Alternatives · Courses
Maven alternatives
Maven compared with 5 alternatives: Disco, Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi and Podia.
Maven is free to use. None of the alternatives has a free plan. 5 more offer a free trial.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| MavenThis tool | Free | Free | Web |
| Disco | Free trial · from $399/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Teachable | Free trial · from $29/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Thinkific | Free trial · from $40/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Kajabi | Free trial · from $143/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Podia | Free trial · from $42/mo | Trial only | Web |
Price against what you get
Maven has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi and Podia score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Maven
- Free trial · from $399/mo
Disco
Branded learning academy for cohort courses, community and AI help
- Disco starts at $399 per month, billed annually ($499 billed monthly). Maven is free.
- Maven has a free plan. Disco does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Disco lists iOS and Android apps.
- Maven also covers email campaigns.
Suits: Training businesses running live cohorts with a community around them
- Free trial · from $29/mo
Teachable
Online course, coaching and membership platform with its own checkout
- Teachable starts at $29 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly). Maven is free.
- Maven has a free plan. Teachable does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Teachable lists iOS and Android apps.
- Maven also covers surveys and community.
Suits: Creators selling courses to students in many countries who want tax handled
- Free trial · from $40/mo
Thinkific
Course, community and membership platform for experts and academies
- Thinkific starts at $40 per month, billed annually ($54 billed monthly). Maven is free.
- Maven has a free plan. Thinkific does not, though it has a free trial.
- Thinkific also covers invoicing.
- Maven also covers surveys and email campaigns.
Suits: Experts selling courses who want a long free trial before paying
- Free trial · from $143/mo
Kajabi
All-in-one platform for selling courses, coaching and communities
- Kajabi starts at $143 per month, billed annually ($179 billed monthly). Maven is free.
- Maven has a free plan. Kajabi does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Kajabi lists iOS and Android apps.
- Kajabi also covers marketing automation and paid newsletters.
- Maven also covers surveys.
Suits: Coaches and educators who want site, email, checkout and courses in one account
- Free trial · from $42/mo
Podia
Website, store, courses, community and email for creators in one place
- Podia starts at $42 per month for up to 100 subscribers, billed annually ($49 monthly). Maven is free.
- Maven has a free plan. Podia does not, though it has a free trial.
- Podia also covers marketing automation.
- Maven also covers surveys.
Suits: Creators who want site, store, community and email in one bill
Limits worth knowing in Maven
- Maven keeps 10% of every sale, and Stripe fees (2.9% + $0.30 for US cards) come out too; refunds return Maven's fee but not Stripe's.
- Paid offerings must be priced at $200 or more, and courses are reviewed before they are listed on the marketplace.
- Experts are enrolled in the Student Growth Program by default, which can discount a course by up to 30%; opting out is by email.
- Maven, not the expert, decides refunds: students get a full refund up to the course's halfway point.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Maven?
The alternatives to Maven in this directory are Disco, Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi and Podia. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Maven.
Is there a free alternative to Maven?
None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. Disco, Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi and Podia offer a free trial.
Which Maven alternatives work on Android?
The Maven listing does not include an Android app. Disco, Teachable and Kajabi list one.
Which Maven alternatives work on iOS?
The Maven listing does not include an iOS app. Disco, Teachable and Kajabi list one.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.