.

The NEGATIVES are:

• A significant subset of reviews describes issues with payments, checkout, or platform performance. 

• While some find support helpful, others report slow responses or a lack of resolution, especially around urgent issues.

• Multiple reviewers express concern about pricing, especially when the platform's capabilities don't feel aligned with cost. 

• Some reviewers commented that while Teachable is easy to use, certain features (like communication tools or advanced customizations) are either lacking or not as polished as competitors. 

What If You have Given An Alternative to LearnDash & Teachable?

If you've been comparing LearnDash and Teachable side by side, you already know the strengths and limitations of both.

LearnDash gives you flexibility through WordPress control but demands more setup and integrations, while Teachable offers simplicity and ready-to-use sales tools, but can feel limiting as you scale. 

But what if there was a middle ground?

A platform that combines ease of use, built-in sales tools, community features, and deep customization without forcing you to stitch together plugins or add-ons?

Enter EzyCourse- A Modern All-in-one Learning Platform

We are not quenching you with the definition only; see the reasons that make EzyCourse especially compelling:

• Being an all-in-one platform, EzyCourse combines course creation, marketing tools, community features, and revenue systems in a single dashboard. You don't need extra plugins or separate services to customize extra.

• No heavy tech setup due to it being hosted. Means, EzyCourse does all for you. You can skip the typical WordPress maintenance, plugin management, and server hassles that come with LearnDash.

• Has an advanced course delivery system. It supports a wide range of lesson types from videos and text to quizzes, surveys, assignments, SCORM packages, and even interactive elements.

• Provides native marketing tools like email automation, real-time reporting, abandoned cart tracking, and upsell funnels, giving you a full sales suite out of the box (that most WordPress-based setups struggle to match without extra plugins).

• Forums, chat features, native community channels, and social media communities help foster engagement and retention without relying on external discussion platforms.

• Beyond one-time purchases, EzyCourse supports memberships, subscriptions, bundles, and even partners with revenue shares, so you can grow multiple income streams. 

In short, EzyCourse represents a next-generation alternative to both LearnDash and Teachable.

Here's the side-by-side comparison table for these three platforms that tells you more

Note: You may have found that Teachable and EzyCourse are the same in specifications (as they both are fully hosted platforms), but they can really differ in features and benefits. 

This blog: Teachable vs EzyCourse can really help you out of the confusion.

Real-life User Reviews of EzyCourse

The best way to judge any platform is to listen directly to the people who actually use it. 

With EzyCourse, there's a strong body of real-world feedback across review platforms and its own community.

G2 Reviews(4.9/5) with Maximum Satisfaction

At G2, EzyCourse has an excellent rating of 4.9/5, based on dozens of verified user reviews. 

• Many reviewers praise the platform for being easy to use even for beginners, and particularly appreciate for all-in-one nature

• A common scenario seen is support quality. Users mention fast, often 24/7 support, with responses within minutes and dedicated help channels that feel more personal (than what many competitors provide).

• In terms of value, several users say EzyCourse feels cost-effective, especially compared to using multiple separate services for course delivery, community, marketing, etc.

Also, Trustpilot Reviews(4.5/5) Compiles with positives

On Trustpilot, EzyCourse holds a 4.5-out-of-5 rating with 83 total reviews, and a very high proportion of 5-star ratings. 

• Many reviewers mention near-instant replies, one-to-one Zoom help, and personalized assistance (sometimes even WhatsApp). Reviewers repeatedly call out the support team as a standout.

• Users appreciate having courses, community, site builder, automation, and white-label app options on a single platform- tagged as a value-for-money product.

• Creators who moved from Kajabi, other alternatives, or DIY setups reported fast migrations and a near turnkey experience. 

While most reviews are glowing, there are a very small number(3 out of 83) of critical experiences remaining.

EzyCourse also maintains a Facebook community group where creators connect, ask questions, and share real usage experiences. 

The group welcomes discussions about course building, monetization, engagement strategies, and new features, making it a real-time resource beyond formal reviews. 

Hope this detailed review of EzyCourse will help you out to know how it can better serve you.

LearnDash vs Teachable: Final Verdict (Based on Your Situation)

There's no universal winner between LearnDash and Teachable- only the right fit for your situation.

• If you're deeply invested in WordPress, want full control over design and data, and don't mind managing hosting, plugins, and updates, LearnDash still stands strong. 

• If your priority is speed and simplicity, and you want a platform that lets you upload content, sell courses, and start earning without worrying about infrastructure, Teachable makes sense. 

But as this comparison shows, many creators today aren't just choosing between control and convenience anymore. They're looking for a platform that can grow with them by offering all that one needs.

That's where EzyCourse naturally enters the conversation as a practical alternative worth considering.

So, at the end, if you find this LearnDash vs Teachable blog helpful, share it with your contacts and let us know which one you are going to use.